Amelia glared at the door that wouldn’t open. She tried to go out once more, but it was more stubborn than she thought. No matter how much she coaxed and persuaded, Ann and Jane remained silent. She wondered what Raphael had said to make them act like this.

“Ann, Jane.”

“…I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

But she couldn’t blame them. If there was any fault, it was with Raphael. Was he really going to keep her from leaving the room?

“What about Leonel? Just tell me where Leonel is.”

“The young duke I mean, the young master is in his room.”

Leonel was in his room too? He might be unable to leave his room, just like her. Raphael was definitely capable of doing that. But why were they calling Leonel the young duke? Weren’t the servants ignoring Leonel because he wasn’t a full Siegfried?

As proof of that, people called Leonel the young master, not the young duke.

“I want to see Leonel.”

“……”

If it seemed difficult, they didn’t answer at all. There was no wall as solid as this. She knew Raphael was scary, but she didn’t know it was to this extent. She hadn’t seen Leonel since the incident last night. Raphael must have punished Leonel too.

“Is Leonel also unable to leave his room?”

“There’s no need to worry.”

They kept repeating that there was no need to worry. It was almost like brainwashing. The reason she had chosen Ann and Jane over May was simple. They seemed to be the only maids with a sense of humanity. They were people she could talk to.

But now, Ann and Jane were repeating the same words like a broken record. This could only happen under Raphael’s pressure.

“Ann. Please.”

“…Your Highness.”

Moreover, both of them had received a lot from her while being her personal maids. She had given them many bribes. Their flexibility made living easier.

Creak.

When the door opened slightly, Amelia clung to the door. They couldn’t completely ignore her after all. She had given them so many things.

“Jane? Didn’t you say you wanted a dress last time? Ann, you said you wanted a hat.”

She would buy them anything. Or she could raid her wardrobe and give them something right now. There were so many items that no one would notice if one or two went missing.

“Your Highness, the Grand Duke specifically instructed us…”

“He seemed very angry.”

Of course, he would be. Thinking of Raphael last night, she understood their reaction. But she couldn’t just ignore Leonel’s condition.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll just see Leonel and come back.”

“That’s not allowed…”

“Ann, please…”

It would be nice if she had some jewels to give them right now… The only thing she had on her was the ruby ring given by the Master.

“Alright. Just for a moment, okay?”

It was good that she had worked on them beforehand. Amelia smiled brightly, thinking she had succeeded, and stepped out of the room. Well, half of her body was out.

“You can’t let your guard down even for a moment.”

“Ra… Raphael.”

“G-Grand Duke…!”

Amelia was startled as she was pushed back inside. She didn’t even have time to resist. Through the closing door, she saw Ann and Jane turn pale.

“How long have I been gone, and you’re already trying to escape?”

Amelia was so shocked she could only open and close her mouth. Who was trying to escape? She was just stepping out of the room for a moment. It wasn’t like she was trying to leave the castle…

“I was going to see Leonel.”

“Yes, just like yesterday.”

“That’s…”

All her previous escape attempts had been with Leonel. But this time, she wasn’t trying to escape with him.

“I was worried because you sent him to his room like that.”

Despite her excuse, Raphael’s face remained hard. She had completely lost his trust. She understood why, but she couldn’t help feeling hurt.

“Leonel did nothing wrong.”

“……”

“It’s true.”

If anyone deserved punishment, it was her, the adult. Leonel had been dragged into this without knowing anything.

“Maybe you two coordinated your stories.”

Of course, she knew he didn’t mean it that way, but remembering the kiss from the previous day made her blush. His tongue, which had eagerly sought her lips, was still vivid in her memory.

“You’re saying the same thing as your son.”

“……”

“Leonel is under house arrest for a week.”

House arrest? So Leonel couldn’t leave his room either?

“Did you lock Leonel in his room too?”

At her question, Raphael just smiled silently. His expression was so cold that she shrank back. She realized she had been receiving special treatment until now. That was the face others saw when they looked at Raphael.

“He can’t leave the castle, that’s all.”

“…Then…”

She wanted to ask why she had to stay in the room. Was she not even allowed to walk around the castle?

“You seem curious as to why you can’t leave the room.”

“I’m not saying I want to go out.”

After what happened yesterday, there was no way she would try to escape the moment she woke up. Her heart ached as Raphael kept looking at her with cold eyes. It felt like blood wasn’t circulating in her hands.

“I don’t see why I should trust you and let you out.”

What? Amelia couldn’t say anything to Raphael’s arrogant tone. This was how he had always been.

“Are you saying you’re going to lock me up?”

“I can’t see why not.”

“Your Grace!”

Raphael Lloyd Siegfried was a man who did what he said. And he had the power and wealth to back it up. Even if he locked his wife up and kept her in the castle, no one would dare criticize him.

“There was a misunderstanding last night. It was so dark while riding the horse that I didn’t realize how far I had gone.”

If only there had been some change in his expression, it wouldn’t have felt so hopeless.

“Did you forget I told you I wouldn’t let you play me for a fool?”

It seemed the atmosphere was better when she first met him after coming here. She couldn’t meet his piercing golden eyes that made her body tremble just by looking at them.

“You should lie within reason if you want me to believe you.”

“Ah…”

Once again, he grabbed her chin, forcing her face close to his. It felt like a giant predator was pressing down on her. She couldn’t even breathe properly.

“From now on, you won’t be able to take a single step outside this room.”

It was an absurd measure. Not being able to leave the room?

“That’s not possible.”

“Why? It’s only fair.”

If she had known this would happen, she would have escaped more perfectly. But last night’s escape attempt had been the most meticulous one yet.

“You should experience it too. How heartbroken I was.”

She was momentarily at a loss for words at his claim that he was heartbroken. Anyone would misunderstand and think he was sad because she left. When in reality, he was just upset that she defied him.

“You’re quite the liar yourself, Your Grace.”

She was so angry she couldn’t stand it. She was furious at herself for reacting to every little thing he did. Last night was the same. Raphael had simply vented his anger and punished her. Yet his touch had made her burn, and she had ended up begging for more.

But he never crossed the line. It was as if he was saying that was the limit of what she was allowed.

“Heartbroken? You don’t even like me.”

Raphael Lloyd Siegfried was cruel. He made her admit it with her own mouth. It was a topic she would never willingly talk about. Why did she fall for a man like this? Even though she tried to hold back, tears of sorrow fell.

“Ah…!”

She thought he would frown at her tears, but he didn’t. Instead, he parted his lips and kissed her. It was a different kind of kiss from the one last night, where his tongue had thrust in with excitement. This time, he softly tapped her mouth, wrapped his tongue around hers, and sucked deeply. It was enough to make her mistake it for a lover’s kiss.

When he swept her palate, she couldn’t help but let out a moan. It was gentle, but it was still Raphael. The slow pace made it feel even more obscene. The lewd, wet sounds of their tongues filled the quiet room. All she could do was place her hands on his chest to keep from falling backward.

“Mmm…”

It might have been a new form of torture. After a long while, the teasing kiss ended, and his lips parted from hers. Unlike him, who seemed relatively fine, she gasped for breath to compensate for the lack of air. Her cheeks were wet with tears, and her mouth was smeared with saliva, not knowing whose it was.

“Do you want love?”