| Chapter 26

Damian’s long strides suddenly came to a halt. I saw him lightly sigh and rub his brow.

“I’m saying this just in case.”

Damian looked down at me with narrowed eyes and spoke.

“…You shouldn’t say such things to just anyone.”

What an obvious thing to say. I replied with my eyes wide open.

“You’re the only person I’d willingly offer my room to, Damian.”

Another long sigh escaped through Damian’s teeth as he stared at me blankly. Shaking his head, he widened his stride again and left the library. As we walked side by side in the corridor, I tried hard to find something, anything to talk about.

“By the way, is it okay not to see my brother before you go?”

“There’s no need for that. I didn’t announce my arrival.”

“But according to etiquette, it’s principle to inform the host when a guest enters or leaves the house. Does Nina know you’re here then?”

“No. I didn’t come in through the door.”

“Then how did you come in?”

At my surprised question, he smiled mischievously and whispered.

“Through the chimney, through the cracks in the door, from all directions. I seep in like smoke. There are no barriers to that, you see.”

I perked up my ears at his sweet tone, like he was reciting some verse. I wanted to memorize it and look it up later.

As I followed him eagerly with sparkling eyes, my ears suddenly detected a strange sound. Damian’s steps also slowed down, as if he had heard the same thing.

“Ah, ah, hic, Baron, my lord, haaah!”

What rang out between the clanging of metal tableware was a woman’s thin moans.

It wasn’t difficult to recognize who the voice belonged to. Although it was more delicate and higher than usual, and full of sticky coquetry.

My momentary unpleasant feeling towards her was quickly overshadowed by the realization of who was beside me, and all my nerves stood on end to the point of pain. My heart felt like it was about to burst, and it seemed like all the heat in my body was rushing to my face.

As I stood frozen, not daring to even think of turning around, Damian suddenly moved. Before I could turn my gaze, his two hands were already covering my ears and turning my body around. His clear eyes, cool and clean, looked at me from right in front of my nose.

I could feel his breath. A hot sensation washed over my entire body through his hands covering my ears. It felt like my heart would finally jump out of my mouth. His voice, as our eyes met, hummed softly.

“Where’s your room?”

Unable to even blink, I stiffly moved my hand as if being controlled by someone and pointed in the direction. Damian nodded.

“Run there. Don’t look back.”

Laurel’s moans attacked through the gap when his hands covering my ears loosened. Just before his hands fell away completely, I grabbed one of them. As Damian hesitated, about to step back, I looked him straight in the eye and threw out my words.

“Don’t forget your promise.”

His clear green eyes wavered. He seemed to smile faintly.

“Make sure to apply the medicine to your neck well.”

Seeing him nod briefly with a slight smile, I turned my body. Pretending not to notice the intertwined figures of two people that flashed in my vision, I started running.

I would have run even if told not to. Because if I had stayed any longer, my heart would have burst and I would have died.

* * *

“Ah, ahh! It’s too big, Baron Kirhin! Oh, it feels so good, aah!”

Exhaling a heated breath, Kirhin slapped Laurel’s exposed white b*ttocks. The sensation of the woman’s soaked insides squirming with his movements felt good, but she was too noisy.

He had seen her working as a maid at some banquet once or twice before. He remembered making a tasteless joke and receiving a proper response. Most maids would either blush and run away or boldly seduce him when he teased them.

So he thought she’d resist a bit more, but to his surprise, after drinking a few glasses of wine earlier, she had come onto him, batting her eyelashes and pressing her chest against him. Kirhin thought it was impolite to refuse a woman who approached him regardless of status, but of course, he had his preferences. He probably wouldn’t take this woman to bed a second time.

More importantly, Lucy seemed a bit upset. That brat, not understanding her brother’s deep thoughts and getting sulky after being scolded once. Even after buying her such a precious gift.

“Ah, yes, th-there, hnngh!”

The woman’s body, starting to cry, was drenched in pleasure and gushed out her love juices. Frowning, Kirhin roughly wiped his wet hand on the woman’s clothes. Just as he was thinking of finishing up and raised his head while leaning on the table, a scream suddenly burst from his mouth.

“Uwaaaaagh!”

“Kyaaah!”

Startled by Kirhin’s sudden movement away from her body, Laurel screamed as well. Both of their gazes simultaneously fell on the shadow leaning against the wall.

Laurel looked the man up and down while covering her br*asts, which were clearly visible through her loosened dress.

She had never seen such a handsome man before. He was as tall as a pole, with shoulders as broad as a field, and his straight, distinct features exuded dignity. Her lower abdomen, which had just been holding Kirhin’s m*mber, instinctively twitched.

“Wh-why are you there, uh, since when were you there……”

“Put that unsightly thing away first. I feel like I’m going to vomit.”

In truth, it wasn’t a size that would be called unsightly anywhere, but the flustered Kirhin hurriedly pulled up his pants. The manhood that had been stiffly erect, on the verge of cl*max, was now losing strength and drooping. Kirhin asked hastily.

“What brings you here? Has there been a change in the schedule?”

“The schedule remains the same. I just had something to say.”

Seeing him gesture with a frowning face, Kirhin approached awkwardly.

“From now on, do such acts only in the bedroom. There are people who shouldn’t see this, you know.”

Lars’ low voice seemed to scrape down his spine ominously. Kirhin shook his head with an awkward smile, as if protesting.

“People who shouldn’t see this? There’s no one in this mansion who would be surprised by such things……”

Seeing Lars’ sharp gaze gradually harden coldly, Kirhin belatedly remembered something and was shocked.

“Lucy didn’t see this, did she?”

“Three days from now. Don’t forget.”

Lars, narrowing his brows as though this much conversation was already sufficiently unpleasant, turned and walked away, his cape fluttering. Kirhin watched his retreating figure, then let out a long sigh and messed up his hair roughly.

“Ah, why of all times, no, I was sure she had gone to her room to rest!”

Seeing his suddenly irritated attitude, Laurel, who had adjusted her clothes, cautiously approached. Her gaze was following the shadow of the man who had already disappeared.

“Was that gentleman a guest?”

“Never mind. Nina, prepare a room for the guest. She’ll be working as Lucy’s tutor.”

Watching Kirhin wave his hand dismissively and disappear as if he had no intention of continuing, Laurel was left standing alone. Nina, who appeared shortly after, led the way with a brusque and overbearing expression.

“Follow me. I’ll show you to your room.”

Despite the clear contempt visible on her stern face, Laurel didn’t question it. She knew well that she wasn’t in a position to speak up. But she couldn’t contain her curiosity.

“That person from earlier seems to be the Baron’s friend. I was so surprised when he appeared without any sound……”

“The master has already told you.”

Nina, standing straight, turned to her with an expressionless face and said,

“It’s not something you need to know about.”

Rebuked, Laurel lowered her head with an embarrassed expression. She looked dejected, but her eyes were intently fixed on Nina’s back as she turned and walked away.

* * *

I opened the book, but the words didn’t register. The touch that had covered my ears and the breath I had felt close by were vividly dominating my mind.

I tried not to let Laurel’s excited moans mix with those precious sensations, but it wasn’t easy. They had happened simultaneously.

Kirhin might be involved in this matter. Would he answer if I asked him?

I unconsciously frowned and shook my head.

I knew he was a womanizer, but actually encountering such a scene made me feel unclean and uncomfortable. I didn’t want to face him for a while.

…But if not Kirhin, where else could I get information?

As I stood with my arms crossed, biting my lip, I heard someone knocking on the door.