Chapter 2.4

He exceeded all expectations. As the rumors said, Knight Commander Caron Perschtmann was a perfect gentleman. Perhaps because of his impressive physique, he looked strikingly handsome in his crisp blue uniform and cloak.

Even among blondes, the Duke’s hair seemed to shine more brilliantly. His green eyes, reminiscent of the sea, were dazzlingly bright, leaving Abel staring blankly at his face in awe.

Meanwhile, Caron, as soon as the Strauss young lady entered the room, began to scrutinize her intently.

“You are the Strauss young lady? The only daughter, I hear?”

When he didn’t feel the same sensation as yesterday, the Duke asked sharply, and the flustered Abel hurriedly lifted her skirt and belatedly offered a greeting. She’d been so captivated by the Duke’s looks that she forgot her manners.

“Ah, it’s an honor to meet you! I am Abel, only daughter of the Strauss family.”

As the Duke stared at her, as if trying to confirm something, Abel grew embarrassed and turned her head slightly to the side.

“Hm, come closer.”

From the start, the Duke’s expression was unfriendly, and he rudely used informal speech. At the time, even the highest-ranking men were expected to use formal language with a lady, but Caron, who had never dated and was used only to the strict hierarchy of the military and politics, was domineering and overbearing from the very first meeting.

“Ah, yes.”

Frightened, Abel hurried forward to him. Caron frowned at her behavior. This wasn’t the brash attitude from yesterday. As the woman came closer, his suspicion grew even stronger. The scent coming from her was definitely different from yesterday.

‘Is it because she used perfume? It’s not the fruity smell from before.’

From Abel, who approached nervously, there was a strong, luxurious scent of roses. Caron quietly watched the woman, who came close and lowered her head shyly.

He noticed the white nape of her neck. Seeing her spotless, clean skin, Caron felt even more doubtful.

He remembered vividly how he had kissed and licked the woman’s whole body all night long. The memory of biting and licking her neck countless times in excitement was clear—there was no way it could be so clean now.

“Raise your head.”

At his cold command, the frightened Abel quickly lifted her head.

“!”

Now Caron was even more certain. Her eyes were the same violet as yesterday, but something was very different. They didn’t have the same lively sparkle as before.

“Hmm……”

Caron frowned and, after a moment of thought, grabbed her chin and lifted it forcefully.

“!”

Abel trembled in fear as he held her chin. Caron’s hot breath came close. Terrified, Abel closed her eyes.

His breath slipped between her slightly parted lips. Abel trembled, feeling a strange ecstasy, and opened her mouth wider.

But the dreamy moment of the kiss was brief. Caron, having confirmed something, immediately pulled away. Abel, feeling the sudden cold after the heat, looked up at him.

Her face was as red as a beet. In contrast, Caron’s face was cold and frightening. He was now angry.

“…No, it’s not.”

“…Pardon?”

Abel, not understanding, replied in a daze, unable to recover from the shock of her first kiss.

“Tell me the truth. Is this really your first time meeting me?”

“…Yes.”

Only then did Abel, suddenly terrified, barely manage to stand on trembling legs. Something was definitely wrong. She only knew she’d missed her appointment with the Knight Commander due to food poisoning yesterday—did something go wrong?

“If so, then who was the woman who used your name yesterday? Do you know anything about her?”

Caron’s cold face came close as he pressed her with persistent questions. Only then did Abel snap out of her fantasy. The handsome Knight Commander’s face was now chillingly cold and frightening.

“Ah, I…I don’t know.”

She hadn’t heard from Madame Boris since, so she had no idea what had happened. What exactly had gone wrong? What was the Duke trying to find out?

Caron looked down at the pale, sickly young lady before him, then abruptly turned his head away. That cunning look from yesterday’s woman was definitely not there.

It was clear this clueless young lady knew nothing. For a moment, he felt insulted, and anger flared up inside him. That cheeky woman must have impersonated another name and dared to toy with him.

“Leave now.”

Caron, his face twisted in anger, gave a cold order to leave. Abel, nearly suffocated by the chill in the room, staggered out as if fleeing.

She didn’t know the reason, but this man looked like he could kill someone at any moment. She was too scared to stay.

“Commander, are you all right?”

After the young lady left, the butler Volteman came in and asked cautiously. Caron’s expression looked quite bad.

“I’ve been tricked.”

“…Pardon?”

“Yesterday, my chastity was stolen.”

Caron let out a heavy sigh and poured himself a drink from the bottle on the table. He rarely drank while working, but now he looked truly miserable.

“What do you mean, Your Grace? Your chastity… stolen?”

Volteman looked Caron up and down—Caron was much bigger and more imposing than him. What kind of woman could steal such a man’s chastity?

“Hoo, there’s no point hiding it from you. I’ll be honest.”

Caron gave a bitter smile and poured himself another drink. His proud brow furrowed even more.

“Yesterday, a woman pretending to be the Duke’s young lady approached me and drugged me. She knew I liked black tea, so she must have prepared it in advance. I wasn’t in my right mind, drugged.”

“What? So yesterday… you met a mysterious woman and…!”

The butler asked again, sounding very surprised. He’d thought the Duke had gone out for fresh air alone yesterday.

Caron downed another drink, grinding his teeth in frustration.

“We must find that b*stard Joseph, who set this up. This was definitely a planned crime. He must be charged with fraud and theft of chastity.”

Since Joseph arranged the meeting, he would be held responsible. And, through him, the woman who participated in the crime must also be found.

“Ah, no way… So you were tricked, and your chastity…!”

Hearing Caron’s words, Volteman cried out in shock again. Who would dare drug and steal the chastity of the Empire’s greatest Knight Commander, Duke Perschtmann? They must have a death wish!

“Then perhaps a woman who admired you spent money to get close. She could have bribed the guild master to do such a thing…!”

It was pitiful to think someone admired the Commander enough to do this, but a crime is still a crime, so punishment was unavoidable.

“Hmph, we’ll know for sure once we catch and question them.”

Caron laced his fingers and propped his chin, a cruel smile on his lips. She had to be caught. He would decide later how to punish her.

“How will you find the culprit?”

Volteman asked, considering another possibility. If this incident hastened the Commander’s marriage, that might not be so bad.

“Start by investigating the young ladies who sent marriage proposals. She will be caught. No, she can’t help but be caught.”

Putting down his glass and propping his chin, Caron began to smile cruelly again. The woman who stole his chastity would be caught—because, for generations, his family’s genes had always been the same.

Whenever they had relations, pregnancy was guaranteed. Not once in a hundred years had a child not been conceived. A hundred years ago, his grandfather had tried to test this and, within twenty years, had fathered more than twenty children, including twins.

Later, a powerful mage was invited to verify this, and it was concluded that their family produced a special seed that could impregnate any fertile woman—and even infertile women. Caron was very proud of his family.

“And starting today, investigate all unmarried young ladies in the area. Especially any who are unmarried and pregnant—she is the culprit.”

After a night of wild passion, Caron knew for sure. He was a first-timer, but so was she. That meant among unmarried young ladies, someone would soon show signs of pregnancy, and such rumors would be hard to hide—so the culprit would be caught.