Chapter 79

As soon as Baron Lakia left the office, Theodore quickly approached Meia and hugged her tightly. The face that had been cold and stern with Baron Lakia now seemed soft and melting like pudding, with an expression that seemed to drip with sweetness.

“Weren’t you out to greet Grand Mage Puring?”

“Yes, and then I met Baron Lakia. Master is currently in the underground prison.”

“Is that so?”

“He said he wanted to examine Luinz’s tongue a bit more. He also asked for dinner to be brought to the prison.”

“I’m really glad Puring came.”

When their eyes met, Theodore smiled brightly, as if something made him happy. He was already handsome, but when he smiled like that, even Meia’s lips couldn’t help but curve upwards. Theodore’s smile was incredibly charming, as if it punched the heart.

“Is the mousetrap set up well?”

At his question, the image of Baron Lakia’s sly face popped into Meia’s mind.

“It’s set up so well that it will catch them soon.”

“I will tell the rats to leave to drive them into the trap.”

Meia nodded with a smile.

“You plan to make the rats anxious.”

If he told those who hadn’t gotten what they wanted to leave, they would surely become anxious.

“When people get anxious, they tend to make mistakes, and that’s what I’ll target.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Lady Nordic wants to manage the household, Young Lady Nordic covets the position of Grand Duchess, and Young Master Ash has his eyes on you. On top of that, Baron Lakia is showing interest in you, my lover, which makes me very displeased.”

He hated the disgusting and vile rats looking at her. He wanted to pluck out those eyes that stared at her, scatter them on the street, and let people trample over them.

Theodore was already worried because all the servants in the Grand Duke’s house liked Meia.

He didn’t want to lose her gaze.

When they spoke to her, Meia would turn her gaze from him to them. He hated that immensely.

The rats who dared to look at her were also a problem.

Theodore felt as if he couldn’t die from the anger boiling inside him, even if all the blood in his body drained away.

But he was her lover. He was in a different position from others. He would hold a grand engagement ceremony with her. Theodore bent his large body to kiss her lightly.

Then he hugged her slender body tightly.

After stroking her beautiful silver hair, he kissed her again. A sweet scent brushed the tip of his nose.

“Lady Meia, you are my lover.”

‘The owner of my life. I’ll do as you say, go where you want me to. Just let me stay by your side.’

She spoke softly.

“You promised to call me Mei, didn’t you, Theo?”

“Understood, Mei.”

Meia, dazed, hugged Theodore, who was embracing her, and gently patted his back.

“Ugh.”

Theodore felt a strange chill near his waist from Meia’s touch and bit his lower lip.

As if he needed to restrain himself.

He released her body and took a deep breath.

Suddenly pushed away, Meia tilted her head and asked,

“Theo, what’s wrong?”

“Ha, it’s nothing.”

Looking at his eyes, which were even redder than usual as he breathed heavily, Meia reached out and caressed his lip line. The soft feel of his lips was pleasing.

At Meia’s touch, Theodore cupped her cheeks with his large hands and whispered in a voice full of heat,

“I love you, Mei.”

Confessing, he kissed Meia’s forehead.

His touch, as he caressed her long hair, was gentle and cautious. Trapping Meia between his arms, Theodore slowly covered her lips. He wanted to show all his heart and shower her with affection.

Every moment, he was grateful to have met her. If he could live without parting for a lifetime like this.

“My leash is held by you.”

Don’t break the leash and go anywhere.

He whispered as he kissed her cheek.

“Please don’t break the leash.”

With a possessiveness boiling like lava, his kisses began to grow hotter.

His large mouth, completely covering Meia’s lips, seemed as if it would swallow her whole, down to her roots.

If he continued kissing any longer, he felt like he would lose his reason.

Exercising tremendous self-control, Theodore hurriedly twisted his body and separated from her.

Showing flushed cheeks, he opened his mouth pitifully.

“Excuse me for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

Theodore hurriedly ran out of the office.

Meia watched his retreating figure with a bewildered expression, wondering, 

‘Why is he like that?’

*

Dinner time.

Despite the continuous serving of appetizing seafood dishes, Baron Lakia’s mind was elsewhere.

At the end of his gaze was Meia.

Meia was dining happily, savoring the juicy steak that melted in her mouth.

Baron Lakia was mesmerized by the sight.

“Ahem.”

Theodore’s cough brought him back to reality.

But not even a minute passed before Baron Lakia’s gaze returned to Meia.

He looked like someone who had wandered aimlessly in a barren desert and discovered an oasis. Baron Lakia’s eyes sparkled as he scrutinized Meia from her hair to her face.

Theodore was extremely displeased with the way he looked at her. No, anger was boiling inside him.

He had never felt such a dirty and uncomfortable feeling before. He was so angry it felt like his head would melt, erasing all thoughts.

Meia turned her head and asked Baron Lakia,

“Baron Lakia, do you have something to say to me?”

“No.”

“Then why do you keep looking at me?”

“I’m sorry, Lady Hatzbellua.”

“I accept your apology, Baron Lakia.”

She cut the steak, cooked with care by the chef, brought it to her mouth, and smiled brightly as she enjoyed the taste.

Similarly, Young Master Ash, who was also invited, looked at her with satisfaction, and Baron Lakia couldn’t take his eyes off her, causing Theodore’s mood to plummet.

“Young Master Ash, and Baron Lakia, why do you keep staring at my lover?”

Baron Lakia replied,

“Her beauty is out of this world, so my eyes kept going to her. I was disrespectful. I apologize, Grand Duke.”

Theodore’s eyes turned to Ash.

“I have the same reason as Baron Lakia. I was disrespectful. I apologize.”

Theodore smiled like a hungry beast discovering prey before him and said,

“People should not only be careful with their mouths. Baron Lakia, Young Master Ash.”

It was Theodore’s deadly warning not to look at his lover anymore.

After the meal ended, Baron Lakia met Ash in a quiet drawing room.

And upon hearing Ash’s absurd story, Baron Lakia’s eyebrows rose.

His brow furrowed deeply.

“Young Master Ash, what did you just say?”

“I would like a love potion that works on women. My mother said it’s a very good item for handling female slaves.”

“Who do you intend to use it on?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

Baron Lakia asked with cold eyes.

“There is a love potion that works on women. But it’s only used on slaves.”

The love potion is given to kidnapped slaves to prevent them from resisting or committing suicide.

The moment they take the potion, their bodies freeze like dolls, unable to move, but their minds remain clear.

As a side effect, some lose their minds after waking from the potion, and some slaves bite their tongues and commit suicide, but it doesn’t matter. They can just kidnap more people to make up for the lack of slaves.

“How can I obtain it?”

“Young Master Ash, tell me exactly who you intend to use the potion on.”

Ash remained silent. Baron Lakia was also uncomfortable with his silence.

“If Lady Meia becomes my woman, the Grand Duke will lose interest.”

Baron Lakia already guessed what he was thinking. And he was appalled.

Hearing Ash talk about using a love potion to do something to Lady Meia, Baron Lakia gritted his teeth.

“Do you know what will happen after giving the potion?”

“I know. She will become my slave.”

Baron Lakia looked at the ceiling and sighed, expressing his irritation.

“There’s no need for you to give the potion, Young Master Ash.”

“What do you mean?”

In response to Ash’s question, he laughed slyly and said,

“I mean, I’ll be the one to give the potion to Lady Meia.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Ash trembled with a pale face. It was a pitiful sight to anyone watching.

It was clear that Baron Lakia also wanted Meia.

‘She’s mine. I won’t give her to someone like you!’

Ash believed he had to be the one to have her.

“She’s mine.”

At his words, Baron Lakia laughed. It was a vulgar laugh that anyone would find offensive.

“Haha, Young Master Ash, your possession? Are you saying this in your right mind?”

“I’m saying it in my right mind. Baron Lakia, aren’t you a married man?”

“I sold… I mean, I just had a funeral for my third wife who died. So I’m in a position to marry again. I’ve decided on Lady Meia as my fourth wife.”

Ash clenched his fists and began to tremble.

“I’ll take care of giving the potion, so don’t concern yourself with my fourth wife and leave.”

Ash’s face twisted into a grimace.

He had been excited about obtaining the potion from Baron Lakia and dragging Lady Meia to bed.

But suddenly, Baron Lakia declared her as his fourth wife and told Ash to leave, saying he’d take care of her himself.

This was something he could never tolerate. It was a reality that should never happen.

Ash needed to find a way…