Karsten cut Fedriol off sharply.

At that, Fedriol’s expression turned distinctly displeased.

“Never?”

“Yes. Forgive my lack of courtesy, Your Highness.”

“You’re quite firm about this.”

The easy composure on Fedriol’s face vanished in an instant.

Fedriol and Karsten exchanged tense, wordless glances.

“Let’s end this here, both of you. Brother.”

Gabriel finally stepped in, unable to watch any longer, and tried to mediate between the two.

“The Duke’s concern for his sister is admirable.”

Gabriel said, casting Karsten a subtle look. The atmosphere, which had felt ready to explode, eased slightly.

“Well, I should be going now. Still, think it over, Duke.”

Fedriol said as he stood up.

“For your sister to become the wife of the future Emperor of this empire—surely, that’s not a bad offer?”

With that, Fedriol left the parlor.

Watching him leave, Breti let out a small sigh of relief.

“Tsk.”

At the sound of Karsten clicking his tongue in annoyance, Breti’s shoulders tensed up.

“Don’t worry too much, Lady. My brother’s jokes often go too far.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Breti’s tense shoulders relaxed at Gabriel’s words, and a faint smile returned to her lips.

Karsten watched the brief moment when their gazes met.

With a deep frown, he fixed his eyes on the two of them.

Then Karsten placed a hand on Breti’s shoulder.

“Laterna, go upstairs now.”

“Yes, brother.”

Breti rose from her seat and gave Gabriel a polite bow before leaving the parlor.

Both men’s eyes followed her as she walked out.

When the door finally closed, Gabriel looked away first.

But Karsten’s gaze remained fixed on the closed door.

‘Karsten…’

Did he always have that kind of expression?

Gabriel couldn’t shake his confusion as he studied Karsten’s face. He’d known him for nearly twenty years. In all that time, Karsten had never shown any real interest in anything.

The only exception had always been his sister. Even when he could barely take care of himself, his devotion to his sister had been so intense that everyone around him was left speechless.

‘But those eyes…’

That wasn’t the way a man looked at his sister. It was the gaze of someone harboring feelings for a woman.

‘Am I just being too sensitive…?’

As Gabriel continued to watch Karsten stare at the closed door, he asked quietly,

“Why don’t you just make your sister my fiancée, Karsten?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden, Gabriel?”

Karsten snapped back instantly, and Gabriel replied with a sheepish smile.

“At least if she were my fiancée, my brother wouldn’t have any excuse to bother her.”

“No.”

Karsten’s answer was just as sharp as it had been when Fedriol made his suggestion earlier.

“My sister has already suffered enough out in the world. I just want her to have a peaceful life.”

Though it sounded as if he was only worried about his sister’s well-being, Gabriel still couldn’t shake his uneasy feeling.

‘Why does it feel like he’s jealous over a woman?’

Gabriel took a sip of his tea and asked quietly,

“Karsten, you’re not hiding anything from me, are you?”

“……”

Karsten gave no answer to his question.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

That night, the thin drizzle that had started in the late evening soon turned into a heavy downpour.

Breti had just gotten into bed when there came a quiet knock at her door.

“Who is it?”

She asked, but whoever was outside didn’t reply.

Maybe they hadn’t heard her over the sound of the rain. Breti got out of bed and walked toward the door.

Just as she was about to open it—

“…!”

The door burst open, and Karsten appeared, disheveled.

“Y-Your Grace. Why are you—”

“Did you want to become the Crown Prince’s woman?”

With a loud bang, Karsten slammed the door shut, trapping Breti between the door and his body.

“What are you—”

She tried to slip away, but it was impossible to free her wrists from his grip.

He leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered.

“Breti, do you know something?”

“…?”

“You drive me insane.”

There was a dangerous gleam in Karsten’s voice.

“You make me so mad I can’t even recognize myself anymore. It’s because of you, Breti.”

“Wh-what did I—”

“What am I supposed to do with you?”

He pressed his lips deeply to the line of her exposed neck.

“Y-Your Grace!”

“You’re not going anywhere…”

“Ugh…”

“Should I lock you away?”

The rain lashed harder against the windows.

“S-stop, ah…”

Breti’s breaths were swallowed up by the roar of the rain.

In a sudden motion, Karsten lifted her into his arms and laid her on the bed, claiming the space above her.

On that rain-soaked night, Breti could only let out faint whimpers as she struggled to push Karsten away, desperate to resist the way he was exploring her body.

But Karsten’s lips refused to leave her collarbone. If anything, her resistance only made his kisses more persistent and demanding.

“Ah…!”

The tingling sensation that started in her lower belly slowly crept upward, soon flooding her entire body.

Breti clutched the bedsheet, trying to shake off the sensations overwhelming her.

Everywhere Karsten’s lips touched her skin, it felt as if she were being branded by fire—hot, almost burning.

She barely managed to stifle another moan as the heat threatened to spill over.

Yet Karsten’s hands roamed her body with bold, unrestrained intent, as if to tease her further.

All Breti could do was writhe weakly beneath his touch, her body squirming in response.

“Ah…!”

As Karsten’s hand slid smoothly down the curve of her waist and slipped between her legs, Breti’s back arched in a sharp, helpless arc.

A faint, satisfied smile crossed Karsten’s face as he watched her reaction.

“You say stop, but your body doesn’t lie, Breti.”

“Ah, p-please…”

The words begging him to stop never made it out—she had to swallow them back.

His shameless hands left her feeling limp, like a towel soaked through with rainwater.

“Jena.”

“Mm….”

Karsten pressed a gentle kiss to Breti’s hair as he called her by her middle name.

“My little bird, Jena.”

“Ah…”

‘Has my middle name always sounded so sensual?’
‘Or is it just because it’s coming from Karsten’s lips?’

Whatever the reason, whenever Karsten said her name, it always seemed to take on a provocative edge.

Karsten’s hands moved even more boldly across her body.

“Y-Your Grace, w-wait—”

She’d melted in his hands before, but tonight felt different. The way he was pressing her, more relentless than ever, sent a tingling sensation from her navel all the way through her body, making her tense up sharply.

Karsten noticed the difference and smiled.

“You’re being beautiful again.”

“Mm…”

“But don’t be too beautiful.”

His p*nis, hot and hardened, brushed against Breti’s delicate skin, making her tremble at the thought of how big it was.

“My patience is wearing thin.”

Breti’s cheeks flushed bright red.

Why was it? Where did the heat burning in his gaze come from as he looked at her now?

“Don’t you realize how desperate I am to have you right now?”

Karsten’s hands, which had been toying with every part of her, now brushed against her eyes.

“What do I have to do to make these eyes cry?”

His hands, hotter than even her feverish eyes, cupped her face.

“Cry for me.”

There was a subtle madness in the way he demanded her tears.

“Cry for me, Breti.”

“Ah…”

Karsten now was nothing like the man he was by day. It was as if he’d become a completely different person—a beast consumed by a desire for every part of her.

During the day, he always treated her with indifference and coldness. Why was he only like this now?

‘Could it be…’

‘Is this the real Karsten—the man who desires me like this?’

‘I must be crazy.’

No one in their right mind would even think such a thing.

Realizing how reckless and selfish her heart was becoming, Breti squeezed her eyes shut.

‘Enough. You have to stop here, Breti.’

No matter how many relationships in the world might be considered right, this one was not.

Breti knew that well—because to him, she was only…

“My little bird.”

“Ah… n-no…!”

“My doll.”

Yes, a doll.

To him, she was nothing more than a stand-in—a doll meant to play the part of his sister.