The Ruthless Circumstances of the Monstrous Duke - Chapter 16

As Luna whined anxiously, Marienne whispered “Sorry” and put the puppy down on the cushion. Then she pointed to the floor covered with grass and flowers.

“This is evidence that I healed the puppy. You know that, don’t you?”

The tobacco’s powerful analgesic and relaxing effects spread like poison.

Yet he became increasingly irritated and displeased with the beast inside him that kept rearing its head.

“Take it off.”

Marienne stood up abruptly with a dumbfounded expression.

“No!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Nigel threw away the tobacco and grabbed Marienne’s chin. Then he pushed her onto the bed and climbed on top of her.

“No?”

“I didn’t steal anything. And the talk of me being a spy is absurd.”

Nigel grabbed the front of her dress and tore it.

As her pale br*easts were exposed, Marienne struggled in shock.

But Nigel easily subdued her, pinning down her flailing wrists. Marienne’s chest heaved like a bird’s.

“Let go! I’ll take it off myself, so please let go!”

Ignoring her, Nigel roughly shoved his hand into her bodice.

Marienne twisted her waist in shock, but he paid no heed as he groped her chest and lowered his hand to her navel. Then, without so much as a twitch of his eyebrow, he lifted her skirt and thoroughly ran his hands over her thighs and between her legs.

Marienne finally gave up and endured, gritting her teeth.

When his hand withdrew, Marienne opened her eyes and shouted sharply.

“If you’ve checked, let me go!”

“You…”

Still pinning Marienne’s wrists, Nigel leaned down.

At a distance where their noses almost touched, they glared at each other.

“What makes you so confident? What makes you so righteous that you act out without knowing your place? You should be groveling, and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

“The one who should be begging is you, Duke.”

A bitter sneer spread across his lips.

“Disgusting, nauseating. People like you who live off the misery of those in despair.”

Marienne thought of Mrs. Rose, who had secretly sold healing arts to make money.

And the man who had vented his frustration, and the woman who had clung to him holding her dying child.

She couldn’t bring herself to say that she bore no responsibility for those events.

“Still, I saved your life. And I didn’t ask for anything in return.”

“You can’t even imagine how wretched my life has become because of you.”

Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Luna put her front paws on the bed.

She barked loudly, calling for her master, but to no avail. She brought her puppies one by one and placed them on the disheveled red hair.

Because both her beloved master and the fragrant woman smiled when they saw her puppies.

One, two, and then three, four.

The sleeping youngest was placed especially close to the woman’s cheek so the master could see it well.

Then she nuzzled and burrowed into her master’s side. In their own way of comforting since he was young.

Nigel, drained of energy, let go of the wrist he was holding and sat up.

Marienne curled up, covering her chest with both arms.

“The moment you saved me, you already became mine. Your petty skills, that body. So don’t rebel and act arrogant beyond your station.”

Nigel took off his robe and threw it at the trembling Marienne.

“Get out.”

After glaring at Nigel, who turned his back and lit another tobacco, Marienne put on the robe and rushed out of the bed.

As she fled helplessly, a bold thought suddenly crossed her mind.

She couldn’t leave like this.

To the Duke, she was just a vulgar person who sold healing arts anyway.

He wouldn’t believe anything she said.

Then, couldn’t she be a little shameless for her bleak future?

Marienne turned back resolutely.

Nigel, sprawled in a chair smoking tobacco, wasn’t surprised to see Marienne return.

Rather, he felt excited.

What kind of monster was she hiding under that pretty mask, and when would she show it?

Marienne clutched the collar of the robe and opened her mouth with difficulty.

“I need money. Give me what the employees receive too. If you want to own me, you should write a proper contract. Isn’t that right, Master?”

With narrowed eyes, Nigel blew out smoke and raised the corner of his mouth.

* * *

Aaron Ballock walked hurriedly, holding his splinted arm.

It ached with every step, but he couldn’t lie down comfortably because of his lord.

To rebuke Count Godwin, the Emperor’s right-hand man, and even kick away the engagement pledge!

Perhaps because of this, the Count had notified that he would be away from the castle for a few days, using the excuse of receiving invitations from other families.

I know he has no intention of marrying.

He hasn’t even looked at women, let alone romance.

But the situation has changed.

Now that we’ve found an excellent healer, isn’t it possible for him to marry and continue the lineage?

Why does my lord insist on darkness instead of following the light!

I should strongly recommend the engagement with the imperial princess this time.

Who knows? He might even hold the imperial scepter one day as the Emperor’s son-in-law!

Aaron entered his lord’s bedroom confidently.

“Your Grace! Did you know that the Count has moved to accept an invitation from the Dramont family?”

Calling out loudly for his lord, Aaron encountered an unexpected person.

“Miss Rose?”

Marienne, wearing a man’s robe, lowered her already bowed head even further. Then she passed by the bewildered Aaron and left the room.

What’s going on here?

Aaron forgot the pain in his aching arm and rushed to the bed.

He blinked, alternately looking at the bed that had become a playground for dogs and his lord, who could neither be considered to be dressed nor undressed.

“Your Grace?”

“When did they say he’d return?”

Aaron, who had been racking his brain to grasp the situation, answered promptly.

“Ah, the Count? It’s expected to be three or four days. Though he says it’s an invitation from the Dramont family, it seems to be aimed at meeting with nearby pro-imperial families. It could also be a demonstration against Your Grace due to the strained engagement.”

“What about the spy matter?”

“We’ve obtained all the information we could, so as you ordered previously, we’ve dealt with them.”

Glancing sideways at his lord, Aaron cleared his throat unnecessarily.

“With Miss Rose… did you have a good time?”

The corner of his lord’s mouth, who was leaning his head against the chair’s backrest, rose crookedly.

What could that suspicious smile mean?

Is it affirmative, negative, did they do it, or not?

Aaron decided to think as he pleased.

“It seems you’ve realized the necessity of Miss Rose, even though you disliked her so much. That’s great. Let’s make her your bella at this opportunity. It might be a bit awkward right after receiving the engagement pledge, but it shouldn’t be a problem. The imperial princess has had a bella for a long time too. Though it’s a bit concerning that he’s Count Godwin’s ward.”

Aaron pulled the tobacco from his lord’s lips.

“How many have you smoked? Now that Miss Rose is here, you should reduce these remedies.”

Nigel raised his eyebrows in displeasure, but Aaron pretended not to notice and stubbed out the tobacco in a pewter dish.

“About Miss Rose. Whatever conditions we set, she’s in a desperate situation, so she’ll accept them.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Pardon?”

“She’s the one who proposed the contract.”

“I thought she’d be in tears for a while, but she’s quite quick with calculations. Well, she did live rather shrewdly, pocketing money with her healing arts.”

Aaron took out a shirt from the wardrobe and handed it to his lord, who was heading to the mirror.

“How did you respond to Miss Rose’s proposal?”

Aaron felt worried all of a sudden.

Isn’t he the eccentric who refused even the imperial princess that men dream of?

Moreover, he’s pushing away even Miss Rose, who could be his helper, so maybe it’s my lord who lacks a sense of reality.

“Surely you didn’t kick away the fortune that rolled in on its own?”

“If she wants compensation for saving me, I should give it.”

“That’s a wise decision!”

Aaron smiled with relief as he stood by Nigel, who was getting dressed.

“Even when falling into the abyss, one needs travel expenses.”

* * *