Chapter 15.1: Falling (Part 3)

Unaware of her true feelings, Kiern’s eyes darkened at her urgency. He swiftly laid her down on the rug, stripping off the remaining pieces of her clothing. Her bare body was displayed haphazardly on the rug, and Kiern, overwhelmed with excitement, undid his belt. Pressing his flesh against her soft body, incomparable to the texture of the rug, he began to suck on her chest.

As he caressed her curvaceous waist, Elizabeth let out a sharp moan. Enjoying her reaction, Kiern became even more relentless. From her chest to her navel and then to the bush he loved most, his lips traveled endlessly downward.

Her cl*toris, already stiff, trembled as his tongue brushed against it. When he bit down on that small, delicate bud and stimulated it, Elizabeth arched her back and gripped his hair. He teased her lower lips with his fingers while simultaneously stimulating her cl*toris.

It wasn’t until Elizabeth trembled as if reaching her climax that Kiern pulled his lips away. His mouth, glistening with her fluids, was intensely sensual. He wiped it roughly with his hand and adjusted his position.

He then thrust his *rect member into her entrance in one motion.

“Ahh!”

Having just reached her climax, the sensation of penetration was even more intense than usual. Elizabeth whimpered and clung tightly to his waist. Blocking his movements only served to provoke him further.

“Are you asking me to thrust into you?”

“No, that’s not… hnng!”

Like a dog in heat, Kiern grabbed her waist and began moving fiercely. Wet, obscene sounds filled the room as their joined bodies rubbed against each other. The stimulation scraping against her inner walls left Elizabeth half out of her mind.

“Hnnng, Kiern, ahh…!”

The more she clung to him and sobbed, the rougher Kiern became. Only when their bodies burned together did she reveal her emotions. In the past, reading her feelings had been so easy, but now, without such extreme stimulation, it was almost impossible.

This only made him more obsessed. Whenever he saw Elizabeth acting like a lifeless doll or wandering around like a ghost, Kiern couldn’t help but act like a dog in heat.

Though she seemed emotionless most of the time, when she embraced him, she appeared alive again.

Like a dog panting for its owner’s affection, Kiern pounced on Elizabeth. He was so overwhelmed that he didn’t even notice how much she hated it.

In this ruined relationship, this was the only thing that seemed genuine. Kiern held her, again and again, unaware that this was only further destroying their bond.

“Yes. Keep begging like that.”

“Hnnng.”

“I’ll give you as much as you want. Don’t just lie there like a corpse—react, Elizabeth.”

Kiern growled as he adjusted his posture. The intense pressure left Elizabeth gasping. His relentless thrusts stirred not just lust but also desperation.

Like a child crying out for attention from neglectful parents, Kiern clung to Elizabeth over and over. The growing distance between them was enough to blind and deafen him.

* * *

Elizabeth stared blankly out the window. Her expression was vacant, as if the rocking of the carriage had nothing to do with her. It wasn’t because she was sulking or resenting Kiern, who had roughly taken her into his arms only to leave abruptly.

She had long grown used to that.

He would push her to the brink where she couldn’t even lift a finger and then leave as if suddenly realizing reality. What followed—the maids tending to her, a comfortable bed, and a shower of gifts—seemed like a predetermined routine.

It was all so meaningless.

With Abigail’s birthday banquet three days away, she was on her way to the villa in advance. It had been a long time since she’d traveled such a distance. The Duke, who was both a kind master and a merciless man in reality, had no intention of leaving Elizabeth alone at Agaphel Castle.

Perhaps it was because of the incident where she nearly died that he didn’t want to let her out of his sight. Even if it was his fiancée’s birthday banquet, Kiern didn’t seem to care.

This only solidified Elizabeth’s resolve. Their relationship was far from healthy. Reflecting on her arrogance in thinking she could comfort him, Elizabeth was preparing for the end.

As soon as she resolved to die, she gained a freedom she hadn’t experienced before. It was as if Kiern was desperately trying to keep her alive.

But no matter how much fine food, clothing, or jewelry he gave her, Elizabeth only grew more lifeless. She couldn’t enjoy any of the freedom she was given. Instead, she wanted to distance herself from everything connected to him.

The more this happened, the more Kiern and Elizabeth occupied their thoughts with different things. It was almost laughable how he began to move only after she had given up on everything.

But no matter how hard he tried, Kiern couldn’t change Elizabeth’s heart. From the beginning, the two of them had never shared the same perspective. They had always been heading in opposite directions.

Elizabeth recalled Lady Anna, who had come to bid her farewell. Lady Anna, still disapproving of Abigail, spoke with an uncharacteristic firmness in her voice.

‘I’ll never understand why Kiern insists on taking you to that banquet.’

‘Madame…’

‘I’m not planning to attend that filthy banquet. I’m thinking of taking this opportunity to tour the Quarto Monasteries across the continent. Would you like to come with me?’

Knowing it was impossible, Elizabeth simply smiled instead of answering. Seeing this, Lady Anna’s worry seemed to deepen even more. She took something out from her bosom.

‘Keep this with you. If you ever visit any Quarto Monastery on the continent, just show this, and you can meet me.’

What she handed over was a rosary. A white pearl rosary that resembled her upright character. Elizabeth gladly accepted her sentiment. Even though she would never have the chance to use it at a monastery, she wanted to accept the thought behind it.

Having bid farewell to Anna, there was nothing left to sort out. Now, she felt she could depart without hesitation. Her previous impulsive suicide attempt had failed, but this time was different.

Elizabeth gazed once more at the scenery outside the carriage. The sea was now visible. The villa on the cliff by the sea offered a clear view of the blue ocean along the way.

The sound of the crashing waves was refreshing but didn’t ease her heavy heart. Her heart was too burdened for that. Elizabeth was slightly worried that the cliff might not be as high as she thought.

This time, she hoped she could meet death in one go.

Unaware of Elizabeth’s grim thoughts, Aena was snoring as she slept. Thus, Elizabeth was boldly preparing for her end.

During the height of the banquet, the guards would naturally be lax. The more splendid the party, the more Elizabeth’s presence would be buried.

* * *

Abigail’s birthday banquet was bustling with people from the start. Notable figures from the Kingdom of Yelhen gathered to celebrate her birthday. Amidst the busy greeting of guests, Abigail spotted Theo Kabil and acknowledged him.

“It’s been a while, Sir Theo.”

“Happy birthday, Lady Prairie. Thank you for inviting me to such an esteemed event.”

“You seem to have lost weight since I last saw you. I guess the rumors of your busyness were true.”

“Well, yes.”

Theo replied awkwardly, glancing around. Abigail quickly realized whom he was looking for.

It was unfortunate that he still seemed to have feelings for the woman soon to become the Duke’s second wife. Normally, she would have ignored it, but strangely, Abigail felt a softening in her heart. Perhaps it was because of James, who was deployed. She subtly mentioned,

“If you’re looking for Elizabeth, I sent her on an errand to the harbor. I remembered some ingredients we forgot.”

Hearing Elizabeth’s whereabouts, Theo made an embarrassed expression, bowed, and quickly disappeared. Abigail didn’t stop him, knowing where he was headed.

Abigail thought it would be nice to at least let them say goodbye.

<To be continued in Volume 3>