Leonard, his massive frame blocking the carriage door, replied with cold sarcasm.

“But the man who eventually became your husband is me.”

He ran a slightly irritated hand through his hair, tousling the perfectly black strands. Then he spoke again, his voice low.

“Valetta Irpman.”

It was a warning. A beast’s warning to its prey not to provoke it any further. A clear line drawn. And yet, even as he delivered that warning, he offered her kindness.

At that, Valetta’s mind flashed back to when things had been better between them. For a split second, warm memories flickered through her mind. It only hardened her expression.

“Get down.”

“No.”

“Whatever the process, the fact remains that you are legally my wife. And it’s only natural for a wife to live in her husband’s house. What part of that simple fact are you having trouble with? If anything, the one who is making it difficult… is you.”

“Me…?”

“You’re the one who’s rejecting a marriage that’s already been made.”

“I’d rather bite my tongue and die than be your wife!”

Leonard’s face twisted in anger beneath the mask. The hard wooden mask hid his expression, but it couldn’t hide the deepening gleam in his golden eyes. With a movement surprisingly quick for such a large frame, he climbed into the carriage – and in one smooth motion hoisted his bride over his shoulder.

“Kyah! W-What are you doing?!”

Valetta flailed, slapping at his back. She used all her strength to protest, demanding that he put her down – but her small hands had no effect on Leonard. For a man who had hunted dragons, her resistance wasn’t even child’s play.

“Put me down, I said!”

“Valetta Irpman.”

Though he said her name softly, each syllable landed with a crushing weight, as if ground out through clenched teeth. But Valetta couldn’t grasp the meaning of Leonard’s final warning – she was too humiliated to think. Slung over his shoulder like a sack of flour in front of everyone, she wanted to die of shame. At his gesture, the butler, Paul, belatedly stepped in to deal with the situation.

Leonard marched into the house with long, unyielding strides.

“Put me down! I said put me down!”

He passed through long corridors and up a flight of stairs until he reached a large bedroom. He kicked open the door, threw Valetta onto the bed, then walked back to the entrance and locked the door behind him.

Click.

At the sound of the lock, Valetta raised her head. The blood rushing to her head had made her dizzy – her body swayed slightly as she tried to regain her balance.

“W-What are you doing?!”

Her face grew pale. Her eyes darted quickly around the room she’d been thrown into. The heavy curtains, luxurious furniture and fine carpets made it unmistakably Leonard’s bedroom.

As soon as the door was locked, Leonard took off his mask and began to remove his jacket as he spoke.

“My wife has no respect for her husband.”

“You’re not my husband!”

“Oh? Then would you say it’s Eric Rigius instead?”

Leonard’s eyes narrowed. Despite the burning hue of his golden irises, his gaze was cold enough to freeze.

“At least.”

Valetta said, her voice trembling.

“It would never be you.”

Valetta shot up. Leonard, who had carelessly tossed his jacket aside, began to walk towards her – one step at a time. The closer he got, the deeper the shadow that fell over her, and with it a suffocating pressure that seemed to swallow her whole.

Instinctively, tension ran through her body and her shoulders stiffened. Unconsciously, she began to pull away.

“W-What… what are you doing?”

“It may be a little early, with the sun still up, but it seems you need to learn what it means to show respect.”

“What are you talking ab—kyah!”

As she backed away, her heel caught on the edge of the bed and she lost her balance. Her body fell backwards, swallowed by the soft mattress. Seizing the moment, Leonard climbed on top of her.

Holding her between his arms, he reached out and ran his hand through her golden hair. He looked like a teacher sighing before scolding a misbehaving child – reluctant to hurt something so small and fragile.

Or rather, he looked like a predator, slowly tightening his grip on the prey struggling in his palm.

“……”

“Valetta.”

He called her name, but Valetta couldn’t answer. The power emanating from Leonard was so overwhelming that it paralysed her.

Especially when her eyes met his – those cold, boiling golden eyes – it sent a chill through her entire body, a primal alarm sounding deep within her.

And yet she couldn’t look away. She knew instinctively – if their gaze broke, the hunt would begin. He would tear at her throat with sharp fangs and spill her blood without hesitation. It wasn’t even a thought – her body knew it as truth.

“You should answer me, Valetta.”

“…I-I…”

At Leonard’s second call, Valetta trembled inadvertently. His face gradually lowered towards hers, his breath brushing against hers. His distinctive scent reached her nose as he slowly leaned forward – until his lips finally met her trembling ones.

“Mm!”

Leonard began to kiss her roughly, his movements urgent and unyielding. Valetta pressed against his chest, but the harder she tried, the more aware she became of his solid, muscular build. Despite his strength and imposing appearance, his lips were surprisingly soft.

He bit down gently on her full lips, then ran his thick tongue along her lower lip. Valetta shuddered and used all her strength to push against his shoulders. Leonard responded with a crooked, amused grin. The hand that was not supporting his weight slid along the curve of her waist.

Valetta jumped at the sudden, intense sensation and instinctively parted her lips. Leonard took the opportunity to slip his tongue into the small opening.

“Mmgh!”

He moved past her lips without hesitation. His tongue traced the length of Valetta’s teeth. When she tried to close her mouth, Leonard stroked her side again.

Gasp.

Startled by the unexpected touch in a place no hand should reach, Valetta instinctively parted her lips. Like a startled young deer, her honest reaction caused Leonard to chuckle softly. That laugh provoked her.

As if it wasn’t enough that she’d been forced into a cursed marriage, now she was being played with – her pride was being utterly trampled.

A slap.

It wasn’t a particularly hard slap, but it was the sharp sound of skin meeting skin. It didn’t hurt, but it stung enough. What was burning wasn’t Valetta’s skin – but something deep inside Leonard’s chest.

His golden eyes shone fiercely from beneath his raised eyebrows. Valetta gasped, her lips wet with saliva.

“Haah, haah…”

Leonard, who had been holding her down, rose slightly. His head tilted slightly.

“My wife is…”

He began to unbutton his shirt, one button at a time.

“Y-you…!”

Once he had undone all the buttons, Leonard’s firm torso was revealed. His broad shoulders and thick chest were packed with solid muscle, without an ounce of excess.

Startled, Valletta asked.

“What are you doing?”

He replied with a grin.

“You must learn to respect your husband.”

With that, Leonard’s body came down over hers. His lips covered hers.

Startled, Valetta struggled to push him away, but he didn’t move. Leonard cupped her chin with one hand.

“Mm!”

Forced by the pressure, Valetta had no choice but to open her mouth. And once again, his tongue penetrated hers. It was a rough kiss.

Without the slightest hint of consideration or gentleness, Leonard explored her mouth, raking her palate, trapping her tongue, sucking on her lips like candy and nudging her cheeks.

Meanwhile, the hand that had gripped her chin moved to undo her clothes. Valetta’s eyes widened. The roughness of his probing hand was palpable.

The buttons on her dress fell off one by one. Valetta grabbed his hands and tried to stop him.

But Leonard’s hands were big – too big. Her small hands were no match for his brute strength. Instead, he grabbed her wrists and held them above her head.

“Mm!”

Both of her slender wrists were held in one of his hands, unable to move.

Valetta squirmed, trying to break free. The more she struggled, the harder Leonard’s kiss became. He sucked hard on her lower lip.

Valetta didn’t understand what was going on. She couldn’t understand why this man was trying to hold her and she couldn’t accept the situation.

“Mm!”

Stop it. Please stop.

She screamed out all the words that filled her mind, but Leonard silenced her completely. His hand held her head firmly in place, preventing her from moving. Her body felt weak and unresponsive. Valetta’s feet stamped, crumpling the blanket in a frenzy. Her golden hair fanned out across the white sheets.

With one hand, Leonard began to unbutton her dress, but then tore it roughly. The sound of the fabric ripping brought tears to Valetta’s eyes.

As each layer of clothing was removed, her face showed increasing fear and confusion. She couldn’t understand why she was trapped beneath Leonard, unable to comprehend the situation.

“Ugh.”

Leonard seemed to want to devour her. He explored every corner of her mouth – her soft inner skin, even the tip of her tongue – as if determined to savour it all.

While his attention was consumed by the kiss, her clothes were steadily removed.

The cool northern air touched Valetta’s bare skin. A large hand cupped Valetta’s b*ttocks. Leonard looked slightly surprised at the gentle touch.

Leonard’s face sank between the exposed front of her chest. His lips, soaked with his saliva, stopped Leonard.

“T-stop it! Please stop it!”

But Leonard had his way. His lips bit into Valetta’s br*ast in one breath. Her entire br*ast was crushed between his teeth.

“Huh!”

Valetta inhaled, extremely surprised by his actions and the sensation he felt on her skin. Leonard didn’t give Valetta a chance to adjust to the situation. He swept the tip of his tongue over the top of Valetta’s br*ast. As he did so, his hands dutifully brushed over Valetta’s skin.

“Huh! Stop, don’t do this to me… Don’t…”

It was a part of her body she had never imagined anyone touching, not even once – so the sensation that began there left Valetta flustered.

She inhaled sharply. He was sucking and stroking a place she had never dared to touch herself, without hesitation.

Leonard’s sharp breath, laced with mockery, grazed the sensitive skin of Valetta’s br*ast. As he licked her br*ast, he spoke.

“We are legally married. And the duty of a married couple is to produce a child.”

At these words, Valetta’s face turned pale. Her jaw quivered in shock and her teeth chattered audibly. Leonard stroked her cheek lightly with his fingertip.

“My bride is more innocent than I thought.”

“L-Leonard…”

“Yes. My name is Leonard. Leonard Carnies.”