The next day, even after noon passed, there was no sign of anyone coming out of the Duke’s room. Even though the post-war cleanup was finished and all the matters here were perfectly sorted out, the knights who were waiting to return to Roizen had no choice but to idly stand by for the Duke’s orders since he wasn’t coming out of his room.

Not long after Chloe entered the Duke’s room, upon hearing the sounds that came out and seeing Mackle’s reddened face, Joyce prevented anyone from getting close to the Duke’s room. However, unlike the Duke’s residence, this temporary lodging wasn’t soundproofed that well and it seemed the noise from the Duke’s room could be heard farther than expected. In the end, the knights could only awkwardly glance at Sir Joyce, who occasionally showed his face, without being able to say anything.

“I knew the Duke was good at everything, but I didn’t know he’d be like that even with an injury to his arm.”

“Quiet, all of you.”

Joyce cleared his throat and shut them up. It wasn’t something that would be a big scandal, but considering Chloe Liden, he couldn’t just let them say such things since they weren’t even married.

Around 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the Duke ordered food to be brought to the room. Joyce personally took the food tray to the door and knocked. Recalling the last image he saw of the Duke, Joyce unconsciously thought Chloe Liden would open the door.

However, the person who opened the door and received the food tray was the Duke. Looking completely reinvigorated to the point it was doubtful if he was the same person as the one last seen yesterday. Reflexively scanning the room with his gaze as if searching for Chloe Liden without realizing it, Joyce momentarily furrowed his brows.

There was clearly something on the bed. Something tightly covered with a blanket.

Was that Chloe Liden?

“Joyce.”

At the Duke’s murderous voice, Joyce flinched and took a step back.

“You’d better not try to look at the woman in my bed with those eyes ever again.”

“Ah! I apologize.”

Last night, even until this morning, despite clearly knowing what happened, Joyce had reflexively turned his head upon not seeing any trace of Chloe Liden. But Joyce’s back broke out in a cold sweat as he realized how big of a mistake that was.

“Disappear.”

A voice so cold that it felt like it was the first time hearing it, to the point that even murderous intent could be felt, flowed from the Duke’s mouth.

“Yes!”

Joyce retreated with his head still lowered, not even looking up. Realizing the tremendous possessiveness wolves had towards their fated pair, Joyce trembled in a rare moment.

“Chloe.”

“Mmm…”

“Chloe.”

“No…”

“What’s ‘no’, Chloe.”

What’s ‘no’? It’s not time to get up yet.

Chloe burrowed deeper into the blanket, scrunching up her face. But eventually she opened her eyes at the sensation of fingers pressing down on her furrowed brows, smoothing out the wrinkled part.

“Don’t make that face. It’s too cute.”

The Duke said, looking at her. Chloe’s eyes widened.

“Goodness, Your Grace, you really just say anything, don’t you?”

“Do I? I’m just being careful because I feel like I shouldn’t touch you anymore.”

Chloe let out a disbelieving laugh that caught in her throat, making her clear it. Her entire body, even her throat, was screaming.

The culprit who had worn her out like this was laughing as if enjoying the sight of her. He should be detestable, but she couldn’t bring herself to hate him.

“Have you no conscience? A person… no, are you not human? You wolf.”

“Hahaha! Sorry, but wolves originally have no conscience. Only instincts remain.”

“Wow, really, you were a real wolf.”

Chloe swallowed the curses she wanted to hurl at him, dumbfounded.

It was hard to believe the man who was now wearing neat clothes buttoned up to his neck, with a bright face and a refreshing smile, was the same man from last night until this morning.

Right now he was human, clearly in human form. But until this morning, he didn’t seem human. He was a beast wearing a human mask.

“Chloe, now have some food. Otherwise you’ll collapse. I need to feed you something, or else…”

As the Duke spoke, Chloe turned her head towards the table but then snapped her gaze back to the Duke’s face.

“Or else what?”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“Or else…”

The Duke, who had been brazen to the point of being shameless, this time avoided her eyes slightly.

“There is no ‘or else’! No ‘or else’!”

Chloe raised her voice, thinking of her body with all its muscles screaming. Absolutely impossible to continue.

Actually, the Duke had released her quickly last night. Saying it felt like she would break if he held her as he pleased. Despite his body still being hot.

Chloe could tell the heat in the Duke’s body hadn’t been completely relieved. She just felt it. So she had embraced the Duke and whispered.

“I’m not just human. I’m a tiger shapeshifter. So it’s okay to hold me more. Until you’re satisfied, Your Grace.”

The Duke had looked at her with questioning eyes but instead of asking for more details, he immediately pressed his body against hers. As if he had no luxury to ask such things. The movement was so desperate, it was a wonder how he had managed to let her go before.

“Why is there no ‘or else’? You’re a tiger shapeshifter.”

As expected, the Duke brought up yesterday’s conversation.

“Whether I’m a tiger or human, or whatever, there’s a limit. It’s enough doing that all night. Besides…”

Chloe glanced towards the door.

Did the sounds she made last night really not go past that door? When she came in yesterday, Sir Joyce was standing outside that door.

“I’m glad you’re not human. I liked it when you were human too, but I like it even more that you’re not. Because I don’t have to be careful about breaking you.”

“I will break. Even tiger shapeshifters can break.”

Chloe shouted in exasperation. This man seemed insatiable. She had rushed over because he seemed to be on the verge of death, but now that she saved him, he was rampaging like this.

“Alright. Now hurry and eat. Your face is half its size.”

The Duke said, caressing her face. In an instant, Chloe shut her mouth. The Duke’s touch felt so good that she no longer wanted to say anything.

However, she shouted and flailed as the Duke suddenly lifted her up like a baby.

“What are you doing?”

“It seems you won’t have strength in your legs. I’ll move you.”

Chloe closed her mouth. It did seem like she wouldn’t be able to put strength in her legs. And being held by the Duke didn’t feel bad somehow.

In one night, she felt about ten times closer to the Duke. Unlike before, it no longer mattered if the Duke’s actions towards her were out of love or not. Even if she had started it with one-sided love, now the Duke and her were each other’s fate.

“I love you.”

The moment the Duke tried to set her down on the chair, Chloe whispered in his ear. The Duke paused and looked at her.

“I love you, Hugrey.”

She said again, meeting his eyes. Even at Chloe’s confession, the Duke just silently stared at her face.

Did he dislike her calling his name? Chloe became a little timid at the Duke’s silence.

“You don’t like it? Should I not call you by name?”

“I’m sorry, but can you eat a little later?”

“Pardon?”

“Phew…”

The Duke sighed as if having a great dilemma and slightly furrowed his brows.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. Eat quickly. I’ll feed you quickly and…”

Chloe finally realized what the Duke had swallowed, what he was holding back.

Was his name a button?

Chloe vowed to never thoughtlessly call him by name again as she gulped. The Duke was an endlessly sensitive beast.

Hugrey, who had been watching over Chloe until she fell asleep in her room at the Duke’s residence, was lost in thought as he recalled the fact that she was the princess of the Tigrium Kingdom.

A tiger shapeshifter.

He finally understood why there was such a terrible smell in her mother’s room. It also made sense why the horses had such an adverse reaction to her. Chloe must have also smelled like a tiger, but it was strange that he didn’t notice it.

She claimed that she had chosen him. She declared that she loved him first, and even if his feelings for her were just because of the fated pair bond, she wouldn’t let him go.

Hah… How could there be a woman this lovely and cute? Who’s not letting go of whom?

Just before initiating the war at the border region with Schneider, he received Chloe’s letter sent by the Roizen butler. He had instructed in advance to immediately send any letters from her to his location. It was unfortunate that it arrived right before the battle broke out.

After reading that letter, he was so angry that, as Nathan had said, he nearly tore the Schneider bastards into tattered rags, losing his reason. Breaking his iron rule of never swinging his sword more than necessary.

He just needed to sever their breath. Mutilating corpses didn’t suit his taste or principles. However, the anger that rose to the top of his head was difficult to contain. Because he couldn’t immediately rush to her side and even kneel and beg because of these Schneider bastards. Because he had to fight these jerks and receive a letter like this from her. If it weren’t for these guys, he would have never left her side for a moment to prevent her from having such thoughts.

But what? She wouldn’t let go even if it was just a fated pair bond? Yes, please never let go of me until I die, Chloe.

You can even put a collar around my neck.

It was a miracle like a lie that she loved him first. But even if he believed her words, her belief that his feelings for her were just because of the fated pair bond was utter nonsense.