“What? How……”
A short gasp escaped Ariel’s lips as she looked at him with a puzzled expression. She realized what proof he wanted when she saw Kaius looking at her body while leaning against the headboard.
Though she had resolved countless times not to refuse him, she never imagined a situation like this would arise. As she hesitated, not knowing what to do, Kaius’s gaze gradually sank.
“It’s hard to wait long.”
Ariel’s eyes filled with utter confusion and fear as she looked at him with a pale face. Kaius’s smiling face showed no emotion.
“Just you, Duke…”
Ariel’s hands were tightly twisting the hem of her nightgown as she struggled to speak.
“Ariel, proof is something you do yourself.”
With those words, spoken like a sigh, Kaius fell silent again. Though it was boring, there was no reason not to wait. The pleasure of her coming to him on her own would be even greater.
Resigned, Ariel moved a little closer to his side. Her face was already flushed red as she raised her knees to be at eye level with Kaius. Mustering courage at the thought that a light kiss on the lips would somehow suffice, she supported herself on his shoulder and briefly pressed her lips to his.
“Again.”
At the low command, Ariel, red to her ears, squeezed her eyes shut and lingered a little longer on his lips. Seeing Ariel unable to properly kiss, Kaius erased all his doubts. Nevertheless, Kaius couldn’t let this situation pass.
“Again.”
Kaius’s voice sank even lower. Whatever the purpose, the pleasure of a woman who had only refused before now approaching on her own was quite great.
“We’re really not in a relationship that needs proof…”
Before those words could finish, Kaius swung his legs off the bed and nodded slightly. In the direction of his nod was the door leading to her bedroom. Not understanding the meaning, Ariel just blinked at him.
“You should go now. It seems that man is waiting. Even for me, a divorce after just one day would be a big blow, so let’s take some time. I’ll collect the penalty fee then too.”
Ariel was momentarily stunned by his cruel words spoken softly and quietly. As she blinked a few times and realized the meaning, Ariel hurriedly got off the bed and approached him.
Ariel said nothing, but once again braced herself on his shoulders and lowered her lips. It was quite different from just staying still earlier. It was a kiss that mimicked what he had done to her in the greenhouse. Her soft breath and scent gradually eroded Kaius’s reason.
That bastard outside the door is just crazy.
He concluded clearly. Though he wanted to enjoy Ariel’s clumsy kiss more, his body had already reached its limit. Kaius exhaled a controlled breath and laid Ariel’s body on the bed. Ariel, who had been at a loss for what to do next, was rather relieved by the weight of the man pressing down on her. Though instinctive fear made it hard to breathe properly, it was because she thought at least nothing like the past would happen.
Ariel tried to ask if her innocence had been proven, but Kaius didn’t give her the chance. Her mind went blank at his lips descending like a sudden attack and his hot touch. After that, all Ariel remembered was his rough breathing and her own unfamiliar moans. Indescribable novel sensations and pain so great it made her want to scream. His voice heard occasionally.
And when the bedroom regained its silence, his hand stroking her head…
After that was only darkness.
[This is the timeline separator]Ludvian, unable to let go of his lingering feelings, found himself pathetically ridiculous for peeking into the Duke’s bedroom.
He had gone over to have a brief conversation with the Duke, he told himself. The Ariel he knew was not a woman who would visit her husband’s bedroom with the purpose of spending the night. That’s why. The reason he turned back.
He should have left the moment he confirmed they were together.
Unable to resist a momentary impulse, he gently pushed open the terrace door, which was not locked. He didn’t know what he was trying to confirm. As the door opened slightly, and the faint sounds of a woman’s moans and a man’s rough breathing came through the gap, the blood in his entire body turned cold.
The woman who had remained cold towards him for over a year. How could she give everything so easily to Kaius von Elbartan? Was this the same woman who had even held a knife to her own wrist when he held her hand at the festival?
The terrible self-loathing sparked uncontrollable anger, and that anger was directed at Ariel. After the Duke died, he would have her, and when he lost interest, he would discard her.
He could even kill her.
And he would make the time until she came to him a path of thorns. Only by doing so did he feel he could forgive himself for being so swayed by this woman.
There was an item in the demon realm that could make this possible.
The Demon Realm Plant Guide.
Ludvian also began searching for that book Ariel was trying to find in the Brandt Library.
[This is the timeline separator]“Your Grace, I apologize for visiting at such an early hour.”
As promised, Devian visited the Duke’s mansion with the chef who would participate in the competition.
“It’s fine.”
Kaius slowly nodded and observed Baron Damian who had arrived with Devian. His composure even under Kaius’s gaze was quite impressive.
“Where is Lady Ariel?”
“We’ll meet at lunchtime.”
Kaius gave a calm reply as he briefly thought of Ariel who would still be asleep. Lowering the corners of his lips that had been gently curved, Kaius turned his gaze to Baron Damian.
“From now on, prepare for the competition in the afternoons, and the rest is free time. However, no going outside the mansion until we depart for the capital. Do you understand?”
“I understand well.”
“Butler Raymond will show you to your room.”
As Butler Raymond, who had been waiting on the side, took Damian and left the office, Devian’s gaze turned back to Kaius.
“Your Grace, I’m sorry.”
Despite Devian’s sudden apology, Kaius looked at him with a calm expression.
“Actually, to bring that fellow here, I only said he would learn from a woman, but I didn’t reveal that the subject was the Duchess.”
Somewhat sympathizing with Devian’s position, Kaius nodded slowly. He also knew well that the current situation was quite extraordinary.
“I understand. I’ll handle it.”
“And… Your Grace, could I also try that steak today after waiting? I’m really dying of curiosity too.”
“Next time.”
Caught off guard by the unexpected refusal, Devian was momentarily at a loss for words. If not others, he needed to know about the steak that would be entered in the competition. Wasn’t he the representative of Kaldenbach?
“When you say next time…”
“Lord Devian, why are you in such a hurry?”
Lemon, who had moved to Devian’s side, whispered quietly.
“You fool, how urgent do you think the situation is for me to be like this? I feel like I’ve lost 10 years of my life because of this competition.”
Sighing deeply, Devian once again looked at Kaius with desperate eyes.
“Your Grace, I need to know something to persuade the directors who come every day, don’t I?”
“Then come visit again before the competition.”
Those words seemed quite convincing, as words of permission fell from Kaius’s lips. Only then did Devian rise from his seat with a hearty laugh.
“Then, I’ll visit again soon. Your Grace.”
The sound of Devian’s cane tapping echoed cheerfully as he left the office.
As silence fell when the door closed, Kaius took out a cigar and lit it. Opening the window, air that cooled even his chest came in. Leaning against the window frame and exhaling smoke, his eyes fell on the greenhouse that looked empty.
It was a greenhouse without Ariel.
The image of her bustling around inside as usual came to mind.
“Ariel.”
He softly spoke the name of the woman who had now fully become his.
By the time silence returned to the bedroom, Ariel was lying with her back turned to him. Her breathing, which had been rapid, seemed to have calmed down somewhat as the rise and fall of her shoulders gradually subsided. The messy bed, bloodstains, traces of his frenzied actions were all left on Ariel’s body. It was the first time. The first time he had lost control of himself. Self-deprecating at his own behavior, Kaius let out a deep sigh.
Even that sound of breath seemed to startle Ariel, as her body stiffened with a jerk. Wanting to soothe her as she curled up in fear, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. The sheet she had been clutching slipped helplessly from her hand.
Ariel’s eyes, which she had been squeezing shut, opened cautiously, filled with anxiety and unease. When his hand touched her wet eyes, she squeezed them shut again, her shoulders trembling. Though her fear of what more he might do was irritating, the soft body in his arms and the fragrant scent were satisfying enough to erase that feeling.
Kaius’s gaze grew deep and calm as memories of the previous night came to mind. The long exhaled cigar smoke disappeared into the colorful autumn scenery.
“Ariel von Elbartan.”
Calling that name once more, something else seemed to well up in his chest, but he wasn’t sure of its nature. Was it just because of the obvious fact that he now had a wife that would eventually come, or was it the feeling of a man who had possessed the woman he desired, or was it something else?
Well.
Could anything else exist besides that?
______
In This Life, I Won’t Be Foolish To Lose You Again (Female-dominant)
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]