Chapter 33

Episode 33

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“… He is a trustworthy person.”

“Why?”

“I can assure you on my name that Gray is a servant who will never betray you.”

Even in a situation where the Verdier family was on the verge of collapse, he was a servant who kept his position by refusing his pay. His loyalty could not be doubted.

“Guarantee it under the name of ‘Tisse’.”

The duke’s eyes lit up and he repeated her words. Chloe could clearly see what he wanted to confirm. As if emphasizing that the marriage is based on interests that do not contain any kind of affection, he must be suspicious of the duties and qualities of a duchess in her. Chloe clenched her fists and opened her mouth with a determined expression.

“I can swear in front of my deceased mother that there was nothing inconvenient between him and me that would concern the Duke.”

“It must be very sad for Gray Wilson to hear this now.”

“I clearly said no.”

The duke spat out at Chloe, who was furious with a frown on her face.

“Kiss me.”

“What?”

A fluttering snowflake stuck to her gaping red lips. Damien narrowed his eyes and continued speaking.

“Prove that your heart is as pure as the snow that is falling now. Then I’m willing to hire him. The pay is ten times what he received at Verdier Castle.”

“Duke. I have no desire to kiss the Duke now.”

“Then the poor servant will soon have to catch the train leaving Tisse.”

“Is there any reason he has to leave?”

“Are you sad?”

“Wherever Gray settles, it’s up to him.”

“The more my wife annoys me, the more certain he will have nowhere to go in Tisse. Unfortunately, in this kingdom, the duke’s authority takes precedence over the servant’s freedom.”

Something hot rose from Chloe’s chest. How could a person be like this? Is the duke secretly researching her to abuse her?

“… Do you enjoy tormenting me, Duke?”

Chloe let out a trembling voice, but Damien didn’t budge.

“It was not my intention to torment you, but I’m sorry that it was painful.”

The beautiful pythonic man revealed to her his pure white fangs.

“I think you will know what kind of kisses I like from experience.”

“… I do not know.”

“Try. That’s what you’re good at.”

The definition of kissing as a sacred act of soul to soul meeting has long since disappeared from within Chloe. It’s because of the savage man right in front of her eyes.

“Please lower your head a little.”

The Duke bent his chin slightly, looking happily at Chloe, who struggled to muffle her voice. Chloe lifted herself to the tip of her toes with one strong foot, but it was still not enough to make eye contact with him.

“A little more.”

“Do you have no hands?”

Chloe was now at the limit. Damien laughed silently as she defiantly tapped her cane and threw it into the snow. A person who is getting angry with all their might would only grow more upset when someone is laughing in front of them.

“My hands are fine, Duke.”

Chloe’s shaky hands clasped tightly against the collar of Damien’s shirt inside the coat.

“My lips?”

Here it is, you devil!

Chloe pulled him in with all her might and brought his haughty lips to hers. The venomous snake opened its mouth as if to welcome the prey that came into its feet. Snowflakes that had fallen on her face melted and her face became wet. Chloe closed her trembling eyes, biting her lip as Damien grinned and hugged her.

Thicker snowflakes flew against the background of the whitishly bright sky. In the distance, the bells of the chapel began to be heard faintly. Damien slowly released her only after the bells ringing in the quiet city struck six times, and the echo had disappeared.

“The effort is praiseworthy.”

The hood was stripped, exposing her flushed red cheeks, and her hair was completely messed up. Damien whispered, clutching Chloe’s hair, who was breathing heavily with her mouth open.

“The hottest kiss you’ve ever given is for someone else.”

His voice was hoarse and husky, and her blue eyes were dark as if swallowing her.

“Are you feeling so good and dirty?”

Chloe collapsed on the floor at the edge of the birch grove. As she looked at Damien’s back, leaving her behind and moving away, Chloe felt as if her whole body was on fire. She was sitting in the snow, her body trembling, but she didn’t feel cold.

She must have been ill. Chloe von Tisse will probably die early. Because of her legal husband and no one else.

***

Chloe paused the pen for a moment. She was forced to write nice words about an unwelcome person that her right shoulder, which she had given so much strength to, was stiff. No matter how much she was trying to reassure her father, she had a small concern that he might be suspicious because the exaggeration might have been too much.

‘No. Father will be delighted.’

Chloe felt her shin throb and frowned slightly. The pain of walking in front of him with the brace the Duke had given her a few days ago was still vivid. What kind of expression would Father make if he knew this?

Whew. Her thoughts came to an end when a blizzard raged and her windows rattled violently. After she put down her quill, she walked over to her window to draw the curtains..

“Go back carefully.”

“Thank you.”

At the entrance, Chloe saw Gray speaking to the guest. A smile spread across Chloe’s lips. As if he noticed her gaze, Gray suddenly raised his head and looked towards her. Chloe happily took off the latch and opened her hinged window.. Gray was startled, and hurried to the flower bed.

“The wind is as cold as ice, Miss. Please close the window!”

“Yes. Be careful not to catch a cold, Gray.”

“Yes, milady.”

Gray pressed down on his brown woolen hat and nodded his head. Chloe looked at him and smiled. He didn’t really want to have long conversations. The fact that Gray, who was more like her family than a servant, was in this castle made her feel a little relieved from her loneliness. The day Gray was formally hired as stable keeper and entered Birch Castle, Chloe almost burst into tears when she saw his face again.

“Then goodbye. Good night.”

Chloe said a brief goodbye and closed the window. Gray waved his hand at her, then ran quickly across the garden. Chloe returned to her desk with a smile on her face and began to scribble down the refreshing words.

****