EHI

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Humming lowly, Ehi strutted towards her favorite bookstore.

She hummed a greeting to the bookkeeper. The grumpy old man grunted an answer in return as she dashed for the shelves with her maid in tow.

This place always seemed to bring her subtle peace.
The sweet smell of books wafted through the air as she let her fingers glide past the line of books that decorated the shelves.

What new genre awaits my exploration, she thought, giddy with excitement?

Learning how to read had been one of her favorite accomplishments.
Being able to bury her thoughts into a book, seeing a whole new world through the eyes of the writer, made her forget how chaotic her life truly was.

The few hours dedicated each day to reading a book became one of her favorite activities since she was rescued by the duchess.

She finally completed exploring through the duchess's library and now, she felt ready for more challenging items.

Her visits to this library were weekly, no one in the town seemed interested in the bookstore as the presence of humans was almost nonexistent.
"Perhaps it could be" pleasant" nature of the grumpy bookstore keeper", she chuckled.

Moving towards another shelf, she pondered if the dozen books she had picked would suffice.

"Blissful day, isn't it, M'lady", a voice sounded.

Groaning, she turned around to find the Duke leaning on a shelf, smirking at her.
Exasperated by his continuous presence, she cursed in her native tongue, eyeing him in annoyance.

"What was that?" he questioned, confused.

"I see you have developed a hobby of stalking me, M-lord," she said, rolling her eyes at his puzzled look.

"Again, it's Stephan," he reminded.
"I do not need to stalk you, considering you will be mine soon".
"And I wouldn't call it stalking, I was here first princess, you are not the only one who treasures the solace of this bookstore," he finished.

She did not bother to grace him with a reply, the insufferable rake would have a better retort anyway.

Ehi lacked the energy for their usual squabble.
He can have this round, she thought.

Walking away, she continued her search.

"I missed you, princess," he whispered into her ears.

Ehi shivered as the familiar feeling shot down her spine, making her thighs clench.

"I have been counting seconds, waiting for you to walk in here. I imagined the things I could do to you, right there,-
he motioned to the hidden bookshelves
—as you panic about being caught while you wail out in pleasure," he whispered.

"I implore you to keep your distance, m-lord", she whispered breathlessly.

Ehi couldn't help but notice, he had cornered her into the restricted part of the building.
She looked around in hopes of seeing Indie, but the Duke stepped into her line of sight, grabbed her into a room, and shut the door.