AMOTGD ₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚

CHAPTER Vll

As I drew a firm line, he narrowed his eyes in displeasure.

It was absurd how handsome he looked even then, but that wasn’t important. He wasn’t my husband, so who cares if he’s handsome or not? The moment I get involved with him, my death flag will be raised.

As I suddenly recalled that fact and struggled to rise from the straw.

“What makes me less than that knave?”

An unexpected question dropped on me like a bomb. Well, how should I put it? It wasn’t so much unexpected as it was completely pointless. I hesitated, unsure of how to answer.

Firstly, there’s nothing that makes you less than Paul, and who cares who’s better or worse here? This is about my life and death! In that sense, it was a question with no room for debate. So, I lifted my head and forced myself to suppress my frustration as I replied.

“It’s not a matter of who’s better or worse.”

“Then what is it?”

What do you mean, “then what”? What are you expecting? Honestly, if this goes on, I’ll be out on the street, let alone surviving my wedding night. And you think that’s important right now?

Suppressing my urge to scream, I tried to answer as rationally as possible.

“This is about what I want, Your Highness.”

I’ve always felt this way, but I seem to have a natural talent for choosing the wrong answer. Given how often I pick the losing option, I should never trust my instincts.

And once again, it seemed I had chosen the wrong answer. As soon as I said those words, the Grand Duke’s expression turned icily cold. Simultaneously, a menacing tone I’d never heard before came from his mouth.

“You don’t like me?”

No, it’s not that I don’t like you—I just don’t like the death flag that comes with you.

I can’t exactly tell him that in the future, I’d end up pregnant and murdered because of an affair with him. He wouldn’t believe me, and even if I did say it, he’d probably sweet-talk me into not worrying about it.

So, what should I do? Should I push him away?

‘Okay, the answer is: push him away. Absolutely push him away.’

“Yes, I don’t like you.”

It seems I have a knack for picking only the wrong answers. At that moment, the Grand Duke, who had been suppressing something, grabbed my neck and kissed me forcefully.

I tried to turn my head to avoid it, but with my wrists tied, struggling was futile. He climbed on top of me, pinning me down with his weight and using his strength to force my lips open. Before I could scream, his saliva-soaked breath invaded my mouth.

“Mmph! Mm…”

How can I describe this? His hands, which had been holding back all this time, now moved violently over my body as if something inside him had exploded.

The powder dusted on my neck for the bridal makeup, the earlobes adorned with pearl earrings given by the Grand Duchess as a wedding gift, and the tightly laced corset enhancing my cleavage for the first night—all of it.

He roamed my bare skin without hesitation, claiming my lips. He licked the saliva that pooled at the corners of my mouth, weaving it like thread, then plunged his tongue deep into my mouth, sucking until my mucous membranes felt numb. The wet, sticky sound echoed in the quiet space.

With me unable to breathe and whimpering, he muttered a low curse and buried his head in the crook of my neck, as if trying to calm something rising inside him.

I thought it was my only chance—to calm him down, to turn this situation around.

“Your Highness, I have someone I like…”

At that, he abruptly stopped.

‘Did he understand? Please, he needs to understand.’

We’ve known each other for over ten years since he returned from the academy. If he had wanted to take me as other nobles take their maids, he had plenty of opportunities. Didn’t I say it before? When someone from above decides to force something, those below cannot refuse.

Especially someone as powerful as the Grand Duke. A man of his stature wouldn’t even blink if he grabbed a mother, not just a married woman. What does the opinion of a mere maid matter? If ordered, you comply. That’s the way of the world, and what choice did I have?

But he didn’t do that. Even though he could have easily taken me, he constantly waited for me to open my heart. And I acknowledged that his feelings weren’t light.

‘In some sense, it’s an overwhelming devotion.’

The problem is that soon this devotion would be something even a dog wouldn’t care about, but anyway.

“So, please, untie me.”

He had never once used intimidation against me, because he wasn’t that kind of person. I said I had someone I liked, and that was now my husband, so please let this be the end and let me go. I met his gaze with that plea.

‘Huh…?’

In his blue eyes, a deep blue madness appeared. The gaze I always thought was warm and gentle.

Something twisted was contained within it, warping me. It translated into his hands gripping my skirt buried in the straw, starting to twist it. Until the sound of the skirt ripping above my waist.

Please, stop!

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