Chapter 81
Thanks to Rita, I had spent a chaotic day and had fallen into a deep sleep. So much so that I didn’t even notice someone entering my bedroom, taking a shower, and pouring themselves a glass of wine.
I only became aware when something heavy lay down on the bed beside me and pulled me into an embrace. That’s when I realized I wasn’t alone in bed.
Still half-asleep, I inhaled the strong scent of wine, which made my head feel hazy. The skillful hands roaming all over my body sent a flush through me.
Barely managing to open my eyes, I saw that it was Stefan, his eyes closed as he explored my body. I let out a startled sound.
“Ste…?”
Maybe he heard my voice, because Stefan opened his eyes just slightly. But his unfocused gaze quickly disappeared under heavy eyelids.
‘Did he drink wine to sleep well? Then he should’ve gone to his own room. Why on earth did he come to mine…?’
As I was thinking that, I suddenly felt something hard pressing against my leg. That’s when my eyes shot open.
‘Tonight’s the perfect chance to test out my ultimate bedroom technique.’
Stefan was clearly drunk and wouldn’t remember a thing. Even if the technique didn’t work, there’d be no pressure. Thinking of it like a practice match made me feel more at ease.
‘He won’t be able to hold out, especially at the final stage.’
With that thought, I grabbed Stefan’s hand. When I guided him to one side of my chest, his large hand clutched it as if it had been waiting. Naturally, a moan slipped out of me.
“Haah…”
Stefan must’ve taken that as a signal, because he pressed his body tightly against mine. Seeing the opportunity, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.
His body was much hotter than usual. Not just his big hands, but even his tongue—forcing its way past my lips—felt like a burning flame, startling me enough that I almost bit him.
Even then, Stefan’s hands were busy sliding down the strap of my slip. He seemed completely overtaken by instinct, as if he’d lost all reason.
When his hand roughly grabbed my chest again, I let out another moan. His lips left mine and began trailing down toward my chest.
“Mmm…”
Clinging to my last bits of sanity amid his wet, desperate movements, I waited for him to come on top. As his large frame finally moved over my belly, I wrapped my legs around his waist.
In that moment, my slip rode up, and our centers pressed together with only a thin piece of fabric between them. I couldn’t see it, but I could definitely feel his organ rubbing against me.
Trying to restrain himself, he gripped my chest hard again, drawing another involuntary moan from me.
“Ahh…”
Unable to hold back any longer, he lifted my slip and thrust himself into me forcefully.
Like a wild horse breaking free, the man—lost in passion—charged forward. It was entirely up to me to endure the long, intense ride.
Holding on to a man built like a log with nothing but my slender legs was more exhausting than I’d imagined. It felt like I was undergoing grueling training to build up my stamina.
Strange sounds—half moans, half cries—kept escaping my lips.
“Hnnng…”
But in the end, those strange sounds turned into laughter that echoed throughout the room. The ultimate technique Dorothy had taught me had finally worked.
‘I did it!’
***
As the faint light of dawn crept in, Stefan awoke from what felt like an incredibly sweet and long dream.
He had been sure it was just a dream, but Rachel was lying beside him, resting her head on his arm, with a smile on her face—one he’d never seen before.
‘Am I still dreaming?’
Stefan blinked a few times. Rachel was still snuggled against him. Even more shocking, she was completely naked, covered only by a thin blanket.
Startled, Stefan lifted his own blanket. He, too, was naked.
‘What the hell happened? I’m sure I went to sleep in my own bed last night…’
Carefully getting Rachel off him, Stefan got out of bed. The room was filled with unfamiliar bedding scents and the smell of wine, and his suit was scattered on the floor.
‘Did I stumble into the wrong room because I was drunk?’
Looking down at himself, Stefan shut his eyes tightly. His body bore all the marks of what had happened between him and Rachel last night.
‘Damn it!’
Stefan hastily gathered the clothes scattered across the floor and rushed into the bathroom to wash away the traces left on his body.
Lying in bed and secretly watching him, Rachel smiled with deep satisfaction.
‘Wash up well before you go, Your Grace. I’ll stay in bed a bit longer and savor the joy of my first sowing.’
***
Meanwhile, Rita was receiving a baffling report from one of her subordinates. Thomas and Susan, who had successfully escaped from Marquis Eden’s estate, had completely vanished without a trace.
“They definitely got out of Herkeni?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then where did they disappear to?”
“They vanished so suddenly… we couldn’t track them…”
“Don’t tell me Thomas kidnapped Susan?”
“I’m sorry, but I truly don’t know.”
As Rita’s face turned from red to pale in rising fury, the servant standing before her grew paler by the second, as if silently swearing never to work under her again—no matter how much she paid.
“Where exactly did you lose them?”
“They were definitely seen at Pineton Port, but after that, they just disappeared.”
“Pineton Port? Don’t tell me they got on a ship?”
“They didn’t. Their names weren’t on the passenger list.”
“You checked every ship? Or just the list?”
At her sharp question, the servant’s face turned ghostly white.
“W-We only… checked the list…”
“You useless fools!”
After slapping the servant hard and pushing him away, Rita ran to Thomas’s room. She had once boasted that he’d never escape her grasp—yet here she was, betrayed so completely.
Panicked, Rita screamed for the locked door to be opened. Startled servants rushed over with a bundle of keys, frantically trying one after another.
“I-It’s open, madam!”
Rita threw the door open and gasped at the empty room. It looked as though no one had lived there for years. Cobwebs hung from the corners of the furniture and walls.
“How could he have lived in a room like this?”
Only now did the cruel reality of her hostage’s condition dawn on Rita.
Yet unable to accept it, she tore through the few remaining belongings Thomas had left, hoping to find some clue.
But all he’d left behind was trash. In the waste bin were a 21-year-old shirt of the late Duke—picked up from an inn—and a slip stained with fake blood.
“I’ll never forgive you, Thomas! If I catch you, you’re dead!”
As Rita screamed and raged, the servants shrank away, trying to avoid her wrath.
‘You’re far too late, Rita. That ship set sail a long time ago.’
Watching the scene unfold with interest, Stefan smirked and approached her. As if to console his pitiful mother, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered:
“Shouldn’t we go and bring them back right now?”
“……”
“If word gets out that Susan Edmond eloped with an old butler in the dead of night… it’ll be a disgrace to the family—no, to the whole empire.”
Rita shoved Stefan’s hand away and glared at him for a long moment. Then, without a word, she turned and walked to her bedroom.
‘I won’t let it end like this. I’ll drag you back, Thomas, and make sure you crawl beneath my feet for the rest of your life.’
***
After days of merely barking orders at her subordinates, it seemed Rita had finally decided to take action herself. Dressed firmly for travel and just about to leave the mansion, she was stopped by Stefan’s mocking voice.
“Mother, it’s gotten quite cold out. Where are you off to?”
“……”
Rita shot him a piercing glare but said nothing as she stepped forward. She had just received word that a man and woman matching Thomas and Susan’s description were spotted on the Huawol continent.
“If you’re planning on going all the way to Huawol, you might want a heavier coat.”
Calling out loudly to her retreating back, Stefan gave a sly smile. Just then, Rachel approached him.
“Is Mother really going to the Huawol continent?”
“Surely not. I just mentioned it on a whim.”
“But… where did Miss Susan really go?”
Hey dear readers, the advance chapters of this novel are now available on Patreon. Also I’ll be posting chapters of my other novels there more frequently than here for some time due to some technical issues. Make sure to not miss your favourite novels. Thank you, have a nice day.✨❤️
