Chapter 081
A few nobles gathered after leaving the banquet hall. They continued drinking, unwilling to end the night.
As they sipped their drinks, they clicked their tongues.
“I just can’t understand why he showed up looking like a wild beast.”
“Exactly! And what’s this about holy power? That’s ridiculous! There’s no such power left in this world, and even if there were, would the Duchess really sacrifice herself to save Young Lord Theo?”
At those words, Count Nors pressed his lips together. So did the others. Everyone went quiet.
The noble who had been shouting passionately slammed the table but then hesitated. He looked around at his companions.
Count Nors sighed.
“…What, are you trying to say that the Duchess really risked everything to save him?”
“There’s no other explanation. Theo should’ve died. But he didn’t.”
Count Nors replied firmly.
The noble staggered and sat down, his face flushed with drink. He swallowed hard like he had seen something unbelievable.
“…How could such a noble person…”
“That’s exactly why we need to protect her.”
All the nobles nodded.
“No one else could have that kind of will and selflessness—to sacrifice themselves for a child. Some people must have already figured it out. You really didn’t know?”
“Not even a little.”
A noble sitting beside him patted his shoulder.
And so the nobles’ long night continued.
A hot sensation spread through her mouth. Cassius’s large hand slid around her waist—hot to the touch.
Without realizing, she wrapped her arms around his neck. She wanted to be closer.
“Haah.”
He held her chin so she couldn’t pull back. His eyes burned with desire.
Cassius wanted her.
Suddenly, she pushed him away. She was afraid of being consumed by the heat. But he held on to her.
He kissed each of her fingers. A soft moan slipped from her lips.
“Ugh…”
Her vision seemed tinted red. Her breath trembled. Her body felt damp, like soaked in heat.
She was losing her mind.
It felt like Cassius was trying to drive her mad on purpose. She bit her lip and stared at him.
His tongue moved between her fingers—red, soft.
“…Do you… Do you see me as a woman?”
Cassius kissed her palm with a loud smooch.
“What a strange question.”
Then he pulled her up and sat her on the conference table. She opened her eyes wide in surprise. He positioned himself between her legs. She was now looking down at him.
Cassius pulled her hand and placed it on the left side of his chest.
Thump. Thump.
She felt the strong heartbeat through her palm and swallowed dryly. But that wasn’t the question she really wanted to ask.
“Do you… like me?”
Her heart pounded. Cassius’s heated eyes never stopped showing how much he wanted her.
She couldn’t stop staring at his wet lips. Her head was spinning.
How did things end up like this?
Cassius parted his lips.
“…Yeah.”
He smiled, a little messy, a little shy.
“I didn’t even realize it. But I do.”
He gently played with her fingers.
“I kept thinking about you. My eyes followed you… and eventually, my heart did too.”
His tongue licked his lips like he was parched.
“I like you, Charlotte.”
Ah…
“What about you?”
Her eyelids trembled.
“I…”
She swallowed.
“I like you too, Cassius.”
She felt like she might cry.
Cassius gave her a hazy smile. She kissed him again.
She had nothing when she came here. Everything she did was just to survive.
But somewhere along the way, emotions bloomed. And Cassius took root in her heart.
Now, she was sure of it.
What she felt—was love.
Count Solovis paced the room. He couldn’t forget the humiliation he had suffered today.
“Bring me that man Miller. Now.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Count Solovis gritted his teeth. If they wanted to respect Charlotte, shouldn’t they respect her father first?
“Disrespectful, stupid, filthy northerners! Barbarians!”
He clenched his jaw in fury.
“I also need to find the person who sent someone to me. Whatever it takes, find that guy!”
“Yes, Count!”
Count Solovis paced the room anxiously.
‘No, calm down. Think more rationally.’
Was that really the only way to prove the power of divinity?
“There’s a temple in the North too, right?”
His assistant nodded.
“I’ll meet the high priest tomorrow. He will confirm whether Charlotte really has divine power.”
“I’ll look into it.”
Solovis’s eyes sparkled with a plan.
Not long after, Miller arrived.
He had been on his way to buy herbs when the Count’s men brought him in.
Miller, pushing up his glasses, had already heard the rumors. He knew Count Solovis was digging into the Duchess’s past—not with good intentions.
‘This can’t be good.’
He swallowed nervously.
“I’ve heard you’re quite a skilled physician.”
“Thank you for saying so,” Miller replied smoothly.
“I heard you cured a nearly incurable disease.”
“I was lucky. The young master also had a strong will to live, and the medicine worked well on him.”
Solovis gave him a sly smile.
“They say there was no improvement before, but after Charlotte came, the boy suddenly recovered. Be honest, Miller.”
He pulled out a bag full of money.
“If you speak truthfully, this is yours.”
It was a large amount—too much for a doctor to ignore easily.
Miller glanced at the pouch but sighed.
“It’s true that the Duchess took good care of the young master. She visited him every day and spent time with him.”
“And she must have done more than that.”
Solovis’s eyes gleamed.
“She gave him his medicine too.”
“You can be honest. I know more than—”
“Count.”
“Speak.”
“I’m telling the truth. If you keep pressing me like this, it feels like you’re trying to force a false statement out of me.”
Solovis gritted his teeth.
“I’ll report this to the Duke—”
“No! You’re too stubborn! I just want the truth! Everyone’s lying to protect her!”
Miller looked at him with a calm, clear gaze.
How could someone like Charlotte be born from a man like this? He couldn’t understand it. Miller clicked his tongue.
“Isn’t it that you just don’t want to believe the truth? Anyway, I have nothing more to say.”
Miller firmly ended the conversation and left the mansion without any regrets.
Now, all Count Solovis could do was rely on the high priest and the mysterious person helping him in the background.
This matter involved his own pride now. He couldn’t back down easily.
Because of what happened last night, I couldn’t look Cassius in the eye.
If we hadn’t been in the meeting room… if we had lost just a bit more control… who knows what might’ve happened.
So I stayed in bed and skipped breakfast, pretending to be lazy.
While I was still lying there, Stephanie and Theo came back.
“Shaar! Sister-in-law! They said you were sick!”
Theo shouted as he jumped onto the bed. Stephanie followed close behind.
“Humans are weak,” Theo said, snuggling up next to me.
“I’m not sick,” I said, patting his head.
Stephanie quietly climbed into the bed too.
The once spacious bed suddenly felt cramped. With both of them on either side of me, I started feeling hot.
Sigh… I guess I don’t get to feel embarrassed in peace.
I gently pushed the kids aside and got out of bed.
