As she guided Count Doffleman, Eloise felt extremely uncomfortable.
“So, is the Duke still busy today as well?”
As he said this, his hand grazed her waist. Eloise subtly shifted a step to the side and replied with courteous words.
“If you wait in the reception room, the Duke will be down in time to see you soon.”
“Still, a busy man like the Duke tends to be a bit late.”
“I will have tea prepared for you in the reception room.”
“Tea, hmm, that sounds good. But there are other things I’m more interested in.”
As he spoke, the Count’s hand gripped Eloise’s waist, pulling her closer to him. Eloise involuntarily furrowed her brow.
“It must be hard for you to work here all the time.”
In response, the maid could only force a smile on her face without saying a word.
His hand continued to caress her waist more and more overtly. Eloise felt uncomfortable but couldn’t rebel.
She was a commoner, and he was a nobleman. Moreover, he was the influential Count Doffleman.
A creeping sense of fear came over her as his hands crawled up her waist. His hand, stroking her waist, moved up to touch her ribs.
‘Oh, I hate this. I really hate this.’
Eloise bit her lip tightly, imagining anyone coming forward and striking Count Doffleman’s head. Tears welled up in her eyes.
His hand reached just below her chest. Eloise closed her eyes tightly, gritting her teeth.
The Count, seemingly enjoying her reaction, suddenly looked up with a sound of surprise.
“That’s…….”
His voice held a curious excitement.
Eloise lifted her gaze at the sound. Wearing a slightly wrinkled priest robe with bright blonde hair and a graceful stride, it was undoubtedly her.
‘Miss Ariadeline?’
She should be in the annex at this hour. Eloise froze in place, taken aback. The Count’s hand was still tightly gripping her waist, so she couldn’t pull away.
“Miss Ariadeline, let’s go back quickly,” the maids whispered worriedly to her. However, Ariadeline looked up at them and smiled brightly, like an innocent person.
‘Oh, our madam. She’s not in her right mind right now.’
The maids were distressed. Count Doffleman was known for his dirty habits, vanity, and spreading scandalous rumors in high society.
‘But if he finds out that Miss Ariadeline is here, he’s going to…!’
Who knows what rumors might spread from his lips? No, the bigger concern was what he might say directly to Ariadeline.
He took pleasure in dominating those beneath him, and unlike before, Ariadeline was now completely below him.
‘Maybe he won’t recognize her?’
They didn’t know much about high society, but men usually only talk business with other men.
And right now, Ariadeline’s appearance is so different from her former glory, so maybe he wouldn’t recognize her…
“Well, who do we have here?”
But contrary to the maids’ hopes, Count Doffleman immediately recognized Ariadeline and greeted her with a smile, opening his arms wide.
“Let’s go back quickly. Hurry.”
The maids pleaded, but Ariadeline chuckled and mouthed the words.
‘I’ve come to help.’
“Yes?”
‘Don’t worry too much.’
With a smile on her face, Ariadeline approached Count Doffleman. The maids could only watch helplessly, their feet shuffling anxiously.
‘What are you thinking, Miss Ariadeline?’
Eloise, who had been in the Count’s grasp, opened her eyes wide. The corners of her eyes turned bright red, as if she were holding back tears.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Ugh, this guy is unbelievable.
Thinking so, I approached Count Doffleman or Dorai; I don’t know. His hand rested mischievously just below Eloise’s chest.
“Come here.”
I called Eloise over. Eloise stood there, unable to do anything. Meanwhile, the Count looked at me with great interest.
“I had my doubts, but is it really you, Ariadeline?”
‘Oh wow, addressing me so naturally?’
Instead of glaring at him, I extended my hand and pulled Eloise’s wrist, guiding her away from the count’s grasp to stand beside me.
She, who didn’t know what to do, was led by me and escaped from the Count’s grip.
For some reason, Doffleman’s attention had gotten to me, and he was looking at me like a predator hunting prey.
His eyes were flickering, like he was contemplating how to cook and eat me.
I gestured for Eloise to stand behind me.
“But Miss Ariadeline…”
Eloise sounded worried. I am a sinner now. That’s worse than commoners. But that’s why I can go out and do this.
I have nothing to lose!
I approached and stood in front of him. Count Doffleman is shorter than Carlothian, but given my short stature, I had to raise my head.
Haa. She must have grown up eating nutritious things. Why is she so short?
“Why is the infamous villainess at the Duke’s mansion now?”
“…….”
I looked up at him with wide eyes and blinked. Nah, whatever. I wanted to retort, but my voice just won’t come out.
With my hands behind my back, I gestured for the maids to go away. The maids stood there, unsure of what to do, but eventually slipped away down the opposite corridor as I continued signaling them.
Fortunately, the maids seemed to have slipped away unnoticed by Count Doffleman. He looked down at me with a mischievous grin.
“Why? You don’t feel like opening that noble mouth of yours? Now that you’re a sinner, you’re even more silent than you were before.”
Before? What before?
I racked my brain trying to remember meeting this man as Ariadeline, but I couldn’t recall any such encounter.
“You ignored everything I said at that party. Are you regretting it now that the tables have turned?”
Hmm, let me piece this together. So this Count Doffleman fellow had made advances on Ariadeline before, but she had brushed him off, is that it?
But I have no memory of that. Ariadeline only had eyes for Carlothian. Even if she was scorned by him, she never accepted the temptation of another man.
Even…
I blatantly checked on him from head to toe.
There’s no way she would be interested in such a pathetic man. He may be tall, but his face is etched with a sour expression, his eyes are cunning, and his thin lips look downright despicable.
Hey, even if Ariadeline is starving, she won’t pick something up like you. I lifted my chin and stared at him directly.
“Don’t tell me you still think you’re the Duchess.”
When my gaze didn’t waver, he spoke almost defiantly. Well, if it had been the real Ariadeline, she would have been deeply hurt by those words.
But who am I? I’m Ahn Hye-in from South Korea! I’m not the least bit hurt by insults towards Ariadeline!
I just looked at him quietly and directly. But that alone seemed to provoke him quite a bit.
Indeed, there were people like that. People who think it’s a challenge to look them in the eye.
“Say something!”
He boldly grabbed my forearm and shook it. I suppose that’s something he can do, since I’m a sinner now.
His grip on my forearm hurt, so I frowned.
“I guess you still don’t want to talk to someone like me, huh?”
I slowly opened my mouth. Then, I mouthed it clearly enough for him to understand.
“That’s right.”
If you’re going to use informal speech, then I’ll use it too, you jerk.
“W-What did you…”
I approached him all at once.
I could see him flinch and stiffen. His ears turned red as I smiled.
‘Ah, these kinds of guys, really.’
Assholes who want something but can’t have it, so they belittle them first. I’ve seen a lot of this during my celebrity life.
After momentarily catching him off guard,
Thunk!
“Aaagh!”
I stomped hard on top of his foot with all my might.
He twisted in pain.
I smirked and took a step back.
“You…!”
He arched his back and tried to curse at me. But, like hell, I’m just going to stand there and take it. I swiftly kicked his shin.
Ow! My toe hurts, too!
But fortunately, he seemed to be in more pain than me, letting out another agonizing cry. I tried to quickly run away.
Snap.
But the edge of my skirt was grabbed by his hand. Hey, let go. Are you not going to let go?
As the tug-of-war continued, the one defeated here was neither me nor Count Doffleman.
Rip –
It was my poor, worn-out dress that met its demise. Damn it. Did this jerk just kill my only piece of clothing?
The dress was now ripped all the way up to my upper thigh, exposing my leg. Irritated, I yanked the fabric forcefully. He released the dress without any sign of panic.
‘Oh, that’s it!’
I thought I should escape, but he suddenly surged forward and grabbed me tightly from behind by the waist.
Hey! What are you doing? Don’t touch me!
As I shuddered in disgust, he only tightened his grip and moved his hands.
Shiver.
I felt his hand touch my bare thigh. My eyes widened in shock. No. Damn it. This guy has really lost it.
“After all, you were a woman ignored even during your marriage. It’s not much different now, is it? Why were you trying to seduce some other noble for a better life with that body of yours?”
The creeping hand on my thigh made me want to vomit. I thrashed around in his embrace, but his arm strength overpowered me, and his hand kept moving upward.
“Well then, how about me? I’m willing to appreciate your beauty.”
What are you saying?
With all my strength, I dug my nails into his forearm.
“Ow!”
The sensation of my nails piercing his skin made him cry out. I then swiftly threw my head back hard.
Thud!
He let go of my waist for a moment. I dashed forward a few steps, but he caught the back of my clothes again.
Snap.
This time, the neckline ripped open, revealing my shoulder. Oh no, I might end up half-naked at this rate!
“Ouch!”
Ahh!
I was forcefully shoved forward. Ouch, that hurt. Fortunately, I didn’t fall over clumsily but ended up in a rather pitiful pose on the ground.
I looked like a shivering little mermaid.
“…Huff, huk. Now you’re trying to salvage your pride, which has reached its lowest point, you bastard.”
Blood was dripping from Doffleman’s nose. Ah, it must have burst when I slammed his head back.
‘Ugh, disgusting.’
I glared at him as I tried to straighten my dress, which had fallen off my shoulders. But is this guy really in his right mind? Causing such a ruckus in someone else’s household, not even his own.
Just then, urgent voices echoed down the corridor.
“Your Grace! Over there! Over there!”
It was the maids’ voices. I heard the brisk footsteps of a man approaching. He’s here! He came!
I knew he’d come if I caused any trouble!
I turned around anxiously. Carlothian was swiftly walking towards us.
‘Hey! I got into trouble! Come and fix this quickly!’
But then…
‘Why does the atmosphere feel so strange?’
