Rebecca smiled brightly.
Grace hesitated, trying to decipher the meaning behind her smile but finding nothing.
In Grace’s mind, Rebecca’s options were limited—sneaking over the wall at best.
“If you have no more to say, I have duties to attend to.”
Grace brushed past, her keyring jangling with each step.
Rebecca glanced at the keys that could unlock every room in the estate before opening her own door.
Upon seeing the room, she froze, eyes wide.
Furniture was strewn about, and feathers from a torn pillow fluttered everywhere.
She quickly shut the door.
Kanna’s chilling voice followed.
“How dare you set foot here with your filthy self? I’ll kill you.”
“Wait! Ugh, how are you so strong…?”
Kanna had a man pinned to the floor, a blade pressed to his thick neck.
The empty scabbard at his waist suggested the knife was his.
He struggled to shake her off, his amber eyes glaring fiercely.
But Kanna’s knee pressed harder into his chest with each move.
“Good heavens! Yulian! Kanna!”
At Rebecca’s cry, Kanna faltered, and Yulian swiftly pushed her off, leaping up.
He darted to Rebecca’s side.
“Is she a maid or a bodyguard?”
Still shaken by the blade’s cold touch, Yulian rubbed his neck.
“You know him?”
Kanna, still gripping the knife, spoke as if ready to slit his throat if Rebecca said no.
Yulian, no longer backing down, glared back.
Rebecca sighed, touching her forehead at the tense standoff.
“Let me introduce you. Kanna, this is Yulian, Duke Johannes.”
At “duke,” Kanna’s eyes widened, and she lowered the knife, though her hostility remained.
“Yulian, this is Kanna, the one I told you about. I thought she was just a maid, but she could be a bodyguard too.”
Even knowing each other’s identities, they exchanged wary glares.
Rebecca sighed again, grabbing their hands.
“Now, shake hands. ‘Nice to meet you.’ We’re on the same side, so let’s get along.”
Reluctantly, they shook hands, quickly pulling back with expressions of disgust.
Kanna wiped her hand on her dress, sneering.
“Is he really Duke Johannes? Not an imposter?”
Her taunt made Yulian snap.
“Imposter? Watch your tongue!”
“Otherwise, why sneak into a lady’s room at this hour unannounced? Though you’re skilled, slipping past tight security.”
“Both of you, quiet!”
As their voices rose, Rebecca feared the noise would leak out.
She shot them a sharp look.
Yulian, noticing her glare, bit back a retort and whispered to her.
“I need to speak privately…”
“No.”
Kanna’s ears were sharp.
Yulian groaned in frustration.
Kanna stubbornly wedged herself between them.
Rebecca smiled reassuringly at her.
“Kanna, it’s fine. He’s not dangerous.”
“But…”
“What you’re worried about won’t happen. Trust me?”
Patting Kanna’s hand, Rebecca’s words left her no room to argue.
How could Kanna distrust her?
Still suspicious, Kanna nodded reluctantly.
Yulian smirked triumphantly down at her.
“Fine. But if anything happens, scream—I’ll come running.”
“Thanks, Kanna.”
Kanna bumped Yulian’s shoulder hard and left.
Relieved, Rebecca collapsed onto the bed, glaring at Yulian.
“Don’t show up unannounced like that.”
“Sorry, it was urgent.”
Feeling victorious over a rival, Yulian grinned despite her scolding.
“What’s so urgent?”
“Devil’s Claw. I got it.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened.
Instinctively, she reached for his head.
“Well done…”
Realizing her gesture, she pulled back.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Yulian’s eyes.
“Ahem. Thanks. When can I deliver it?”
“Now.”
He nodded toward the vanity, where a glass-domed pot held Devil’s Claw.
“You need to pick the leaves by tonight.”
“This color… the shape! It’s really Devil’s Claw!”
Rebecca examined it, stomping with joy.
Yulian stood, watching her.
“That’s it?”
“Huh?”
“I went through hell to get it. Words aren’t enough, thanks.”
“What do you… want?”
Rebecca stared at his prominent Adam’s apple, swallowing hard as it moved.
“What we started last time…”
Yulian took her hand, her delicate fingers enveloped in his large palm.
Her soft hand tempted him to tickle it.
He brought it to his face.
“Wait!”
Startled by a fleeting, dizzying thought, Rebecca pushed him away.
“We’re not married yet. I know you’re in your prime, but this could be trouble. Be rational…”
“What are you talking about?”
Unfazed by her push, Yulian stood like a rock, drawing closer.
He pressed her hand to his head.
“Pat me.”
“…What?”
Rebecca stared, as if struck by a hammer.
What did this childish duke just say?
“Nope, this won’t do. Your face is red—what were you imagining?”
Yulian teased, chuckling at her stunned expression.
Her face flushed like a plum ripening in summer sun.
“Imagining what?!”
“Something naughty, right? Hence the reaction.”
“Naughty?!”
Rebecca couldn’t continue as Yulian closed his eyes, rubbing his head against her hand.
His dark hair slipped softly through her fingers.
“No one’s ever patted my head like this.”
“…”
“Or thanked me so earnestly.”
He released her hand, his eyes languid.
Rebecca looked at him curiously, then twitched her nose near his chest.
“No alcohol smell… You’re not drunk, are you?”
“Do I seem drunk?”
His eyes curved, glowing amber like before.
“Sadly, I’m perfectly sober. I held back long enough to deserve this, don’t you think?”
“Held back what?”
Instead of answering, he looked down, tapping the glass dome.
A crisp sound rang out.
“You said it hurts a lot.”
Rebecca gazed at him, then laughed softly.
“It will. And I’ll look hideous. Blisters will burst, reeking. I’ll be so ghastly that everyone will avoid me.”
Despite predicting her pain, she showed no emotion.
She was calm, as if it were inevitable.
“Aren’t you scared?”
Yulian asked, watching her stand composed before the coming storm.
His own eyes betrayed fear.
“I’m not scared.”
Rebecca clenched her fists, her clear eyes brimming with resolve.
She looked up at Yulian steadily.
“I swore I wouldn’t run again. My future holds only revenge or ruin. So what could make me hesitate?”
With that, she plunged her hand into the dome, grabbing the Devil’s Claw.
“Don’t touch it barehanded…!”
Before Yulian could stop her, she smirked and shoved the leaves into her mouth.
The sound of crunching leaves echoed loudly.
Gulp—
After chewing, she swallowed.
Yulian silently handed her a glass of water.
Red rashes were already forming on her hand.
“Ugh, it’s bitter.”
Draining the glass, she grimaced but soon returned to her calm demeanor.
“Now, when Zeppelin returns, I won’t have to roll in bed with him.”
With about two weeks until Zeppelin’s return, the poison’s symptoms would take time to manifest.
She wanted him to see her grotesque state immediately, so Yulian’s timing was perfect.
“Want some tea? No one else will visit at this hour, and Kanna’s guarding, so we’re safe for now.”
Rebecca approached a trolley, the chain from her cuffs glinting in the light.
Yulian gritted his teeth at the sight.
“No, I just remembered something I need to do.”
“Stay a bit…”
Meow.
As Rebecca turned with the teapot, Yulian was gone.
Only Leo sat there, tail swishing, looking annoyed as if summoned abruptly.
Rebecca, resigned, stroked him from head to tail.
Leo’s expression softened.
He nuzzled her hand, then licked the rashes forming on it.
