Chapter 22
Their bodies overlapped, and their chests pressed together. Duke Drexton smelled of freshly ironed clothes. Meanwhile, the Duke caught the clean, distinct scent of sweat that belonged to someone running a fever, coming from Julia.
“Missus Devel.”
Duke Drexton clicked his tongue softly.
He had already guessed that Julia’s condition wouldn’t be good from the moment he heard she had fallen asleep without even realizing it was dinner time. Even so, the reason he sat in the study waiting for her had been a base one.
A fleeting look of contempt crossed the Duke’s face as he watched Julia rush in flustered. It was contempt directed at himself, but Julia interpreted it differently.
‘It’s because I was late without permission, after all…’
She felt pathetic for failing to properly carry out the duty entrusted to her. Julia struck her forehead against the threshold as if punishing herself.
Thud, thud.
“What are you doing!”
Duke Drexton hurriedly grasped Julia’s thin shoulders. Julia let her head droop slightly, her expression vacant.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’m late. I’ll start the lesson right away.”
Julia bowed her head deeply. Seeing how abjectly submissive she was, Duke Drexton clenched his teeth.
“There’s no need for this. It’s fine. Let’s cancel today’s lesson.”
Julia startled.
“W-We’re not… having the lesson?”
Her already large eyes grew even wider as she asked in a fearful voice. Duke Drexton fell silent. This woman acted as if not having the lesson today was some sort of punishment.
Whether from the fever or from panic, tears welled up in her eyes. It was clear she wasn’t in her right mind. Driven by a sense of duty only she understood, Julia stubbornly insisted.
“I’ll do the lesson. I’ll make up for being late and do more… so please, Your Grace.”
She tried to push her way inside. To do that, she had to press herself tightly against Duke Drexton, who was blocking the door.
“Please don’t turn me away.”
The Duke flinched as Julia’s hot breath brushed against his nape. A flush spread across both cheeks and even the bridge of her nose. Her eyes were half-lidded. Her parted lips continuously exhaled hot breaths. No matter how one looked at it, she needed rest. And yet.
There was something about Julia’s face that stirred Duke Drexton’s desire. On top of that, her hair was disheveled, and she hadn’t even fastened her brooch. Embarrassingly, heat pooled in his lower abdomen.
“Please return to your seat, Your Grace.”
Julia strained as she pushed him.
Though he could have easily overpowered her by force, Duke Drexton let himself be pushed back. Staggering backward, he was shoved into the armchair and sat down.
The Duke’s gaze cut through the air and landed squarely on Julia. Julia met his eyes without avoiding them and smiled with satisfaction. Her face looked like that of a girl who had just accomplished a tremendous feat.
Something stirred inside Duke Drexton. The wall she usually maintained was crumbling today. The Duke swallowed dryly. His concern for Julia’s illness lasted only a moment.
Now felt like an opportunity.
Unfair as it was, the Duke wanted to slip into that gap.
His mind began to turn more calculatingly. What could he demand. How could he wedge his way in. How could he get what he wanted without crushing this woman’s pointless pride in ‘dignity’.
First, he had to seize control, just like during last night’s ‘lesson’.
“Then, may I decide today’s lesson content? You’re late, after all, Teacher.”
Duke Drexton placed the mask of a kind gentleman over his sharp gaze. It was tiresome. In truth, from the very first day she came as a private tutor, from the moment she stood awkwardly and met his eyes, he had nearly lost his reason.
Meanwhile, Julia relaxed when she realized that the Duke’s ‘punishment’ ended at that. With a visibly relieved expression, she nodded.
‘Thank goodness…’
How easy you are to read.
Overheated, her emotions were more transparent and vivid than usual. It was a rare chance to peer straight through her inner thoughts. Duke Drexton looked over her face as if licking her with his eyes, determined not to miss even the slightest change.
Julia failed to notice the dark desire contained in the Duke’s gaze. She was too busy pulling herself together.
More than anything, there was too much she didn’t know.
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