Chapter 37
Separated, Again
A few days later, Duke Drexton went out of the manor for quite a long time. It was the first day without lessons since Julia had arrived.
This time, Duke Drexton did not suggest going out with Julia. The two ended up being apart.
They had spent days on end going at it like animals in heat, baring everything to the very edge, and yet he did not grow tired of it at all. Even while receiving lavish hospitality, Duke Drexton lost sleep because Julia kept coming to mind. He held himself back from pleasuring himself while thinking of her, because it felt like it would only make him feel dirtier.
He thought about Julia all day. Perhaps because of that, his eyes kept drifting toward things she might like, things he might give her.
And so, on the afternoon of the day the Duke returned, the sound of horse hooves could be heard beyond the main gate of the Drexton manor.
The servants became busy. Julia only listened to the sounds from inside her room, but then Head Maid Mary came to find her.
“You should come greet him as well, Missus Devel.”
“Me too?”
“You’re a member of the household.”
There was an indescribable charisma in Mary’s words. And they were not wrong. Julia was now in the position of a servant, so when the master returned home after being away, it was only proper to greet him.
So Julia straightened her appearance and went down to the first floor. Duke Drexton had just arrived and was saying a word or two to each servant.
Julia was first surprised that all the servants were gathered, and then surprised again that Duke Drexton had brought gifts for each and every one of them.
‘Does the Duke always give gifts to everyone when he comes back from a trip?’
No.
He had only bought a gift for Julia, but thought she might refuse it if she were the only one, so he purchased gifts for all the other servants as well.
Duke Drexton’s guess was correct. If she alone had received one, Julia would have been flustered. Instead, she found herself quietly wondering what her gift might be.
Julia, who had been standing off to the side watching blankly, met Duke Drexton’s eyes. Duke Drexton swept his gaze up and down her outfit.
Just like always. A matte dark green dress fastened like a fortress with an obsidian brooch.
A smile tugged on the corners of his lips.
First, because her stubbornness was absurd, and second, because it amused him that he had already stripped off that shell completely and tasted her bare body to his heart’s content.
“Missus Devel, come here as well.”
Duke Drexton called out to Julia.
Without the slightest hesitation, Julia stepped forward. She even put on a natural smile. Duke Drexton wanted to touch those lips, but there were far too many eyes watching.
The servants might not mind, but Julia would flee.
“This one is for you.”
Duke Drexton held out a small box. Julia blinked and took it.
Could it be a fountain pen or a book?
But it felt strangely weighted for that. It seemed much lighter. Julia tilted her head.
‘I’ll open it later in my room.’
Thinking that, she tucked the box under her arm. Duke Drexton looked at Julia and asked with a smile,
“Come to think of it, I hear the robins’ house is finished. Did you know?”
Ah. Julia let out a small exclamation and nodded. He was referring to the birdhouse for the robins that he had ordered the day after Julia arrived. She had heard something about the gardener, Teo, finishing something. That must have been it.
“Shall we go see it?”
Julia gave a shallow nod and took Duke Drexton’s hand. The servants who had been watching scattered like an ebbing tide.
When they opened the door, a cold gust rushed in. Only then did Julia realize that she had not dressed with going outside in mind. As she shivered, Duke Drexton draped his coat over her. Julia was flustered.
“If you do this, you’ll catch a cold, Duke. I’ll quickly go up and get my own coat.”
“I’m not so weak that I’ll catch a cold just from going out for a few minutes.”
Duke Drexton fastened the collar for her and gave her a gentle push. Because of the difference in their builds, Julia ended up almost buried in his coat. It wrapped her carefully down nearly to her ankles.
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