Private Tutoring for the Duke’s First Night - Chapter 39

‘What kind of disgrace is this. Get a grip, Julia.’

She lightly bit her tongue and lowered her gaze.

After briefly savoring his satisfaction, Duke Drexton fastened Julia’s collar with the newly bought brooch.

Then, as if he were a critic, he examined Julia wearing the brooch from various angles. For some reason, Julia felt nervous.

After several seconds, Duke Drexton declared with a weighted tone,

“It suits you well.”

Julia met the Duke’s eyes, then slightly lowered her gaze. The color of the brooch and the Duke’s eyes were astonishingly similar, so much so that it felt like she would be going around all day with Duke Drexton’s eyes pinned to her.

“But, wait.”

Duke Drexton lowered his voice and whispered, as if he had discovered something important. Whenever he spoke in such a low voice, Julia’s nerves went on edge.

“Missus Devel, you and the brooch suit each other perfectly.”

As he said that, he gently brushed Julia’s collar with his thumb. A strange chill ran through her. Her spine tingled.

Duke Drexton laughed lightly, tilted his head slightly, and came closer. Thinking he might kiss her on her neck, Julia pulled back. To the Duke, that appearance was irking, cute, and ridiculous all at once.

“But it doesn’t suit the clothes.”

“Ah…”

As if caught off guard, Julia tightly gripped the hem of her skirt. Is that so, it doesn’t suit the clothes.

“It would suit you if you wore something a bit brighter.”

“……”

“It would be a waste to leave it buried in a drawer when the brooch suits you so well.”

In a very sweet tone, Duke Drexton whispered that she should wear brighter clothes. To Julia, a widow.

Julia thought it was something she must not agree to, so she gave no answer at all. But Duke Drexton knew he had planted a seed of something in Julia. So he decided not to be too impatient.

* * *

A few days later.

Julia straightened her clothes and opened the drawer. Then her eyes met the brooch Duke Drexton had given her. Among the dull, matte brooches made entirely of black stones, the aquamarine brooch stood out conspicuously.

Julia absentmindedly picked it up.

‘Right, it was a gift.’

Once she left the ducal manor, she would not be able to wear this brooch until the mourning period for her husband ended. She would have to wear mourning clothes wherever she went. In other words, the only place she could wear this brooch was, paradoxically, here with Duke Drexton.

It was also not proper to receive a gift and then just leave it buried away.

After hesitating, Julia finally fastened her collar with that brooch.

The brooch closed smoothly without even making a clicking sound.

Looking in the mirror, just as Duke Drexton had said, it suited Julia’s pale face well. Because her hair color was dark, the bright jewel seemed to stand out even more. Julia stared blankly at her reflection and brushed her face.

A strange flush rose to her cheeks.

It felt as if she had gone back more than ten years.

Being haggard was a widow’s virtue. But Julia was briefly intoxicated by the glimpse of her old, lively self that was reflected in the mirror.

Then, Duke Drexton’s words came to mind.

That the brooch suited Julia well, but was unbalanced with her clothes.

Looking closely at her reflection, it was indeed so.

The dull dark green dress and the bright brooch did not match at all. Without realizing it, Julia stood up and opened the wardrobe.

There was no way there would be bright clothes. After her husband died, when she went to Cecile’s villa, she had left everything behind in the old house that was confiscated, except for the bare minimum of belongings.

The loan sharks must have sold them off.

“Ah…”

For some reason, it felt like a waste. This is not allowed. A widow should not yearn for such things.

But.

Julia turned her head.

When she looked in the mirror again, she saw herself wearing the aquamarine brooch, her cheeks strangely tinged with rose.

Today as well, she would be sharing intimacy with Duke Drexton.

And today as well, without exception, she would sleep in his bedroom.

S*x was enjoyable. Julia now acknowledged, at least in a corner of her heart, that she was enjoying those lessons. At the same time, her sense of duty to not show that enjoyment outside the ‘classroom’ grew stronger as well.