Chapter 20
As soon as she entered, Sylvia climbed onto the bed, pulled the covers over her head, and watched her husband’s broad back. Her heart thudded wildly but sometimes chilled cold with a sudden shiver.
That man hardly seemed like her husband.
‘Did he switch places with someone else…?’
After a few moments of such foolish speculation, Sylvia quickly fell asleep, unaware of her husband’s shadow looming closely over her as she wandered in a deep dream.
While she lay defenselessly asleep, the monster’s gaze never left her face for hours on end.
* * *
It’s bothersome.
Really bothersome.
Kuinan, tense from this incomprehensible phenomenon, quietly watched the woman’s back. The bright brown-haired woman he teasingly called “wife” was chatting happily with a young human man.
“Your Grace, how have you been?”
Exactly fifteen days after infiltrating the Duke’s residence, the Duke finally had an outside appointment.
He visited the castle belonging to Count Russell, one of the wealthiest nobles in the Empire. With that kind of money, no one cared much about lacking a high title. Not even the materialistic Lady Rossa.
“Not so great.”
Following Sylvia’s instructions, Kuinan answered the Count’s question with a curt, blunt reply, all the while staring intently at Sylvia’s flushed cheeks. That woman’s skill at seducing men was no ordinary thing.
“I heard you were unwell… Seeing you so healthy puts my mind at ease. There were rumors of trouble in the monster-infested Blavat swamp, so I worried something might have happened to you.”
The fact that the Duke’s subjugation party had all vanished in the Blavat swamp was unknown to the public.
The Crown Prince had strictly ordered the information not be leaked. People only knew the Duke had been seriously ill. No one knew that the entire knight squad except him had been wiped out, or that he had returned half-mad.
In truth, it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. They would know that the Duke was not of sound mind.
Sylvia, who had been unable to leave her husband’s side for fear he might cause trouble at any moment, spotted a familiar man and hurried off to him, chatting cheerfully as if she’d forgotten her husband.
Dark clouds grew heavier over the monster’s black heart.
His carefully controlled member stirred on its own and grew restless.
It was a monster’s trait. Not only when excited, but also when angry, it would ominously raise its member, silently threatening the creatures around it.
Fortunately, since he wasn’t naked now, no one noticed his change in mood. Only Count Russell, who was looking him squarely in the eye, vaguely sensed that he wasn’t feeling well.
Despite the thick demonic energy he was radiating, the foolish human didn’t think to step aside.
“I’m fine. Well then, excuse me.”
The monster pushed through the crowd and chased after Sylvia, ignoring the Count’s surprised look at his curt dismissal. He wasn’t sure why, but the sight of her cozying up with a strange man irritated him.
He was about to openly warn her.
“Wife.”
His breath warmed the back of her neck, making Sylvia startle and turn to look at him with wide eyes.
The Count’s only son, Reynolds, had been glaring at Kuinan ever since he strode up. Having exchanged simple greetings with the human Lancart before, Reynolds seemed quite taken aback by the Duke’s aggressive demeanor.
“Ah… you almost forgot.”
“I did?”
“You saw a welcome face and stopped to chat briefly. Shall we move along now?”
Only then did Sylvia regain her senses. She hadn’t intended to leave her husband alone so carelessly. Seeing his clearly annoyed expression, she instinctively stood in front of Reynolds as if shielding him and gently grasped the Duke’s sleeve.
Despite her tugging, the Duke didn’t budge.
“Duke…?”
“Won’t you introduce us?”
“Pardon?”
When Sylvia asked back, his piercing gaze that was directed towards Reynolds, still a boy who hadn’t yet come of age, turned back toward her.
“I said, won’t you introduce us? You two seem close.”
“Later, Duke. Right now it’s a bit—”
“And didn’t I tell you to call me by my name? Why ‘Duke,’ wife? Between husband and wife?”
Reynolds’s eyes widened further, and his mouth dropped open. Sylvia bit her lip nervously, sensing the attention of nearby nobles gathering towards them. She silently begged the Duke with her lips,
‘Please be quiet.’
She was imploring him to keep his mouth shut.
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