Episode 30“Haha….”
Rowena let out a dry cough and took a long breath.
She hadn’t realized it until now, but sitting still made the intoxication surge up dizzyingly. She deeply inhaled the cold air to clear her head.
Just then, a figure approached silently, undoing her intricately braided blonde hair and pressing a kiss to the nape of her neck that was revealed.
“Ah.”
Letting out a heated breath, Rowena twisted her waist. The man who had kissed her nape followed it with a deep kiss where the pulse beat behind her ear.
“Your Grace.”
Rowena curved her lips into a smile and turned her body completely, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Killian bent his body as her slender arms guided him, pressing his lips like a sliding caress to the junction where her neck met her shoulder. At the tingling sensation, Rowena closed her eyes and threaded her hand through his jet-black hair as he gnawed at her neck like a vampire. The sensation wrapping around her fingers was soft and ticklish.
“Mmm.”
A drunken excitement welled up. Letting out a heated moan, Rowena opened her mouth.
“Was that disguise a vampire?”
“Who knows.”
Killian chuckled and buried his face above her collarbone as if scenting her.
Rowena lowered the hand that had been stroking his hair, grasped his chin, and made him look at her.
“Tell me, Duke. After drinking all my blood, will you let me go?”
“No.”
Killian answered without hesitation, sliding his hands behind her knees and shoulders. Rowena yielded without resistance, wrapping her arms around his neck. Killian carefully held Rowena and stretched out his long leg to open the glass door.
“I have one request.”
Instead of an answer, a calm gaze looked down at her.
“I wish to find a tutor for Damian. I… as you know, don’t know very much.”
“I’ll look into it.”
Contrary to her expectation that he might turn fierce, the answer came docilely.
Gathering more courage, Rowena kissed his cheek. Without even a moment to admire his surprised blue eyes, she immediately added.
“Actually, I know someone distantly.”
“…Someone you know?”
Killian faintly furrowed his brow and opened the bedroom door.
It was his bedroom, more than twice as large as hers. Unlike the adjacent room decorated with rosewood furniture, a fireplace carved with marble sculptures, colorful chiffon curtains, and fresh flowers, it was a heavy, weighty room furnished with only the necessities.
Killian drew back the olive canopy and carefully laid her down on the wide bed.
“Not today. I’m drunk, so no.”
When Rowena turned her body as if throwing a tantrum, he climbed right on top of her, removing her shawl and biting her shoulder.
“Ah! It hurts.”
“Who is it? A man?”
“Well, yes, but… ah!”
The cold air touched her skin, and her dress slipped down to her waist. Killian trailed his long index finger along her spine and asked in a low voice.
“How do you know each other?”
“M-my favorite author. I heard he is quite old. I think he would be perfect as a literature tutor….”
The hand sliding down reached her pelvis. Gently grasping her casually splayed blonde hair, he urged.
“Name.”
It was a voice softer than before. Opening her closed eyes, Rowena answered.
“Roderick… Roderick Difonz.”
It was another pen name of Jeremy Diche, known only to her, his niece. He who would help her escape from this fortress-like castle.* * *“Royal straight flush!”
Felix shouted victory triumphantly and swept up the checks on the table.
As the game ended, the people sitting around the same round table showed varied reactions—some clutched their heads with sighs, some crossed their arms with deep groans, and others hurriedly counted their remaining money.
Only one man looked down at his wristwatch with a relaxed expression.
“How about it. It’s the weekend, after all.”
Felix lifted a wine glass from the silver tray of a busily moving waiter and grinned as he looked around at the friends seated with him.
“Shall we play one more round?”
“I’m done. You’re trying to bleed someone dry.”
One peer, who had blown the price of a carriage in just an hour, sprang up from his seat. Felix shrugged and subtly suggested.
“You can pay with an IOU, you know.”
“If I do that, next time I’ll lose my mansion.”
“Me too… I’ll stop.”
“Me too.”
As one friend shook his head and led the way out, the others who had likewise been emptied by the dazzling sleight of hand also stood up one by one.
After the heated poker game broke up, the spacious members-only club room grew quiet. Only gentlemen scattered loosely about on buffalo leather couches or silk chairs, reading newspapers or drinking coffee while conversing.
Felix stretched out with a long yawn and cast his gaze at Killian, who sat across from him smoking a cigarette.
“By the way, what brings Your Grace here? Sitting around so persistently.”
“Just because.”
Killian answered dryly and flicked his left hand, beckoning a waiter over.
“Newspaper. And an ashtray.”
“Yes, sir.”
The bowing waiter brought this morning’s newspaper together with a crystal ashtray.
Killian crushed the barely smoked cigarette into the ashtray and sat comfortably with his legs crossed, unfolding the newspaper. A large headline on the front page immediately caught his eye.
Glitterus Trading Company. Achieves astounding growth this year.
Felix, who had glanced over the article, lowered his voice and jeered.
“The rich get richer. Must be nice. Sitting on a real pile of money.”
The growth rate of Glitterus was so admirable that anyone who handled money was desperate to buy its stock. The place where the initially nameless company had established itself was a shabby port in the south. The sea routes were treacherous, and since many were engaged in aquaculture, it was considered small, remote, and without prospects compared to the west.
But the landscape changed within a few years. It began after a shortcut connecting foreign lands and the south was discovered. Trading companies caught off guard began jumping into the south one by one, but it was already too late. Having expanded its power in the south earlier than any other company based on enormous capital and military force, it was no exaggeration to say that Glitterus now dominated the sea routes throughout Esselwood.
A meaningful company that had even reached into the underworld. That was all the public knew.
Felix remembered vividly with his own two eyes how much blood had been spilled to absorb and subjugate the organizations clinging to the south like stragglers.
It was a war. While ostensibly staying in his wife’s country, Killian Devonshire had repeatedly smuggled himself back to command at the forefront of that war. Using the credibility of Everdine bankers, he had secured the cooperation of foreign forces allied with existing southern organizations, and had driven the momentum of victory until the very end.
The climax was undoubtedly when they eradicated the organization that resisted and refused to submit to the very end.
“Isn’t your mother actually an actress who took any man? They say she bore the Duke’s child instead of his infertile Duchess. Is that true?”
The boss of the organization, in his final struggle, uttered a rumor that was practically an unwritten rule. The story that the actress, the Duke’s longtime lover, had borne the Duke’s child in place of the infertile Duchess, and that this bastard was the Duke himself.
It had long been revealed as a nonsensical false rumor, but it was also a story that had caused a nationwide stir for some time. While those around them couldn’t even breathe, Killian, who had been quietly watching the man like an audience member enjoying a short play, suddenly laughed.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
The man widened his eyes at the unexpected reaction, unable to finish his words. Without even showing the motion of drawing a gun from his holster, a gunshot roared and the bullet flew, piercing the man’s face.
It happened in an instant. As the air froze like frost, Killian stood up leisurely and advised the dead man.
“But it was rather dull. Next time, I expect fresher insults.”
It was a voice so soft it sent chills down the spine.
He was a man who made even seasoned killers stare in awe. And now that same man sat in the guise of a very respectable, impeccable gentleman.
Felix narrowed his eyes and observed the man before him. He had always been perfect to the point of being obnoxious, but these days he somehow felt a bit softer.
If for the past five years he had always been on edge and seemed precarious, lately he seemed like the relaxed and leisurely Killian Devonshire of old.
It might have been the aftermath of the war ending, but Felix felt that wasn’t all.
“Well….”
Felix scratched his eyebrow awkwardly and subtly suggested.
“Want to play another round of cards?”
Killian snorted softly and gestured at the table with his chin.
“Clear away the cards you stuck under your side of the table first, then speak.”
“…How did you know?”
Startled, Felix laughed awkwardly and held up both palms. It was a gesture of surrender.
“Fine. I’ll give you your money back.”
“Keep that petty cash.”
The sound of a chair sliding back rang out. Killian stood up slowly and thrust his arms into the coat brought by a quick-witted attendant.
“As expected. It’s Your Grace.”
“Rowena Phillone.”
“What?”
At the unexpected name, Felix, who had been excitedly counting his separate winnings, raised his head. He wondered why Killian had suddenly mentioned the name of his mistress. The woman who had been abandoned without a word five years ago, right before his marriage to the daughter of a foreign magnate. The woman who had sought him out again immediately after his divorce and somehow wormed her way back to his side.
“Find out if there’s a courtesan who uses that name. It might have been for a brief time eight years ago, or perhaps she is still working even now.”
Felix’s face went blank at the barrage of demands.
“A courtesan who uses the name Rowena Phillone?”
“You have the best connections. Don’t overlook even trivial matters—look into everything. Not a single thing missing.”
Killian added, pulling on the black leather gloves he had removed last.
“Then I’ll give you three times the amount of money you’re holding now.”