Duke, Please Stop Because it Hurts

The Count, who had finally finished recollecting, could not overcome his anger before overturning his study once again.

“You dirty—vulgar little thing!”

As he was unable to beat her, he grated angrily before pointing towards Arjan.

“From now on, you should refrain from participating in society!”

“What do you mean, Father? If I don’t make a move now, my position to my sister will…”

“How important it is for women to just gossip away!”

The Count’s words were hurled at Arjan without any hesitation. Even when you said that you had gone and talked well! Things hadn’t been working out smoothly ever since Arjan went over to the Duke’s. The Count had regrettably passed all of the blame on his own daughter.

“Be careful not to act as you wish. Don’t even think of buying a new dress for a while! If you show some self-reflection, won’t the displeased Duke look away eventually?”

Arjan bit her lips in response to the Count’s words. Her lips, which had been afflicted by herself all day long, could no longer sustain themselves as blood began trickling down.

Arjan just stood still until the Count had calmed down. By that time, her cheek had already begun to bulge to some extent as a result of being hit earlier and the Count eventually stopped tossing around—heaving a deep sigh.

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“…then, why don’t you go ahead and talk to Marquis Werner instead?”

“You really have no idea what’s truly going on right now…”

Arjan instantly stopped shouting at the Count.

“If you can no longer use the Duke as a shield, you can exploit the Marquis, Father. Even though he is not as good as the Duke, isn’t the Marquis also a part of a precious bloodline—one of the contributors to the establishment of the First Emperor and the empire itself. If you could just tie up those people together and keep them strong enough, things could actually be done differently.”

“…well, that’d be great actually. It’s quite good to say that the Duke is no longer supporting us.”

The Count was agonizing over Arjan’s words before he began to pack up in his clothes in a hurry. Before the Duke had proceeded in earnest, he should be the one to first take action with the Marquis—even if it was just a little.

“Molitia—she’s not even aware of the grace that she had been raised with… and now that it has become like this, do you think you can just sit by the sidelines?”

Arjan smiled softly when the Count had uttered Molitia’s name like he was chewing it viciously.

“Yes, Father. Please, continue that story.”

* * *

The wind eventually got colder.

The leaves had fallen off their branches, leaving the thin, stark branches to stand out all over the garden. As the cold breeze wafted through fervently, the servants of the Duchy began to move rather busily.

It had always been busy during this time of the season, but this year was going to be even more special. All due to the fact that the Duchess of Linerio was right here—staying. The servants had especially prepared her own bedroom.

Even when she was ill previously, her room had already been arranged, but it didn’t just stop there. In preparation for her delicate and fragile body, they made the room for the Duchess to be even more warmer than before.

Molitia, who stepped in while being barefooted, was immediately surprised by the thickness of the carpet that had been laid out.

The curtains were overlapped in several layers to the point that even sunlight could barely peek through and her petite body was enveloped with a blanket that remained for such a long time.

In addition, the hearth was constantly being lit. As a result, the cozy and warm air had always remained in her room.

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“Molitia, it’s already morning.”

Early in the morning, Raven, himself, was the first to rise even in her bedroom. He raised his naked torso before patting Molitia, who was still in his arms.

He had recently developed a new habit. Right before falling asleep, he would need to wrap his wife tightly in his arms and only then, he could go to bed—satisfactorily. He was the one who’d feel relieved when her cold body were to eventually rise with heat.

“Yes…”

Molitia tossed her body around a little at his whisper. Her fluttering eyes were still full of somnolence.