If I Disobey the Duke

Mentoring (1)

“Liar…”

Lily clenched her teeth as she laid on the bed in the office’s simple bedroom. Today too, her whole body ached.

She didn’t faint, but it was a tenacious night. It was many times more obscene than their first time, lasting until sunrise.

The words she had pleaded with came to mind, and she pulled up the blanket, burying her face in it.

He didn’t even ejaculate inside her after all. That meant that this time it was done only for pleasure.

“Anyway, another letter. How should I accept it…”

Lily placed her hand on the fluffy pillow. She read the little piece of paper several times before she finally threw it away.

Again, it was a letter left by Vlad.

[Lily.

I have work to do, so I’ll get up first. I’ll return to the castle only in the evening.  Around two o’clock, I’ll send the maid with some clothes. I’ve assigned Talin to stay outside the office door, so request for him when needed.

P.S. I have a few books in my office. Please relax while reading. The books on the left are picture books.]

Private letters between noble families were delivered in secret, normally a love letter between a man and a woman who were not engaged.

Lily dropped her arm to the bed.

“Am I giving myself a hug?”

It felt like her heart was being cut apart.

When did this idea come to mind naturally?  A mixture of ill-feelings fluttered in her stomach like a living creature.

…I can’t help it.

A tool for lust. That was her use.

But what would happen to Tristan…?

After thinking for a moment, she groaned and got up.

The black robe she was wearing yesterday was folded on the side table. She draped the robe over her pajamas and headed to his office.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw his desk. The fireplace was warming the empty office room.

She was alone in her husband’s office.

It felt like a secret act, like voyeurism.

“…You said that I could come to the office…” Lily muttered to herself.

His desk was tidy. It looked like a knight’s desk.

A few books and papers were stacked on one side. Quills and a plain lamp were arranged neatly.

It was hard to believe that it was a desk that had gone through a huge affair last night. Lily’s face turned bright red at that thought.

Something caught her eye as she was cooling her cheek with the back of her hand.

“Is the desk… broken?”

There were dents and cracks everywhere. It looked as if someone had grabbed it with superhuman strength.

Lily frowned. “It’s made of solid ebony, it must be very expensive… How did it happen?”

The next thing she saw was Arcadia’s map and administrative documents spread out on the desk.

She looked at the area marked with an X on the map and shook her head. “There’s a coast too. I think there’s a mine here, but does he want to develop it?” Lily was standing close to his desk and finished reading his administrative documents. They were about taxes, so she couldn’t afford to lose them.

Lily was stunned. “Throwing the rewards given by the imperial family outside the castle and setting them on fire…”

It was a sin that could be called blasphemy against the imperial family. He was really daring.

Imperial rewards were full of valuables. Just looking at the papers made her stomach hurt.

Except for these unusual parts, most were exemplary operations.

A lord who gave every grain of wheat to the citizens without embezzlement. All the records and testimonies made him a good man. To everyone, he was such a good person.

Lily put down the papers. She was curious about it, so what could she do? She knew that this wasn’t her place.

His seat was in the bedroom.

“…”

Lily who turned around with a feeling of endless drowsiness, stiffened like a person struck by lightning.

The phrase “a few books” was too little to describe what she saw. The wall next to the door was all bookshelves. The price of a book was equal to the price of a house. Lily opened her mouth wide at the bookshelf over twice her height.

Lily, who was slowly dusting the bookshelf, jolted. “Why is it all… books about monsters…?”

It was quite weird.

There were often a mix of books in a language she did not know, but even she knew what it was about.

He’s not a priest or a scholar. Why is he so interested in this?

Rumors about him suddenly surfaced.

A dirty illegitimate child with an ugly face that hated the priests and the imperial family. He only had monstrous blood flowing through his body. A warrior that ate human flesh.

Doubts crept into her heart.

She, who had never felt lust for the rest of her life, suddenly became obsessed with knowing.

He never showed her his face.

What if it all had to do with rumors?

“It can’t… be.” Lily shook her head.

Judging someone based on rumors…

She didn’t want to do the same thing that tortured her all her life to her husband.

Lily shook her head as if trying to come to her senses and headed for the bedroom as if to run away. Her chest was so tight that it was hard to breathe.

Someone. Someone to confide in was desperately needed.

* * *