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Chapter 9 — “Makes Me Want to Devour You”
2021.12.31
“D-Duke?”
“I was waiting because I wanted to talk to you alone.”
Before I realized it, my eyes drifted to the hard body visible between the folds of his robe. Starting from the masculine protrusion of his Adam’s apple, the lines of his sunken muscles were both rugged and elegant. It wasn’t just a body with a lot of muscle—it was solidly balanced with graceful lines. Even the parts hidden under the robe teased my imagination in a way that made my face heat up.
“Then… why did you suddenly come dressed like that?”
“Because I wanted to talk to you as soon as possible.”
Yohan tilted his head slightly, the corners of his eyes crinkling as if he didn’t understand.
“You don’t like the way I’m dressed?”
With every small movement, the robe rustled. If I wasn’t careful, the tied sash might come undone and reveal the rest of his body. Looking at Yohan stirred secret impulses inside me that I hadn’t even been aware of. I swallowed hard and shook my head.
“No. It’s not about liking it or not, it’s just…”
“Then why are you standing so far away from me?”
Yohan extended a hand, his voice low and tempting.
“Come closer.”
It would feel strange to refuse here. But if I gave in, I had the uneasy feeling I’d be completely devoured. Carefully, I placed my hand in his and slowly approached.
“You’re nervous, wife.”
He suddenly pulled me in, hugging me tightly. There was no space between us—his firm body pressed against mine. Unlike his usual suits, under the robe he wasn’t bare, but the feeling was completely different. His predator-trained body brushed more vividly against my skin. His scent was intoxicating, making heat rise through me. Yohan’s handsome face leaned closer, his cool eyes softening like they were melting into something sweet.
“But don’t you think that’s dangerous in front of me?”
“W-Why?”
I was so flustered I didn’t know what to say.
“Because that just excites me more.”
Yohan brushed my earlobe with his firm fingertips.
“Makes me want to devour you.”
I swallowed hard.
Devour?
That could mean many things. And in this context… Yohan’s words sparked thoughts that made my already heated face burn even more. He let out a low chuckle—sweet, yet almost like the growl of a beast. It sent a shiver down my spine, but also, oddly, made my heart flutter.
“Don’t worry too much.”
Whenever he moved, his solid muscles pressed even more vividly against me. Long fingers brushed my tousled pale-pink platinum hair away. Maybe because my ears were hot, the touch felt even more stimulating.
“There won’t be a first night between us just yet.”
It was clearly meant to reassure me. But I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
This is a line from the original novel.
Yohan refusing Estelle after she’d waited so long. Estelle had cried and confessed to him. He had removed her hands with a cold smile.
‘There won’t be a first night between us. You know the reason why.’
‘What exactly is the reason?’
‘You’ll find out soon enough without me saying.’
And from that day, everything in Estelle’s world began to crumble. Remembering this, my face went pale. The situation and conversation now were different from the novel, but unease crept over me. Yohan, looking puzzled, gently rubbed his chin against my shoulder.
“You’re not sick, are you?”
He placed the back of his hand against my forehead, genuine concern in his eyes. His face almost glowed.
Too handsome for his own good.
I could see why in the original story, she couldn’t escape him. Not only was his face beautiful, but his body was incredible, and he was skilled at physical affection. Especially when a cold-looking man whispered sweetly, it felt impossible not to be entranced.
“I’m not sick. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“Just… being like this suddenly makes me nervous.”
As if waiting for that, Yohan pressed his lips into my hair, smiling faintly.
“Tension in the body isn’t a bad thing.”
“Then…?”
“On the contrary, it’s good.”
He was clearly seducing me, but somehow in a way that wasn’t overbearing—teetering between thrilling and safe. Or maybe it was just his face that made it feel thrilling.
“When a person’s tense, they become more sensitive.”
His long lashes lowered slightly, casting a deeper shadow over his eyes. On his clear skin, the shadow gave off a strangely alluring yet chilling atmosphere.
“Perhaps even more than you think, wife.”
His voice dropped into a rich, deep tone.
“Want to know more?”
He placed light, repeated kisses on my pale neck. Each time his moist lips touched my skin, my body twitched involuntarily.
“I-I think I’d rather not know just yet!”
“Sounds like you’re saying you will want to know later.”
Why did my words sound like that?! My face felt hot enough that I didn’t need a mirror to know it was flushed red. Yohan lifted my chin with one finger, forcing me to meet his gaze.
“When will that ‘later’ be, I wonder?”
Deep red eyes—both cold and burning—looked at me. It was a gaze filled with primal obsession and madness, as though he wanted to consume every part of me.
Why does he look at me like that?
It’s not as if he cares about me as a person. As long as I’m the target of his revenge on the Libertan family, it wouldn’t matter if I were someone else entirely. I instinctively looked away, trying to pull away from his arms, but his grip tightened, trapping me. When I glanced up in surprise, he smiled faintly and whispered—
“Wife, tell me anytime you’re ready.”
His large hand came down gently on my forehead. Warmth, like being wrapped in soft feathers, spread over me. And, as if by magic, I fell asleep instantly.
I woke to warm sunlight streaming in.
Yohan’s not in the bedroom.
There was no trace of what happened last night, almost as if it had been a dream.
But it wasn’t my imagination.
The way he whispered to me, the sight of his masculine, solid body through the robe, the feel of it—there was no way I had conjured all that in my mind.
And if it was all imagination… well…
I slapped my own cheeks hard enough to snap myself out of it and got up. I’d gotten the key from Betty last night.
If I go early, Erich won’t be around to bother me.
Of course, since it was Yohan’s study, there was still a risk of running into Yohan himself. And after what happened last night, the thought of facing him again made my cheeks heat up. All the more reason to go when no one else was around.
After washing lightly with the water prepared for me, I headed for Yohan’s study. Unfortunately, the door wasn’t locked today. And inside was the one person I’d hoped to avoid—Erich. In the early morning light, his sharp features seemed even more pronounced. If it weren’t for his temper, I might have been glad to see him.
“I believe I made myself clear before,” he said, his neat long blue hair tied back, his brows furrowing. His bluish-gray eyes looked at me differently than last time.
“What business brings you to the study so early?”
“I just thought I’d read for a bit.”
Seeing his suspicious look, I quickly reminded him,
“For your information, I have permission. See? Here’s the key.”
He sighed and nodded.
“Then I suppose I can’t stop you. Do as you please.”
Far milder than yesterday’s reaction.
Maybe because I apologized?
For someone who hated me so much, the fact that a simple apology loosened him up suggested he was a decent person at heart.
Even though I did cause trouble yesterday.
With his tacit approval, I could finally look around the study properly. In truth, it was less a study and more like a grand library—its old-fashioned beauty glittering in the morning sunlight streaming from a large central window.
Ah… the sunlight is nice.
Erich ignored me now, wearing thin glasses as he sorted papers. The glasses gave him an even more intellectual air.
Let’s find a book.
There were so many books that even finding the “magic” section took a while.
Black magic… black magic…
The magic books were all in ancient script, which was a little challenging.
Good thing I learned ancient script at the Libertan duchy.
If they were good for anything, it was education—probably so no one outside could say they mistreated me. I’d been forced to learn etiquette and even obscure languages few high nobles knew. At least it was proving useful now.
Unfortunately, there were no books on black magic, so I pulled out a general magic text instead.
A spell for painless death?
It said that because mages broke the laws of nature, they often lost control, and thus needed a way to die peacefully.
“What exactly are you doing here? Of all places, you choose this restricted section…”
Just as I was about to return the book, Erich appeared out of nowhere and snatched it from me, his bluish-gray eyes narrowing.
“You do realize this is written in ancient script?”
I shrugged.
“Would I be holding it if I couldn’t read it?”
His eyes filled with deeper suspicion.
“You can read it?”
“Of course. Want me to prove it?”
I took the book back and flipped to a random page.
‘I want to die. In a situation with no escape, it seemed the only way—’
“That’s enough.”
He took the book from me again, his gaze now sharper.
“How exactly do you know ancient script? And why this book—”
“I just happened to learn it. If I’d known it was forbidden, I wouldn’t have read it.”
I’d just come back later when Erich wasn’t here. No one else seemed to guard this place, so if I timed it right, I could read in peace. I pulled another book from the magic section at random.
“You…”
Still gripping the earlier book tightly, Erich spoke slowly.
“Do you know what kind of family the Libertans are?”
His eyes were full of hostility and confusion. I swallowed.
Maybe this is my chance.
Even if I escaped later, it would be good to have at least one person who hated me less. Of course, a few words wouldn’t erase the grudge of a revenge-driven man, but hearing an apology was still different from not hearing one at all.
“…I know.”
“Then why did you do nothing?”
His voice rose, tinged with frustration and anger. Telling him there was nothing I could do would only make him angrier. So all I could do was—
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry again? You think that fixes anything?”
He strode over and gripped my shoulders harshly.
“That’s hypocrisy. An apology just to escape a situation is empty.”
“I know. But right now… that’s all I can do.”
For some reason, that made him more hostile. Maybe I shouldn’t have apologized—maybe I should have gone as far as kneeling in tears.
Not that I’d do it, even if he asked.
“What do you expect me to do, then, Baron?”
He clenched his teeth, glaring at me before turning away.
“Why ask me? Shouldn’t you figure out your own atonement?”
He left the library. I barely listened, too busy silently pumping my fists in triumph.
Ah—opportunity!
While he was gone, I pulled another magic book from the shelf.
He won’t come back right away, right?
Dealing with all that hostility first thing in the morning left me feeling stifled. Before reading, I decided to get some fresh air and threw open the large library window.
Whooosh—
The strong wind whipped my long hair wildly. It felt good to breathe the fresh air after so long. I closed my eyes briefly, then leaned forward to look down. Below was a chilling, eerie hedge maze—an uncommon sight even in noble estates.
—Estelle.
The voice was clearer than before.
It wasn’t my imagination.
Wanting to hear it better, I stepped onto the stone window ledge. Luckily it was wide and sturdy, so it wasn’t dangerous.
Judging from the direction…
It came from the forest. Same as last time.
Is there something in the forest?
As I tried to climb down, dust in the wind blew into my eyes. They stung, making me blink rapidly. Rubbing would make it worse, but whatever got in was big—it wasn’t easing up. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn’t exactly blame the wind. So maybe it was my own fault. Eventually, I ended up rubbing them anyway.
“So much for avoiding this.”
I’d tried not to repeat last time, when rubbing had made them bloodshot, but—
“…You.”
I turned my head. Erich had returned silently, though I’d seen him leave earlier. He stared at me with a pale face.
“You think that is a solution?”
A solution? I tilted my head. Then my hand slipped slightly on the window frame.
“Wait!”
Erich’s face went even paler.
