Episode 17

Mera returned to the mansion and quickly went to the toilet room to change her clothes.

From the lemon-colored ruffled dress, it was a slightly more sensual, sheer red dress.

The servants thought that it was because changing clothes dozens of times a day was a joy in life.

However, everyone seemed to have noticed why she was wearing such a seductive dress and exchanged silent glances.

She sprayed perfume heavily again and painted her lips red, then passed through the greenhouse where the tea party had been held earlier and entered a rather secret room.

It was a place I only went to when I met a secret guest, after turning and turning down the hallway again.

“Master, you are lying in bed sick, and you look so healthy.”

“That’s right. When your Majesty was in a good mood, your wife would tremble.”

“But—who are you going to meet this time?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Aren’t they lovers?”

Then a maid intervened and let out a chuckle.

“Hey. Is that the face you have when you go to meet your lover?”

“then?”

“Anyone can see that you have a face like you’re going to meet someone you have a crush on.”

“What’s the difference?”

“When you go to meet your lover, your eyes are slanted upwards and your gaze looks like it’s about to devour you, but when you go to meet ‘that person,’ your eyes are drooped down like this and you look yearning.”

Duchess Mera opened the door with a fluttering face and hummed, and called out to the man standing by the window with an excited look on his face.

“Hillias!”

As Madame Mera, with her voluptuous body, walked with a swaying motion, she stretched out her arm, and Hillias kissed the back of her hand with a yo-yo look in his eyes.

Ah, no matter how many times I look at it, those sharp eyes make people’s hearts flutter.

Mrs. Mera nodded slightly and smiled awkwardly, as if she was disappointed that his kisses didn’t continue.

“Did you wait long?”

“I didn’t wait that long.”

“What if I come late? Why did you come so early?”

“If you have to wait, I can wait. If that’s what you want.”

He tried to make Mera feel good with his seductive words, but in fact, he had another reason for coming to see her today.

“That soft voice is pleasant to hear, but I know it’s not just for me. It’s not very pleasant.”

She wasn’t stupid.

Although she had been pushed aside by Eileen ever since she made her debut in society, the Duchess was once a woman who took society by storm.

It was only natural that she would notice the intentions of the man in front of her.

“Actually, you wanted to ask about Eileen’s cafe, right? Seeing as you came here in person when you could have just sent a letter, you must be in a hurry.”

Mrs. Mera, who had been speaking in a hushed tone, drank from the liquor placed on one side of the room.

It was inevitable that I would feel annoyed for no reason.

This time too, he knew that he was always second to Eileen, but admitting it right away would hurt his pride.

“If you’re that curious about that woman, you can just go down and see for yourself.”

“Mera.”

Hillias just called her name softly and smiled in an unknown way.

Mera couldn’t tell if that smile was mocking her, looking at her with pity, or pitying her.

“Okay. I’ll stop being so grumpy. That cafe she opened wasn’t as great as I thought. You’re paying for some kind of muddy drink, you know? It was a nice little thing, but empty carts make the most noise.”

“is it so?”

“Yes, that’s right. They’ll welcome ‘anyone’ as a guest as long as they pay. There’s no way aristocrats would appreciate such a place. To say they’ll accept anything as long as they pay—that’s something even the most humble bourgeois wouldn’t do.”

Then, Hillias, who was sitting across from her, leaned back leisurely and asked back.

“Did that woman say that?”

“Yes. Hillias, you have to admit it too. You’re overestimating that woman.”

“…….”

When Hillias didn’t say anything, Mera slowly raised her head and observed his expression.

She couldn’t hide her bewilderment as she saw his expression.

‘Are you smiling? So brightly?’

Yes, he really had a face that looked like it was going to be hilarious.

“She’s a really fun woman.”

Not a laugh, not a pity, not a pity—a truly pure smile.

“What’s so funny? Hillias, she’s the one who humiliated you. Didn’t you send me that letter in the first place because you wanted revenge?”

Now that Eileen Edgar has become the Grand Duchess of the South and has left the capital.

‘I am writing this letter because I believe that you, Madam Mera, are the most influential person in this social circle,’ he wrote.

If he didn’t send it with the intention of humiliating Eileen by joining hands with her, then why on earth would he send such a letter?

Mera couldn’t understand Hillias for the time being.

Then, the gaze of Hillias looking at her became very sharp, completely different from before.

“I’m taking revenge on Eileen?”

“If that’s not it, then why—”

“Mera.”

Hillias leaned forward from the backrest and stared intently at Mera.

I must have made a mistake.

She could tell right away.

“I have no intention of taking childish revenge.”

“then……?”

“Again, to get my hands on what’s mine.”

“…….”

“So, I hope you don’t go around saying things like that.”

“……I just— no. I’m sorry. I was so grumpy.”

“Even though he’s so grumpy, he’s still cute.”

“…….”

“Not yet.”

As he spoke with a faint smile, Mera realized that this man knew very well how to manipulate her.

It was very humiliating, but at the same time, I was also excited because it was the first time a man had dared to treat me like this.

“Well, so what should I do? Since you came to me for a reason… doesn’t that mean you need me? If you want me to take the lead and connect with Eileen—to act as Cupid—then I don’t know.”

Then Hillias let out a slow laugh.

A very attractive low voice and sharp eyes that contrast with it.

His pale-skinned hand covered the back of Mera’s hand, which was resting on the table.

“I came here today because I really needed you.”

“…….”

His hands touching the skin on the back of my hand were rough.

Mera knew that she would be swayed by him in the future.

I also knew that I didn’t have the strength to refuse it.

“As a replacement for Eileen?”

“So you don’t like it?”

I feel like I might hate Eileen even more.

“It doesn’t matter. I want your body too.”

* * *

The whole day went by in a frenzy, walking around the cafe and greeting customers.

It was only in the evening that Eileen, exhausted, sat down in front of the dressing table and weakly combed her hair.

“Ugh, I’ve been running around all day, my back aches. Ugh, I need to brush my hair, stretch, and put on a face mask… I have so much to do.”

Even ten bodies are not enough.

As I was combing my hair, a warm hand suddenly appeared from behind me, took the comb away, and began to slowly comb my hair instead.

It was Floran.

“You must be tired, so wouldn’t it be okay to skip the pack and stretching for a day or so?”

Eileen closed her eyes without realizing it as he smiled and slowly brushed her long hair from the bottom up.

She had always hated having her hair touched, but strangely enough, Floran’s touch was so gentle that she couldn’t refuse.

“You comb her hair so well. Men usually comb it from the top down, pulling it back.”

“Is that so?”

“Have you ever combed a woman’s hair?”

“You’re combing my hair right now, madam.”

As I spoke with a smile, Eileen’s eyebrows rose crookedly.