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chapter 90
“Where is it? Where is it?”
Seleret’s hands were busy rifling through Yuan’s study, searching for the Morsley Manor documents.
Even if she found the Morsley Manor documents that Yuan kept, there wasn’t much she could do with them. Even if she ran off to Morsley with those papers, Yuan would come after her, and this dreadful tie between them would never be broken.
Still, Seleret couldn’t shake the thought that everything would be solved if she only found the Morsley Manor documents.
So she was secretly rummaging through Yuan’s study like this.
While searching the bookshelf, Seleret found a white envelope tucked between folders. She inhaled sharply and quickly pulled the envelope out.
“Is this it?”
She slipped her hand into the envelope.
At that moment, Yuan’s voice came from behind.
“Looking for the Morsley Manor documents?”
Startled, Seleret dropped the envelope she’d been holding. Her heart hammered, and a chill ran down her spine.
It wasn’t time for him to be back yet. Swallowing hard, Seleret forced a composed expression and turned around.
“Your Grace the Duke.”
She forced a smile.
With his hands in his pockets, Yuan looked at Seleret with an expressionless face. He stared at her impassively and then took a few purposeful steps forward.
Seleret flinched and stepped back, but Yuan caught her arm. Their eyes — his ash-gray, hers wide — met, and Seleret quickly averted her gaze.
Bending slightly while holding Seleret’s arm, Yuan picked up the dropped envelope from the floor. Straightening, he pulled the document out of the envelope and handed it to her.
“Check it. See if it’s the treasure you’re looking for.”
Since he handed it over so obediently, it was clear this wasn’t the Morsley Manor document. Seleret gave the papers back to him without even checking them.
Yuan laughed softly and examined the papers.
“It’s an agreement concerning railroad construction.”
“…….”
“Unfortunate. It’s not the treasure you’re after.”
With a smirk, Yuan put the papers back into the envelope.
Seleret, certain he was teasing her, glared and clenched her fist. She hated how this man tried to keep her under his thumb and toy with her.
“The Morsley Manor documents aren’t here.”
“…….”
“I’m warning you because I don’t want you to waste your time. You keep searching through the whole house whenever I’m away.”
“Then where are they?”
“If I tell you that…”
Yuan laughed and tilted his head.
Seleret, searching for the Morsley Manor papers, looked cute to him. She might be desperate, but from his point of view, she was like a child playing a prank — it made him want to laugh.
“Thinking of stealing them and running away?”
Yuan suppressed his smile and continued.
A sneer in his face made Seleret’s fists tremble. She lifted her chin and stared Yuan straight in the eyes.
“Do you think I could run away? You, the illustrious Duke, would catch me in no time.”
“You know that well. So don’t even think about running.”
“Don’t think you can make me do whatever you please.”
This time she wouldn’t be easily fooled. Seleret brushed past Yuan and headed for the door.
Yuan swallowed at the scent of Seleret as she passed him. His mind filled with images of pulling her into his arms and kissing her.
But he couldn’t make her cry again, so he barely restrained the desire spreading through him. Before Seleret could fully leave the study, Yuan spoke.
“How’s your health? Are you feeling better?”
Seleret, about to open the door, turned toward him.
Yuan put the envelope back on the bookshelf and spoke casually.
“You weren’t in good condition for a while.”
“Because of you!”
Seleret’s nerves were raw from his indifferent tone. She stepped toward him and raised her voice.
“…Because of you.”
Yuan quietly admitted his fault. He had frightened her, made her cry, and led her to think of her husband as a despicable wretch.
“Listen carefully, Your Grace.”
Seleret came closer.
Her blue eyes glinted with a cold light that made his chest ache. That look stirred something in him, and Yuan let out a hollow laugh at how thoroughly this woman had captured his attention.
“If you treat me like that again, I won’t hold back.”
Seleret warned him in a clear voice.
If it happened again, she might really drive a knife into his heart.
“What will you do if you don’t hold back?”
Yuan asked, curious at the fierce tone. He bent slightly to meet her icy blue gaze.
The smile rising at the corner of his mouth made Seleret realize bitterly that her warning barely fazed him.
She grabbed his lapel and pulled him closer. Their faces were so near they could feel each other’s breath.
Yuan’s gaze traveled from her eyes to her lips. What a sweet kind of threat this was. If he kissed her now, she wouldn’t be able to hold back — what would she do then?
He prayed silently that his reason would hold out.
“I’ll kill you. Yuan Frectuster. I’ll kill you with my own hands.”
“It would be an honor. To be killed by Seleret Frectuster.”
His threat didn’t even tickle; it made him laugh. Apparently she didn’t know how completely her husband was crazy about her.
He could be strangled by Seleret’s slender hand and die laughing — that’s how much his body reacted to her touch.
He must be out of his mind. Even as Seleret, angry, threatened him, he had these insane thoughts.
Everything about Seleret was adorable, lovable. The urge to lay her on the bed was equally strong.
Realizing he’d never be a proper gentleman in front of her, Yuan snorted softly.
Seleret’s eyes narrowed at his smile. She let go of his lapel.
Does he think I’m ridiculous? She must think it’s funny — the threats from the woman he’s toyed with all this time.
“I mean it. I won’t die alone. If poison slides down my throat, the same poison will slide down yours.”
“Dying together might not be so bad.”
“Sure. No matter what I say, it’ll sound trivial to Your Grace.”
Seleret said, defeat in her voice.
When had this man ever listened to her properly? Expecting Yuan Frectuster to treat her like a wife was too big a dream.
“You don’t consider me your wife.”
Seleret looked up at Yuan and continued.
“Do whatever you want…”
Yuan didn’t finish his sentence. The door burst open and an unexpected visitor arrived.
It was Lydia who entered. Lydia rushed in with a trembling face and clung to Yuan, burying her head against his chest.
Seleret stepped back, her face set. Lydia pressed her face into Yuan’s chest and sobbed.
Seleret watched with a composed expression as Lydia clung to Yuan in front of his wife. Was he going to stop hiding it now?
“Miss Elliot.”
Yuan narrowed his brows and tried to pry Lydia off.
But Lydia wouldn’t loosen her grip on his waist. She burrowed deeper into him and cried all the more bitterly.
Unable to bear the sight any longer, Seleret turned her back on them without hesitation. Sickened, she left the study.
Yuan watched Seleret’s departing figure with his eyes.
“Sele—”
He tried to call after her, but Lydia interrupted him.
“Yuan, please help me.”
His gaze moved to Lydia. Her plea was so desperate that one of his eyebrows rose.
“Please help me. There’s no one but Yuan. You’re the only person who can help me.”
Lydia buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Her shoulders heaved; she seemed on the verge of collapse.
“What is this?”
But Yuan’s attention remained fixed on Seleret’s retreating back more than on Lydia’s sorrow.
“How am I supposed to handle this? What should I do?”
Lydia lifted her tear-streaked face, pain plain across it, and Yuan frowned faintly.
“How…?”
Lydia swayed, dizzy.
Yuan quickly supported her. He was angry that Lydia had suddenly rushed in and clung to him, but he couldn’t leave a woman who might faint.
He helped Lydia to the sofa and loosened her sash.
A servant came in shortly after.
“Warm water.”
Yuan asked the servant to bring warm water and sat opposite Lydia.
Lydia leaned back on the sofa and sobbed endlessly.
“What happened?” Yuan asked, handing her a handkerchief.
Lydia struggled to sit up, took the handkerchief Yuan offered, and dabbed at her eyes. She looked at Yuan with a pitiable expression.
“Henderson is trying to throw me out of the royal palace.”
“The Crown Prince?”
“He wants me to marry King Herio.”
Yuan grimaced at Lydia’s words. Forcing someone to marry a senile old man was too much.
“When I refused, they ordered me down to Emlat. How could I live there? There’s nothing in Emla.”
“…….”
“When I refused to go to Emlat, they told me to marry the younger son of the Bronk viscount. Robi Bronk. I hate that man.”
Lydia shook her head. Tears streamed down her cheeks again.
Yuan exhaled softly.
He’d suspected Henderson disliked Lydia enough to try to get her out of the palace, but he hadn’t expected him to corner her like this.
“There’s no one but Yuan who can help me.”
“I’ll speak with the Crown Prince.”
Yuan nodded lightly and replied.
But Lydia wanted more than that. She looked Yuan in the eyes and said softly.
“Yuan, make me your mistress.”
