UDBL~59

Chapter 59

Riana quickly tried to explain herself.

“Sorry, but I really don’t plan on drinking with you—”

“I was thinking—”

Killian’s voice cut in just a moment sooner.

Both of them stopped speaking, their eyes locking again.

Since the employer usually got the last word, Riana only shrugged and stayed quiet.

Killian gave a small laugh and continued.

“I liked it when you spoke to me casually, Riana.”

“…When did I ever treat you casually, Your Grace?”

Riana tilted her head, confused.

Sure, in her mind she had often referred to him casually, but she had never said it aloud—had she? Maybe she’d slipped up once without realizing it.

And then Killian dropped a bomb.

“Try calling me by my name.”

“…What?”

“Killian. Just like that.”

So he’s given up on kicking me out for being indecent and now he’s trying to get rid of me for insubordination?

Riana narrowed her eyes at him, giving him the most rebellious glare possible. Her words, though, were extremely polite—the complete opposite of her expression.

“How could I dare utter the noble Duke’s name? I am far too lowly for that. It would be disgraceful.”

Killian lowered his eyes and laughed softly. His shoulders shook from amusement.

Riana had no idea what part of this was so funny. She’d suspected it before, but this man was definitely not normal.

He set his glass down on the table and, still smiling, asked,

“But in front of the children, you called me ‘this person’ and ‘that person,’ didn’t you?”

Ah.

Riana realized what he meant. He was talking about the royal orphanage event.

Her eyebrows pinched together in protest.

“That was because…”

It wasn’t about being casual. At the time, the children had been scared of the “monster-blooded Killian Droche.” She had thought it better not to use strict, intimidating titles in front of them.

And judging by Killian’s smirk, he already knew that. He was just teasing her.

“I liked it.”

“….”

“I think I’d like it if you treated me that way more often.”

He stretched out his legs, leaning forward on the table with his chin in his hand, looking more relaxed than ever.

As his body leaned closer, Riana instinctively tilted her head back.

‘Relax? With him? No way.’

Out of everyone she knew, Killian Droche was the single most uncomfortable person to be around—not just because of rank, but because he was the male lead.

And, most importantly, because there was nothing “comfortable” about a face like his.

Her eyes narrowed.

“I don’t think that would be a good thing for me.”

It wasn’t possible, it wasn’t necessary, and it wasn’t worth the effort.

But Killian tilted his head as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“It would be good.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because we’ll do something fun together.”

“…Fun?”

Riana repeated the word slowly—then froze as she realized what he meant.

Fun between a man and a woman.

Of course. What else could he mean? They were in a bedroom, and he was dressed like that. The fact that he’d taken this long to bring it up was more surprising.

As she hesitated, Killian suddenly moved his hand. Magic shimmered in the air.

“Ah!”

Riana gasped as her stool suddenly slid forward.

Just a small movement, but it pushed her so close to the table that her chest pressed against it—and Killian’s face leaned in right across from hers.

The round table was far too small to serve as a barrier.

From her uncomfortable perch on the backless stool, Riana stiffened her spine to keep herself upright. But Killian’s maddeningly handsome face was already close enough for every word to brush against her ear.

“Here.”

Here, in the bedroom.

“Tonight would be even better.”

“….”

“And it would be best if, in the middle of it, you called my name.”

With each word, the distance shrank.

Riana forced out a strained voice.

“If that happens, tonight will be my last day working here. That doesn’t sound good for me, does it?”

She was accusing him of trying to get her fired for indecency.

But his reply was brazen.

“And what if it is?”

He didn’t even bother to deny it anymore.

Riana gave a dry laugh.

“Are you planning to compensate me with a grand severance package?”

“Maybe I should. Because right now, it’s hard to resist you.”

“…A severance package, huh.”

For a moment, she wondered how much he meant.

But then she remembered how skilled Killian was at acting, at deceiving.

‘A lie. He just wants to tempt me. Once I fall for it, he’ll make me the guilty one, and all promises will vanish.’

Even if he were sincere, she couldn’t give in.

‘I’ll play along just enough to keep him on my side. But I can’t cross the line. On the big day, I’ll need him to follow my plan.’

With her mind made up, Riana lifted her hand onto the table. Her fingertips brushed against the thin silk of Killian’s shirt.

He let out a low breath, one she could both hear and feel through her fingers.

“Back then,” she whispered.

She pushed lightly, making his body lean back just a little.

“When I called you ‘this person’ and ‘that person’…”

His eyes narrowed, displeased with the change of topic.

“…It was like saying, ‘I’m a great wizard.’ Just empty words.”

Killian frowned deeper.

“So you’re saying it was a lie?”

“When I first saw you, I really did think you looked amazing. I admit my heart skipped a beat.”

At that, his expression softened. He stayed quiet, listening.

“And since you’ve kept trying to tempt me so persistently… yes. I’ll admit my heart has wavered.”

Riana sighed like she was confessing something shameful. But really, it wasn’t.

How could she not feel a little flutter?

A man that handsome, coming at her so directly? Who wouldn’t?

Killian’s striking blue eyes swept over her as though savoring every word. For the first time, he felt the thrill of someone confessing to him.

Finally.

At last.

It was like the iron wall between them was breaking down.

‘Sweet,’ he thought.

Her scent, her presence filling his sight, even the sound of her voice—it was all intoxicating.

He parted his lips, ready to speak—

But then Riana finished her sentence.

“But I’ve never once wanted to hold your hand, or kiss you, or sleep with you.”

“…What?”

It was like plummeting from the top of the sky.

“You don’t feel human to me.”

Killian had been called a monster before. But “not human” … that cut deeper than ever.

“So no matter how perfect your face is, no matter how tempting your seduction—”

“….”

“—it won’t work on me. I only sleep with men.”

Her meaning was clear: since he wasn’t “human,” he wasn’t a man either.

Killian’s lips pressed into a tight line.

But Riana kept going, mercilessly.

“You’re my employer, my boss, my master. That’s all.”

And silently, she added to herself: And you’re the male lead.

“How could I dare see someone I respect as a man? That would be blasphemous.”

She smiled sweetly.

“And besides, you’re going to marry the heroine. Kissing you would just feel disgusting—like touching someone else’s man.”

Her whole plan was to make that marriage happen faster. Killian wasn’t her man. He was just a chess piece.

“So, no matter what happens, I will never end up in bed with you, Duke.”

Riana’s smile glowed with polite humility.

She had managed to spare his pride, while also making clear she wasn’t shameless enough to treat him like a love interest.

‘Perfect,’ she thought.

This wasn’t rejection—it was flattery disguised as rejection.

But then her own eyebrow twitched.

‘Wait… no. That wasn’t acting. It was the truth.’

She really didn’t see him as a man. The little flutters he gave her were no different from admiring a romance movie actor.

Forcing a bright smile, Riana reached for some fruit from the table. She had to keep playing her role until the very end.

“Would you like me to peel this for you, Duke? As a snack with your wine?”

“…Just leave. Go.”

“Yes, of course. As you command!”

With the perfect posture of a loyal maid, Riana stepped back and left the room.