Gasp…gasp.

Evely was breathing heavily while Alec embraced her again and again. As a result, she couldn’t even calm her own naked body and had to lie there endlessly. Even letting out a tired breath was too much for her.

But unlike her, he had a much neater face.

“At the end, you rocked your hips. It must have been good.”

However, his words lacked neatness and were cold. He picked up the gown that lay to one side and draped it lightly over himself. Then he approached Evely, who was lying on the bed.

“It’s….”

She finally opened her mouth, but the words were muffled.

It was an instinctive gesture of her hips. Familiar with the pleasures he was giving her.

“I’m impressed with how hard you shake your hips, and your sincerity. I’m willing to consider you for marriage. Who is your partner?”

He spoke in a somewhat twisted voice and reached out towards Evely’s chest. He then grabbed it at once, as if it were his own. It wasn’t a strong grab, but Evely let out a groan.

“You wouldn’t know if I told you….”

“Who is he?”

Evely hesitated at the one-sided question that cut off her words. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say because she was choked up. As if Alec could read the situation, he opened his mouth again.

“You didn’t lie to me when you actually don’t have a man to marry, did you?”

“No, there is.”

Now, if there wasn’t, she would have lied to her master. After all, it didn’t seem like he was going to allow me to marry her anyway. At least for now.

Noticing this, Evely was silent for a moment, but then remembered the name that came to mind.

“Daniel.”

He seemed interested, unlike the way Evely expected him to ignore and listen to what she had to say.

He rubbed his chin lightly.

“Daniel?”

“He’s a merchant who owns a castle. Daniel Howard.”

‘He’s not a servant who works here, so he probably won’t care about a mere merchant.’

Alec circled Evely’s nipples with his fingertips as he suddenly called out,

“Is someone outside?”

“Yes, Master.”

Evely’s eyes widened at his sudden call. If the servant comes in here at this moment, they would see her laying naked. Evely’s face turned red with bewilderment as she grabbed his wrist with both hands, which were teasing her breasts. Then the door opened with a click, and when the space was half open, fortunately Alec spoke first.

“There is no need to enter, and I have someone to summon.”

“Please say it.”

“Daniel Howard. Bring him here.”

Evely’s eyes went even wider than before. But Alec was undeterred, and only gave more strength to the hand that gripped Evely’s breasts.

* * *

Alec dressed Evely in a thin gown. As soon as she put the clothes on, a soft, feather-like feeling enveloped her entire body. He sat Evely between his legs in a slightly close gown so if she was a little careless, people could see her breasts. Then Alec touched her skin, which was exposed outside the gown, as if he was petting a long haired cat.

It made her clothes as messy as possible. It wasn’t open enough to show her breasts, but it looked far from being closed. Her hair was also unkempt and disheveled, and her cheeks were stained red.

By all accounts, her appearance would have been that of a mistress who had just finished an affair.

“I hear you’ve been delivering things to the castle lately?”

Then Daniel  Howard, who had been brought in tied up, was kneeling in front of the bed. Evely couldn’t bear to look at him, so she turned her head away. And the fact that Daniel was brought here because of her, she couldn’t lift her head. Evely kept calling “master”. However, she couldn’t make a loud noise because she was afraid that she would offend him.

“I heard you carry a lot of dishes, especially plates and bowls.”

Daniel was frozen solid. She could see his handsome face distorted with fear.

“…… Yes, I do.”

But Alec was indifferent.

“……There’s a rumor saying it’s fake.”

“Huh? What…? It can’t be! It’s ridiculous. It really is outrageous.”

Daniel shook his head again and again, earnestly denying it. “Absolutely not,” he said, constantly insisting on his innocence. No matter how much he was a businessman in pursuit of profit, he didn’t dare to lie.

“So you’re saying I’m wrong?”

Alec popped the question indifferently. Then Daniel’s mouth, which had been stammering, closed. He let out a puffed breath, and then opened his mouth again in a rush.

“No, but I’ve never done anything like that before. Please just once…”

“You lied to me, and that is unforgivable.”

Alec had a cold face that showed no mercy. Evely, who was in his arms, grabbed the hem of his clothes with pleading eyes.

“No, no. Please don’t do that.”

She tried with all her might to beg, but Alec’s expression only grew colder.

“You’ll be handled according to the law.”

Evely’s eyes suddenly widened. She looked stunned, as if she couldn’t believe it. For the first time, she knew why people were afraid of him.

“Take him away.”

The men by his command roused Daniel roughly. Daniel struggled while he was being dragged away. Evely, who was watching the scene with a hopeless face, knelt down and clung to Alec’s leg.

“It’s a lie! It has nothing to do with Daniel. In fact, I’ve rarely talked to him. I have no one to marry!”

His gaze fixed on her.

“It’s my fault! You know it’s my fault. Don’t blame others for me.”

“Then why?”

Evely could not answer his question. It was because she did not have the strength to answer. All she could think about was that the innocent Daniel should not be dragged away.

“Please save him. Daniel is innocent.”

Evely’s voice cracked.

“…Do you want him to live?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Then please me.”

Before she knew it, she raised her hazel eyes and looked up at Alec blankly.

“Now what’s in my hands is not only your marriage, but also his disposal.”

Evely immediately got up and kissed him. It was an earnest and also a coarse kiss. She did not let go of his tongue and tightened it. Alec sucked in her flesh and swallowed the fluid that was coming over. He tasted something salty. It was tears.

When Alec noticed Evely was crying, he took off his lips. Her eyes were wet. Her golden eyes flickered with tears and her chest went down and up rapidly. Evely’s breathing was unsteady and raspy, as if she couldn’t catch her breath after crying so hard.

Evely wiped her tears with the back of her hand. The way she cried was like a child.

“The rumors that have been circulating are correct. Master is a ruthless man…”

“When have I ever told you that I’m not ruthless?”

The whole situation was shameful, disappointing, and frightening. All of these emotions were on full display in her eyes as tears spilled over. Alec looked insistently into Evely’s eyes.

“Please don’t harm him.”

She didn’t know how the law works. But she was scared that maybe something had happened because of her. She was very scared.

“No, no, no. Please don’t do this. Please, Daniel is innocent.”

Evely shook her head again and again. He stared at her in silence, then opened his mouth in a fainter voice than usual.

“I suppose. I’ll be the judge of whether he’s innocent or not.”

His voice was pitiless. Evely, who had been agilely scanning his face, lowered herself again.

“I won’t say another word about marriage.”

She noticed Alec’s expression change minutely and hastily continued her words through the gap.

“I’ll never ask to be married again. Never again. So please….”

Evely took his large hand and kissed the top of it. Yet, her eyes were exclusively on her master.

“I know I am your property, and I belong to master.”

The temperature of her hand was high. It was true that a maid was her master’s property, but Alec knew that Evely’s action didn’t come from deep within her heart. It was just an act to help Daniel, who seemed to be caught innocently. It was just a desperate gesture to get him in a good mood.

A superficial gesture.

Alec looked at Evely, then he slowly opened his mouth.

“…… You know that I’m being generous to you.”

Evely did not answer.

Did he mean that this was as far as he would tolerate her?

Evely bit her lips. She thought a warning would follow that he would drag her along like Daniel if she dared to go further. But he just let her off.

“Now get out.”

‘He’s being generous.’

It meant that Daniel would not be harmed. With a sigh of relief, Evely stepped toward the door as soon as Alec gave his assurance. Then, without even looking back, she opened the door and walked out.

She didn’t even notice that she didn’t even greet her master, even though she was his servant.