PMBA | Chapter 17

Would she glare at him again with those defiant eyes? 

Would she angrily slap his hand away, demanding to know what he was doing? 

Or would she freeze in shock?

‘…Ridiculous.’

Dominique withdrew his hand and redressed Kyrie. His touch, so rough moments ago, was now delicate.

Kyrie remained fast asleep, as if determined to catch up on all her missed rest.

Dominique continued to watch her from beside the bed, his gaze continued to linger. He returned to his seat and resumed reviewing documents, waiting for her to wake up.

The words on the page blurred, mirroring the disarray of the woman on his bed, then sharpened again as he narrowed his eyes.

How much time had passed?

He’d finished a few more documents related to his territory when she finally awoke. Startled by her unfamiliar surroundings, she looked around warily, as if the vulnerable figure who had leaned against him had never existed.

The way she pulled her hips back reminded him of a stray cat arching its back. The lingering heat in his body must have stemmed from watching her. Dominique acknowledged the lust he felt.

‘It would be difficult not to be affected by a woman with that face asking to be held.’

Kyrie Ernberg was undeniably beautiful, and her body, though he’d seen it unintentionally, was as stunning as her face.

And for such a woman to beg him, in her sleep, for more…

Perhaps it was fortunate that he was the one who witnessed it. Other, less scrupulous men in the capital might have taken advantage of her. Lexion was a prime example.

‘I wonder if that Lady even knows gratitude.’

* * *

Dominique smoothed his open collar and looked at his butler, who had summoned him.

“What is it?”

“Delma is among the state guests arriving this time.”

“Hmm.”

“They sent a letter first.”

“We can discuss the iron ore.”

“Yes. Acquiring it discreetly within the Empire has its limits.”

The Emperor held the monopoly on iron ore, but it was an essential resource for Dominique. Delma was a region rich in iron ore, so this could be an opportunity.

He understood why his butler had called him. The slight regret he felt at being interrupted while watching Kyrie vanished.

“And the troops stationed in the south…”

The butler continued with various reports. Dominique calmly processed the information.

“Handle it accordingly.”

“Understood.”

The conversation had cooled his ardor somewhat. After the butler bowed and left, Dominique returned to his bedroom. To his bedroom where Kyrie Ernberg, that mad dog, was.

He stopped at the door.

The door, which he had closed, was now slightly open.

“Lady?”

The room was empty.

The faint scent Kyrie had left behind still lingered in the air. He frowned as he saw the empty bed.

Tap.

Soft footsteps approached from down the hallway. Dominique turned around.

Tap, tap.

The mad dog. The Lady of Ernberg was walking towards him.

Kyrie Ernberg, her eyes filled with determination, met his gaze.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Judging by your sudden politeness, I assume so.”

“You spoke to me about value.”

“Indeed.”

A ray of sunlight caught her blue eyes, making them sparkle.

“I admit, I no longer hold any value for His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“…”

“But I thought I might still be of value to Your Grace.”

“To me?”

“I heard you’re in urgent need of a bride.”

Kyrie took a deep breath and continued. 

“You need a… less than desirable bride, one with a tarnished reputation.”

Dominique remained silent, his gaze fixed on Kyrie.

“What Your Grace seeks…”

“…”

“I believe I can provide.”

Kyrie straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.

She had thought a lot as she walked here. About countless possibilities, about potential choices that might work.

‘The Duke’s bride.’

The word “perhaps,” outweighing all the unpleasant encounters with the Duke, filled her mind.

‘Perhaps…’ 

Perhaps the Duke could set her free.

The Duke was smiling faintly. However, it wasn’t a pleasant smile.

“Weren’t you repulsed to be associated with me?”

“…”

“You were the one who said, ‘I detest being embroiled in rumors with men other than His Highness.’”

“Since His Highness abandoned me first, I must find a way to survive.”

“Survive. So you didn’t love him?”

Even as he asked, his tone suggested he already knew the answer. He simply wanted confirmation from her.

So Kyrie gave him the answer he wanted to hear. 

“I never loved His Highness. Didn’t you point that out yourself?”

The Duke’s unpleasant smile deepened. 

“You seemed rather desperate, though.”

“I loved what he could give me.”

“Honor and wealth, perhaps?”

“…I don’t desire such things.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Something you can also provide.”

Marriage, and then divorce. If that went smoothly, her goal would be achieved, just as before.

“If Your Grace truly finds a lady you wish to marry, I will readily grant you a divorce.”

The Duke’s gaze pierced through Kyrie. She deliberately held his gaze, forcing herself not to look away, an unusual action for her. Lexion disliked it when she looked him directly in the eyes. She had always tried to avoid eye contact with the Crown Prince, but… the Duke was different. She felt that if she looked away, if she showed him her back, he would bite her neck.

A speck of dust settled on her trembling eyelashes.

“Indeed. Your reputation is… less than desirable.”

“….”

“Not just a mad dog, but a mad dog tainted by countless scandals.”

“But I’m not actually mad. If you’re concerned about an heir…” 

The words tumbled out her mouth impulsively.

She hadn’t actually considered bearing an heir. It was a preemptive measure, anticipating the Duke’s concern regarding the matter.

But the Duke’s lips twisted into a smirk. 

“No. I’d actually prefer one who’s actually mad.”

“…”

“Come to think of it, it would be nice to have an heir who inherited madness from a mad dog.”

Kyrie held her breath, making sure she’d heard correctly.

The Duke, his face both beautiful and cruel, twisted his lips into a smile.

“An heir burdened with the disgrace of a mad dog. Perfect.”

Silence followed.

‘Disgrace.’ 

His casual tone, as if stating a simple fact, was more insulting than any other. But Kyrie had to accept that this was her reality.

A mad dog, unwanted everywhere.

‘Yes, that’s me.’ 

Kyrie suppressed the surge of anger with practiced ease. It didn’t matter what he said now.

‘Think about the future, Kyrie.’ 

What mattered was her future, not a child who wouldn’t even be born.

…Yes, a child who wouldn’t be born. She had no intention of bringing a child into the world, a child burdened with her disgrace. She would prevent conception by any means necessary.

What mattered was that the Duke had shown a positive sign.

She was merely using him, just as he would use her to escape the Emperor’s pressure. This was a promise meant to be broken in time.

She quickly reached a decision. 

Kyrie replied calmly, 

“That’s something I can certainly provide.”

“You intend to bear such an heir for me?”

“If that is the condition of our agreement.”

Step. 

He took a step closer.

“But Lady, aren’t you the Lady of the prestigious Ernberg family?”

“Does that name hold any meaning for me?”

“It will for His Majesty. That I married a Lady of a prestigious family.”

Kyrie quickly grasped his meaning.

“His Majesty would disapprove?”

Tap. 

This time, Kyrie stepped closer. The cold sensation of her bare feet against the floor was sharp.

She had something to say about that. Having pursued Lexion for so long, she had come to understand the Emperor’s temperament.

“On the contrary, he’ll be pleased.”

“Why do you think so?”

“I am a discarded, hollow Lady of Ernberg, a woman thrown away by His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“…”

“If the First Duke, of all people, takes as his consort a mad dog abandoned by the Crown Prince and on the verge of being disowned by her family…”

Kyrie assessed herself dispassionately, just as the Duke did. Insulting herself wasn’t as difficult as she thought.

“What reason would His Majesty have to disapprove?”