PMBA | Chapter 9

Hearing that, Kyrie’s wandering thoughts returned to the present. Veron approached with a calm expression and spoke.

“I came to escort you since you weren’t coming.”

“Ah, the Young Duke of Ernberg.”

“It seems you’ve already greeted our Lady.”

Kyrie immediately understood why Veron, who would normally ignore her, was bothering to speak to her.

He was once again reiterating the unspoken pressure to send her to the convent.

‘As if I’d be intimidated so easily.’

Kyrie turned to Veron and flashed him her dazzling smile.

“No wonder. I was wondering why I hadn’t seen Elise lately.”

Veron’s brow furrowed at the mention of Elise. Kyrie continued, staring at him intently,

“Are you thinking of sending Elise to the convent as part of her bridal education?”

“What?”

“It’s not a bad idea. She’d be quite safe there.”

“Kyrie Ernberg.”

“There wouldn’t be an older sister viciously tormenting her, nor any young lords daring to bother the lady of Ernberg.”

Kyrie finished, recalling the recent marriage proposals Elise had been subtly receiving.

A wave of shock rippled through the air. This tense atmosphere, which arose without fail whenever Kyrie uttered provocative words that usually disgusted others, was something she always welcomed.

“I hope her consultation goes well. Who knows? The convent might suit her.”

As she walked away, smiling brightly, various murmurs erupted behind her, mostly from the servants.

“Unbelievable! Who’s the one who should be going to the convent…?”

The Mother Superior, her lips tightly pressed into a thin line, glared at Kyrie’s retreating figure. Veron’s expression mirrored hers.

Kyrie left the buzzing atmosphere behind her and stepped out into the bright sunlight. The thought of wasting time on a pointless fight made her a little anxious.

‘I have to get back to the Crown Prince’s Palace quickly.’

While she was here, the servants at the Crown Prince’s Palace might be trying to dispose of her dress, or more precisely, the pendant necklace inside it.

“Look over there. Isn’t that woman the rumored…”

“Is she going to the Imperial Palace again today?”

As Kiriel began to walk down the main street, ignoring the stares and whispers—

A large carriage slowly pulled up beside her.

‘What now?’

Carriages stopping to gawk at her, or following her like she was some kind of spectacle, had been common occurrences when her notoriety was just beginning to spread.

But ever since she’d approached one of those trailing carriages and kicked it a few times, she thought she had gotten rid of them.

‘I don’t have time for this.’

Kyrie, thinking she would have to kick this carriage as well, lifted the hem of her dress.

Click.

The carriage door opened. The faint scent of gunpowder tickled her nose. The moment she smelled it, Kyrie murmured involuntarily.

“…Duke?”

“No title of honor?”

As soon as she finished speaking, a crooked chuckle reached her ears. Despite the seemingly chiding tone, his voice actually held a hint of amusement.

Kyrie slowly raised her head in the dappled shade of the trees and looked inside the carriage.

‘Dominique Roman Haswell.’

The threatening aura he’d exuded the previous night had neatly vanished, replaced by the impeccable demeanor of a noble gentleman. He lounged languidly on the plush seat of the luxurious carriage. The dramatic change in atmosphere made her wonder if it was even the same man..

Soo after, the Duke’s gaze slowly traveled down to Kyrie’s legs.

Kyrie realized then that, in lifting her dress to kick the carriage, she had exposed her ankles and calves to the sunlight.

In her haste, she’d only put on minimal undergarments instead of the multiple layers of petticoats and underpants she usually wore, so there was nothing beneath the dress. Her bare legs, thrust out as if reaching for the sunlight from within the shadows of the trees, stood out conspicuously.

“…”

The moment she felt his gaze, she swiftly lowered her dress and looked at the Duke. Only then did she realize how pointless it was to try and cover herself from him.

‘He’s already seen everything there is to see.’

Although a thin piece of fabric was barely covering her, it was no more than a flimsy curtain that had clearly failed to serve its purpose. Instead of dwelling on that moment again, Kyrie put on her usual smile.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Dominique’s smile widened at her indifferent reply.

In truth, there was no particular reason for Dominique to stop her.

He had simply been on his way to the Imperial Palace, chuckling to himself at the Emperor’s summons, which felt more like a military dog being called for training. He imagined the old man’s foul mood, especially since Lexion, having drunk himself into a stupor, wouldn’t be up and about this morning.

‘He’ll probably bring up marriage again today.’

His mood soured as he contemplated how much of the Emperor’s temper he should tolerate, when he saw the “Mad Dog” through the open carriage window.

Kyrie Ernberg, walking with an air of confidence, as if her family hadn’t even provide a carriage for her.

‘She waited for hours yesterday, didn’t she?’

‘I heard she left without even seeing His Highness. Serves her right.’

Despite the whispers that filled the street, loud enough to reach him in the carriage, Kyrie Ernberg continued walking with a bright smile.

Like a rose that would inevitably draw blood from anyone who dared to touch it.

Seeing her like that brought to mind the woman from last night.  The woman who hadn’t smiled like this, the woman who had shown him her true emotions.

After Kyrie Ernberg left the Crown Prince’s chambers without even bothering to put on her dress, Dominique had stood motionless in the room, inhaling the lingering scent of plane trees and mint. The only proof that she had been there was the rapidly fading mint fragrance.

‘So she does have it in her to do something crazy.’

He chuckled involuntarily, remembering Kyrie Ernberg’s audacity, sneaking into the Crown Prince’s bedroom in such a state. Her white body flashed through his mind.

Wasn’t her intention obvious, sneaking into the Crown Prince’s bedroom in her underwear? It meant she was willing to take risks even at the cost of her reputation and chastity just to marry Lexion.

In fact, it was more surprising that it wasn’t a bad strategy. If it weren’t for him, it probably would have worked.

At that point, Dominique slightly revised his assessment of Kyrie Ernberg.

‘I thought she was only capable of standing there, putting on a mad act with that smile.’

To pull off such a stunt, knowing she could be accused of attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince if she got caught, was finally a thought worthy of a “Mad Dog.”

‘She’s driven and has the ability to act.’

She didn’t care about scandal or even death. It meant she possessed at least that much courage.

And, unexpectedly, Dominique found himself pleased by her actions.

‘It’s better than her standing there idly for hours, waiting like a fool outside the Crown Prince’s Palace.’

More than anything, that frown.

Pure, unmasked emotion had been there. Not the bright, fabricated smile that concealed her fear, but a look of genuine surprise and confusion.

It was strangely exhilarating. The kind of amusement one felt after outsmarting their supposedly strong prey off guard. While Dominique savored this feeling, a drunken Lexion stumbled into the palace.

‘Ah, cousin. You’re here.’

‘You summoned me, Lexion.’

‘Did I?  Why… did I call you?’

The idiot didn’t even realize that all of his attendants were passed out.

Thanks to the Lady, he now knew how vulnerable the Crown Prince’s Palace was, but unfortunately, now wasn’t the time.

‘After today’s incident, the attendants will be more vigilant.’

The thought made him slightly regretful. Dominique replied calmly,

‘If you don’t remember why you called me, you should go back.’

‘No. Wait, Dominique. You have a duty to be loyal to me, too.’

‘Ah.’

‘That’s why, cousin, you’re the First Duke. To be loyal to me.’

Tired of Lexion’s rambling nonsense, Dominique recalled the stiff body he had held in his arms.

A soft yet unyielding form. A heart that pounded against his chest, announcing its presence. He found himself imagining her trapped in his embrace once more.

And at the moment she furrowed her brow…

He impulsively imagined gripping her delicate body, positioned right beneath his elbow, as if to crush her.

Dominique rarely experienced strong sexual urges. He abhorred the idea of creating illegitimate children and arousing the Emperor’s suspicion.

But at that moment, instead of focusing on Lexion, he recalled his hand hovering over her breast and imagined squeezing her seemingly fragile body.

He wasn’t so much curious about how soft her pale, white skin would feel, but rather, he wanted to see a more genuine reaction from her.

He was curious, perhaps, to see how the “Mad Dog,” finally about to commit a truly mad act, would react.

It was an uncharacteristic curiosity for him.

‘It’s because I’ve seen something interesting after a long time.’

It was an interest and curiosity akin to the realization that something he’d taken for a mere furniture was, in fact, not furniture at all.

But that was all it was.

‘Still…’

Judging by her actions yesterday, Lady Kyrie Ernberg seemed like a woman worth using.

Perhaps she could do what he wanted.

For instance, actually sneaking into the Crown Prince’s bed and plunging a knife into his chest.