"How shameless," Lucinia uttered. "Who would have thought that the Duke would force himself into a powerless woman like me?"
His eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't force myself to anyone… else but you." He then smiled. "The Princess had a hobby of watching naked men run around in front of her. The King agreed that we can't let that happen again."
"Stop using my father's name or I— ."
"Little girl… you have been scaring everyone that you would kill them. It was as if… you are not accustomed to this world." His gaze held some hidden meaning. She gulped in response. She knew that in the previous world, killing was considered a norm. And she hated that he was right. She had been using that word since she arrived because she had gotten used to it in the previous world.
"This Castle is not enough for you and your people. Please find another place where you and your knights can stay." She turned her head away.
"Your room is big enough for the two of us, no?"
She squinted at him. Who would have thought that the Duke is actually this kind of man? "Look, Duke Mo." She motioned everyone else to leave them, including Madam Liliana. "You can't stay here without my consent." She held his gaze as she forced herself not to show the current mess that her heart had become. "I am not familiar with you. In fact, I have not talked to you before yesterday. So, I don't understand why the Duke wanted to disturb my peaceful life."
He stared at her red orbs for a few seconds as his mouth pursed into a straight line. "I am not leaving." There was a certainty in his voice. Something about it was telling her that he wouldn't change his mind anymore.
"Then… I will leave." She uttered and turned towards her room. The more she looked at him, the more she felt something pulling her towards the man. She couldn't let her body react that way. "You can stay here as much as you like and— "
She didn't continue her words when she realized that the latter was already standing in front of her.
"No. I am not leaving, and I will follow you. Wherever you go. So… either you agree to stay with me, or you let me stay with you."
"Hah!" This man was really making her speechless. "What do you really want? Surely this is not just about protection, right?" She put her hands on her waist.
"Do you really want to know?"
"I would never use my ability against my father." She immediately said, thinking that this man was probably here because of the King. Was he afraid that she would plot something against her own father? Lucinia wasn't planning to complicate her quest. Of course, she knew it would be hard to convince this man otherwise.
He only stared at her without saying anything. For a few seconds, she thought she saw some warmth in his red orbs. Did she just felt some longing in his eyes? She opened her mouth, but the lump in her throat stopped her from speaking.
"I will stay with you." He said before using his thumb and finger to raise her chin. The Duke leaned forward, his complicated eyes bored into her. "To keep you safe." She heard him say before he turned and leave her alone in the hallway.
Lucinia watched him walked away from her. The sudden absence of his warmth made her frowned. Again, she tried to open her mouth and call him, tell him to leave. And for the second time in less than five minutes, no words came out of her mouth.
She clicked her tongue and walked towards her room. She was planning to ask her brother, Prince Gavril to give the female lead to Lucinia before the Duke would see the maid. She was planning to keep the female lead safe in this Castle until Prince Gavril would want her back or at least after a few months after that banquet.
However, with the Duke's arrival in her Castle, she would have to change her plans. She can't have the female lead stay here now that the Duke forced himself to stay in her Castle.
Lucinia started pacing inside her room until she started feeling tired. Right now, all she can do is keep the man occupied so he won't try and snatch the female lead from the Villain Prince. Another sigh left her lips as she decided to take her bath. Tonight, Lucinia was invited to another banquet— a wedding celebration between a baron and his new mistress.
After wearing a purple gown, Lucinia went out of her room only to see the Duke standing just outside of her door. His back was on her as he watched a painting on the wall.
"Did you make this?" He asked.
"No," Lucinia uttered. This body doesn't know how to paint as the queen didn't allow her to train with the other nobles when she was still a small child. She never learned anything that would make her look competent. Which was pretty bad for a princess like her. She stood next to him and immediately noticed that he already changed his clothes. A purple handkerchief was resting comfortably on his suit's pocket. "How did you know that I would wear purple tonight?" she asked.
"I guessed." He turned towards her and smiled. "You should paint me something."
"Pardon me?"
"I know you can paint," he used his right hand to tuck one strand of her long black hair behind her ear. "You should paint something for me."
"Are you willing to pay me?"
He lifted his eyebrow at her question before he chuckled. "You still love money."
"My services are expensive."
"Expensive… is a mere word." He smirked. "How about… you name a price."
"For my painting?" Suspicion flashed in her eyes. She knew that one of the skills that she acquired in the previous world was painting. But the real Lucinia never showed any talents in arts. So… how did he know that she can paint?
"A price to become my wife."
