Chapter 43
“Ugh…” A chill ran down my spine, and nausea surged up.
In the blink of an eye, Devon was on top of me, baring his white teeth in a savage grin.
This bastard…!
Clang!
I screamed and struggled fiercely.
I tried to kick Devon in the stomach and face with both feet, pressing my shoe heel into his thigh as hard as I could.
“Get off! Move! Get away!”
But with my limbs tied, my resistance was useless.
Devon chuckled, his voice laced with disgusting excitement, as he opened the lid of a brown bottle.
He grabbed my cheeks tightly, forcing my mouth open. I clenched my teeth, but the liquid seeped in through the gap as he pried my mouth apart with brute force.
I shook my head and struggled, but I had already swallowed a small amount.
Thud!
A heavy pounding erupted in my chest in an instant.
The surrounding noises buzzed in my ears, and my ragged breaths echoed loudly.
A burning heat surged from my chest, rising up my throat like wildfire and spreading to the top of my head.
“Hah… Hah…”
A strange ticklish sensation spread through my stomach, making it impossible to stay still.
I kept twisting and writhing, my legs moving as if swimming, while Devon watched me from above with amusement.
At some point, he scanned my body with a heated gaze and let out a relaxed sigh.
The eyes that had been filled with anger were now clouded with lust.
Even his breathing was so repulsive and sickening that I felt like throwing up.
I glared at him through my disheveled hair.
A wave of fear crashed over me—this could turn into something irreversible.
My mind went blank. I couldn’t think of anything.
“You… insane bastard…”
“You look quite sexy when you glare at me like that, my dear wife.”
I bit down hard on my lips, desperate to hold on to my sanity.
The metallic taste spread in my mouth, bringing a moment of clarity.
Anger and fear welled up, making my eyes burn.
But I refused to cry in front of him again.
I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.
“You… will never… get what you want.”
I gasped out the words between ragged breaths.
Devon scoffed as he unbuttoned his shirt.
“Still putting up a fight? Just give up already. I’m being generous enough to forgive you—”
Bang!
A sudden explosion echoed from downstairs.
Devon flinched and jumped off the bed, staring at the closed door.
His face turned pale as he rushed to the window and stomped his foot in frustration.
“Damn it! Those useless idiots!”
Devon swiftly grabbed a dagger from the bedside.
Then, he climbed back on top of me, covering my mouth.
“Mmph!”
“What the hell did you do?!”
Footsteps echoed up the stairs.
With each step, tension thickened.
Yet, despite the situation, a small smirk escaped me.
As Devon was momentarily distracted, I bit down on his hand—hard.
“Arghhh!”
Devon tumbled off the bed, rolling onto the floor.
I spat out the blood-tasting saliva and looked down at him with triumphant eyes.
“I didn’t do anything.”
I had just forgotten something too familiar.
That Edmund Mipedian was always watching.
Crash!
The door burst open violently.
Splinters of wood scattered across the floor.
A man stood in the doorway, towering like an unshakable tree.
“Edmund…”
Relief washed over me, and a weak smile formed on my lips.
Edmund stood still, scanning the room with an indifferent gaze.
His golden eyes swept over the scattered brown bottle, the discarded shirt, and finally, the bed where I lay.
His eyes widened.
Bound arms, a disheveled dress exposing my thighs—only now did I feel the overwhelming relief and let my tears fall.
But even then, I couldn’t control the heat coursing through me.
My body twisted involuntarily, and strange, foreign sounds escaped my lips.
The relief was brief.
As I imagined how I must look in Edmund’s eyes, shame burned my face.
‘Why does he always see me like this?’
First, Devon slapped me.
Then, I broke down in front of Antra.
And now, I was nearly assaulted.
Not to mention, I had already cried in front of him twice.
‘Again and again…’
I shut my eyes tightly, turning my head away in humiliation.
Then, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
Just as Edmund’s presence filled the room, Devon entered my sight.
Clutching his dagger, he was trembling uncontrollably, his face drained of color.
His demeanor had completely changed from when he was preying on me.
The contrast made me scoff.
Something heavy draped over me.
The familiar scent of Edmund filled my senses, easing my frantic heart.
Slowly, I turned my head.
Through my blurry vision, I saw Edmund kneeling beside the bed.
He picked up the brown bottle, brought it to his nose, and frowned.
“You drank this?”
“So… hot… dizzy…”
“I see.”
His usually sharp voice softened.
He reached out and gently covered my eyes with his hand.
“Sleep. When you wake up, this will be over.”
“Please… don’t report this… I don’t want anyone to see me like this…”
“Don’t worry.”
“My dress… there’s an artifact… a will… proof…”
“I understand. Now sleep.”
A soft sigh escaped him.
His hand was cold, yet oddly comforting.
And so, an old saying came to mind—people with cold hands have warm hearts.
My ragged breathing gradually steadied.
The darkness behind his hand pulled me under, my body growing heavier.
Eventually, I surrendered to the exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.
Edmund moved his hand away, confirming that Etricia had lost consciousness.
Clack.
He set the brown bottle down on the table, the sound crisp and deliberate.
The sheer malice in that small action was unmistakable.
After a deep breath, he lifted his gaze, cold fury radiating from him.
“What were you trying to do to her?”
His voice was low, trembling with suppressed rage.
Devon didn’t answer.
Edmund slowly turned, his sharp glare locking onto the man standing in the corner.
Murderous intent dripped from him.
Devon was paralyzed with terror, his body convulsing as his mind scrambled for an excuse.
As Edmund took a step forward, Devon panicked and blurted out,
“W-Wait, Duke! This is between a husband and wife! You have no right to interfere—!”
Edmund sneered.
“Husband and wife?”
“I-I am her husband…”
“Ah, I see. I overlooked something.”
Edmund closed his eyes for a brief moment.
When they reopened, they were burning with rage.
“You’re not even worth speaking to.”
He knew men like this all too well.
Men whose very existence was intolerable.
Rudeness that polluted society with every breath.
The kind that had once tried to brand him insane just to steal his duchy.
Perhaps he’d spent too long in the forest.
Or maybe he’d let his guard down lately.
He had momentarily forgotten that such scum existed everywhere.
A fleeting memory surfaced—he had once suggested to Etricia that she file for divorce.
How naïve.
He should have known what kind of disgusting tricks this man would resort to.
He felt ashamed for ever offering such a suggestion.
“Don’t come any closer!”
Edmund strode forward, his boots clicking against the floor.
Devon frantically drew his dagger.
It was a pathetic attempt—he knew he was no match in strength.
Still, his survival instinct kicked in.
As Edmund stopped before him, Devon lifted his head.
The man towering over him exuded an overwhelming presence.
His breath caught in his throat.
The door was just ahead.
His only chance was to run.
As he lunged forward—
Thunk.
Edmund grabbed him by the collar, yanking him back effortlessly.
“Ugh…!”
Devon thrashed, clawing at Edmund’s grip, but it only tightened.
Then, a chilling voice dropped from above.
“I expected more. How disappointing.”
Devon’s pupils shrank.
A wave of dread crashed over him.
“W-Wait, let’s talk—!”
Bang!
Edmund slammed him into the floor.
“Ugh!” Devon groaned, doubling over as a sharp, flashing pain burst through his lower back. He clutched his waist with both hands, trembling uncontrollably.
“Gah… gah…”
His whole body twisted in agony, as if a metal pipe had been driven straight into his lungs. Every breath felt like torture.
“M-My back… my… back…”
“What’s the point of having something useless in perfect condition?”
I said flatly, unmoved by his suffering.
