Chapter 7

“The weather was unusually clear.”  

The sky was so bright that the shadows of clouds drifting over the mountains were visible. Yvonne sat by the window, blankly staring outside.  

The castle was lively, likely due to the merchants who had arrived the day before. Her new room, already unfamiliar, was now being filled with even more unfamiliar things. To Yvonne, it only felt awkward. Even her own room no longer felt comfortable.  

It was a grand space–a parlor with a wide terrace, a study, and a large bedroom. But ever since moving, Yvonne had only sat in one corner of the bedroom, beside the smallest window. That spot, at least, felt the most familiar.  

After all, no one except family ever visited her room. The only exception was Sebastian, who would occasionally barge in to grab her by the hair. Recently, Logan had visited a few times, but that was it.  

Because of this, Yvonne had no idea how to handle the current situation. She stood awkwardly at the parlor door, caught off guard by Max’s arrival.  

“I… thought a maid would be here…”  

“It’s uncomfortable…”

Being around people made her uneasy, so Yvonne rarely kept even Nora nearby unless necessary. But if she had known this would happen, she would’ve stayed with Nora.  

Yvonne couldn’t even bring herself to look at Max’s face, her gaze dropping instead. In his hands was an unfamiliar bouquet of flowers. She silently stared at them.  

Max studied her for a moment before speaking carefully.  

“Then… may I… arrange these?”  

“…?”

She didn’t understand what he meant. Her eyes flickered from the flowers, now slightly extended toward her, back to Max’s face. When their gazes met, his shoulders tensed.  

“If there’s a spare vase…”

“Ah…”

‘Did he bring these for me? Why is he here instead of a maid?’ Yvonne quickly stepped aside to let him in. Max entered the parlor and spotted the new vase that had arrived that morning, walking toward it.  

The vase was narrow and elongated, making it difficult to fit the large bouquet inside. Yvonne quietly watched as his large hands trembled slightly.  

Flowers began to fall onto the table one by one. Yvonne picked them up. It seemed those rough hands weren’t suited for delicate tasks. ‘And yet… when they touched my body that time…’  

Her face burned, and she ducked her head. Max took the flowers she handed him, their fingers brushing. A dull ache pulsed where they touched. She prayed he wouldn’t see her flushed face.  

Then, her wrist was seized and yanked forward. The moment she looked up in surprise, his lips crushed against hers. The contact sent a jolting buzz through her. He whispered against her mouth.  

“I… didn’t come here for this…”  

Yvonne clenched his sleeve. ‘Should I push him away?’ But she didn’t feel like it. Maybe she was just too exhausted.  

‘Yes, I’m exhausted.’ She suppressed the memory of that horrific incident from the other day. She didn’t want to think about it. Thankfully, Max’s kiss made her forget.  

Their connected lips trembled. He sighed and gently licked hers. She knew now that this tickling, electric sensation was pl*asure. ‘Yes, this is…’  

“Good…”  

She could hear him swallow hard. Yvonne slowly opened eyes she hadn’t realized she’d closed. His face was tense. Her chest tightened.  

“If the lady wishes…” 

But Yvonne couldn’t tell if this was truly her will or not. ‘Even if I didn’t want it, if I reached out first, does that mean I asked for this?’  

‘Where does reality end and delusion begin? Is this, too, just another hallucination from my madness?’  

Her breathing grew ragged–not just because of the man pulling her waist closer and ravaging her mouth. Just as her arms unconsciously wrapped around his neck, Nora knocked on the door.  

“My lady.”  

Their lips parted. Max stared straight into Yvonne’s eyes. She suddenly remembered her own blood-red irises and hoped, at the very least, he wouldn’t look away.  

His gaze slid to her lips. Just the sight was as stimulating as the touch itself. He leaned in again, and Yvonne’s eyes fluttered shut on their own.  

“My lady, Lady Nina wishes to see you.”  

Her mind snapped back to reality. Yvonne quickly pulled away from his embrace, rubbing her heated cheeks.

Alexander stared at the woman who had frozen in place upon spotting him. When their eyes met, she clutched her dress tightly. That pitiful gesture only drew his gaze further. The bones of her pale hands jutted out sharply–and for a moment, it reminded him of another scene.

This is insane. A self-mocking smirk tugged at his lips. If I were the type to chase after women, maybe it’d make sense. But this? It’s madness.

And yet, without realizing it, Alexander found himself stopping in front of Yvonne. A wig of golden hair rested atop her lowered head, far more natural-looking than the last one. When he reached out, her small shoulders tensed. He clicked his tongue at his timid little sister and tilted his head. Thanks to his earlier instructions, there was no chemical smell–just the faint scent of soap and perfumed oil.

“Hngh…!”

A small whimper escaped Yvonne as his breath brushed over her. The tiny face now cupped in his hand trembled violently. With just the slightest pull at her waist, she collapsed into his arms. Blood rushed to his c*ck. The urge to drag her to his room right then and shove himself between her legs surged violently.

“B-Brother…”

“…”

“Mother… asked for me…”

Even her thin, tear-like voice grated on his nerves. Without a word, he turned away from her.

“Even just the sound of a horse’s snort was enough to terrify Yvonne.”

She stumbled backward, only for someone to seize her shoulders from behind. Yvonne turned to see who was preventing her from retreating.

“It’s a gentle horse.”

Nina’s voice was firm, her determination clear–today, she would get Yvonne onto that horse. Swallowing hard, Yvonne turned her head toward the large white stallion. A low chuckle came from beside her.

“Something smaller might suit Yvonne better.”

“Next time, I’ll buy a pony that’s easier to ride.”

“No, not a horse… um…”

After a brief pause, Logan spoke up.

“A dog, maybe…”

A dog… Yvonne’s already stiff face turned ashen. That terrifying beast with its threatening barks and sharp teeth? Just the thought was horrifying. Seeing her shake her head, Logan smirked.

“Come on, Yvonne. Give it a try.”

“This is…”

I can’t. She couldn’t even finish her sentence before shaking her head, but it didn’t matter. Nina ordered the servants to force her onto the horse anyway.

Her vision lurched upward, and her head spun. Before she could stiffen further, someone swung up behind her. Nina pulled Yvonne’s waist back, as if telling her to lean in.

“Don’t be so scared. I’ll hold you.”

“…”

“Grab the mane.”

“Yes…”

The body pressed against her back was larger than expected. Though Yvonne was petite, she felt almost enveloped. The arm around her waist was stronger than she imagined, too. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about falling and breaking her neck.

But as soon as the fear of survival faded, anxiety over being held by someone else surged. Do I smell bad? How do I avoid upsetting her? Her mind whirled. Sweat dampened her palms as she clutched the horse’s mane.

“Hng…!”

The moment the horse moved, her nerves scattered. Riding a living creature was anything but pleasant. The horse’s stench was revolting, and mixed with Nina’s perfume and the body heat pressed against her back, her unease only grew.

“Your collar is too high. The sleeves are too long, too. It’s like the clothes are swallowing you whole.”

“Ah…”

“We’ll have to get you new clothes.”

But I like these… Yet Yvonne couldn’t voice even that much. She stammered an agreement.

Nina’s hand left her waist and moved to the nape of her neck. She gathered Yvonne’s neatly braided hair and draped it over one shoulder, then tugged the collar of her dress downward.

Cold wind and hot breath alternately brushed the back of her neck. She could feel sharp eyes scanning her exposed skin. Goosebumps prickled down her spine. Then Nina’s fingers pressed firmly into a spot just below her neck. Yvonne jolted violently.

“It’ll be difficult for now.”

“…?”

The low murmur sounded strange. Yvonne gripped the horse’s mane anxiously.

After that, Yvonne was dragged around by Nina all day. She was shown unfamiliar teas, various fabrics, lace in shapes she’d never seen, soft leather shoes, statues of different sizes, and paintings by famous artists. She didn’t even get to the jewelry or books–thankfully, Nina postponed those for tomorrow.

Exhausted, Yvonne returned to her room as soon as dinner ended. Though the space was still unfamiliar, being alone was a relief. To avoid collapsing into bed unwashed, she curled up on the parlor sofa instead.

She was tired, but not unbearably so. Yes, compared to other days…

“…”

Alone, the throbbing between her legs returned. How long has it been since that happened? She blankly counted the days. Ah, not even two.

Closing her eyes made the pain sharper. Forcing her eyelids open, she stared at the flowers Max had brought. At some point, the maids must have rearranged them into several smaller vases.

She waited for her memories to blur. Pain dulled with time–just like the beatings Sebastian had given her. Now, those were just memories. She hoped this, too, would one day feel like nothing.

There was nothing else she could do. Leaning back against the sofa, she sighed. Then, a knock came at the door. Probably Nora. She opened her mouth weakly.

“Come in.”

The door swung open, revealing an unexpected man. Yvonne’s lips parted slightly in shock.

“Why…?”

“Who knows?”

The blond knight trudged in and took a seat on the sofa across from her. Yvonne hastily straightened her posture.

“…”

As usual, Kyle’s gaze was scorching. But he had never approached her like this before. Though Yvonne avoided him, he had always seemed to despise her. Why is he here? There was no way he could suspect she was the woman from that night. If he knew, he wouldn’t have touched someone as monstrous as her.

Then why? She sifted through unsettling memories. Ah–that day outside the Count’s study, when Max held me, Kyle saw us. A cold sweat dripped down her back. Is he here to blackmail me? But she had nothing to give. Swallowing hard, she spoke.

“If you have no business here, then just–”

Kyle snorted at the sight of her fidgeting white hands.

“Aren’t you being too stiff?”

“…”

“After we’ve been so intimate.”

Yvonne’s face drained of color.

“Th-that never…!”

Her thin voice came out like a pitiful shriek. Kyle cut her off.

“Did you know?”

He smirked as she began to tremble.

“A person’s body hair is usually the same color as their head hair or darker.”

“…”

“But down there, it’s just as white. Unless you’re an old woman–and you’re not–there’s no one else it could be but you.”

For a moment, her heart stopped. So he knew? Since when?

Cold sweat trickled down her back. The sound of her pulse pounded in her ears. Kyle studied her pale face, his lips twisting. Then he stood and reached for her.

“…!”

As his large hand neared her face, Yvonne flinched and shrank back. But trapped on the long sofa, she only ended up making space for him. When he sat beside her, the cushion sank deeply, dredging up the horrific memories from days ago–the crushing grip on her chest, the rough panting, the relentless thrusts–

“No… no! It never happened!”

She felt on the verge of fainting. Instinctively, she thrashed, but her shoulders were pinned. In an instant, she was beneath him.

Kyle wore a strange expression–somewhere between anger and sorrow. But Yvonne had no room to decipher his mood. Especially not when he buried his face in her neck, making her forget everything else.

“Stop…! Don’t– ngh…!”

Even pushing with all her strength did nothing against his solid frame. If anything, his weight only pressed down harder, as if to crush her. When his hand groped her chest over her clothes, her entire body broke out in goosebumps. And because it wasn’t just disgust, tears spilled over.

“I hate this! I hate it!”

She sobbed, pounding her fists against his shoulders. But it only hurt her own hands. Her arms trembled so badly she couldn’t even make proper fists.

It was the first time she’d ever hit someone. For Yvonne, that was harder than being hit. After a few weak swings, all strength left her limbs. Her body felt like a ragged doll. All she could do was stare blankly as Kyle did as he pleased.

He fondled her br*asts before flipping up her skirt. Cold air hit her thighs. When he shifted, the pressure on her lessened slightly. Reflexively, she looked up–only to find him staring intently between her legs. Humiliation flooded her as reality snapped back.

“Move! I hate this!”

She kicked desperately, trying to escape. While Kyle was momentarily distracted, her small body toppled off the sofa. Just before her head hit the hardwood table, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Ugh…!”

A loud crash echoed through the room. Her limbs ached, but nothing felt broken. Cautiously, she opened her eyes–and immediately met Kyle’s blazing blue ones. Her chest tightened. One side of her head was completely cupped in his large hand. He was clearly furious at her attempt to escape.

His hot hand yanked at her dress collar. Instead of choking her, the fabric tore with a loud rip. The front of her dress gaped open, her pale br*asts spilling out.

“No chemise, no drawers… Even pr*stitutes dress better than this.”

Before she could cover herself, he seized a br*ast, kneading it roughly before pinching the n*pple. A sharp jolt of pl*asure forced her mouth open.

“Hah…! Stop…! If… if Brother finds out–”

Before she could finish, Kyle let out a breathy laugh. Her lips froze. He licked the inside of her thigh mockingly.

“He’d probably give you to me to cover up the scandal.”

“That’s not–”

“But you are the scandal, so he’d just bury you instead.”

“Ngh…!”

“That’s how nobles are, naive little lady.”

He watched her face twist in despair before burying his face between her legs. His tongue swiped around her p*bic hair before lightly biting her l*bia. A small moan escaped as her fingers tangled in his hair. He chuckled, gripping her a$s.

“Or… have you already seduced the Count, too?”

The question was eerily sinister. Yvonne gulped, shaking her head frantically.

“I didn’t– Ah! Hah…!”

His tongue rubbed violently against her half-exposed cl*t. The sudden stimulation whited out her vision.

I hate this! She twisted, trying to escape, but he wrapped an arm around her thighs, trapping her like a bound animal. His rough tongue ravaged her cl*t and l*bia mercilessly. Despite the clumsy, brutal movements, undeniable pl*asure built.

Moans spilled between her ragged breaths. Biting her lip hard, she mustered the last of her strength to shove him–but it was futile.

“Ah, ah–K-Kyle…! Aahn!”

“Yeah… I wanted to hear you cry my name…”

How much must he hate me? In her blurred vision, she caught a glimpse of his ecstatic face–twisted with lust.

Seeing her legs shake helplessly over his shoulders, she sank her teeth into her hand. How can I moan and cry beneath a man like this? It was unbearable.

But Kyle stopped even that. He grabbed her wrists, binding them so she couldn’t move. At the same time, a familiar cl*max crashed over her. Her mouth fell open.

Fortunately–or unfortunately–his lips sealed over hers before a sound could escape. His tongue tangled with hers, sucking fiercely as if to swallow every moan.

Kyle gripped Yvonne’s hand tightly. She sobbed, clutching back. He knew it was just her grasping at anything to endure the pl*asure, but even that felt good. His heart threatened to burst. When her slender legs wrapped around his waist, his mind went blank.

Her inner walls clenched around his c*ck on their own. Like a madman, he pistoned into her, losing control as he came. Even as he spilled inside her, the overwhelming pl*asure kept him thrusting.

Thick c*m gushed endlessly. The lewd squelching filled the room.

It took Kyle a long time to pull out. Even then, he never looked away from Yvonne.

Her trembling eyelids slowly opened. He held his breath as those scarlet eyes struggled to focus on him. Her swollen red lips moved weakly before managing a single word.

“Cruel…”

Then she shut her eyes again. Covering her face with both hands, her shoulders shook. Pitiful sobs leaked through her fingers.

Wordlessly, Kyle gathered her into his arms. She shook her head, muttering incoherently in refusal. But hating the tears more, she kept her face hidden, leaving her no choice but to stay in his embrace. Yet when he sat her on the bed and began shredding her dress completely, she jerked her head up.

“Stop it…! I hate this!”

The usually expressionless face now wore a cruel smile. Yvonne flinched and quickly lowered her gaze. Her corpse-pale body was flushed red in places. The sight was so grotesque she squeezed her eyes shut.

“You were screaming like you loved it earlier…”

“Sob… I didn’t…”

Her gasping voice was pathetic. As she began crying again, white fabric draped over her head. As if he couldn’t stand her sobs, she clenched her teeth to silence them.

Beneath the fabric, her shoulders shook. A long sigh sounded above her. Then the cloth–a nightgown–was pulled down over her arms. Kyle dressed her calmly before turning away. He carelessly bundled the tattered dress and tossed it onto the table.

The man looked utterly unbothered after such horrors. What will the maids say when they find it? What if others hear of this? Already terrified, Yvonne pulled the blanket to her chin and muttered.

“The maids… if Brother finds out…”

“I told you–no one will stand up for you.”

“…”

At his cold reply, she buried her face between her knees. Kyle watched for a moment before quickly leaving. If he stayed any longer, he’d only make her cry again.

No–I should’ve kept going. Ruined her so thoroughly no one else would want her.

He paused outside the door, dragging a hand down his face. His fingertips trembled uncharacteristically.

After all that, she still looks at me like I’m a monster. Fury simmered in his chest. When her tear-filled eyes pleaded with him, something inside him twisted. He wanted to treat her gently–and destroy her completely.

Why? Because I imagine her making the same face for others? What does it matter now?

But when he closed his eyes–

“Kyle…”

Damn it. His stomach churned. I’m losing it. I must be. He gritted his teeth until his jaw ached.