Chapter 81.1

She couldn’t move as if her feet were glued. It felt like the time she was trying to think of a response was eternity. Canillia walked towards Claude. But she didn’t take her clothes off. She could see what would happen even if she did so. “Did I… do something wrong?” she asked.

Claude laughed as if he heard something absurd.

“I wanted to ask something,” he replied. “I was quite drunk yesterday.”

As she didn’t answer, Claude pulled the lever again. Warm water started to flow from the ceiling and soaked him.

“But you still remember everything about last night,” Lia said.

“Of course. I even remember your sleep talking.”

His smooth lips curved. She didn’t know what she said, but he was about to make fun of her for it. Lia walked around him like she was observing him. Claude’s eyes followed her as if he found it funny.

“I feel like an animal in a cage,” he remarked.

“You looked at me like this from time to time. With the eyes of an animal.”

She blinked her large eyes.

Claude liked how Canillia was being shameless.

“So, what are you thinking?” he asked.

“Pardon?”

“What do you think when you look at me with the eyes of an animal?”

Lia closed her mouth. She felt like she was being outplayed. It seems like the level of speech class increased with the title. She hasn’t beaten him once.

“Then what about you?” she retorted.

“I always think about how to swallow you all at once. You… Really feel like just one bite size. Small, soft and sweet.”

She gulped as he seemed to be reviewing her like some sort of food.

He chuckled while leaning against the wall as she looked scared. Lia realized that he was making fun of her, turned around and walked towards the bedroom.

“Whatever. I’m a person. One bite size. And… Listen carefully, sir. I was proposed to by Ian but I’m not marrying him. You also proposed to me but honestly, I still can’t imagine it. That I’ll be a grand duchess…”

That moment, her arm was grabbed.

He walked out from the water and looked at her.

“Claude. You call Sergio by his name just fine, but why am I sir? Claude. Claude. Claude. It’s not like you don’t remember my name. What’s the reason?”

Her arm hurt. She felt uncomfortable as his eyes looked solemn.

“If I call you by your name… You seem to… Get a little, a bit, a lot excited. So…”

Before she finished her sentence, she could hear his voice trying to suppress excitement.

“Excited.” He grabbed her small hand, licked it and pulled her into his embrace. His hot and hard body soaked her clothes. He was smiling. “Like this.”

Canillia’s heart throbbed at that. She was panting like she was out of air.

She was sick for sure. A disease that cannot be cured.

***

Wade and Rosina came together when Claude was readying his car to go back to Duke’s mansion. Canillia asked the maids to pack the dress Rosina had prepared and smiled brightly at Wade.

“Your Highness.”

“Hm, it’s Canillian, who’s so hard to see.”

“My apology. I should’ve visited you first.”

“It’s alright. I forgive you even if you’re disloyal. We’ll be family.”

Canillia kissed Wade’s hand and straightened up her top. As if he didn’t even like that, Claude’s eyes narrowed.

Rosina clicked her tongue at that sight and sipped the tea that the maid brought.

“Enough of greetings and more to the point. I know you must have heard the report, Grand Duke, but they started getting more aggressive since Sharon’s death. We also caught those who were circling around Canillia’s house and their objective was arson. The guards that were placed at Marquis Gliad’s place said this.”

Canillia was surprised, but Claude was casual as if he had known all along.

“So let’s make a decision. Are you going to reveal that you’re a woman? Canillian.”

Canillia was caressing her wrist at Wade’s question and pondered for a moment. But she already made her choice. She wanted to disappear quietly, but she also no longer wanted to be played by Anastasia. Even if her existence was painful for the Marchioness…

“Yes, I will.”

Wade nodded at Canillia’s answer.

“Then, what about your birth mother?”

“I want to… See her, but it’s just my wish. She’s happy in Louvre. But I do want to gift her a more comfortable life.”

“Then, it seems like Louvre has to become happy.”

Canillia’s face turned pale at such an unexpected answer.

“Father just wouldn’t acknowledge that Frank Ash is their leader. There will be…. Much to see today thanks to that.”

“We’ll talk in private about that.”

Claude got up and stopped Wade.

As two men grabbed cigarettes and headed to the terrace, Lia left the room with her stuff. The coat felt heavy as the weather became warm so she put it on her arm.

She was a little scared of becoming used to luxury. That she might forget about small happiness like most nobles. Like that blinding ceiling painting no longer excited her, that she would seek out happiness in bigger luxury.

“What were you thinking that you didn’t even notice I came?”

Lia looked up as she heard the voice while going down the stairs. Ian was there. It seemed he was just leaving the palace, as his servants were busy moving his stuff.

“Grand Duke Sergio.”