Chapter 89.2

Claude lazily watched as Canillia changed out of her uncomfortable dress and into comfortable trousers. Despite her delight at the prospect of visiting the village, Claude remained worried.

“Lia, I have to greet the daughter of the count alone if you leave. Are you fine with this?” Claude asked.

“It is an order from your mother, and you are the Duke of Del Casa. Greeting a guest is inevitable,” Canillia replied.

“That’s not what I mean. Don’t you see? There is a certain reason why she is visiting here of all places,” Claude pressed.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he lifted his chin. Canillia, who had been practicing using her cane in front of the mirror, turned to him with a puzzled expression.

“Was that all you felt for me?” Canillia asked.

“What?” Claude responded, surprised.

“Is your heart going to waver over a visit from a beautiful lady? Are you going to hate me now?” Canillia questioned.

Claude laughed at her absurdity. With a resolute expression, Canillia approached him.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“You’ve gotten shameless, is all,” Claude said, as he reached out and straightened her clothes. His fingers brushed past her thin shirt and up to her neck. Canillia’s face flushed whenever their skin touched.

“Do you like my mother?” Claude asked.

“I think I understand when you said she was exquisite,” Canillia replied.

“She’s a responsible person, which was why I could focus on the war after letting her take care of the land,” Claude explained.

“I want to be like her. I want to find what works for me and be useful,” Canillia said.

Claude felt slightly guilty as he looked at her twinkling eyes. Even after seeing her so happy, all he could think about was getting her out of the clothes she worked so hard to put on. He couldn’t help but feel irritated. After undressing her, he would torture her for a bit. As he imagined the tears streaming down on her face as he tortured her, he felt a swell in his chest.

“Was my answer inadequate?” Canillia asked.

Embarrassed by Claude’s silence, Canillia blinked.

“No,” Claude replied, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her chest. Then, he pulled a small button with his teeth and undid it, rubbing the bridge of his nose between her plump brea*sts. As he slowly licked her smooth skin, he saw her flushed cheeks out of the corner of his eyes.

“We have enough time,” whispered Claude.

Embarrassed, Canillia shook her head as she glanced at the door where the servants stood waiting.

“No.”

“Did you forget that time runs as I choose here?”

“I made a promise with Lady Ihar. She’ll leave me behind if I’m late.”

Ignoring her, Claude started to unbutton her shirt.

“It’ll be over before then.”

He fell back onto the bed, pulling her close as he did so. She let out a soft gasp as his fingers tangled in her honey-colored hair. As if surrendering to the moment, she relaxed her grip on him. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as their kiss deepened, the light between them fading until it was gone.

***

Thirty minutes had passed since; Canillia stood at the drawing room anxiously. Jasmine guessed what had happened and glared at her son as he calmly wrapped an arm around Canillia’s shoulder.

“Don’t try anything, Claude,” Jasmine warned him. “I already told the convent that I would be accompanied by a very pretty young lady.”

“Will she be able to go with her injury?” Claude asked.

“That’s up to her to decide, not you,” Jasmine replied.

“I’ll have Ivan act as your guard,” Claude said.

“Fine,” Jasmine said, smiling pleasantly as she got into the car. Lia shook off Claude’s arm and hurriedly followed her.

Claude chuckled and got into the car before the door closed. “Don’t get hurt and don’t follow anyone you don’t know. If you feel any pain from the injury, call for Ivan immediately,” he said to Canillia.

Canillia cast a quick glance at Jasmine and nodded. It seemed that Claude couldn’t take his eyes off her, much to Jasmine’s amusement. This was a side of Claude she had never seen before. He’s finally lost it, Jasmine thought.

She was curious about the woman who had captured her son’s heart. She was also curious about Claude’s taste, as the count’s daughter had desired the seat next to him. However, no one had ever made Claude act this way before, even Marilyn Shelby, who had persistently followed him around despite the humiliation she had endured.

However, there was no one who made him like this. Only Marilyn Shelby persistently followed him around despite the humiliation she undertook.

It appeared that the game had changed. Her son was now crazy about a certain young lady named Canillia. Jasmine wanted to know more about her, the one who treated Claude like a pesky fly.

“Let’s go,” Jasmine said and they drove away.