The Ruined Duchy

"He loved you so much!" Philip's eyes had the convection that Cedric was murder. When he entered the room, he was walking on a thin line but not anymore.

A sense of righteousness filled his voice. But oh lord! When Cedric raised his head and gazed at the recently married young man, a shiver ran down Philip's spine. Those were the eyes of a murderer! Dark, grim and full of coldness. He was like a grim reaper hiding his scythe in the dark and he would not hesitate to use it anytime.

"Too bad! He is not here anymore. But I am. And now this place belongs to me. His son, his estate, properties and this maid, all belong to me, Philip." The man stood up from where he was and slowly walked toward Philip.

Suddenly he looked larger, looming over Philip completely as if Philip was nothing. His existence in this room was nothing. Philip had never felt this weak, this small like a tiny pest who could do nothing.  " Or do you want to come back? If you plead, I might consider it."

Philip's eyes widened when he smiled lazily but his lungs let go of the air and he felt suffocated. Just the simple question promised his dark future, worst, he would end up like Christian and have no future,

He took a step back, his face covered with sweat, "certainly not!" the voice came out quivering but Cedric just shrugged.

"Then, I have entertained you enough." Cedric's eyes looked at the door and then at Philip who took the cue.

He gave one last apologetic look to the maid before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

"Your family will be disappointed in you." he whispered but Cedric laughed wickedly.

"Nothing new, I suspect!" That broke the last hope and Philip left the room.

The butler waiting near the stairs looked at him with hopeful eyes. But Philip shook his head. He wiped the sweat off his face and nape and left the manor without exchanging a word with the old man. Knowing well, that even a butler could do nothing to save the fate of the girl. It was sealed by the devil.

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Elara felt a throbbing pain in her head as if it was going to explode. She tried to move her hands to rub her forehead but she could not.

In confusion, her eyes opened only to see her hands were tied and so as her legs. She was spread wide eagled and tied from the bed post of a strange bed she had never seen.

She blinked a few times and looked around. It was the room of the duke. She had come to serve him dinner when she had found he had company, she had stood in the side and then.. She fainted?

That drink! Her eyes narrowed. She had let her guard down because she was not expecting the servants of the duke to behave like thugs. She was not expecting them to drug her when she had done nothing. Or she had? She remembered the strange looks maids were giving her when she had left Killian's room. It was not because she created a scene with Patrick. Because they knew?

Tsk! She rolled her eyes and looked at her hands again. To the nylon cloth that was binding her to be specific. How much strength would she need to tear that cloth apart and free herself. No! Wait..

Her clothes were intact and she did not feel any pain except her head. So why was she bound in the first place?

Did that bastard have a peevishness of doing it with a bound woman? Forcing himself on them? Her eyes darkened and she looked around but her vision was limited.

"You are oddly calm for a woman who found herself tied to the bed when she opened her eyes." he was standing behind her! She craned her neck but even then she was not able to see him.

"My lord.." she greeted, "i am sure there is some confusion. I have only entered your chamber to serve you dinner." 

A smirk formed on his face when he felt how her eyes darkened and narrowed before she forced a smile on her face and tilted her head to meet his eyes. But she could not. He was standing in the corner where she could not see him, looming in the darkness. It should have scared her. Scared any sane woman or.. Thrilled a woman who was looking for adventure with him. But… he could feel her rage even if it was for a fleeting second.

"Is it? But my chef knows that I like young women as my dessert. I have taken plenty of them to my bed and wanted to taste something new. Is it not the reason you volunteered? Hmm?" seductive, velvety and full of decadence. His voice could leave shivers run down the spine of women for a completely different reason than before.

Cedric knew his charms, he had practiced them, mastered them and used them more than a child had practiced walking in their childhood. The reaction of the woman was completely different from one he had ever seen.

"Ah! I was not aware of the rule, my lord. I did not volunteer for dessert. So could you let me go now, please?"

"no!" There was nothing pleading in her voice. But a faint authority she was trying to hide. The woman did not even flinch when he refused but her eyes narrowed again, dangerously and her fingers slowly moved, touching the fabric.

She was planning to tear it apart. Then what? She would attack him or run for her life? But should a maid have the power to tear the cloth and courage? What excuse would she give if she did that? Cedric did not realize when he was so interested in the girl whose expressions changed again.

"Alright! Then why don't you come and have your dessert. What is the point of waiting?"