Episode 14

"It's been really weird since a while ago, Escalante."

Ines, who had been studying his face carefully, spoke. Cassel, who had been staring at her chest without realizing it, barely raised his gaze.

Passing along the boulevard filled with carriages at dusk, the Escalante carriage also rattled and rumbled along the bumpy road that was covered in potholes from the heavy rain.

I know that in such a crowded road, there is no way to avoid it, regardless of my ability to hold the reins, but in normal times, I would have harshly reprimanded the coachman on the back of the head.

But Cassel couldn't shake off sinister thoughts whenever he saw Ines's slender body slumping down and bouncing back slightly with each jerk of the carriage.

One day, in a dream, I was climbing onto his lap, my body shaking as he pounded it, and my white breasts swaying before my eyes would not disappear and tormented him… … It was a demon. It was definitely a demon possessing me.

I never thought he would do this when Ines was right in front of him. I never thought he would turn around like this… … He suddenly felt like crushing the man who had become so heavy with a stone.

Ines, who had been waiting for an answer, called Cassel again.

"…Escalante?"

A voice that knew nothing, a face that knew nothing… The feeling of guilt easily doubled.

Cassel wiped his pale, tired face impatiently, washed his face dry, and then gritted his teeth and looked out the window.

"…nothing, nothing."

He wasn't a teenage boy who couldn't have sex, nor was he a pervert who thought about it all day long... ... . Could it be? Cassel calmly reflected on himself.

His fiancée, with whom he had not yet spent the night, had been subjected to all sorts of outrageous acts in his dreams, and now whenever he opened his eyes, he would masturbate while recalling Ines from his dreams.

He was a pervert who couldn't do it and was desperate. He was a pervert who thought about that all day long... The misery came crashing down on him like a tidal wave.

The misery I experienced for the first time after being born made my self, which had been careless, tattered. If I lived my whole life as the richest man in the empire, and then suddenly fell from grace and became a beggar wandering the streets, would this be how I felt?

Cassel rolled his eyes impatiently and nervously took the velvet cushion that had been rolling beside him and placed it on his legs. He held it with such force that the folds of the velvet were full, and only when he noticed Ines' strange gaze did he finally let go.

This time he asked back as if nothing had happened.

"why?"

"No… … It's nothing."

Ines muttered somewhat sheepishly. A chill ran down the back of her neck as a sudden suspicion arose, wondering if she had noticed.

No, that can't be. Ines Ballestena wouldn't know about men and women. How could a woman who hates people and hates relationships between people know about the desires men feel? Perhaps it's something she'll never consider in her entire life...

Still, it was truly a terrible torture. If Ines Ballestena, of all people, had caught me like this, it would have been no different from being buried alive.

Cassel ignored Ines's rare attempts at conversation several times and waited impatiently for the scenery outside the window to quickly change to the residence of the Duke of Ballestena.

However, the place where the carriage eventually arrived was none other than in front of the Duke of Escalante's residence.

"… … ."

While Cassel doubted his eyes, the great gate of the palace opened. The carriage quickly raced through Escalante's gardens. Then, in an instant, it stopped again in front of the mansion's magnificent entrance.

"...under…."

In the midst of all this, it was crazy that even the coachman was so stupid. At that moment, Cassel was sighing deeply and trying to open the window behind him.

"What are you doing?"

"… … ."

"Don't get off first and catch me."

Ines asked as if giving instructions, sitting on the edge of the seat, as if she was already ready to get off the carriage.

Cassel looked at her in amazement, then closed the window he had opened and opened his mouth.

"This is not your home."

"I know. I look out the window too."

"The coachman misunderstood my orders. I clearly told him to stop by Ballestena House."

"I told you I was going to Escalante."

"… … ."

"Because we didn't have much conversation at the concert."

It was a concert, so it was natural. Even leaving aside the fact that Escalante's coachman listened to Ines's requests more than his master's orders… Cassel asked while washing his face dry.

"Why are you suddenly like this?"

He doesn't care how his only fiancée lives. Does he have the talent to pick on difficult times to harass her? If not… … . He swallowed a sigh.

The more I consciously kept myself from being caught, the heavier the feeling of being caught. If I were to lead my fiancee to the reception room in a state where it was obvious to anyone that I was aroused, it would leave an indelible record in the minds of my employees.

The monks, the pious sounds of prayer, or the bloody slaughterhouse slaughterhouse, the black soot and squalor of the blacksmith's shop floor, the grim alcohol smell of the military operating room... he looked at Ines, thinking of all the things that could kill the spirit below.

But as if it were a lie, once again only Ines remained in front of me.

"Escalante, of course, I know you're not very happy about it… ."

"Ines, it's not that I find you annoying."

It's scary and dangerous now... in many ways. Ines, who couldn't possibly know the deeper meaning, shrugged her shoulders.

"Well then, that's good. Why don't you get off first? Your carriage is too high, so it'll be hard to get off by yourself."

He still looked at Ines with a dubious look, and then finally gave up and got out of the carriage first. He was more used to doing what she said.

Finally, Ines, as if it were natural, took the hand he had extended into the carriage and went down to the ground.

And then, just like every other time, he just lightly links his arms, just like that… … .

"Aren't you going?"

"…go."

This is torture. This is painful torture.

The part that was barely touching felt hot as if it had been touched by fire. He tried to slightly pull his arm away as if he was trying to avoid touching Ines as much as possible, but Ines, who valued dignified shapes and angles, quickly corrected him.

Fucking, fucking Ines Ballestena… … .

The staff of the official residence, who were preparing to welcome the young duke inside the entrance, opened their eyes wide when they saw Ines entering the mansion with his arm linked. Although Ines had visited the duchy of Esposa several times during her childhood and stayed there for a while, she had never visited the official residence in the capital city unless there was a special event, so it was understandable.

Cassel led her quickly to the reception room, almost in a meditative mood, brushing away with a wave of his hand the words that the Duchess had asked him to bring the two of them and that Miguel would soon return from the training grounds.

"I would also like to see the Duchess of Escalante after a long time."

"Why? If you get married, you'll be sick of seeing them."

"Miguel too."

Miguel is still called Miguel, you know. He barely swallowed the sob that was rising to the tip of his throat.

Since Cassel was knighted at the age of fifteen, she has stopped calling him by his name. And that's not all. It's been more than ten years since she began to treat him with manners.

This meant that it had been quite some time since they had become so comfortable with each other. Cassel answered absentmindedly as he sat down first.

"Miguel is busy these days preparing to enter the military academy or something."

"I know. I got a letter from your brother."

"… Do you exchange letters with that kid?"

"Sometimes. If you weren't going to see your mother, why didn't you just go somewhere where the two of you could be alone from the beginning?"

"… … ."

"It's too crowded here."

The grand reception room leading to the Duke of Escalante's enormous library and cigar room felt somewhat separate from the rest of the space, but never felt like a separate, independent space.

That's why it came from the beginning. Because it's open. Because there are employees in each part where the space is divided. There are only two, but it's not just the two of them... ... .

"… Is there a reason why it shouldn't be open?"

There was a dry thirst in the voice that asked calmly. If it was a dream, I would have already stripped him naked and questioned him about what lewd thoughts he had for asking such questions… But now, unfortunately, it was reality.

But it was definitely in better condition than before.

"Of course there is no such reason. It's just that I need to talk about personal matters."

"It's private enough. Talk."

He liked his own lofty answer. This confidence that was neither intimidating nor arousing… Cassel felt his lower body gradually becoming stable.

As expected, the air of the world and the gaze of ordinary people are effective against dirty evil spirits. The fact that she arrogantly crossed her legs and made the evidence of her arousal disappear from her sight also played a part.

"Last time, you disappeared in a hurry, so I couldn't finish the story properly."

"… It didn't disappear in a hurry."

In one word, Cassel's pride collapsed. Ines shrugged her shoulders slightly as if it didn't matter and spoke again.

"First of all, I appreciate your kindness in not letting me know about your debaucherous lifestyle."

"… … ."

"No, at least I tried my best not to get caught…."

"… … ."

"You respected me."

"what?"

After the arrogance, common sense collapsed.

"… I know I should listen to what you have to say since I'm the one who did something bad… ."

"huh."

"You really seem to have lost your mind, Ines."

"No. Keep listening, Escalante."

"You're crazy."

"I meant it when I said you don't have to worry about who you meet. I'm not interested in you anyway… ."

It felt like a rock was flying at my head again. But Cassel nodded with a nice smile.

"Okay. Keep going."

"You too, you're not interested in me."

"...okay."

"So, just like we have done until now, let's not interfere in each other's private lives until we get married."

"okay."

"Even after marriage, as long as we don't deceive each other on the surface."

"Yeah… what?"

"No matter what happens behind the scenes, let's just leave each other alone."

The smile disappeared from Cassel's face.