~Chapter 90~
Dominic, who had been smoking a cigar, casually looked out the window.
Even though he was upstairs, he heard the faint sound of something stepping on the grass in the garden.
At first, he thought it might be a small animal—but when he looked closely, it was two women.
Elin was being led somewhere by her friend.
“Hundreds of workers in a massive textile factory—what do you think, Your Grace? Do you think my prediction is correct? How do you see the future of this business changing?”
Mackis blew out smoke and lifted his glass as he asked.
He took a sip of strong whiskey and looked at Dominic.
The Duke, leaning against the window frame with one leg raised, didn’t even turn to look at him.
He had been staring outside the whole time.
“Do you think my prediction is still too early?”
When Mackis asked again, Dominic finally turned his head.
At that moment, Mackis realized—
Dominic hadn’t been paying attention.
Even so, he hadn’t completely lost track of the conversation. He shrugged lightly and replied,
“It’s an interesting idea, but the business I’ve already invested in still needs time to settle.”
It was a polite refusal of Mackis’s proposal.
“I see. Still, don’t dismiss it completely. Please give it some serious thought. It’s valuable information I gained firsthand.”
“Alright.”
They raised their glasses from a distance as if clinking them and emptied their drinks together.
“Have we been out here too long just smoking cigars? The ladies inside might be waiting—”
“It’s fine. It looks like they have a lot to talk about too.”
At Dominic’s words, Mackis smiled and nodded.
“Then shall we drink properly for once?”
He picked up the crystal bottle and refilled Dominic’s glass.
“I won’t be returning to this kingdom for quite some time. Who knows when we’ll meet again.”
As he said that, he turned to look outside.
He had thought Dominic was simply enjoying the moonlit garden—
but then he noticed something moving near a large tree.
Under the moonlight, two figures in pale clothing looked almost like white squirrels.
“Hm?”
Mackis narrowed his eyes and leaned forward.
“No way—that’s…!”
Realizing that the “white creatures” were the Duchess and that lively young lady, he chuckled in amusement.
“They’re climbing a treehouse. The Duchess is climbing a ladder in the middle of the night.”
He had already noticed during dinner that the young lady was unusual—but seeing the Duchess climbing a tree at night was something else entirely.
“They both look a bit drunk… I hope they don’t get hurt.”
Watching them climb carefully, both men couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.
After drinking a few more strong glasses with Mackis, Dominic left.
Mackis, who had insisted they drink heavily since they might not meet again soon, had already fallen asleep on the sofa.
Feeling warm from the alcohol, Dominic stepped outside to get some fresh air.
Each step on the dew-covered grass released a faint bitter scent.
He wondered if the two women who had gone out earlier had already returned inside.
The night air brushed coldly against his skin.
Without realizing it, his steps led him toward the large tree where they had climbed earlier.
And then—
He saw Elin coming down the ladder.
She was moving slowly and carefully, but the way she gripped the ladder and her unsteady steps looked dangerously unstable.
Worried she might fall, Dominic quickly ran toward her.
“Ah!”
Just in time, he reached out—supporting her back and catching her dangling leg.
“Ah—!”
Elin turned to him in surprise.
“Your Grace?”
As she tried to step down again, Dominic simply lifted her and set her on the ground.
“It was too dark… I missed my step.”
She tried to act like she wasn’t drunk—but the moment she stepped away from him, she swayed slightly.
Even though she was now on the ground, the world felt more unsteady than before.
Dominic caught her again, wrapping an arm around her waist.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded like a child.
“Yes… I think I drank a little too much after meeting my friend.”
Elin believed she was speaking normally.
She tried hard to sound clear and composed—but that only made it more obvious she wasn’t.
To Dominic, it was clear she was trying her best not to seem drunk.
“That cherry wine… we made it together before I left for the capital. We promised to open it when I came back.”
Her excuse sounded oddly cute.
“I’m not usually like this… but when I’m with Tania, I get carried away.”
She even blamed someone else—something he had never heard her do before.
“I feel happy… but also not… I just feel… kind of strange.”
Her words became more and more scattered.
And to him—
she looked unbearably lovable.
Since their marriage, Dominic’s heart—something that had seemed broken—began racing again without restraint.
Unaware of any of that, Elin leaned against his arm and said,
“I’m sorry… I’m not acting properly as a Duchess—mmph!”
Before she could finish, Dominic’s lips sealed hers.
Her slightly unfocused green eyes widened in shock.
The kiss was so sudden that she couldn’t even close her eyes.
Her soft lips were completely captured by his.
His tongue slipped through the small gap between her lips, parting them further as it entered.
The sweet taste of cherry filled her mouth as he explored it deeply.
Even as he kissed her, it was as if he couldn’t get enough—
his thumb brushing lightly against her lower lip before pressing deeper.
Her eyes, which had been wide open in surprise, slowly closed.
The soft, intense movements inside her mouth made something within her collapse.
The hand that had grabbed his shoulder to push him away instead tightened its grip.
She couldn’t breathe.
The deeper the kiss became, the more the world seemed to fade into white.
Just as she tried to gasp for air—
he didn’t allow it, continuing to claim her lips relentlessly.
And then—
suddenly, he pulled away.
As if punishing her.
The moment broke like an illusion.
Elin stood there, dazed, her lips slightly swollen and parted.
Under the moonlight, with traces of him still on her lips, she looked dangerously alluring.
That sight stirred something deep inside Dominic.
Unaware of his intense gaze, Elin slowly raised her hand to her lips, as if only now coming back to her senses.
His warmth still lingered there.
“Let’s go inside.”
His low voice sounded strained, as if he were holding something back.
After kissing her so fiercely, he acted as if nothing had happened—and lifted her into his arms.
“You can put me down… I can walk.”
“I don’t want to support you all the way. I’d rather get to the bedroom quickly.”
Elin wasn’t confident she could walk properly anyway.
And using the silly excuse of being drunk…
she felt a small desire to stay in his arms just a little longer.
She stayed silent, afraid her lips might be taken again.
Hearing him say he wanted to go to the bedroom quickly, she felt slightly guilty, thinking she had tired him.
Not realizing his words meant something entirely different.
Holding her, Dominic walked quickly back into the mansion.
Passing through the marble entrance and climbing the stairs, they crossed the long red carpet until they reached her familiar room.
Click.
He opened the white door and walked inside.
As he set her down on the bed, her arms were still around his neck, naturally bringing their bodies close.
Elin knew she should let go—
but she didn’t want to.
She realized again that she was drunk.
Normally, even the slightest touch would make her react—but today, she didn’t want to let go.
Strangely.
As if sensing her feelings, the moment Dominic saw her looking up at him—
he kissed her again.
This time, it wasn’t rough or sudden.
It was soft… and slow.
His lips brushed against hers, tracing them gently before his tongue slipped inside again.
“Ah…”
Lying on the soft bed, every sensation felt clearer, deeper.
Their eyes, which had been fixed on each other—
slowly closed.
