Chapter 15
Large bedchambers. Candles illuminated the dark guest room.
Had he been sitting quietly in that chair, awkwardly waiting for Daphne?
Soon, she entered the room.
“Um—”
Just as Eden stood up to ask if she remembered him, he quickly turned his head away, as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t.
Daphne stood completely defenseless, wearing nothing but a rosy-colored robe, her hair down.
The silhouette of her figure was plainly revealed—something he was seeing for the first time—and the tips of Eden’s ears turned bright red. Seeing this, Daphne let out a soft laugh and spoke.
“Are you just pretending to be innocent, or are you actually innocent? Why are you sitting over there instead of on the bed? Come here. You have a job to do.”
Only then did Eden realize—Daphne didn’t recognize him.
As he approached, a sweet wine scent wafted from her. Daphne looked at him with slightly unfocused eyes.
To her, Eden was just a slave purchased for a single night of pleasure.
It wasn’t that he felt bitter or resentful.
It made sense—he had heard that Daphne, severely injured after their first encounter, had lost her memory due to the accident.
He had wanted to visit her, but his status made that impossible.
So it was clear she didn’t remember him. She must have forgotten everything from before the accident.
She probably didn’t remember what influence she’d had on Eden, nor the promises they made.
Daphne, soaked in alcohol and the heat of the room, listened as he tested her memory.
“Do you… by any chance remember making a promise with a boy when you were young?”
“…I don’t know. I don’t remember. When I was little…? I got badly hurt… Did I make some kind of promise…?”
She blinked a few times as if trying to recall something, then fell asleep just like that. Eden watched her quietly.
It was fine that she didn’t remember him. He could wait patiently by her side, until the day her memories returned—until she remembered him.
—
“You know, I think you’re going to grow up exactly my type.”
“…Huh?”
“If things turn out the way I said, then you should marry me! What do you think? I’m not bad, right? I’m definitely going to grow into a great beauty. There won’t be anyone better than me! So marry me, okay?”
“…Okay! I promise!”
“Great. You’re mine now, alright?”
“Yeah, big sis!”
He wasn’t exactly upset—but he did feel a bit wronged. They even pinky-promised. He’d waited so obediently, and yet she forgot it all?
So he had decided to play along for now.
—
“What’s your name?”
“I don’t have one. A slave’s name is given by the master, right?”
“What did your previous owner call you?”
“I didn’t have a previous owner.”
“So I’m your first master? Hmph. You sure know how to say things that stir up a sense of conquest.”
“Will you take me in, just as you promised yesterday?”
“There’s no slavery where I live. By now we’ve entered Imperial waters, so legally you’re a free citizen. You’re not my slave. Once we arrive, go your own way.”
He was flustered. What? She was just going to let him go?
He had thought for sure she’d take him with her. After all, hadn’t she said back then that he’d definitely grow into her type?
Eden had been so certain she’d like him. He couldn’t hide his shock.
“What about me?”
“What about you? Live your life. You’re free now. Try looking a little happier.”
She really was the Northern Duke to the core—how could she speak so coldly?
Remembering that day, Eden pouted. Whether she understood his frustrations or not, Daphne was busy reviewing state affairs in her office as if nothing happened.
She signed a few documents after discussing them with her aide, then the aide stepped out, perhaps to give her a break.
Looking tired, Daphne leaned her back against the large chair, frowning slightly.
Meanwhile, Eden sat quietly in a chair tucked in the corner.
She was the one who told him to do so. When Dioana was in class, she insisted he be under her supervision, so she brought him to her office. If he even tried to do anything, she’d command him to stay still—and staying still was its own kind of torture.
Still annoyed from the memories earlier, Eden mumbled once they were alone.
“You took my innocence, then heartlessly cast me aside.”
“…What did you just say?!”
Startled by his low mutter, Daphne shot up and looked at him, incredulous.
“Do you know what it feels like to be abandoned overnight…?”
Eden crossed his arms over his chest dramatically and even lowered his head in a pitiful pose.
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
“You were my first, Your Grace.”
“Stop lying.”
“It’s true.”
“Hah! Talking about purity with that face? Don’t make me laugh.”
“What’s wrong with my face?”
“You know perfectly well. A good-looking guy like you from the slave market? You were probably used to serve noblewomen at night.”
Daphne scoffed, as if his pitiful expression wouldn’t work on her.
What the hell, this woman.
Eden truly felt wronged. She was his first. She had no idea how hard he worked to survive all kinds of dangers just to keep that childish promise.
He’d saved himself for her alone. And now she didn’t even know that—he felt a little, no, a lot hurt.
Perhaps his feelings showed on his face. Daphne, who had been scoffing, blinked rapidly as if flustered by his expression.
“W-What’s with that face?”
“You’ve wounded me, Your Grace.”
“How is that something to be wounded over…? Jeremy? Why are you—”
At some point, Jeremy had entered without them noticing and now stood staring between Daphne and Eden in shock.
Seeing the opportunity, Eden lowered his head sadly again.
Jeremy shook his head and scolded her.
“Wow. Your Grace, I didn’t think you were this bad.”
“What?”
“I mean—how could you say something like that? Even I would be hurt.”
“How dare you talk to a duke like that!”
“I’m saying this as your cousin. If Sir Russell had heard, he’d be weeping: ‘I didn’t raise her like this!’”
“O-Our brother was just like me before he met my sister-in-law!”
“No. Sir Gregory was always faithful.”
“I know my brother better than you, okay? He was supposed to be a bad boy. Ugh.”
“See? You always say weird things when the conversation isn’t going your way.”
Jeremy walked over to Eden, wearing a kindly, understanding expression.
“You’re going through a lot, Puppy. My cousin’s always been a bit like this since she was young.”
From afar, Daphne shouted:
“Call me Your Grace!”
“See? Personality-wise, she’s the perfect Northern Duke and border lord.”
As a member of the Steren family, Jeremy shared the same friendliness toward attractive men and women. He also didn’t care much for social status—just like her.
He leaned in and whispered to Eden:
“By the way, did you really give her your… purity?”
Eden answered proudly.
“Of course. Her Grace practically stole my innocence. I thought she’d take responsibility, but she just walked away.”
Just like that, Daphne was branded a wicked Northern Duke who stole a man’s innocence and refused to take responsibility. At a loss for words, she could only gasp and stammer things like “Ha!”, “What!” and “Unbelievable!”
In the end, Daphne vented her frustration by kicking out poor Jeremy and then glared daggers at Eden.
With the afternoon’s official business nearly done, Daphne had just sent Jeremy off to get snacks and was about to rest.
Then she heard words like “stole my innocence” and “refused to take responsibility” and was left speechless.
That she had taken Puppy’s purity? What nonsense!
That face, that body—what woman wouldn’t be tempted?
Even if she couldn’t recall the night clearly, the vague sensations she did remember told her he was not innocent.
Sure, maybe her words were harsh. But a slave with such rare beauty claiming to be pure? Who would believe that?
And now he was talking as if she were some cruel noble who played with men.
She never cared much for someone’s virginity. It was just a one-night fling to her. Even though Puppy ended up living here, she had zero intention of calling him to her bed—not with Dioana living under the same roof.
When Jeremy entered and said she was like some tyrant duke, she finally kicked him out and slammed the door shut.
Meanwhile, the one who started all this—Puppy—just sat there calmly.
“You. Don’t go around spouting nonsense.”
“Did I say anything untrue?”
“How do I know you’re not lying about this whole virginity thing?”
Let me know if you’d like me to translate the next chapter or edit the tone (formal/informal) to suit a different style!
