I Thought I Was the Monster Duke's Fake Tranquilizer - Chapter 3
And as if that weren’t enough, this damned duke must have had some sort of hand fetish, because it was always only her hand that flared up with maddening heat.
“Seriously, is he a pervert or what.”
Feeling as though she might get burned, Lucy rubbed her hand against the cold stone floor.
Then she tried to think rationally.
‘…What now?’
Now that she had awakened to her past life, she couldn’t go on living like this.
“…All right.”
After staring at the floor for a long moment, Lucy finally came to a decision.
* * *
“Aaah, Duke Edward…”
A sultry, breathless voice rang in his ears.
“Hurry…”
As she spoke, Sepina fluttered her long lashes and reached out her hand.
The corners of her lips curling up ever so subtly, her body growing slick with arousalâshe feigned composure, pretending none of it was happening.
“Today, for certain…”
Her pale, soft hand was just about to glide over his solid breastplate whenâ
Thwip!
“…Your Grace?”
The man wordlessly seized her wrist.
At the sudden chill in the air, Sepina forced a smile.
“Are you feeling shy again? There’s no need…”
“Your hand is enough.”
A low voice seeped coldly from within the armor.
Smiling delicately, Sepina hid the thrill coursing through her as she stroked the large hand gripping her wrist.
“You always insist on only holding my hand like this.”
“…”
“Is it because I’m not your true mate?”
Edward did not answer the sorrowful question from the seemingly fragile woman.
Sepina quietly removed Edward’s glove.
Soon, the back of his hand was bared, veins prominent.
As always, the sight of his handsâhandsomely rugged, knuckles pronounced, so utterly masculineâwas captivating.
Fighting to keep her eyes from betraying her covetous gaze, Sepina spoke in a meek voice.
“Worry not, Your Grace.”
“…”
“As you wish, there will be no violation of mutual chastity. I am well aware that you are saving yourself for your mate.”
“…”
“I am merely gratified that these temporary purifications I provide can be of some help…”
“Would you hurry.”
“…Pardon?”
“I have to return. There are demonic beasts to slay.”
At those words, Sepina could say nothing and shut her mouth.
Edward was always like this. Cold and businesslike.
Even when they touched for purification, it never went beyond holding hands.
At times, this attitude of his felt cruel.
But still, compared to how he treated others, was he not quite the gentleman with her?
Moreover…
‘The days you can keep pushing me away like this are numbered, Your Grace.’
She had heard that the temple would soon be sending a marriage proposal to the duchy.
This time, without fail, they would push for Sepina to be recognized as his mate.
‘They said they would procure the stigmata one way or another.’
There was a high probability the match would succeed.
The empire’s most valuable man would soon fall into her hands.
So for now, she had no choice but to hide her true feelings and obediently perform the purifications.
Glimmer.
Soon, white light gathered at Sepina’s fingertips.
‘Hm?’
Immediately after, Sepina’s brow furrowed ever so faintly.
Perhaps because the ones she drew holy power from had all dropped dead, her strength was lacking compared to usual.
Still, with just a little more effort…
Crackle!
“Ah!”
The next moment, Sepina yelped in shock and pulled her hand back.
‘What?’
She had been holding the duke’s hand, purifying a speck’s worth of taint, whenâ
The holy power that had been steadily connected was suddenly severed.
‘Huh?’
There wasn’t even time to register that something was off.
The duke had already withdrawn his hand.
“Is that all for today’s purification?”
“Pardon? Th-That is…”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Wait! Your Grace!”
Sepina scrambled to her feet, but Edward was already stepping out of the room.
“Your Grace!”
Even at her pitiful cry, Edward did not look back.
In truth, Edward was too busy suppressing the taint rampaging through his body, fighting just to hold the rampage at bay.
“…Damn it.”
A brief curse, and a headache surged over him.
At the same time, the whispers of the priests who always guided him to Sepina flickered through his mind.
“Worry not, Your Grace. Lady Sepina will soon awaken as your true mate. Once that happens, the rampages will cease.”
“Once you have taken her, all will be well.”
“…B******t.”
A ferocious smile flickered vividly beneath his helm.
A true mate, and all that, such things…
Cough.
There was no time to think further.
The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
