Chapter 15.2

Slowly, Livi lowered the hand that had flown to cover her mouth and glanced around. Thankfully, the maid and knights nearby didn’t seem to have noticed her close call.

But Dominic, standing so close he could practically read her mind, had caught it instantly.

“It looks like you’ve adapted quickly in just a single day. Color me impressed.”

“Let go of me.”

“Hm.”

Dominic’s gaze wandered slowly over her upper body, his eyes glinting with intrigue.

“With a reaction like that, you’ve managed to make me curious as well.”

Unhurried, he dipped his head, stopping just close enough that his breath ghosted over her skin. Murmuring against Livi’s ear, he said,

“I wonder how long you can last.”

Last? Against what?

The question barely had time to take shape in Livi’s mind before Dominic’s lips crashed against hers. In one swift motion, he stole her breath, swallowing the gasp that parted her lips.

Slurp. A wet, obscene sound echoed in front of the carriage. Livi’s face instantly went rigid.

“Your expression. Smile.”

Like a tutor demonstrating a lesson, Dominic lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile. Livi summoned every ounce of superhuman strength to resist slapping that smug grin off his face. She knew she had to play along with so many eyes watching, but her lips only quivered in place.

Dominic sighed, shaking his head in feigned pity.

“My poor wife looks exhausted, though it’s understandable. You’re so weak you can barely stand on your own, yet you insisted on venturing out this far.”

“Just a little…”

“Hmm?”

“If I rest for just a little bit, I’ll be fine.”

So put me down. Right. Now. Livi glared at him from an angle only he could see. But instead of obliging, Dominic grinned and leaned in even closer.

“Let’s get you upstairs and into bed, shall we?”

“…”

“Mhm, yeah, alright. Okay, okay.”

Dominic began talking to himself in a ridiculous, exaggerated tone, like he was entertaining an imaginary conversation, but Livi knew better. This wasn’t teasing. It was calculated mockery. He knew she wouldn’t dare lash out in front of the maids.

Here, surrounded by prying eyes, even if he were to press an affectionate kiss to her forehead, she wouldn’t be able to push him away.

Dominic wielded this to his advantage like a blade. His touch was soft, whisper-light, but his voice was just loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Alright, since you haven’t been sleeping well the past few days, I won’t torment you tonight.”

That was the final blow. The moment he alluded to their nightly activities in public, Livi’s last shred of composure snapped. Her face burned as she bit her lip, clenching her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Dominic immediately noticed that Livi had reached her limit. Satisfied, he began moving forward.

“Prepare a warm bath for my wife.”

“Yes, right away, sir!”

The maids, who had been watching the entire humiliating spectacle with blank expressions, finally sprang into action. They had always been polite, but now they kept their heads so low they avoided even the slightest chance of meeting her gaze.

Dominic climbed the stairs in powerful strides. What felt like an endless climb for her was nothing more than a few effortless steps for him.

At last, they reached the room. As soon as the door shut behind them, Livi shoved hard against Dominic’s chest.

“Put me down!”

“With pleasure.”

Without hesitation, Dominic let go.

Livi tumbled onto the floor, landing hard on her tailbone. The carpet barely softened the impact, leaving her winded from the sharp jolt of pain.

Dominic sighed as he watched her bite her lip to endure it.

“You behaved so obediently downstairs. What happened?”

“You have no reason to hold me when there’s no one else watching.”

Dominic chuckled, like she had just said something amusing.

“You’d be surprised. Servants aren’t as clueless as nobles like to believe. They’re everywhere in this mansion, and they’re quick to catch on. If you’re serious about making allies in this house, you’d better do a better job of it. Consider that a piece of advice, wife.”

Livi ignored the sting radiating through her body and forced herself to her feet. As she staggered upright, Dominic sat on the edge of the bed, lazily unbuttoning the cuffs of his sleeves.

The way he looked at her now was different. Cold. Detached. Completely separate from the man who had kissed her moments ago.

“What exactly did you tell the maids? How did you get them to accept me as their duchess so easily?”

From the moment she woke up in this mansion, something about their behavior had felt off.

Dominic had led his knights east to destroy the Marquisate of Joseph. And yet, on his way back, he returned not only as a victorious lord but with the daughter of the very house he had annihilated—now claiming her as his wife. Who in their right mind could possibly wrap their head around that?

Even the knights who had witnessed everything from the beginning struggled to make sense of it. Expecting the servants to accept it was out of the question. Naturally, they should have treated Livi with disdain.

Had they chosen to ignore her completely, Livi would have understood. But the reality was far more perplexing. The maids were excessively polite and treated her with extreme caution. This couldn’t have happened unless Dominic had given them some kind of prior warning.