Chapter 16.2

She felt like nothing more than entertainment. No matter how much she fought, screamed, or lashed out. To him, it was all just an amusing little show.

Livi let out a slow, deliberate breath. The fire burning inside her chest didn’t fade. It only grew stronger, as if someone had poured fuel over it.

With a cold, detached expression, she limped toward him, raised her arm, and slapped him. Smack! The sharp crack of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the room. She didn’t hesitate. She struck him again before finally lowering her hand, her face an unreadable mask as she watched him.

A faint red mark bloomed on Dominic’s dark skin. He brought a hand to his cheek, then let out a low chuckle.

“That’s it? That was pretty cheap. At this rate, I might just look forward to next time.”

Dominic watched her as he slowly took a drag from his cigar. With his exhale, a curl of smoke drifted toward her face. Livi didn’t step away. Instead, she simply furrowed her brows.

“What were you doing at the temple, wife?”

“I attended mass.”

“Mass? You expect me to believe you rushed there the moment you woke up just for that?”

Dominic tilted his head, but Livi had no intention of telling him the truth. If he found out she had gone to request a eulogy, she knew exactly how he’d react. He’d sneer, spit out every vile insult he could think of, and mock her every way he could.

Holding her gaze, he took another slow inhale, pulling smoke from his cigar the way he had earlier sucked at her neck. Livi frowned. The way he held that cigar felt uncomfortably similar to the way he had held her.

Then, Dominic licked his lips and smirked.

“Ah, could it be that you confessed to sleeping with a man you don’t love?”

“…”

“‘Forgive me, Father, for spreading my legs for a bastard. But it was all for my family, so I’m still honorable…’ is that how you put it?”

Smoke billowed from his lips as he laughed, dark and amused.

Livi accidentally inhaled a lungful of thick smoke and broke into a violent coughing fit. She clamped a hand over her mouth, trying to suppress it, but the raspy gasps still forced their way out.

Dominic watched her struggle, then got up from his seat.

“Try harder. If you don’t see me coughing up blood, I’d say your body wasn’t worth the trouble.”

He gave her shoulder a light pat before striding out of the room. The moment he left, the maids waiting outside entered. They were startled by the sight of her neck, but when Livi’s expression darkened, they immediately lowered their gazes.

“Madam… we’ve heated the water. Shall we prepare the tub for you?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll assist you.”

The maids carefully followed her preferences, adjusting the water temperature and preparing fragrant oils. Everything was handled with meticulous precision, no different from the treatment she used to receive at the Joseph mansion.

After helping Livi out of the bath and drying her off, one of the maids retrieved a small vial. A subtle rose scent wafted from the well-kept oil. As she massaged the fragrant oil into Livi’s feet, the maid hesitated before speaking.

“The master seems to care for you a great deal, madam.”

“What?”

Livi’s sharp tone made the maid flinch, her shoulders tensing immediately.

“I-I apologize if I offended you. I just— I’ve never seen the master stay at the castle for this long before…”

“Stay? What do you mean?”

“The master rarely sleeps in the castle.”

“Then where does he go?”

“Pardon?”

“If not here, then where?”

“I, um…”

“I’m not scolding you. Take your time.”

Livi softened her tone. The young maid, who had been practically pressing her forehead to the floor, hesitantly lifted her gaze. She looked like a frightened little animal, trying to gauge Livi’s expression.

Livi stood up from the bath stool and slipped on her robe. The maid was still kneeling on the damp floor, swallowing hard.

She had no idea what kind of person Livi was. What would make her lash out, what she might let slide, or what lines she wouldn’t tolerate being crossed.

Instead of demanding an answer, Livi simply lowered her gaze in silence. That alone was enough. The maid, clearly uneasy, rushed to fill the silence.

“It’s nothing, really. It’s just, the master is usually away inspecting the territory. He frequently goes hunting as well… He spends half the week outside the castle, but ever since you arrived, madam, he hasn’t left once.”

“Not even once?”

“No… And when you were sick, he often stopped by your room to check on you!”

The maid’s eyes sparkled with admiration. Livi could see the illusion reflected in them. Bright, eager, and utterly naive.

“H-His lordship must truly care for you, madam! Otherwise, he wouldn’t…”

The maid’s gaze dropped to Livi’s neck. Then, as if suddenly realizing what she was staring at, she flinched and quickly looked down at the floor again.

Livi reached up and touched the bruised skin at her throat. The feeling of his lips, biting and sucking at her flesh, came rushing back.

The damp air of the bathroom clung to her like his saliva. No matter how she pushed him away, his lips had found their way back, stubborn and unrelenting, leaving behind their mark…

“O-oh, about what happened on your first day… I’m sure it was just because you were new. He probably just didn’t know how to…”

“…”

“I mean, he cares for you so much… H-he must’ve simply lacked experience. Please don’t hate the master too much.”

The maid genuinely believed that Dominic cared for her. Well, considering he had done something as outrageous as taking the daughter of a traitorous house as his wife, it made sense that the excuse would be just as ridiculous. Love.

So their ridiculous performance hadn’t been entirely useless after all.

Livi leaned over and extended a hand to the maid.

“Alright. If you say so.”

“Oh! Yes, of course…”

Livi helped the maid to her feet. Then, as if none of it had happened, she asked in an easy, casual tone,

“What does the duke like?”