Chapter 04
Evan wasn’t wearing his top. His chest was broad and large, his build imposing, with muscles that looked perfectly proportioned. It was the body of my ideal type, without a doubt.
I found myself staring without even realizing it.
“Leticia, what are you staring at so intently?”
Evan, who had come up to me without my noticing, looked down at me with a sly smile. Embarrassed, I immediately averted my gaze.
“Nothing, I was just admiring how pretty you are. Why, can’t I look?”
“Don’t just look—touch me.”
Evan took my hand and placed it on his chest. His firm chest sent sensations from my hand through my entire body. It was as solid as a rock. So firm that I felt like I was being bewitched by it.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes, very much. I want to keep touching it.”
“You can touch it as much as you like.”
At Evan’s words, I realized what I’d said and looked up. I stared into his eyes, which were gazing at me lovingly, and felt the atmosphere heating up. Entranced by the mood, we drew closer, face to face. Soon, Evan kissed me deeply. I responded in kind, wrapping my arms around his neck.
We shared a long, passionate kiss.
‘Wait, at this rate, I’ll miss my chance to speak and it’ll be the next day.’
I snapped back to my senses. If I didn’t say it now, by the next day he’d be a cold little brat who wouldn’t even listen to what I had to say. I hurriedly broke the kiss. Evan made a disappointed face and leaned in again. I stopped his lips with my hand and urgently called out.
“W-wait! I have something to say!”
“…What is it?”
I stroked Evan’s head, which looked more sullen than anything in the world, and opened my mouth.
“How about we hold a party and invite the nobles?”
“It has been quite a while since we last hosted one.”
“We’re going to be forgotten in social circles at this rate. It’s important to keep the curse a secret, but maintaining relationships with people is also important.”
“You’re right.”
“So, about that party—can we hold one tomorrow?”
Still, he is a duke. If we hold a party, won’t a ton of people want to come? Even if it’s tomorrow on short notice, they’ll probably scramble to get ready for it.
“Hmm, the timing is too tight, so it might be difficult. But if you give me what I want, I’ll give it a try.”
“Surely I can’t refuse what my husband wants?”
I had a good idea what it was, but I deliberately asked back with a sly smile. Evan then curled his lips mischievously and tapped his own lips.
“A kiss. And a deep one at that. One that makes you want to take it further.”
Just as I thought.
My intuition wasn’t wrong.
“Don’t be too surprised when I do it well.”
We kissed passionately once more. After clinging to each other for a long time, we finally fell asleep only at dawn.
***
After preparing for the party with relative ease, I waited until 6 PM to become an adult, then put on my dress and finished getting ready. Just as I was thinking it was time to go, the door opened. And Evan, dressed in a handsome black uniform, came running to me with a bright smile.
“You’re so beautiful today. I want to kiss you right now.”
Evan immediately kissed me like crazy. At first I accepted it all, but at this rate my makeup would get ruined or I’d have to change clothes again, so I pushed Evan away.
“Stop it and let’s go.”
“Tch.”
Evan pouted his lips in disappointment, but he took my hand and obediently headed to the party hall. We almost arrived late.
“Announcing the hosts of today’s event, the Duke and Duchess of Valentine!”
And so, we entered the party hall to the booming voice of our aide. Even though we’d only sent out invitations this morning, the hall was crowded. I realized anew just how high the Duke of Valentine’s standing was.
Feeling everyone’s gazes on us, we ascended the stairs to the highest position.
“Thank you all so much for coming despite the short notice. I hope you enjoy yourselves and have a wonderful time.”
And we expressed our thanks to the guests. Applause erupted from all around. We descended the stairs and stopped at the center of the hall.
Evan bowed and courteously extended his hand to me.
“Madam, would you do me the honor of a dance?”
“With pleasure.”
I smiled with my eyes and took Evan’s hand. We held each other’s hands and danced elegantly, matching our steps perfectly as if proving we were a match made in heaven. When the music stopped, we let go and exchanged light bows, sharing soft smiles.
Now that the dance is over.
Shall I go make a round?
“I’ll go greet some close acquaintances. You look after the other guests.”
“Okay, okay!”
Evan nodded vigorously and waved his hand. I was worried he might follow and ask to go together, but thankfully he didn’t.
I walked around the party hall, glancing at the nobles. As I read people’s thoughts, it seemed difficult to identify the investor of the slave trading post just by looking.
‘I’ll have to have conversations.’
Targeting only those whose outward behavior didn’t match their thoughts.
There were quite a few people whose actions differed from their appearances, but only a few had suspicious thoughts. I approached the countess who seemed the most suspicious among them.
“Madam, how have you been all this time?”
“I’ve been as well as the Duchess has been.”
The countess narrowed her eyes and gave a small smile. Her smile was snakelike, and she seemed to be the person I was looking for. I needed to speak well to properly read her thoughts, turning this hunch into certainty.
“I’ve been thinking about business lately. If you’re involved in business, I’d love to get even a small piece of advice.”
“I do run a business. It’s such a small venture that I’m not sure I can call it advice.”
“May I ask what kind of business it is?”
“That’s a secret.”
The countess dodged the question with a pleasant smile. But inwardly, she revealed what kind of business it was.
‘The slave business.’
…It said.
I finally found her. The investor of the slave trading post I’d been looking for, the one who had kept that slave trading post alive all this time.
Would it be better to expose her here? Or to strike from the shadows? As someone who’s done both, neither is a bad option.
Since I haven’t figured out which trading post it is, the best approach is to provoke her into revealing it. With my best skill—my silver tongue.
“Speaking of business, it reminds me of some news I saw recently. Madam, have you heard of the slave trading post?”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“Despite being illegal, there are so many people doing it that I’m worried our territory’s residents might get involved too. I’d like to catch all those involved and rip out their tongues and eyes.”
“I feel the same. I’m quite troubled about what to do. As you know, even when we catch them, they keep reappearing, don’t they?”
I nodded, then leaned closer to the countess. And I whispered quietly in her ear, my expression turning serious.
“That said, would you like to have your tongue and eyes ripped out?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re an investor in the slave trading post.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Flustered, the countess raised her voice and frowned, shouting. In an instant, everyone’s attention shifted to us.
“Madam, I only said that because I was concerned about you… If my words offended you, I apologize.”
Without missing the opportunity, I put on the most upset and apologetic expression, my voice trembling.
“Oh my, what could be going on?”
“It seems the Countess has been disrespectful to the Duchess.”
“Whatever could have happened to make the Duchess sound so tearful?”
Naturally, the surrounding guests began to criticize the countess while expressing concern for me. I’d easily become the victim. Hehe.
I whispered quietly again to the now even more flustered countess.
“Shall we go somewhere quiet, just the two of us?”
The countess quietly nodded. I gestured for her to follow, and on the way out of the party hall, I used the ‘thought-reading item’ again. Then we entered the lounge right next door.
“Don’t go around throwing out baseless accusations, Duchess.”
‘How could she possibly know about the Demon Trading Post? I’ll just deny everything.’
As soon as we entered, the countess changed her attitude and confidently insisted that I was lying. Who does she think she’s lying to? I let out a dismissive laugh in disbelief.
“The Demon Slave Trading Post.”
At my words that struck her weak spot, the countess flinched.
‘How did she know that?’
Ah, this woman is so easy to read.
As expected, items are the best.
