Chapter 5

Chapter 5

All the worries I had on the way to the heart of the woods were instantly gone the moment I got to look closely at the manor. Moonblythe, albeit smaller than my residence, is a sight to behold. The manor exudes an undeniable charm, its modest size adding to the allure and its comfortable atmosphere. Surrounded by a kaleidoscope of vibrant flowers, the grounds surrounding the house are a symphony of colors dancing with the gentle whispers.

of the wind.

The air was filled with the scent of the flowers and I continued to walk down the patterned path, feeling the calm atmosphere.

The manor has a rustic charm. Ivy-covered walls blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, and a stone path leads visitors to the warm and welcoming entrance.

From the outside, the manor did not look like it was owned by Sir Andreas. No one would believe the ruthless. warrior is residing in a very homey manor surrounded by flowers, because in my head, I imagined him living in some sort of huge creepy mansion with gargoyles and a rusty gate coated with thick and thorny bushes.

It was the reason why I was so frightened in the carriage earlier.

The coachman led the way and opened the door for us while Sir Andreas walked ahead and went straight to

what looked like a library. Perhaps it is his office?

He gestured for me to sit on the settee and I did so, hesitantly. A moment later, the coachman came in and served us tea. Even with the welcoming atmosphere of the manor, I still couldn’t relax. I roamed my eyes around the room, trying to busy myself other than looking at his eyes.

In my periphery, I saw him settle on a seat behind a table, folding his hands as he observed me. Observed my dress he called hideous last night. I did not have the chance to change and immediately, I felt conscious of what I

was wearing.

Clearing my throat, I asked, “D-Do you come here often?” I wanted to smack myself for stuttering.

Whether he noticed my stuttering or not, he did not show it. He answered, “Only when I get a chance to visit.”

I nodded and removed my eyes from the set of books on one shelf and moved to another. I couldn’t help fidgeting my fingers as I tried to find something for us to talk about. Why did I even come here in the first place

only to feel this awkward air between us?

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Chapter 5

*京35%圖 15:05

I heard the sound of a match being lit and the soft sound of him lighting his cigarette. The smell reminded me of my father as he was a smoker as well. The scent of burnt tobacco immediately filled the air.

“What happened today?” he asked and I looked at him, suddenly remembering what happened at my house this. morning. The sour memory made me clench my fists. He must have noticed it as I heard him sigh.

“Both of them are acting like they have been intimate with each other for a long time. They’ve been betraying me for a long time,” I said. When I turned to look at him, he was resting his head on his hands whilst looking at me as if I just said the most interesting thing, ever.

“You stop stuttering when you’re pi ss ed,” he noted and I blinked. “I ought to make you talk more about things. that annoy you just so you won’t feel nervous.”

I could feel my cheeks heating up but I refused to yield to embarrassment. I am here to discuss important matters with this man. There are rules to be followed and boundaries to be set. It needed to be clear between us. Especially when he so openly teased me earlier about consummating our marriage. So I stood and it must have taken him by surprise as I saw how his eyes widened at my sudden movement.

I walked and stood in front of his table. “Let’s make things clear while we’re here,” I started. “You and me, we’re only going to get married on paper. You ought to use me to take revenge. I plan to do the same.”

He stared at me for a beat longer and added, “So where are you going with this, Lady Henrietta?”

“Call me Henrietta, first and foremost. And-” I paused. His brow raised as he stared at me in wonder.

“And?” he inquired.

My cheeks flushed as I tried to muster the courage to say what I wanted to say. I cleared my throat.

“And w-we can’t-we are not obliged to do what married couples do.”

His face was inscrutable as I blurted those words out. Then he asked, “Which is?”

“For heaven’s sake. You know what I am talking about,” I said and reached for the tea on the table to hide my blushing face.

“Like sex?” he suddenly said, making me choke. He noted my reaction and

id, “Well, that’s a given. I would not force you to do it. Unless you want me to. What I told you earlier.at the carriage about consummating our marriage, we can do that if you like.” He looked at me as though he did not just say the words that were taboo in

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Chapter 5

the conservative environment where I grew up.

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I coughed on the tea and met the piercing stare that threatened to draw me in. One reckless move and I know I would spiral into the abyss of that stare.

“Especially that,” I managed to say. “We absolutely can’t do that.”

“It would only be a matter of time before they start questioning why we don’t have our offspring yet. You’re the Lady Silvana. You’re bound to get what’s rightfully yours. They’d start questioning about children.”

My cheeks flushed and I regretted the idea of coming here with him and discussing this with him. I was not

prepared.

“How can you be so casual about things like this?” I couldn’t help but ask. He was just sitting there, talking about kids and sex like it was something he’d say daily.

I was expecting him to say something but everything happened so fast. One moment he was sitting behind his table and the next, he was in front of me. Even though he’s a half-wolf, he’s faster than I am that I did not see him coming.

Before I could even move away from him, his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me closer so that I could feel the fabric of his clothes against mine. He peered down on me and my heart was beating wildly I feared he could

hear it.

“W-What are you doing?” I managed to breathe out.

“You ask me why I am so casual about this.” He reached to shove my stray hair back to my ear. His gaze followed. the gesture and I could not help but watch him as he did so.

I should push him. My mind was screaming to push him away. But my body remained in its place, not planning to move. I do not have a wolf being a half- breed, and every instinct in my body was not even functioning. Worse, I could not discern whether or not the wild beat of my heart was because I was scared or I was anticipating it.

“I am answering your question, Henrietta. What you’re feeling right now, they’re normal things. Sex is a normal. thing. This is a normal thing–

I willed my body to push him away. How would he even know how I am feeling right now? A slight grin formed on his lips as he watched me, my breath shuddering. But yielding is not an option for me. So I gathered my courage and met his stare.

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Chapter 5

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“First of all, we are not married yet. And even as we are already married, sex should not be a normal thing between us. We use each other for revenge. You can take your sexual frustrations somewhere else and I don’t

care.”

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He tilted his head. “What if you’re sexually frustrated too? Will you find another man to satisfy you?” His voice dropped an octave and I was suddenly at a loss for words.

“I never have such a thing!” I said, even as I sounded lame. How could he ask a woman that kind of question?

His smirk turned wider as if not believing what I just said. “Really, now.” His gaze turned dark as he raked me with his piercing look, stopping at the hem of my dress.

“I meant it when I said that dress is hideous. Aiden shall give you another one,” he said and turned to walk back to his table. It was then that I realized I wasn’t properly breathing when he got too close.

“I don’t need a dress from you,” I hissed. “I’m fine.”

“Don’t be mistaken, Henrietta. I am not doing this for you. For the sake of my sanity, burn that dress.”

“Why would I cater to your wills–”

“For someone so conservative, you sure are assertive.”

“Why do you hate this dress so much?”

“Because they were obviously making you the subject of their ridicule by letting you wear that cr ap.”

“I beg your pardon?”

I

He sat on his chair and faced me. “You can get angry at me all you want but I know you agree with me.” He jerked his chin to the door. “Aiden is waiting outside. Follow him and choose a dress to your liking.”

If a glare could kill, he would have died several times. But as usual, he does not seem fazed by it.

I walked towards the door, cursing him inside my mind, instead.

“And Henrietta,” he called and I faced him, hands on the door kn ob. He was resting his chin on his folded hands before he said, “If you feel sexually frustrated, just say the word. I’m always open.”

Emergency calls only