Chapter 3: Bound by Rose and Restraint
1258 Words
The rose scent thickened once again, but Charles’s remaining self-control kept it from overwhelming the room. Realizing his pheromones were leaking, he managed to rein them in just in time.
Yet, everyone present had already caught a whiff of the intoxicating fragrance.
Exsede subtly covered his flushed face and exchanged knowing glances with the other mages.
“Perhaps it’s best we don’t disturb His Grace any longer,” Exsede said, leading his group out without another word.
The few lower-ranking nobles remaining exchanged glances and then quickly followed, leaving whispers behind them.
“Isn’t the Duke of Layston supposed to be indifferent to women? Who is this marked female?”
“Perhaps she’s a temporary consort, someone summoned to quell the Duke’s… urges?”
“But why would he mark her, then? And he’s been marked in return… could she be the future Duchess?”
“Who knows? But once word spreads, I’d wager Princess Sielu won’t take it kindly…”
Expressions varied among them as they departed, speculating all the way.
Meanwhile, Charles dismissed the remaining guests from the banquet and carried Su Beitang back to his personal chambers.
As she took in the blue, gray, and white decor, Su Beitang raised an eyebrow, her gaze filled with curiosity.
“This is…” she thought, trailing off as she realized he had brought her to his own bedroom.
She glanced up to find Charles securing the lock on the door, his back to her.
With a final click, the heavy rose scent filled the room, and Su Beitang’s frown deepened. She leaned against the window, her weakened legs trembling under the strain.
“Your Grace, what are you doing?”
She had already pacified him with her mental powers. Surely, he wasn’t planning to complete the marking fully?
Charles turned at her voice, noting the tension on her face as she pressed herself against the window, her anxiety palpable. He raised a hand to cover his eyes, as if shielding himself from her sight.
“I won’t touch you, it’s just…”
Just what?
He hesitated, realizing he didn’t fully understand it himself.
There were plenty of guest rooms in the manor. He could have easily arranged for her to stay in any of them.
And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to leave her anywhere but here, in his own room. He wanted to keep her close, to bask in that delicate orchid scent.
“Your Grace… are you still in estrus?” Su Beitang’s dark red gaze flickered to the prominent bulge in his black trousers.
This time, Charles made no effort to deny it. He nodded, taking a slow step toward her.
“Hold on!” Su Beitang grabbed a glass vase from the bedside table. “Let’s lay out some ground rules.”
“First, I am not going to spend my body to see you through your estrus. If you truly can’t handle it, go right out the door and turn toward Flower Street.”
“Second, after tonight, you will set me free. I want no titles or attachments.”
“Third, if Baron Cro or anyone else inquires about me, you are to say I am only your maid.”
She laid down her terms in a single breath, her crimson eyes devoid of warmth, holding only a profound hatred and defiance.
In that moment, Charles’s foggy mind began to clear as he met her fiery gaze.
Those beautiful ruby-red eyes—without even a hint of affection.
She truly doesn’t care for me…
Charles felt a fleeting sense of calm.
“Fine, I agree to your terms, but I can’t leave you without a title. I must announce you as my mate, my Duchess. However, I won’t reveal your identity.”
He had his reasons.
The beautiful girl before him, like a delicate porcelain doll or a fleeting dream, felt too elusive, too ethereal. He knew she wouldn’t stay with him forever. But with the title of Duchess, no one would dare to covet her.
Besides, in the Kingdom of Nervat, a male could only ever have one true mate. This title could serve to shield him from any arranged marriages the royal family might attempt to impose.
“Very well.” Su Beitang accepted his proposition without protest.
If her presence here did eventually reach Theosen’s ears, at least she’d have a legitimate excuse not to return.
And she could even leverage her newfound title to avenge her mother, taking down the man who had stolen everything from her.
With that thought, Su Beitang felt her animosity toward Charles lessen slightly.
She placed the vase back on the table and slowly approached him, removing the shirt she wore.
As she moved closer, Charles’s self-control wavered. His gaze flicked to her bare skin, and he quickly covered his eyes, swallowing hard.
“Put… put some clothes on…”
Amused, Su Beitang chuckled at his reaction.
Who would have thought the Duke of Layston was so shy?
“And whose clothes would that be?” she teased.
Charles turned away, indicating the shirt she had thrown on the floor. “Mine.”
“It’s dirty,” she replied dismissively.
Without a word, Charles went to his wardrobe, retrieving a fresh shirt and tossing it to her.
“Then do as you wish, but I need a bath,” Su Beitang announced, carrying the shirt to the bathroom.
After their earlier tumble into the flowers, both of them were still covered in pollen and petals.
When she emerged from the bath, the rose fragrance had thickened, suffusing the room to an almost suffocating degree.
She hadn’t even had a chance to dry her hair with magic when she was pulled into his embrace, heat radiating from his body.
Charles buried his nose into the gland at the back of her neck, inhaling deeply as he traced the golden lion-shaped mark with his nose.
“Stop that, it tickles.” Su Beitang attempted to push him away, but he captured her hands, pinning them behind her.
“You are mine.” The now-unrestrained Duke murmured, biting down on her gland once more.
A sharp pain surged through her, accompanied by a powerful wave of mental pressure.
Su Beitang blinked, her eyes filling with a soft crimson haze as she gasped.
“It hurts…”
Charles reinforced his mark, but this time it didn’t trigger her estrus.
Displeased, he turned her to face him, his eyes dark and fervent.
“Give me…” he demanded, voice low and ragged, pressing his mouth close to her trembling lips.
With a swift movement, Su Beitang slipped a small black pill into his mouth.
“Swallow it, and then you’ll get what you want,” she coaxed.
Charles, without hesitation, swallowed the pill, then pulled her down with him onto the bed.
As she calculated the time it would take for the pill to take effect, Su Beitang skillfully evaded his attempts to kiss her.
The delay in receiving comfort from her drove the male increasingly agitated.
Charles, too, was no exception.
Firmly gripping her hands, he captured her in a fierce kiss.
When he finally drew back, he presented his neck to her, exposing his own gland.
“Mark me…” he murmured.
Seeing him in such a state, Su Beitang chuckled, wrapping her arms around his neck as she placed her lips to his gland.
But she lingered there without biting.
Growing desperate, Charles once again bit down on her gland, driven by raw instinct.
- Writer
