“Do you have another man?”

“No! No man.”

As she shook her head in fury, Claude scoffed and pulled her up. Then he got off the bed and lit the fireplace.

“Then why.”

“I… have a promise I made with my mother. To live as a lady when the time comes and live very quietly where no one knows. Canillian Vale is the Marquis’s second son, but Canillia is a low-class from Louvre. There is no Duchess who was from low-class.

“So?”

“The position of clematis isn’t mine.”

He exclaimed shortly and then scoffed. He kept scoffing as if he heard something ridiculous.

He found the broach on the console. The symbol of clematis that he left. There was not a single dust on it. She kept it this importantly but claims that she has no right to be clematis? Claude thought.

There was warmth as the fireplace started heating up. Claude finally climbed into the bed, took off the rest of her shirt and unbuttoned her pants.

She kept looking towards the door after becoming naked.

Claude grabbed her chin and made her look at him.

The sox garter on her thin pale leg and her small feet that were smaller than his palm. And her hands.

He remembered when she was scooping snow with her hands. He could still clearly remember when she was crouching down on the floor and scraping snow without proper clothes.

I didn’t realize I’d fall so hard for her.

At the time, he thought that she was being a bit rude as Kieran’s fake.

Why?

Why does it have to be Canillia?

He took off her garter, kissed the top of her foot and brushed her thigh.

“No one but you can sit there.”

“Claude…”

“You can’t rudely destroy the man’s love, Canillia. I won’t stop you… If you want to see how crazy I can get.”

Canillia held her breath as she stared at the man kissing her hand. He was smiling and it was too beautiful.

“If you’re going to stimulate me, I’d like you to make me more crazy.”

***

“Ivan.”

The man in the shadow stepped up while putting off his cigarette as Claude called.

“Isn’t Sir Canillian coming with you?”

Ivan closed his coat and shivered again. Claude looked up at the lit up second floor and gave him a pouch.

“They’re diamonds stolen from the Vale family. Keep them well.”

“Pardon?”

“Also… I need someone to watch. Someone who can report the people coming in and out of this house.”

Ivan smiled as he saw Claude’s serious face for the first time in a while.

“I’ll do it myself.”

Claude was satisfied with the answer and got in the car.

He looked quite casual in front of her, but he was about to lose his temper. Can’t become the clematis. Just because of the status? It seemed right for her to think like that. No, he knew she was right to think like that. He also knew that he was the crazy one. But whenever he was reminded of her panting hard under him, his mind became hazy and proper judgment wasn’t made.

Her small hands that tried to push him away, unexpectedly sharp fingernails and her habit of biting his hand and arm when she was too stimulated.

Claude looked out the window.

Canillia’s house was too close to Louvre. There was something connected to her in that darkness. He thought of burning the entire Louvre for a second. But then Canillia would definitely be sad. She will resent him and might even push him away.

There was nothing worse than that.

“You can’t keep your eyes off of her. And… If Canillian heads to Louvre, then let me be the first to know. Okay?”

“Yes.”

Leon River’s light was burning in his eyes. Like, seeing a burning Louvre.

***

“The Grand Duke took all over it?”

“Yes.”

I knew it.

Canillia nodded while sighing. Pepe didn’t know what to do.

She must have lots to ask. She’s chatty. But there’s nothing I can tell her.

So Lia just drank the tea Pepe brought and slept.

She woke up several times due to pain. Was it late pain, or because he wasn’t there? It was only two days. She didn’t think she couldn’t fall asleep because she got used to him hugging her the past couple days.

Canillia gave up on sleeping and hugged her legs. She stared out the window and went to the console.

“Huh…?”

Place where the broach should be. Instead, the ring that Claude was wearing on his pinky was there. Lia took the ring and put it on her index finger. The black diamond ring that was the symbol of the Ihar looked even darker against her pale skin. She couldn’t stop smiling and kissed the ring and curled up.

I said that but…

She already missed him.

My Grand Duke…