Duke, Is This Your First Time?

Although Elysia did not want to admit it, the assumption that Lulien made was quite possible.

No, in the current situation, there seemed to be no other scenario other than that.

“Why are you guessing such trivial information? There must have been other important information piled up. Don’t you have any work to do?”

With her annoyed face, Elysia grumbled.

It might be just an interesting scandal for others, but for her, it’s never been a simple matter to pass up.

If she had, she wouldn’t have tried to keep it a secret.

“It’s driving me crazy.”

Lulien said coldly as Elysia let out a heavy sigh, with a look of madness.

“It has already happened. Don’t go crazy, think about fixing it.” 

“How do you fix it? You wouldn’t believe me if I said nothing happened. If you were them, would you believe it?”

She said these words out of frustration, but when Lulien and Hal did not answer, Elysia became depressed.

Her close friends were too straightforward in useless ways.

She wanted to bury her head somewhere, but when there was no place to go, she raised her hands and buried her face. Her head was dizzy from a major accident, where she couldn’t even see a way out.

Above all, she felt sorry for the close friends who were doing their best for her and her family. This scandal would certainly take a toll on the family’s businesses. And it was Lulien and Hal who had to run around to solve it.

‘I should have been more careful.’

This was entirely her fault and mistake. So Elysia with her head in her hands spoke in her muffled voice.

“I’m sorry. Even if I have ten mouths, I have nothing to say.”

Seeing her as if she was about to dig into the ground, Lulien let out a sigh and opened her mouth.

“As you said, there is no way to fix it. Even if you and Duke Deimos explain that nothing is wrong, they will not believe it.”

“I guess so.”

“You can’t honestly admit that “I slept with the Duke.” First you have to cry. Then there may be a way.”

Elysia, who groaned at Lulien’s words, took a deep breath and asked.

“Tell me honestly, Lulien. What is the probability that I will be displaced from the position of head of the faction because of this?”

“99 percent. Currently, more than half of the nobles are following the Duke of Russet.”

“It’s confirmed. What is 1 percent?”

“A miracle you never know.”

“… Only 1 percent?”

“That’s a lot too.”

“Ha- Then, let’s say we leave out the Duke, how do you think the second Prince will come out?”

It was also a problem to be pushed out of the position of the head of the aristocratic faction, but the biggest problem for Elysia was the second Prince.

[Where were you that night, Marquess?]

Recalling Dustin who had asked her where she was on the night of the banquet, she raised her hand and touched her throbbing temple. It felt like a sudden headache.

The second Prince, who had been looking for a chance to get her, there was no way he would pass this opportunity.

Lulien seemed to have the same idea. Unsurprisingly, after thinking for quite a long time, she looked at Elysia and opened her mouth.

“Listen to what I’m saying now, Elly.”

“Yes.”

“The second Prince will surely threaten you. Instead of keeping you as the head of the aristocratic faction, he’ll ask you to be his own woman. If you actually fall into his hands, you know what will happen.”

“That’s what I expected. That b*stard won’t miss this great opportunity.”

“That’s all right. You can just refuse. The problem is after that. The reason why he can’t put his hands on you is because you’re the head of the faction. He made you the leader and managed to unite the aristocratic faction into one, but if he touches you prematurely, it could be divided again. But what do you think will happen if you step down from the position for legitimate reasons?”

At Lulien’s question, Elysia was silent for a moment, and then she answered.

“He will try to get me by any means possible.”

“Yes. The second Prince will do anything to get you. That way, no matter how hard we try to stop it, we’ll hit the limit. As you know, in our current situation, it is difficult to confront the Duke of Russet and Veramus.”

“Then what should I do?”

“There is only one way right now.”

A more serious expression appeared on Lulien’s face as she held up one of her fingers.

***

“I can’t believe the woman who made Duke Deimos postpone the meeting was Marquess Camellia. It’s worth living to see this.”

Michael, holding the Herald Times in his left hand, quickly walked towards Iker’s office with a look of disbelief.

How surprised he was to find a scandalous article after reading the newspaper without much thought.

And when he found out that the opponent was the playgirl of the century, Marquess Camellia, his head was really overloaded for a while.

Of course, he had to admit that Marquess Camellia was one of the most beautiful women in the Empire. And around her, there were countless men who wished to be her one night partner. 

And surprisingly, he did not know that his own boss (Iker), who saw women as stones, had fallen for the Marquess.

‘She is a magical woman. The imperial playgirl.’

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Michael hurried his steps a little more.

He knew his boss would get up early in the morning to read the newspapers, but the Herald Times probably wouldn’t be on the list.

Because his noble boss, with no relationship and nothing scandalous, would never read a newspaper that specialized in gossip.

Therefore, it was necessary to deliver this news as soon as possible.

When Michael arrived at the office, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

“Sir, this is Michael.”

“Come in.”

With Iker’s permission, Michael, who opened the door and entered, found another aide standing in front of Iker’s desk and stopped.

Surprisingly, it was the Herald Times that was in the aide’s hands.

‘Did the aide find out first and come to him?’

Michael, who had closed his eyes at the thought of being one step late, looked up at Iker’s voice. 

“What’s going on?”

“Well, I wanted to show you this…… ”

“I see.”

Iker nodded his head indifferently as he looked at the newspaper Michael was holding in his hand. It meant he already knew.

Leaving behind the bewildered Michael, Iker looked at his assistant and said.

“Deal with it as we discussed.”

“Alright. I will contact you right away.”

The aide, who bowed his head, turned and walked towards Michael.

Standing at the doorway and watching, Michael quickly greeted Iker and followed the aide out of the office.

If his boss already knew about the scandal, there was no reason for him to remain in the office.

Michael, who was walking down the hallway alongside the aide, asked him when he was a little far from the office.

He wondered what kind of reaction his boss had when he read the newspaper.

“Did His Excellency call you for a scandal in Herald Times today?”

“Yes.”

“Did you deliver it to him?”

“No. He called me first.”

“His Excellency?”

Michael was astonished.

Doesn’t that mean that his boss also reads the gossip newspaper?

‘Oh my gosh. I can’t believe His Excellency reads such a newspaper.’

Thinking that he didn’t know when his boss’ tastes changed, he asked again.

“What did he say?”

“He told me to contact the newspaper and asked them to state that the Duke just helped Marquess Camelia and nothing happened. If they write an article based on hasty assumptions, they will be sued for defamation. And he told me to send this statement to the Marquess Camellia as well.” 

‘Huh? Is he going to do that?’

At the aide’s words, Michael tilted his head.

Usually, when a scandal occurred, it was usually ignored.

Moreover, the opponent was not an ordinary young girl, but the imperial playgirl, Marquess Camellia.

No one would think that his boss had seduced her in the first place. They would think the Marquess tempted him first.

So there was no problem for his boss even if he stood still. But beyond just revealing his position, he was going to file a complaint.

‘The person in trouble now must be Marquess Camellia. Is His Excellency trying to protect the Marquess?’

Michael recalled the appearance of his unfamiliar boss a while ago.

When they went to catch Jonathan on the streets of the capital, his boss’ eyes were deadly when he (Michael) tried to identify the mysterious person who was next to him (Iker). 

And that mysterious person was Marquess Camillia. Perhaps he (Iker ) didn’t actually go out to catch Jonathan Triel, but to meet Marquess Camillia.

Michael’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, but soon he realized he had gone too far and was released.

‘His Excellency has no way of knowing the movement of the Marquess Camellia. It seemed that the Marquess was also wearing a robe that day, so it seemed like she went out secretly.’

He wondered if they had made an appointment to meet secretly, but the responses of the Marquess and her escort were not very good.

“A coincidence is a coincidence…. Why are you asking too much?”

Michael tilted his head and gave up thinking.

Even if he didn’t dig it up, the truth would one day come to the surface.

Thinking that he could check it then, he moved at the speed of the aide.

***

As Michael followed the aide and the office door closed, Iker turned to the Herald Times, which the aide had left behind.

After spending the night with Elysia, he also started checking gossip newspapers. It was to respond quickly if a scandal broke out.

Thanks to that, early in the morning he was able to discover the article.

Seeing the illustration of Elysia disguised as a man, his graceful eyebrows were sullen.

“I thought she made it through safely… … She must be in a lot of trouble.”

He didn’t care about himself. If he just says that nothing happened, everyone will move on quietly. No, no one would even criticize him for having spent the night with Marquess Camellia.

The problem was with Elysia.

The Duke of Russet and Marquis Berten were also a problem, but when he thought that the 2nd Prince would not stand still, his deep eyes narrowed sharply.

He sent a statement of position through his aide, but that alone would not be enough for her to clear the situation. 

“It would be better to prepare in advance.”

Iker reached out to the third drawer of his desk, opened it, and pulled out a communication device the size of his fist.

His elongated finger tapped the sphere twice, and the sphere began to blink.

After a while, the communication port shone brightly and a man’s voice came out.

[I guess it’s time you need me.]

“Are you done with what I said?”

[What you said will be ready by then. But do I have to lie?]

“Yes, I wish you could. I think this situation is going to get worse.”

[It’s driving me crazy. I can’t help it. Instead, I’ll make this expensive.]

“Didn’t you tell me? Then I will exchange it for that debt.”

For a moment, silence fell in the communication area. After a while, the man’s voice came out again.

[Are you serious?]

“I mean it.”

[I’m really curious about this. Who am I going to use that debt that can even cost me my life?]

When Iker did not answer, the man sighed as if he did not understand him.

[Well, I have nothing to lose. Alright. I’ll be right there when you call.]

“Don’t forget ‘that’ either.”

[Don’t worry. I’ll take it with me, too]

At the end of the man’s words, the light in the communication port went out.

Iker, who was looking at the quiet communication port, put it back into the drawer and opened the last drawer below it.

Inside the drawer was a cravat with luxurious cloth.

It was the same cravat that Elysia had tried to tie up at his request.

He took out the cravat and gently stroked the fabric with his fingertips.

The face of Elysia, who was groaning in frustration as she tried to tie it with her pretty eyebrows raised, seemed to be painted in front of his eyes.

Did she know? 

That he wanted to swallow her pretty plump lips that were slightly opened as if to seduce him when she was concentrating.

No, from the moment he hugged her, he had to create not only the patience to calm his hot body, but also the patience he didn’t have.

Iker lifted the cravat and brought it to his lips.

The dark golden eyes that had sunk between his lashes disappeared, and his charming lips gently touched the fabric.

As if reverently kissing the back of the hand of the lady whom he adored.

“Ask me for help, Elly. I’m waiting.”

Between his lips, which had fallen from the cravat, his deep, low voice flowed out with a soft echo.

***

*Gosh, Iker is so sensual and caring.