Valerie only gave a small smile and signaled for her to stop talking.
"Old man?" Ethan stared at Valerie. "Are you being sold to an old man?!"
"Ethan, stop talking," Valerie hissed, embarrassed especially with the guard glaring sharply at both him and Esme.
"But Val-"
"Enough. I'm going."
Valerie walked ahead.
The guard cast one last cold stare at the two who were still watching Valerie's back before following her.
"What is Valerie even thinking…" Esme murmured.
"You know that Count is obsessed with money," Ethan replied, his hands clenched tightly into fists.
"Why are you here?" Valerie asked Demian, who was leaning casually against a tree. Not far from the cliff, a hill and forest stretched out behind him.
"So now you speak politely," Demian mocked. "Yet earlier, you dared to call me 'not polite'."
"That was because I was panicking. You know the situation made me unable to think rationally," Valerie replied.
Demian pulled her closer without warning and pushed her gently against the tree.
"It's fine. In exchange… give me a kiss," he murmured before lowering his head and capturing her lips, those lips he now found irresistibly tempting.
Valerie knew she couldn't refuse. She followed his movements, his kiss wild enough to make her knees tremble. Was this… what a kiss was supposed to feel like?
"You're quite good at this," Demian said as he pulled away.
"You taught me last night. Did you forget?" Valerie narrowed her eyes.
Demian smirked.
"I'm leaving tomorrow. So move to the place I prepared for you, without me."
"Where are you going?" Valerie asked, confused.
"War," Demian answered flatly.
Valerie nodded in understanding.
"Good. And one more thing, I don't want you having anything to do with that baron's son again."
"You know him?" Valerie asked.
"Of course not. But since you're my woman, you're not allowed to be with anyone else."
Valerie nodded.
Demian's hand slid down and brushed her stomach.
"There will be many children born from here someday. Be a proper mother, without scandals," he whispered before kissing her neck.
Valerie's face burned. Children? God did the duke actually want her to bear his children? She couldn't say anything; shame flooded her too deeply after his words.
"Are you sick?" Demian asked, touching her forehead.
"N-no. It's just… the weather feels a bit warm," Valerie lied quickly.
Demian said nothing, his expression still emotionless as always. Valerie had learned she had to study his face carefully just to understand what he felt.
"By the way, you don't mind about the child issue, right?" Demian asked suddenly.
"W-what do you mean?" Valerie tensed again.
"Last night, I didn't use any protection. So there's definitely my seed in you," Demian said plainly.
"I don't understand," Valerie said.
Demian looked at her."You don't understand something like that?"
Valerie turned her gaze away, embarrassed.
"Even my first kiss was with you. How could I possibly know anything else?" she muttered.
Demian's eyes grew more intense, making Valerie fidget under his stare.
"Listen," he said calmly. "The fluid that entered your womb can make you pregnant. People usually use protection to prevent that. And since I've already been with you… I won't use protection again."
Valerie's lips parted in disbelief.
"You must have slept with a lot of women," she snapped softly.
"I'm a normal man," Demian replied flatly.
Valerie nodded, though her expression turned uneasy.
"But… I'm not ready to be a mother," Valerie whispered.
Demian turned sharply, eyes narrowing."What?"
"I want to enjoy things first. I'm not ready to be a mother yet. Can you… postpone it? If you really want children with me…" She trailed off nervously.
Demian stared at her without blinking.
"I heard from older women…" Valerie hurried to add, "that one time doesn't always lead to pregnancy."
Demian exhaled deeply.
The truth was, it hadn't been just once. It had been many times, until he was satisfied.But fine, let Valerie figure that out herself.
"Very well," Demian said at last. "But if you end up pregnant, then that is your fate."
"Alright… but if possible, please don't make me pregnant yet," Valerie said quickly.
Demian lifted an eyebrow.
"You're asking for too much."
Valerie fell silent. Wasn't he the one asking too much?He turned her into his kept woman, then said he wanted children, even though he was still engaged to someone else, and Valerie knew he couldn't cancel that engagement.
"Does it still hurt?" Demian asked, eyes flicking toward Valerie's lower body."Of course it does," Valerie muttered.
"Alright. We'll meet again when I return. For now, go back, and stop wandering around as if you don't have a lover."
Valerie blinked."A… lover?"
"Yes."
"Who?" Valerie asked, genuinely confused.
Demian looked at her as if the answer were obvious."Me. I'm your lover."
Valerie frowned."Aren't I just your… kept woman? How could I possibly be your lover?"
"We've slept together, and we'll continue to do so. What else is there to question about our relationship?" Demian said plainly.
Valerie swallowed."…Your lover is Ivanka Kosler," she reminded softly.
"Yes. She's my fiancée," Demian replied, completely unfazed.
Valerie fell silent.
"Good. Go back. From today onward, Noel will be your guard."He nodded toward the knight who had come earlier the man stood with his back turned to them, clearly refusing to intrude on whatever was happening between Valerie and Demian.
"Alright," Valerie said quietly before turning to leave.
Demian watched her as she walked away, his gaze lingering until she disappeared from view.
"Who is he?" Jester asked when Noel entered the house with Liv.
"The guard the Duke sent," Valerie replied quietly.
Everyone exchanged glances.A personal guard?That meant Valerie was now being watched, protected, directly by the Duke. Something none of them had ever imagined.
Valerie walked toward her room, and Noel immediately followed behind her without saying a single word. His calm, steady steps made one thing clear: Valerie was no longer someone they could treat however they wanted.
"See, Bianca?" Count Austin said, giving his daughter a sharp look."You can't order her around anymore. The Duke personally sent someone to watch over her."