The Uninvited Guest Of The Haunted Mansion (25)

Blake replied indifferently.

“That probably wouldn’t be very fun.”

“Actually, I’m not sure if the Duke knows, but I’m also quite interested in jewels and minerals.”

It was a blatant lie.

She was too busy thinking about surviving and escaping to care about minerals. That the Count ran a mineral business was something she had only recently remembered thanks to Nia telling her.

The Duke looked at Serenity as if surprised, then asked back with a face that seemed to have thought of something.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Even so, I’m the only daughter of Primdellrose.”

“Now that you mention it, I heard in passing that the young lady is fond of jewels. Not long ago she pestered the Count, saying she wanted the Sage’s Diamond.”

“…Did Father say that?“

“He likes to talk about his daughter.”

She hadn’t expected it would be conveyed like that.

Serenity decided it was for the best and smiled broadly.

“Yes, that’s right. Maybe I take after my father; I can’t help but look at valuable minerals. Actually, I wanted to meet a blacksmith once, but he said it’s not a suitable place for me and wouldn’t allow it.”

“Of course. A smithy is a rough place for a finely raised young lady to be hanging about, isn’t it?”

“You seem to think I’m far too fragile.”

“Isn’t that true?”

“That’s just my father’s one-sided claim. My body was weak when I was young. It’s long since healed now.”

At Serenity’s firm answer, he made a sibilant sound as if not intending to dismiss her. Then he tilted his head and regarded her with amber eyes.

“You’re not trying to use me in this, are you?”

“That’s not entirely untrue. The Duke told me so… *earn his trust. Is there a surer way to win my father’s trust than paying attention to the servants and learning the manor well?”*

Serenity was surprised at her own words. She hadn’t known she could be so brazen, especially toward a man she’d only met a few times.

He was clearly an Anomalous being, and she should have been on edge to protect her life when facing him, but perhaps because of his favorable attitude, his unusually composed face, or the thought that he was her only lifeline, she found herself strangely braver more often.

Of course, the biggest reason was probably that this man was generous.

At Serenity’s bold reply, Blake looked briefly stunned, then suddenly burst into audible laughter as if amused.

“Honesty is good. I can tell the young lady truly has the will to leave this manor.”

“After spending a full twenty years in one manor, it’s not surprising to turn out like this.”

“I understand.”

Blake nodded slowly as if he truly empathized and took a sip of tea.

“As I’ve said many times, I intend to help the young lady sincerely in whatever she does. But to do that, you must be willing to give yourself to me willingly… *I reminded you of that, remember?”*

Serenity, who had been answering the Duke at every turn, suddenly shut her mouth tight.

‘So, that request to “give [yourself] up”…’

It felt very strange.

Wanting to possess her, demanding Serenity… she felt this was somehow different in nature from the “engagement” the Duke had originally proposed. So it was hard to grasp what this Anomalous being actually wanted from Serenity.

But one thing was clear: when his hand had held hers the last time, she had felt as if she would be devoured by him.

Merely imagining it made her mouth go dry again.

“Why, have you changed your mind now? You said you’d choose me.”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just… *”*

…the meaning was vague, that’s all.

But Serenity’s past had clearly warned her that asking the man about that outright would be dangerous. Speaking rashly could make it irreversible.

Still, should she be relieved, as Blake had said before, that he wasn’t going to cut off any part of her body?

‘At least it’s not like he’s going to kill me.’

Despite that thought, she felt no relief. It was Serenity’s instinctive danger sense from spending dozens of months in the world of rumors and legends.

‘Anyway, this probably isn’t a matter with any choice attached to it.’

Serenity reached out for his help, and he willingly took her hand. Now all that remained for Serenity was to pay the price, in the form he desired.

…

…

Blake did not press Serenity for an answer, and Serenity ultimately did not continue speaking.

Before long, the rain eased.

Outside the window, darkness had fully fallen, and the transparent glass reflected the flickering interior lights. Serenity stared at her semi-translucent reflection, then slowly rose from her seat.

“I’ll be going now. It’s late.”

“Very well, since you’re all dried off.”

Blake gladly escorted her. There was a brief tug-of-war in the first-floor hall: Blake insisting on taking her to the Main Building’s entrance, and Serenity stubbornly refusing his kindness.

The result was Serenity’s victory, using the Countess’s supervision as an excuse. In truth, setting everything else aside, she needed time away from the man to sort out her thoughts.

By the time she stepped out of the Annex, the rain had completely stopped.

Serenity looked up at a sky with not a single star, then turned around.

“Thank you for today.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Just as she gave him a final glance and was about to leave through the Annex’s back gate…

“Wait, young lady.”

“Yes?”

With the sensation of her arm being hooked and pulled, their lips met. Breath surged between her slightly parted lips that hadn’t closed in time. It felt like the chill of dawn air and also like the warm breath of a living person.

There was no time to resist. A red tongue seemed to brush Serenity’s lips, then he gently bit her lower lip without causing pain and slowly pulled away.

In the darkness, Blake’s bright yellow eyes curved lecherously.

“See you soon.”

That night, Serenity dreamt.

Pale hands lifted Serenity’s thin chemise, crossed over her stomach and seized her white breasts. The touch was too cold for a human hand, yet it carried a soft warmth that made it not quite a corpse’s or a monster’s hand.

Within the large hand, her white breasts were roughly mashed. Unperturbed that red marks might be left on the thin skin, it persistently groped everywhere.

Please.

At the strange stimulation, Serenity drew quick breaths and writhed her hips. No… was it really strange? It was certainly unfamiliar, yet it also felt oddly familiar. No, it was definitely familiar. She had felt this before… these hands, once upon a time…

The large hand twisted Serenity’s breasts again. It felt as if her whole body was aflame though she had not been burned, and a tingling shot through her lower abdomen. Not knowing what she desired, Serenity kept pleading. Please, please.

Cold lips touched her skin. They sucked and licked her tender flesh. The kiss that began at her breastbone descended lower and lower, seeming to ravage Serenity.

She was burning with longing. Serenity grabbed wildly at whatever she could. At first it was someone’s shoulder, then the nape of a neck, and at last hair. Her fingers tangled in the fine hair. At some point a moan escaped from Serenity’s lips.

A little more.

Faster.

It was then that she felt a strange heat.

At first she assumed it was her own body heating up. If not that, then perhaps it was the warmth of the person pressed against her. But it was more blatant than either.

Serenity unconsciously lifted her head and saw flames rising from the window by the room that connected to the outside.

The manor was burning. The fire spread unchecked through the Main Building, the Annex, and the garden, collapsing everything except Serenity’s room. Serenity forgot even to gasp and stared blankly at the spectacle. Sharp sounds… screams, perhaps… assaulted her ears.

At that moment the large hand seized her waist. It was the warmth she had felt ever since she opened her eyes. Drawing Serenity’s slender naked body toward him, they faced each other. The hand that had been gripping her loosened helplessly and black hair tumbled over his cheek.

The next moment, Serenity held her breath.

I told you I’d help.

A gentle voice.

Bright yellow eyes.

The face of Duke Blake Lambert was there.