Kallion was now staring at me without saying a word.
He had already set his pen down.
"Why didn't you just kiss him while you were at it?"
He was talking about Lloyd.
I had recently found out through Kate that it was the Schultz family who leaked information about Valdormer.
I wasn't expecting an apology from him…
But hearing a bitter remark like that the moment we met?
"Is that all you have to say to me?" I asked coldly.
My voice must have sounded icy, because his expression hardened, and he sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"…Fine. I apologize for misunderstanding you before. But the way you acted—it was easy to misunderstand."
"You mean you had every reason to think that way?" I let out a bitter laugh.
"You thought I had something going on with Lloyd?"
He didn't respond.
So he still believed Lloyd was my secret lover.
I didn't even feel the need to explain anymore—it was pointless.
More than that, I just couldn't understand his hypocrisy.
He shared a private room with Layla, but was upset over a mere assumption about me and Lloyd?
"Even if I really was in a physical relationship with Lloyd, you have no right to talk to me like that."
Kallion frowned deeply.
"I'm the master of this house and your husband—even if it's only on paper. I do have that right."
He was the one who said I could have a lover.
So why was he looking at me like this now?
"You were the one who said I could take a lover," I reminded him.
"I did. But now, even after all this, you're still going to meet him?"
"That's none of your business."
"So you're not denying it. I guess sleeping with me is so awful, but it's different with him?"
His words went too far. My chest felt cold with shock.
"…Ha."
I sighed heavily, feeling completely drained.
He still stared at me like he wanted to devour me.
Meeting his gaze for a moment, I slowly reached for the strings of my blouse.
He frowned.
"What are you doing?"
I ignored his question and kept moving.
Since it was easy to take off, I soon had the strings undone and slipped off the top of my dress.
My pale white skin and bra-covered chest were suddenly exposed to the air.
Kallion froze in place.
Looking him straight in the eyes, I said coldly:
"You seem confused. But to me, this kind of act means nothing, Kallion."
Seeing him frozen in shock gave me a strange feeling of satisfaction.
"Even if we sleep together for days, it means absolutely nothing to me."
His face twisted. He looked furious—or maybe like he was trying to hold something back.
"Don't throw yourself around like you're cheap, Yuliana," he growled through clenched teeth.
"You were the one who treated me like a cheap woman."
His breath grew ragged as he shouted:
"Did you act like this in front of him too?!"
"And what if I did?"
Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward him.
Before I could even react, his other hand held the back of my neck.
I was too shocked to pull away. His hot breath touched my lips—and then he kissed me.
A harsh, rough kiss that felt more like a wild animal attacking its prey.
I struggled, trying to escape, but he held my waist and neck too tightly.
I tried not to open my mouth, but I had to breathe—my lips parted on instinct.
And he took that chance to force his way in.
It was rough. Violent. Like a beast trying to conquer.
I finally bit his lip hard.
He flinched and pulled away. Blood stained his lips.
He licked it with the tip of his tongue, and his eyes turned dangerous.
His stare made my spine go cold.
But only for a second—then he kissed me again, even harder.
I hit his back, dug my nails into his arms, but it only made him worse.
My mouth filled with the taste of blood—my own and his.
I never thought I'd kiss him like this.
Sure, I planned to sleep with him one day to have Denian.
But not this—not such a forceful, violent kiss, full of biting and pain.
Eventually, I gave up fighting. I let him do as he pleased, like a puppet with no strings.
Fine. If this leads to him sleeping with me, and I get Denian from it…
Then maybe it's not the worst outcome.
Suddenly, his large hand pushed up my bra.
My chest, now bare to the cold air, was grabbed by his rough hand.
I flinched for a moment—but then I went completely limp, like a doll.
That change in my reaction made him stop.
He looked down at me with hazy eyes, breathing hard.
But I stared up at him with a completely dry, empty expression.
Seeing my lack of response, he finally seemed to come to his senses.
He pushed himself off me and cursed.
"…Just get out."
I held my bare chest with one arm and stared at him.
"What? Can't even finish this time either?"
At my calm voice, he didn't respond.
He just ran a hand through his hair angrily.
"I'm not in the mood. I said get out."
He forced me down like a beast, kissed me violently—
Now he was telling me to leave?
The cold air against my bare skin made the humiliation worse.
I hated him.
I hated him with every fiber of my being.
He wouldn't even look at me now. He just stared out the window.
So I slowly put my clothes back on, turned away, and left the room.
I clenched my jaw, trying to hide the pain and shame I felt.
"…Damn it…"
Kallion leaned against the wall, letting out a bitter sigh.
He never meant to kiss her. Even he didn't understand why he did it.
When did everything start going wrong?
He stayed there for a while, unable to move.
***
Later, I was sipping tea when the head maid came into my room.
It was unusual for her to report directly—she usually avoided me.
"Yes?"
I asked coldly.
She bowed stiffly and said,
"You received a letter from Lady Highland."
Highland—one of the most powerful noble families under Valdormer.
I frowned as I accepted the letter and opened it.
It said she was sorry we hadn't seen each other since the banquet, and she hoped to meet with me and other noble ladies soon.
Nothing suspicious—just polite social talk.
But the head maid added:
"It's normal for the new lady of Valdormer to host tea gatherings with the wives of the vassal families. This is unusually late."
Tea gatherings?
"Do I really have to do something like that?" I asked.
Her brow furrowed slightly at my indifferent tone.