I Became the Affair Partner of a Trash Duke — Chapter 25

HER SKIN IS PURE AND WHITE, LIKE UNTOUCHED SNOW.

A NECK THAT LOOKS SO SWEET TO THE TASTE...

THANK YOU.

A SWEET BODY FRAGRANCE THAT AWAKENS DESIRE.

IT FEELS AS THOUGH HER SCENT IS STILL LINGERING IN THE AIR!

HAVE I REALLY FALLEN THIS LOW?

AN OUTCOME LIKE THIS WASN'T PART OF MY PLANS.

YOUR GRACE, LADY VIOLETA HAS ARRIVED TO SEE YOU.

FINALLY.

TELL HER TO WAIT.

I NEED SOME TIME TO CLEAR MY HEAD.

EXCUSE ME... YOUR GRACE.

WILL YOU REALLY PAY FOR MY BROTHER'S TUITION AS WELL?

IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE A PROBLEM?

I WON'T JUST TAKE CARE OF ALL YOUR REMAINING DEBTS, I'LL SECURE YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER'S FUTURE TOO.

HOWEVER, IN RETURN, YOU MUST FLAWLESSLY PERFORM YOUR DUTIES

AS MY MISTRESS.

BUT WHEN OUR DEAL COMES TO AN END...

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY FUTURE?

WHAT?

YOU UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY WELL YOURSELF, DUKE.

THINK OF THE HUMILIATION LADY CROWLEY SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THE RUMORS ABOUT HER AFFAIR WITH YOU.

SHE WASN'T JUST DISGRACEFULLY EXILED FROM HIGH SOCIETY,

SHE WAS STRIPPED OF ALL HER INVESTMENTS AND CONNECTIONS, LEAVING HER COMPLETELY DESTITUTE.

AFTER ALL THAT,

I WON'T JUST BE UNABLE TO MARRY, I WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO GET A JOB.

AND WHY SHOULD THAT CONCERN ME?

FOR ME... THIS IS A MATTER OF MY ENTIRE LIFE.

THE SCANDAL YOU CAUSE NEEDS TO BE MUCH LOUDER AND MORE CONTROVERSIAL.

FOR A SCANDAL OF THIS SCALE, THE IDENTITY OF THE MISTRESS MUST BE MADE PUBLIC.

BESIDES, THE EMPEROR INSISTED ON IT.

I SHOULDN'T BE WORRYING ABOUT HER PROBLEMS AT ALL...

I'LL MAKE SURE YOUR IDENTITY REMAINS A SECRET.

WHY AM I SUDDENLY FEELING PITY FOR HER, A FEELING I'VE NEVER KNOWN BEFORE?

WE'LL LEAVE JUST ENOUGH HINTS. JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE THE PRINCESS MISUNDERSTAND EVERYTHING.

WE WILL CREATE THE PERFECT ILLUSION OF AN AFFAIR.

AN ILLUSION OF AN AFFAIR?..

EXACTLY.

DOES EVERYTHING SATISFY YOU NOW?

W-WAIT A MINUTE!

I HAVE ONE MORE CONDITION.

DO YOU EVEN REALIZE YOU'RE STARTING TO PUSH YOUR LUCK?

YES.

AND WHAT IS THIS RIDICULOUS CONDITION?

FINE, I'LL HEAR YOU OUT.

YOU SAID IT YOURSELF, THAT THIS... IS ALL JUST A GAME.

AND?

T-THEN...

WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY, RIGHT?!

GO ALL THE WAY?

I MEAN...

PHYSICAL CONTACT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PLAY LOVERS WITHOUT ANY TOUCHING?

DO YOU WANT TO HANG A SIGN AROUND OUR NECKS SAYING, "WE'RE JUST PUTTING ON A PLAY"?

T-THEN LET'S AT LEAST NOT GO TO THE VERY END.

TO THE END?

GOOD LORD, YOU ARE SO DIFFICULT.

DOES THIS MEAN YOU WERE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT GOING THAT FAR WITH ME?

NO, IT'S JUST THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME!

WHY? ARE YOU GOING TO START BABBLING AGAIN THAT NOTHING WORKS WITHOUT LOVE?

PARTLY, YES, BUT...

I WILL NEVER ADMIT THAT I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE!

He'll definitely laugh at me!

RELAX. I HAVE NO DESIRE FOR THINGS TO END UP THAT WAY EITHER.

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU, EITHER.

WE NEED TO GET EVERYTHING NOTARIZED.

UNDERSTOOD, YOUR GRACE. I'LL PASS THE WORD TO MR. CRANK.

MISS, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?

AH? Y-YES, EVERYTHING IS FINE...

HE DEFINITELY KNOWS THAT I'VE BECOME THE DUKE'S MISTRESS!

OH GOD, THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING...

DON'T WORRY. RAUL CAN BE TRUSTED.

JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE STAFF IN THE MANSION.

YES, OF COURSE. THERE'S NO NEED TO WORRY. NO ONE HERE IS GOING TO SPREAD RUMORS.

HIS GRACE COMPLETELY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD STAFF.

RAUL, I SEE YOU HAVE A LOT OF FREE TIME ON YOUR HANDS?

NOT AT ALL, YOUR GRACE. I'M INCREDIBLY BUSY!

THANKS TO YOUR EFFORTS, I HAVE SO MUCH WORK THAT I BARELY HAVE TIME TO BREATHE!

WELL, SEE YOU AROUND, LADY HERNANDEZ!

WELL, I SUPPOSE IT'S TIME FOR ME TO HEAD OUT TOO...

STAY THE NIGHT HERE. IT'S ALREADY LATE.