The Duke, Who Didn’t Even Call Me by My Name Until Yesterday, Has Suddenly Started Doting on Me? - Chapter 28

The moonlight streaming in through the window illuminated about half the room, but it didn’t reach the bed at the back.

In the dim darkness, without any lights on, Mariane was sitting on the bed, wrapped in a thin futon.

When she noticed me, she meekly lifted her head and looked at me with a tense expression.

Cute. Mariane is so cute.

It was dark so I couldn’t see her complexion well, but when our eyes met, she looked away shyly, and I’m sure her cheeks were flushed red as usual.

I wanted to embrace Mariane’s delicate body right now.

Driven by such an urge,

No, she’s a goddess. It’s unforgivable for a human to touch a god.

I dismissed the impure urge that crossed my mind with religious-infused thoughts.

I wonder if it’s because tonight is a full moon that my emotions are so high that I’m even jealous of the futon that’s wrapped around her.

As if drawn to her, I walked slowly towards Mariane and sat down silently next to the bed where she was sitting.

The distance between me and Mariane was the same as usual. And yet, I could feel her uncanny sexy breathing and her hot body heat.

I no longer felt the slightest bit of sleepiness.

“Mariane, shall we go to sleep?”

I faked a smile and said that as I turned my gaze towards Mariane…Huh?

Once again, my body froze as if frozen.

Before my eyes, Mariane had unwrapped the comforter that had wrapped her up in it, and was now in her underwear, covering her chest with her hands and lowering her eyes in embarrassment.

The underwear she was wearing was so transparent that I couldn’t tell if it was even functioning, and I could clearly see her beautiful curves…

No, this is no good.

It’s eyesore. No, there’s nothing poisonous about her body. If anything, it’s just soothing.

See? Gradually, my eyesight improved and her skin began to appear clearer and sharper.

No, that’s not it. My eyes were just getting used to the darkness. Her skin was just too much for my eyes…

No, this was definitely a dream.

I see, if it’s a dream, I could do whatever I wanted…but that’s no good!

Even if it was a dream, I could still touch Mariane’s body…she’s a god!

“Um…Duke?”

Mariane called out to me in a confused voice, bringing me back to my senses.

Looking more closely, I could see that her body was trembling slightly.

She was looking up at me with slightly frightened eyes.

Seeing her like that, two desires welled up inside me.

A violent desire to just hold her forcefully, to desire her so wholeheartedly that I could forget everything, and a desire to gently wrap her in these hands, pamper her and heal her to my heart’s content.

I felt like I was going crazy.

If I let my guard down even a little, my fragile reason will crumble. But… that’s right.

There’s something more important… than that.

I have to apologize to her.

“Mariane.”

When I called her name, Mariane’s eyes brightened as if the anxiety had disappeared.

I carefully draped the futon she was wrapped in over her shoulders again to cover her skin.

Mariane looked a little surprised and confused, then looked relieved, and disappointed…

I took a position so that I was facing her, sat upright on the bed, and bowed deeply.

“My Duke!? Please look up!”

I could hear Mariane’s desperate voice, but I continued speaking with my head bowed.

“Mariane, I’m sorry. I dragged you into my selfish convenience and hurt your mind and body so much. I’m truly sorry.”

I wanted to apologize for a long time.

For the foolish thing I did to Mariane here. But I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

I was afraid that it would remind Mariane of the unpleasant feelings she had back then… No, that was just an excuse.

Maybe I just wanted to pretend it never happened.

All the things I’d done to hurt Mariane up until now… I’d taken advantage of her kindness…

I didn’t want her to hate me.

I didn’t want Mariane to reject me.

I wanted to show only my best side in front of her, but in front of her I felt so weak and pathetic.

I slowly raised my head and faced Mariane, who was staring at me in shock.

I smiled at her as usual.

“Mariane, I will never hurt you again. There’s no need for me to give birth to an heir. For your sake, I’m willing to throw away all of this title of duke. So there’s no need for you to push yourself anymore.”

At that time, I didn’t think of anyone other than myself as a person.

He thought of all other people as pieces on a board game.

He moved them as he pleased, never considering that there were other people’s feelings behind them.

The same was true of his wife, Mariane.

He only saw her as a tool to give birth to an heir. And that’s why I…

I was the one who stopped being human back then.

I was the one who had no feelings. And so I have no right to hold Mariane in my arms.

“No, Duke. I’m not forcing myself. The fact that I’m here now, and the way I look… I decided this of my own free will.”

She spoke in a clear, strong tone, which was unusual for her, and this time I was taken aback.

The sight of her looking straight at me with eyes full of determination was proud and strong… I felt a sense of nostalgia at the sight and my eyes welled up.

Mariane shut her mouth once, then took a deep breath and exhaled deeply.

Her stiff expression softened, and she smiled with a sad, loving look on her face. I was instantly captivated by her appearance.

Her mouth slowly moved and she spoke.

“I have been in love with you, Duke, for a long time. However, I was too afraid to admit my feelings, so I was late in telling you, Duke.”

Mariane’s sudden confession.

I couldn’t believe her words, so I opened my eyes wide and was unable to speak. I just stared at my beloved.

“If the Duke were to return to his old self and no longer see me in his eyes… it would be painful…”

As she said this, Mariane’s face twisted in pain, but she quickly looked up as if to shake off the tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes.

“But if this is a limited time, I want to preserve as many memories as possible of the current Duke. Even if one day the Duke returns to his original personality and rejects me, I believe that my memories of the current Duke will encourage and inspire me… so…”

“Mariane, wait a moment.”

Contrary to the feelings of my heart warming and being touched by Mariane’s words, which conveyed her enthusiasm, there was one point that really bothered me.

I held my head and wondered how I should question her, but decided to ask frankly.

“What do you mean… My original personality? What do you mean… the current me?”

“Ah…”

Mariane put her hand to her mouth with a look of “damn”.

Returning to her original personality and rejecting Mariane…?

What on earth is Mariane talking about?