Demian's words kept echoing in Valerie's mind. She didn't even realize how she had reached the Austin mansion, her family home.
Instead of anger or concern, her father looked delighted, especially at the sight of the many gifts brought from the Duke.
"Who would've thought, Valerie? The moment you step outside, you somehow manage to seduce a Duke," Sonia, her stepmother, sneered.
"Wow, impressive. You actually got a Duke to fall for you," Bianca, her stepsister, chimed in mockingly.
"Father, you should've refused all of this. If the Marquess' family finds out, we won't survive," said Jester, perhaps the only sane person in the room.
"The Duke said everything will be fine as long as they don't find out. Besides, who would marry a woman who's no longer pure? She's lucky the Duke didn't throw her away," Count Austin, John Austin spoke while staring at his daughter, who sat silently on the sofa.
Valerie turned her gaze toward Jester.
"How did you even seduce a Duke?" he asked.
"I didn't seduce him. He dragged me because he thought someone sent me to him," Valerie replied, clearly irritated.
"You leave the house once and come back with a monster," Austin scoffed.
"Father, watch your words. If someone hears that, we'll all be in trouble," Jester warned.
"I already told you, the Duke promised protection. And Valerie, you must move into the residence he prepared. He doesn't want to come here just to find you," Austin said firmly.
"What? What did you just say?" Bianca asked, stunned.
"The Duke has prepared a mansion for her. She will live in the Duke's territory," the Count replied.
"What?!" Bianca and Sonia shouted together.
"Stop yelling! You want the whole neighborhood to hear?" Austin snapped.
"But Father… who's going to take care of the house if Valerie leaves?" Bianca asked, now panicked.
Indeed, the family's Count title brought them no wealth. They were a poor noble household with nothing but pride, unable to afford servants, leaving Valerie to handle all the household chores.
"I believe the Duke's gifts are more than enough to hire servants. If you're too cheap for that… then do the work yourselves," Valerie said, looking away.
"So you really did sell your body to the Duke. Aren't you afraid Ivanka Kosler will find out and ruin you?" Bianca spat.
"She won't know… unless someone tells her," Valerie answered coolly.
"You-!"
"Bianca, silence," Count Austin barked.
Valerie exhaled deeply as Bianca froze. It was clear now her father would support her only because she was the source of all these benefits.
"No matter how much you hate Valerie, don't let that big mouth of yours cause trouble outside. If anything happens… it won't be me who kills you, but the Duke," Austin warned darkly.
Bianca fell silent, her face pale with anger and fear. Meanwhile, Valerie just sat there quietly, realizing one thing:
They despised her… yet she was the only thing keeping this family afloat.
Valerie returned to her room and sat quietly, staring out the window.At last, she would leave this cold, cramped little space behind.
Her father had told her that in one week, someone would come to fetch her and take her away.
One week.She simply had to endure one more week in this house… wasn't that all?
Valerie closed her eyes, replaying every moment from that night with Demian.It had been her first time, her first kiss, her first touch, yet what troubled her most now was the realization that the man seemed unwilling to let her go.
Like? Aroma?
Valerie frowned, thinking about Demian's strange words.She even lifted her wrist and sniffed herself, wondering if he actually liked the scent of her cheap perfume.A perfume gifted by an old woman she once helped at the market…How could something like that possibly attract a duke?
From a poor girl to the duke's kept woman?It was all too absurd for Valerie, especially since last night had been her first time ever attending a noble's party, only because she accompanied Bianca while Sonia was unable to go.
"Val!"
Valerie looked down and saw a young woman waving under the tree.Esme, her friend.
Valerie stepped out of her room and headed toward her, passing her family who were still rummaging through the boxes of gifts meant for her…yet treating them as if they were theirs.
"What happened?" Esme asked once they reached the grassy field near the cliff.
"You saw it, didn't you," Valerie murmured.
"I did, everyone did. Did your father sell you to some rich man, is that why you suddenly received all those gifts?" Esme asked bluntly.
Valerie looked at her. Of course she couldn't say that the man was a duke, so she simply nodded.
"So… where will you go after this?" Esme asked again.
"I don't know," Valerie replied softly.
"So we'll be separated… Val, I'm really going to lose you," Esme whispered, her voice trembling.
"Oh, come on. We're friends. Nothing can separate us," Valerie tried to reassure her.
"But still… you'll suffer. Is he some old lecher?" Esme whispered cautiously.
Valerie almost laughed. If only he were an old lecher things would be far simpler.But how was she supposed to explain that the man was… devastatingly handsome, despite being labeled a monster's descendant?
"Val!"
Valerie and Esme flinched and turned. A young man was running toward them.
Ethan, the son of Baron Ludwig.
"Val, I heard your father is selling you," he said, panting.
"The rumor spread that far already?" Valerie shook her head slowly.
"Yes… so who are you being sold to?" Ethan asked.
Valerie drew a long breath and shifted her gaze to the lake stretching wide beneath the cliff.
"I don't know," she answered quietly.
"But I told you to wait for me, Val…" Ethan's voice cracked pitifully.
"I know… but you also know my father loves money more than anything," Valerie replied.
Ethan sat beside her, glancing briefly at Esme.
"I'm sorry… I can't even save you," he whispered.
"It's all right," Valerie said softly.
They grew silent, letting the calm breeze from the lake wash over them.
"Val, who is that?" Esme asked, noticing a man in a guard's uniform approaching.
Valerie and Ethan both turned.
"My lady, the master is calling for you," the guard said with a respectful bow.
"Master? Which master?" Ethan asked suspiciously.
Valerie was confused too, which master, until realization hit her.She immediately stood up.
"I'll be going," she said.
"Val, is he the old lecher?"