The Duke of Hermont’s Male Mistress
Chapter 16
Looking back, it had been a rather dangerous moment. Neither of them had seemed in their right mind.
Neither Vitor, nor Roy.
With their breaths mingling and her fingers growing numb, her head had spun. All the strength had drained from her body, her heart pounding frantically.
His unfamiliar scent and the caress stroking down her body had slowly conquered her senses.
‘What would have happened if Lady Luyssen hadn’t appeared then?’
If she had been swept up in the mood and they had actually kissed…
Dizziness washed over her just thinking about it. Grown men were dangerous. For the first time, Roy truly felt how perilous a ‘man’ could be.
Faced with a man so handsome he made her heart flutter, she had been powerless to resist. Not that she had actually developed feelings for him, of course.
‘They say a man’s body reacts first when he sees a pretty woman—maybe women have a similar instinct?’
Whatever scandals trailed behind Vitor, it was an undeniable fact that he was attractive enough for any woman to desire.
‘To have my heart race over a man. Thanks to the Duke, I’m experiencing all sorts of things…’
Still, that tremor might have just been because it was her first time. Right now, her heart wasn’t beating so wildly that it made her nauseous like back then.
Even with their faces this close together, it no longer felt awkward or embarrassing.
As if sensing Roy’s fixed gaze, Vitor’s eyes slowly turned toward her.
His deep green eyes shone with crystalline clarity. Soon, the corners of his eyes curved softly, blossoming into a playful yet gentle smile.
Roy lightly bit her lip behind her hand.
So long as this man wasn’t overtly flirting like this…
If not for that, she would really be fine.
“D-Duke of Hermont?”
A young lady glancing around the street recognized the familiar back of his head and approached cautiously.
Vitor turned his head to look at her.
“Ah, Lady Celina…”
“It’s Serena.”
“…”
The name he had murmured in troubled hesitation was completely wrong. Wearing a troubled expression, Vitor subtly shifted his body so Roy came into view.
Anyone could tell she was here to strike him, so he had to prepare.
Usually, a single slap across the cheek was the end of it, but a woman’s fury often defied expectations.
Today it was a fist; tomorrow, who knew?
A sharp object might even be drawn…
Roy lightly tipped her hunting cap in polite greeting.
“Ha!”
What followed went strictly by the script. The young lady marched up, raising her delicate, lace-gloved hand high.
Smack!
Well, I didn’t expect such a dull thud.
“You piece of trash! I believed it was just a baseless rumor, ugh!”
Lady Serena burst into tears and ran out of the alleyway. The sudden commotion drew the passing crowd’s attention for a brief moment, but their interest soon scattered like the wind.
“Ouch, that hurts. It’s my first time getting punched by a woman.”
Vitor groaned softly, rubbing his stinging cheek. Having taken an awkward blow to the mouth, a bead of red blood welled on his lower lip.
“Did you see that, Roy-ssi? Putting her whole shoulder into the swing. That’s someone who knows how to throw a punch. If she didn’t learn that and just did it on instinct, she’s truly a natural. Lady Celina might have a real talent for combat.”
“It’s Lady Serena. And your lip is split. Please stop talking.”
Roy impassively opened her bag and took out an ointment.
Reaching out, she dabbed a small amount of ointment over the scratch. Roy winced slightly, feeling phantom stings just looking at it.
Bending slightly at the waist to offer his face, Vitor chuckled as if thoroughly amused by something.
“Can you really laugh right now? You’re a soldier, yet you don’t even know the trick to taking a hit without getting hurt?”
“I have to let the young ladies vent their anger somehow. How frustrated would she be if it didn’t hurt me at all?”
“Honestly, Your Grace…”
Still, what a mess to make of his face. There were few nobles who threw themselves around so recklessly, relying solely on good looks.
Soldier or not, he was still a duke.
Though a slight nick on his lip wouldn’t tarnish his reputation or make his face any less handsome…
“Besides, I like having Roy-ssi treat my wounds. It makes me feel cared for. To be honest, you don’t really hate me that much, do you? Ah, ouch!”
Instead of answering, Roy deliberately pressed down hard on the wound.
“All done. Just be careful when you eat. From now on, carry this ointment with you and apply it yourself.”
Roy spoke sternly, like a strict nurse. Vitor obediently accepted the tin case and stared at the label for a long while.
“By the way, Roy-ssi, do you carry things like this around every day?”
“No. I brought it today because I thought it might come in handy.”
‘Then I should definitely run away next time. I shouldn’t act this out in a dead-end alley anymore.’
Unaware that Roy was plotting her own escape, Vitor broke into a wide smile.
“See? I told you Roy-ssi likes me.”
Roy stared blankly at him as he spouted such nonsensical logic, then quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, how long do we have to keep up this scam? It seems the rumors have spread quite a bit by now.”
“Who knows? Nobles find it hard to admit they’ve been stood up because of their pride. Marriage proposals are still steadily coming in, and above all, the elders don’t seem to know yet, so we’ll have to keep this up for a while.”
“Is it impossible for Your Grace to just tell them directly?”
Roy asked, testing the waters subtly.
“If Roy-ssi wishes to have a private audience with Grand Duchess Leonora, we can certainly do that.”
“…”
Vitor smiled pleasantly.
Indeed, she wouldn’t just accept his word. That strict-looking old lady would undoubtedly demand proof.
Roy had secretly thought this deception would be over within a few days.
The fact that the Duke of Hermont had a male lover was a scandal big enough to shake the entire empire.
In terms of sheer impact, it might even rival gossip about the Imperial Family.
Yet reality proved otherwise. That they would keep even the fact of being rejected quiet just to save face…
Of course, losing not to another woman but to a man must have dealt a massive blow to the haughty young ladies’ pride.
Truly, an exhausting bunch in every way.
Since her debts were completely paid off, she had no reason to feel rushed, but continuing to deceive others hardly sat easy with her conscience.
“I feel like the rumor would spread much faster if we were seen together at some crowded, official gathering…”
“An official gathering?”
Roy tilted her head at Vitor’s sudden murmur.
“I mean something like a banquet or a ball. Or any other event would do. If we stick close together in a place like that, people will let their imaginations run wild and spread the rumors for us.”
“I don’t think I can go to places like that…”
“Why do you think that? Because of your status? If we look, there are banquets casual enough to bring a commoner partner.”
The question was where to find one. There were hardly any noble families around here capable of hosting a banquet to begin with…
“By the way, doesn’t Clareville have any town events?”
“There’s the Summer Festival next month, but during that time, people who aren’t couples stand out more… And there are way too many people.”
Male lovers were another matter, but even then, people would most likely just glance and walk on by.
As a tourist town, Clareville drew many outsiders, making eccentric attire and unusual relationships quite common.
The townsfolk were thoroughly numb to ordinary gossip, and above all, everyone poured out into the streets during the festival.
Blended into that crowd, no one would be able to tell whether Vitor was a duke or just a middle-aged man drunk on beer.
“Then that won’t work. Let’s take our time finding another way. At this rate, I feel like my face won’t survive intact.”
“Did it hurt that much, Your Grace?”
“I’m telling you, she almost broke my nose.”
As Vitor grumbled, Roy let out a soft laugh.
Vitor and Roy stepped out of the alley side by side. The sunlight poured down warmly and gently, as if welcoming them.
Early summer in Clareville was brimming with vitality.
Stalls draped in colorful cloths lined both sides of the street, and lively voices haggled over baskets of fruit and handmade crafts.
From one corner, the clumsy tune of an accordion played on. The air drifting down the street was rich with the scent of flowers.
The Duke of Hermont’s Male Paramour
