Love Doesn't Matter

Chapter 109 – Stop Me

Caitlyn savored the taste of blood as she bit her nails until they bled.

For days, she had locked herself in her room, with disheveled hair, resembling a ghost haunting the corners.

You know what you’ve done to Kanoa and the bastard child.

The terror that seized her when she received the letter did not subside in the slightest; it tightened around her throat like a noose.

Who, and how, could someone know and do such a thing?

There were only two people in the world who knew the secret.

Herself, the one who planned it, and Jettson, who executed everything.

Her trembling gaze naturally turned toward her husband’s room. Jettson would be there, as always, with his sword at his side.

At first, she had considered implicating Jettson as well. Instinct warned her not to trust anyone. But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t imagine him sending the letter. Jettson was a loyal man, almost to the point of naivety. Why would he dig his own grave?

“Yes, no.”

Caitlyn lowered her head and picked up a candlestick as she stepped from the room. In the pitch-black darkness, she felt her way to the door of the adjacent room where Jettson resided.

The gaunt old man recognized her and quickly bowed his head.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

His eyes gleamed sharply.

“You’ve been working under me for how many years now?”

“Forty years.”

The old man’s gruff voice plunged Caitlyn into an indescribable miasma of unease.

It was just like that day long ago when everything was the same. She was furious and sought him out, and he calmly accepted her orders.

“You’re not just a servant. You’re also my trusted friend.”

“…Those words are far too kind for a lowly person like me.”

Caitlyn struggled not to give him a cold stare. Despite being a proxy for her, despite being the one with blood on his hands, Jettson always sent chills down her spine.

She never imagined she would have to ask the agent for another favor…

But that’s what her late father always said. In order to rise to a high position and conquer the world, he said she had to make good use of people like Jettson.

‘That person is like a rat. He’ll dig through all sorts of filth and the bottom of society to do all the dirty work for you. Cherish him. Then you can achieve everything you desire.’

Caitlyn recalled her father’s advice and slowly opened her mouth.

“There’s another problem. Something you need to handle.”

Caitlyn handed him an envelope.

“You need to find the person who sent this.”

Jettson examined the contents. His normally unwavering gaze shook violently.

It was enough to make Caitlyn feel certain. Jettson wasn’t the culprit. The person who sent the letter was much more cunning and skilled in plotting.

“Is there anyone you suspect?”

Countless names flooded Caitlyn’s mind.

“For now, start with this.”

Caitlyn handed him a revolver.

* * *

Emilia woke up instantly. Her sleepy eyes wandered around the dark room before sensing a presence and quickly turning to the side.

Hadius was there.

Sitting with his legs crossed on a single sofa, he had turned toward the fireplace, watching the flickering flames.

She could tell he had just finished bathing from the dampness in his hair and the loosely draped robe.

Emilia quickly sat up, raising her upper body. His gaze, fixed on the fireplace, shifted toward her.

“When… did you arrive?”

Emilia asked in a small voice, feeling strangely embarrassed.

“About an hour ago?”

Emilia’s head spun around toward the desk clock. Her eyes widened as she saw the hour hand approaching the 2.

“The conversation went on for a while. The king got completely drunk.”

Hadius held in his hand a glass that gave off the scent of strong whiskey. The scent mingled with the faint dampness in the air and enveloped Emilia’s senses.

It was a strange occurrence. Just the smell of an unfamiliar scent would usually make her nauseous, but the mixed aroma of alcohol emanating from Hadius didn’t elicit any reaction.

“Why… aren’t you sleeping?”

Emilia asked, her voice betraying some surprise.

“I heard you had trouble sleeping. That you were plagued by nightmares.”

Realizing his meaning a beat too late, Emilia’s face showed a trace of astonishment.

“Is it because of me… that you’re like this?”

“Is there any other reason?”

Hadius replied, taking a sip of his drink. His half-opened mouth curved slightly.

“It’s unfortunate that I don’t have my own room. Our temperamental king has locked all the other doors.”

Emilia tried her best not to open her mouth foolishly.

“Well, even if another door was open, I would still be here.”

He spoke dryly without diverting his gaze from the fire.

“You should get some rest. You must be tired.”

“I’m fine.”

His firm and precise words carried a hint of languor. Emilia felt herself drawn into an inexplicable sensation, as if she, too, were getting drunk.

Hadius showed no signs of yielding. Emilia pulled the blanket up tightly and closed her eyes.

Of course, it had been a long time since she escaped from sleep. Within a few minutes, Emilia sat up again.

“How about lying down here?”

Her hand tapped the empty space beside her. The bed was as vast as an ocean, providing enough space for both of them to sleep.

“It’s fine.”

Hadius replied without even looking at her.

“You can’t keep sitting there.”

“When we had reconnaissance training, we used to stay awake for 48 hours. But don’t worry, I’m fine and alive.”

Despite his cold and distant tone, Emilia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Her body trembled even though she didn’t feel cold.

Pulling the blanket up, she stared at the ceiling and waited for time to pass. After a few minutes, she couldn’t hold back any longer and her lips moved again.

“Your Grace,”

“What is it?”

“…I can’t fall asleep.”

Even though he had his back turned, she sensed his surprise. She gathered her courage.

“Could you stay by my side?”

There was a brief silence.

He put down his glass and roughly ran his hand through his hair. As Emilia felt his long body shifting toward the bed, she buried her blushing face into the pillow.

After a while, the mattress sank down and the clean scent of the man covered her like a tidal wave. Emilia tried to relax her stiff body.

She had uttered an incredible request, “Stay by my side,” without even believing it herself. But now that it was actually happening, she didn’t know what to do or how to handle it.

Time passed endlessly in the dry silence.

The man lying straight toward the ceiling had one arm covering his forehead. Hearing his calm and controlled breathing, Emilia couldn’t help but get captivated by the occasional rough sound of his breath. Her mind became clearer, and her senses became increasingly sensitive.

Her pale hair began to speak words of its own.

“Is that so? I don’t feel it. Everything in this moment. Your Grace must be the same.”

“…”

“But I’m trying my best. To love the child within me… and accept the relationship with Your Grace.”

Emilia gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen.

“Of course, it still doesn’t feel real to be a Duchess… Honestly, I want to continue living just like this, working in Ratang… Oh, did I mention that I will be in charge of managing the estate there?”

At this point, she thought he would say something, but the man behind her maintained an infuriating silence.

“…Are you asleep?”

“No.”

The man’s voice was tightly locked, as if he were swallowing grains of sand.

“How could I sleep?”

As soon as she heard the question, a heat started from her neck and spread throughout her body. Caught up in impulse and passion, Emilia’s body moved of its own accord. She cautiously reached out her arm and found the man’s hand, which was resting randomly.

She could sense his freezing reaction from even the slightest touch. Her lips started uttering words she never imagined saying.

“I-I read it in a book… To not harm the child… allowing a man…”

“Stop.”

But contrary to his words, Hadius grasped Emilia’s shoulder and turned her toward him.

“Stop it.”

As the cold whisper drew closer, he finally found her mouth. In the gentle and sweet kiss, Emilia trembled and, unknowingly, parted her lips.

His tongue invaded her mouth along with a moan that scratched at her throat.

Behind the thin robe between them, the man was burning hot. The heat that surged from the depths of the pit engulfed her entire body.

When the long and deep kiss ended, Hadius gasped for breath heavily, as if he had finished an intense exercise.

“You have to stop me. Do you know why?”

In excitement, he forcefully pressed his body against Emilia’s waist. His hot hands tightly gripped her lower abdomen.

“If the one here were a boy… If I had that certainty, I probably would have had you.”

Emilia’s body stiffened in shock.

“But Emilia, it could be a girl. That’s why we can’t.”

The body touching her slender waist began to move back and forth. Every time he pressed against her, the intoxicated breath of a man broke against her neck. It was a chaotic act driven solely by his desire, yet Emilia could feel her body growing hot in response.

“I can’t just let you do what prostitutes do.”

His actions contradicted his words. His long fingers slid under her clothes, gently caressing the bare flesh of her lower abdomen. Emilia gasped for breath and her body trembled like a cat.

“You know better than anyone how impatient I am.”

His fingers slowly descended. However, without attempting deep intrusion, they merely lingered, restless in their surroundings.

“That’s why you have to stop me.”

The strained voice of a man at his limits reached her ears and neck, breaking apart.

“Stop me.”

Another hand of the man reached up slowly, gently gripping the perky mound like a tantalizing fruit. Blood rushed to the already sensitive area, and she gasped for breath.

He pressed his lips against her pale neck while pushing the hem of her nightgown up to her waist. A shiver ran down her spine.

He rubbed against the bare flesh again. The simmering heat that began at her waist caused her to melt like wax.

“If something happens to the child, you will never forgive me. I won’t engage in reckless adventures. I’ve only just obtained you.”

With calm words, he increased his pace.

Her neck was bitten, and hot breath poured out. In a moment, his rough, rubbing body stiffened, releasing something hot onto her small back.

* * *

The dawn air was hazy.

With his owner’s revolver holstered at his waist, Jettson climbed into the one-person carriage. After half a day’s journey, he arrived near William Richards’ mansion.

William Richards was the first person his owner deemed “suspicious.” From now on, Jettson intended to follow him and monitor his every move.

Jettson parked the carriage in a quiet alley, waiting for William Richards to come out.

Silently, with bated breath, he only blinked, unaware of another shadow trailing behind him.