Trapped in a Secret Room With the Magnificent Duke - Chapter 1
The pastel green curtains carefully blocked out the moonlight, making the bedroom a bit dim.
Reyna, lying on the bedspread of the same color as the curtains, slowly opened her eyes.
“Hmm, I’m thirsty.”
As Reyna reached for the bedside, still groggy, she froze. The bedroom was completely unfamiliar.
Moreover, there was a man lying next to her.
“What… what is this?”
She nearly screamed in shock but managed to stifle her cry just in time.
She was still unmarried. Although there had been recent discussions about a potential match, it was hardly good for her to be caught in bed next to a man. Even if it was just a servant of her family.
‘Could it be… no, it can’t be?’
Swallowing her rising scream, Reyna looked down. She wondered if she had undressed, but fortunately, she was still in her nightgown. The man was fully dressed.
Holding onto the hope that nothing improper had occurred between them, Reyna examined the man’s face.
“…!”
Though his eyes were closed, Reyna recognized the piercing blue of his irises.
‘Duke Gerard?!’
Reyna held her breath and gazed down at the sleeping Duke Gerard.
His flawless white skin and sharply defined features spoke of the classic beauty that was almost otherworldly. For a moment, she was so captivated by his face that she almost forgot about the situation. But she quickly came to her senses.
This was not the time to be mesmerized.
Kadrion Gerard.
Despite the previous Duke still being alive, he had inherited the title as the youngest Duke in the empire.
It was no surprise.
Kadrion Gerard had not only achieved remarkable feats during his youth in the wars but had also greatly increased the already vast wealth of the Gerard family. So much so that it was said the Gerard family’s assets surpassed those of the imperial family.
In short, he was the aristocrat’s aristocrat, a flower on a cliff, and a vision that seemed almost out of reach.
Though Reyna’s own family, Count Hendrick family, was also distinguished, they were no match for the Gerard family.
So why was this magnificent Duke lying next to her? And why was she here?
Reyna was utterly bewildered by the situation she found herself in.
Having ended an ordinary day and gone to bed, she was now faced with a completely absurd scenario.
Though she had many questions, she carefully got out of bed, trying not to wake Duke Gerard. If he was to wake up and question her about this situation, it would be quite problematic.
The rug beneath her bare feet was soft and plush. Reyna moved quietly, successfully leaving the bedroom.
In the middle of the spacious living room was a table with a parchment and a magical device.
Tick-tock.
The device, about the size of an apple, emitted the sound of a ticking pendulum.
“A clock?”
Reyna glanced at the magical device for a moment before turning her attention to the parchment. It was written in a strong, tidy handwriting:
[Your surprised face is vividly clear in my mind, Lady Reyna.]
“So you know.”
Reyna muttered in annoyance as she continued reading, but she froze when she saw the next line:
[You are trapped here.]
Quickly scanning the room, Reyna found a door.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
She scoffed and turned the door handle, only to find it locked.
Frustrated, she moved around the room and found a window. Pulling aside the curtains, she saw that wooden planks had been nailed over it, blocking any view outside.
‘Am I really trapped?’
At this point, Reyna’s hands began to feel cold. But she refused to give up, grunting as she tried to push the window open. It seemed immovable, as if it had been secured with nails.
Confirming that both the door and window were locked, Reyna hurried to the table and grabbed the parchment.
[You’ve probably noticed already, but I do not recommend wasting your energy.]
The line seemed to mock her, and Reyna gritted her teeth as she read further.
[Do you see the magical device on the table?]
Reyna looked down and was startled to see that the numbers on the device had changed.
[If the number on the magical device you are currently observing reaches 0, Duke Gerard will die.]
As Reyna read that, her body swayed. Her vision blurred, and it felt as if the ground beneath her was crumbling.
Even if she managed to escape, if Duke Gerard were to die, Reyna could be accused of murder for being the one beside him.
[If you wish to save Duke Gerard’s life, I can tell you how.]
Reyna swallowed nervously.
[You must indulge in the most pleasure by having s-x with Duke Gerard within the time limit.]
She gaped in shock.
‘Why, oh God, must you give me such a trial?’
As Reyna lamented her fate, the number on the magical device continued to decrease, urging her to act.
“What should I do…?”
Despite the urgent situation, Reyna tried to think calmly and find a solution.
‘Perhaps I should wake Duke Gerard, explain the situation, and try to escape together.’