Droit du Seigneur: His Lordship's Right of the First Night - Chapter 51
“You are my subject, and it is my duty to protect you during this trip.”
“But Sir Karmon isn’t a stranger.”
“A man… So, you see him as a man, do you?”
“No! I mean, he’s not a stranger.”
“Really? When did you two become such close friends?”
“…Why are you acting like this? Please don’t make a fuss over nothing.”
Already struggling with the pain of knowing she would soon part ways with him, Louise was doing her best to hide her anguish. She wanted their first and last journey together to be filled with only pleasant memories, but she couldn’t understand why Richard was acting this way. Feeling frustrated, she shot back at him, her small face turning away in defiance.
“……”
Even her pouty expression as she turned away from him was adorable, which only made Richard’s frustration boil over. He should have kept her from leaving the bedroom during the day by exhausting her at night.
Though Louise had always been as beautiful as an angel, recently she had blossomed into an even more stunning beauty. Her porcelain-like skin had become smoother and more radiant, and her once-pallid cheeks now glowed with a lively peachy hue. His new habit was to bite her cheek whenever he had a chance, as if sweet nectar would flow out.
She was the one who instilled in him the immoral desire to steal another man’s wife, so there was no guarantee others wouldn’t feel the same. Any man with eyes would naturally… And given the uncertainty of having to let her go, Richard’s anxiety grew. Seeing her smile and greet another man made flames rise in his eyes and his teeth clench. Karmon, was it? The young man who chattered about pork in front of Louise made Richard want to punch his nose.
He wanted to claim her, undress her, and touch her everywhere, making her cry out loud to assert his ownership. At the same time, he wanted to hide her from everyone else, not letting anyone see even a strand of her hair. His obsession was growing daily, and he felt like he was losing his mind.
“…Ah!”
The carriage jolted as it passed over rough terrain and took a sharp turn. Louise, who had not grabbed onto anything, fell forward into Richard’s arms.
“Thank you… Um.”
As the carriage stabilized, Louise tried to return to her seat but found herself pulled back into his embrace. Despite her attempts to pull away, Richard wouldn’t let her go once she was within his reach.
Biting her slender neck, he whispered in a low voice.
“Men are all the same, Louise. When they see a pretty woman, all they think about is undressing and touching her. They say whatever it takes to make that happen.”
“But, my lord, Sir Karmon only talked about wild boar…”
“Maybe he wanted to strip and roast you like one.”
“Huh, uhm… You’re talking a lot today.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“N-No, I’m not.”
Suppressing the urge to claim her lips, Richard raised an eyebrow. Louise, sitting on his lap and facing the same direction, turned slightly but shrank back when she met his fierce gaze.
“Understand this? A man’s impulses don’t care about the place. Be it in a restaurant or this carriage. You must always be on guard, or you might end up in a dangerous situation.”
“But if it’s someone trustworthy…”
“No such person exists. No matter how they appear on the outside, men’s true nature is always lecherous.”
“But… you’re not like that, my lord.”
Louise looked at him with a trusting expression. Richard, who always stopped if she showed signs of real pain and treated her tenderly afterward, seemed different. Although he often pressed her hard until she was exhausted and in tears, he never took her when it was inappropriate.
Richard knew that if he started, he wouldn’t be able to stop at just once or twice, which was why he restrained himself. But in Louise’s eyes, it seemed he would never do such a thing in the first place.
“No. Men are all the same.”
Looking into her clear, jewel-like green eyes, Richard confirmed.
“If words won’t convince you, I’ll show you.”
“Uhm!”
Before Louise could fully grasp the situation, Richard turned her face with a firm hand and sealed her lips with his. He was determined to make her understand the need for caution.
