'Run! I have to run!' Lyra's mind had been wandering wildly for a while, ignoring the beautiful morning views of the villages she passed. Her hair was tied tightly, though not as neatly as usual. Her beautiful, clean-skinned face was getting an odd drop. She looked like she had just woken up after having a very terrible dream all night long.
Whereas last night she moaned nonstop, calling Duke Kleo her love. Grabbing his head while they kissed in thrust. The whole desirable night was remembered by her body, but not by her brain.
Duke Kleo had been watching her all along, from under his thick black hair, the fedora on his lap. 'What is she thinking?'
'If I go to Wereal then I'll have a hard time getting out. I won't be able to escape. Besides, I have to work so I can compensate Mr. Pinn. Otherwise, Tania will be sold as a slave,' she thought again, now biting her fingernails like a hamster biting a peel of wash. Her eyes dived anxiously, her legs twitched, bouncing lightly, rattling her inflated skirt.
A train passenger looked at Lyra in surprise. She frowned, blinked a few times, then inched away as if she was afraid of the ill effects of Lyra.
'She must be insane,' the passenger thought, glancing at Duke Kleo who was also inching away from Lyra.
On his face was something like, "I don't know that girl."
At this time they got on the train, sitting in the same private compartment. After finishing breakfast, they had time to wash their faces and clean themselves, followed by a trip to the station to return to Eastlandor, the city where they live. It took six hours of travel to reach their destination.
Lyra was still making suspicious gestures, moving around, biting her nails, hissing, almost crying, closing her eyes, hitting her head, and ruffling her hair.
Duke Kleo shifted further and further away from her, looking away as if they didn't know each other, not much different from the passenger in front of him, namely a woman in her forties, a successful retailer.
Suddenly another passenger entered. He was a viscount, who liked to look for many beautiful women. Seeing Lyra must have been a godsend for him after he returned from a meeting attended by old ladies.
His eyes were brown, almost black, wide as he saw Lyra's fidgeting figure. His gaze scanned her appearance from head to toe. Her beauty seemed to radiate even more after the sunlight blocked by the mist began to peek and rain down on her figure, making her look like a newly discovered diamond, pure and incredibly beautiful.
He gulped when he occasionally saw her cleavage greet him, showing its fissure, as well as its peeking surface. He imagined he could play with it, tug at her, force the heat of her body to clamp 'his' to the pain of intimacy, to stay in a whole night with love, love, and love. Seeing her cleavage brought him to the world of clamping, the moist movement, and then the gushing of both moan and liquid.
His eyes now glanced seductively at Lyra, his lips parted, panting as if he was in that situation, so deep and moist. His hand was ready to pat Lyra's shoulder, asking her to get acquainted.
Until finally Duke Kleo took off his coat for her to wear, on her body, covering all her curves very tightly. "Put this on, dear! I know you're still mad at me because I didn't kiss you this morning. But I don't want you to get cold. Now don't be mad at me anymore! We're getting married soon right? Don't be childish!"
His eyes glanced at the masher passenger again, seeing him snort in annoyance.
The passenger got up suddenly, as if he had just been betrayed by Lyra, and went to find another place to sit.
Lyra blinked repeatedly, glancing at the coat wrapped around her, then at Duke Kleo who had watched the passenger leave. She frowned in confusion. 'Didn't he just pretend he didn't know me? Then why is he suddenly like this?'
Sighing, the duke moved awkwardly as Lyra stared at him all along, like a confused puppy. He snorted, "Next time get dressed appropriately! Can't you see your dress is too revealing? If I wasn't around do you think you could survive from womanizer? It would embarrass me for not being able to protect my people!"
'Why is he nagging?' Lyra asked in her mind.
While the other passengers, the merchant, gaped in disbelief at Duke Kleo. 'It turns out that this handsome noble knows that strange girl. Hah, this world is messed up!' she thought.
…
At five PM, they arrived at Wereal, the palace where Duke Kleo lived. After getting off the station, someone had already picked them up, dropping them off in a horse-drawn carriage.
On the way, they didn't say anything at all. Duke Kleo pretended to read some of the documents he brought with him, while Lyra pretended to be asleep. It wasn't difficult for her to sleep even for a few minutes, because she refrained from sleeping while on the train. But that still couldn't make up for the awkwardness that existed between them.
Until the peak of the Wereal palace peeked at the end of the road, becoming a savior for both of them.
She got off rather awkwardly after he got off the horse carriage first. There must had been a lot of maids, servants, and guards that welcomed them, right? That might be a bit embarrassing.
"Hey, hurry up and get out!" It was the voice of the duke, who seemed impatient. His figure stood on the path leading to the palace, turning to her viciously.
Like being whipped in the back, she quickly burst through the door to get out. Her face was downcast, her hands squeezing each other. She had seen the maids who greeted her gasp in surprise, speechless.
"Treat her well! From now on she will live here," Duke Kleo said, then left, leaving her alone in a strange place.
The female butler and the others approached her gracefully, then escorted her to her room.
Along the way they did not speak at all, their footsteps were the only thing that made a sound, or the breeze on the east side of the palace, close to all the gardens that were very wide and wonderful.
Until then they stopped at a room, which was not far from the Mangruvee Forest, which was filled with wild thickets of trees.
'He must want to corner me so I won't run away. Because if I do I'll be killed and thrown into the forest,' she thought.
"Please come in, My Lady," the female butler said, opening the door and ushering Lyra in, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Lyra awkwardly entered the room, finding a very spacious and very beautiful room. Soft and large beds, premium quality carpeted floors, large open windows, beautiful paintings, luxurious chandeliers, and a very large wardrobe.
"We'll help you shower and get dressed, My Lady," the butler said again, rushing at Lyra who was squirming in refusal.
"N-no! I can do it myself! Wait a minute!" But her voice seemed to drown in the dexterous hands of the maids, so that, somehow, she had showered, changed, her hair tied tightly and neatly, and then a flushed face with proper make-up. "T-though I can do it myself," she said, covering her chest with a shudder.
"This is our duty, My Lady," the butler replied as if nothing had happened. "Dinner is being prepared. If you need anything then you can ask them," she pointed at the two maids following her. "Excuse me." Then her figure left politely.
Now only Lyra and the two maids were left with her. Her face moved awkwardly, including her feet as she stepped toward the open window in the corner of her room. Once again she glanced at them, wanting to start a conversation so she could escape. But was that possible?
"Eh, have you guys known Duke Kleo for a long time?" she asked, a little nervous. "Does… does he like to bring girls into his palace?" What kind of stupid question is that?
The two maids looked at each other. One of them replied, "No, My Lady. Our Lord was never like that. You're the only one he's ever brought to this palace. Hope that helps you in any way."
'Is that so? So I still can't find a way to escape?' Lyra thought. Then she cleared her throat. "Ehem, do you know why I have to stay here?"
Once again the two maids looked at each other. One of them said, "We haven't got any information, My Lady. But we are sure we will get it soon."
"D-do you guys know how to impress the duke?" Lyra asked again, glancing at Duke Kleo's coat, suddenly having an idea.
"Ah, we may not be able to answer that question, My Lady. Please, forgive us."
"Then can I meet him now? I have to return his coat."
"We can ask the maid to deliver this to him, My Lady."
"But I want to deliver it myself." Lyra looked up, rising from her fear. "He said you guys should treat me well right? That means I'm a respected guest here right? That's why I can meet him now, right?"
"W-we are sure Lord Kleo must be busy right now."
"Please!" Lyra pleaded, clasping the hands of the maids in front of her, making their cheeks blush. Even Lyra's beauty can attract women.
"A-alright, My Lady. We'll take you."
The two maids immediately escorted Lyra to meet Duke Kleo, who was in his room at that time. Despite their doubts, they couldn't refuse her, the honorable and beautiful guest.
In front of Duke Cleo's door was Mr. Bertus, the male butler who became the duke's personal servant. He looked surprised to see Lyra coming, but, again, couldn't refuse her request.
"But maybe Lord is doing something in his room. Wouldn't it be better if you waited, ma'am?" Mr. Bertus asked, a man nearly fifty years of age.
But Lyra insisted. She felt that the longer she was in the palace, the more difficult it would be for her to get out. "I beg. I'll go in for a bit, talk to him, and then I'll go out. I won't do anything bad. You can make sure that later."
"All right," Mr. Bertus nodded. "Let me take you there."
They entered Duke Kleo's room, not thinking anything bad would happen. They just wanted to sort things out for themselves, until finally, they both froze at the sight of the duke coming out of the bathroom, wearing a towel around his waist.
Lyra immediately turned her back, her cheeks flushed red.
Duke Kleo's eyes instantly darkened. "What are you doing? Don't you know whose room this is?"
Mr. Bertus almost answered, ready for any punishment, until Lyra interrupted him.
"I-I would like to return your coat, My Lord." Her hand lifted the duke's coat in the air, still with her back to him.
Duke Kleo gave a code to Mr. Bertus to exit. After seeing his personal servant come out and close the door, he immediately grabbed Lyra's wrist, pinning it over her head. His breath hitched, their faces very close.
"Are you the flirting type? Mr. Bertus must have told you that I was taking a shower right? But why did you insist on coming in?" His eyes glanced at his coat. "You can return it later though. So you really can't stand sleeping with me once more?"
***