After spending a little more time questioning Emily, Arlott tied her back and hid her in the cupboard again, intending to catch up on his sleep.
He planned to sleep for the next 20 hours, which would allow him to get over 500 IP after his sleeping skill's level up.
With the powers of sloth corrupting him, Arlott fell asleep the moment his head landed on the pillow.
***
On the ground floor of the same tavern, Claire climbed down the stairs wearing a floral white gown over her.
The dress left her shoulders bare, allowing her milky white skin to peek out. The floral design appeared regal and charming, as if handcrafted by the best artisman.
It hugged her body, accentuating the supple curves and slim figure, making her appear even more tantalizing.
"Shall I come with you, my lady?" Alia, still dressed in her maid outfit, walked closer to Claire and questioned respectfully.
"No, no need. Please take care of the tavern for me, Alia." Claire smiled beautifully.
She tucked her curly hair behind her ear, cascading down her back like a curly raging waterfall.
"Of course, my lady." With a respectful bow, Alia left.
Claire ignored her and walked out towards the carriages instead, her destination plainly obvious.
The duke's palace to meet with the young duke.
'Can I manipulate him into giving me the prints?' Claire thought with a cold look in her eyes, the look that no one could expect from her.
Alas, no one was in the carriage to witness her true, dark nature.
With her palm pressed against her cheeks, Claire thought of many ways she could manipulate the young duke to get the blueprints.
And during her thinking, the carriage had already reached the palace.
The carriage's chauffeur got off the front and ran to the door, opening it for Claire to exit the carriage.
"Thank you," Claire smiled kindly, "I might not be back for long, please feel free to leave. I will return using the young duke's carriage."
The carriage driver, elated and feeling good about Claire's polite tone, nodded excitedly and decided to leave once Claire was completely in the castle.
Unbothered, Claire walked into the palace.
"Back so soon? Missed me that much, hmm?"
The moment Claire entered through the main gate, she felt a sturdy hand wrapping around her waist and holding her tight, as if worried she might slip away.
"Ah-" Claire yelped in surprise, a hue of pink colouring her cheeks as she suddenly found herself in her lover's arms.
"Come in my room, have you eaten?" the voice reeked with authority, but also the tinge of arrogance.
"Yes, young duke." Claire nodded shyly.
"Oh please, I told you to call me Jacob like everyone else."
"I wouldn't dare."
Continuing the light chat, Claire soon found herself in the duke's room which was bigger than her entire tavern.
Inside the creamy huge room, a master sized bed was set in the middle, with neat bedsheets arranged and a costly chandelier hanging overhead.
Jacob, the young duke, looked at Claire from the corner of his eyes, finding her blushing and pink.
"Make yourself home." Jacob smiled, wrapping his hand tighter around her and pushing her on the bed.
Claire blushed but didn't resist, continuing to look at Jacob with shy but innocent eyes.
"Haa, I can't wait to make you mine forever." Jacob breathed a little heavier when he noticed the way she looked at him, and letting his hormones take control, he pushed his lips onto hers.
"Mmm," Claire froze and stiffly tried to match his pace, but it was clear she was inexperienced.
Though Jacob didn't care about it, he slowly started to remove her robes and his own expertfully.
This was only the second time Claire had allowed him to go as far with her.
And Jacob had no intention to stop anymore.
Soon, both the youth found themselves lost in hormones and passion as time slipped by quicker than they could imagine.
Hours felt like minutes and before they knew it, sun had set and dinner time had come.
"That was good." Jacob smiled widely and stroked Claire's hair who was laying on his chest.
Claire gave out a nasal sound, clearly tired.
"Haha, I will go bath first." Amused, Jacob gently placed Claire's head back on the pillow and picked himself off the bed.
Claire, pretending to be dead tired, waited for Jacob to walk into the bathroom and lock it shut, before getting up.
"Hah, small." She scoffed casually and draped her robes over herself, walking towards the only cupboard present in the room.
'I doubt there would be such important documents in his cupboard, but let's try.'
Scouring the cupboard and checking for documents in it, she was left disappointed. Inside the cupboard all she found were messily arranged clothes as if they were tossed in, a few bottles of liquor and inside the drawer, stalks of dried herbs kept neatly.
Claire scowled, 'No wonder everyone says that the young duke isn't ready to ascend to the throne, fucking pathetic junkie.'
Though the moment she thought so, Claire wiped the scowl off her face and curled her lips in a gentle, innocent smile.
Her cold demeanor disappeared as fast as it came, switching into the same innocent and bashful persona she always showed others.
She turned towards the bathroom in Jacob's room and noticed the sounds of splashing water had stopped, signifying the end of his bath.
With quick movements, she fell back on the bed and continued the act of a pained maiden who was suffering from her lover's overbearing acts in the bedroom.
"You can bath now," Jacob walked out of the bathroom with a robe draped over his body, his voice impassive but tinged with amuse.
"How can you even suggest that after looking at my condition, you meanie!" Claire blushed with a pout, acting annoyed.
"Oh my, so sorry." Jacob scoffed, "How about I help you bath, young lady?"
Once again, a tinge of pink coloured Claire's cheeks, already knowing what he had in mind but not appearing resistant to the idea.
"Mm…" she hummed with a thoughtful expression, "How about I do that in return for your castle's blueprints?"