A Night at the Duke of Lafayette

Felix Lafayette.

mu*derer.

Arthur’s puppet.

The King’s dog.

A man mad for the battlefield.

A patricidal villain.

With an impassive expression, Felix wiped the blood off his face as his gaze turned toward Catherine.

“I am Catherine, daughter of the Count of Rowena. I’ve come to be your wife.”

She didn’t look away, but she couldn’t hide the slight trembling of her shoulders.

“…My wife?”

He smiled faintly.

“Seems you haven’t heard the rumors.”

A gasp escaped her.

“The rumor that a beast roams the Duke of Lafayette’s manor every night.”

His gentle but firm hand gripped her chin.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you running away?”

“…I was taught never to turn my back on a beast.”

The force of his grip made her drop the silver plate she had been holding. He released her chin, smiling with his eyes half-lidded. At that moment, their gazes locked, and his golden eyes glowed in the dark.

“Run.”

Her throat tightened as if caught in a vise, and Catherine pinched her frozen legs hard.

“Catherine.”

With a low voice, he spoke her name and then took a deep breath, pressing his face against her back.

“They told you not to turn your back on a beast, didn’t they?”