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I answered cautiously.

“That’s right.”

“Why bother?”

“Well, because Duke Kalleid is a very important student.”

“In what sense?”

“You could say he’s a student who can influence the existence of the boarding school.”

Dante’s questions were like sharp blades coming at me.

I struggled to parry those blades.

“For example, if Duke Kalleid were to expose that he escaped and was trapped in our boarding school, it would be a fatal blow to our school.”

I subtly observed Dante’s reaction.

He raised his eyebrows as if urging me to continue.

“If things go wrong, not only Duke Kalleid but even the students who passed through our boarding school with him might protest.”

Until now, I had been suppressing rebellion against Dante’s infamous reputation and power.

But Duke Kalleid, Lucian, was someone who could compete evenly with Dante.

In a situation where they were tightly confronting each other, the victory or defeat would ultimately be decided by who had the justification.

And this time, the justification was…

‘In Lucian’s favor.’

So, in the original work as well, wouldn’t this dreadful boarding school eventually collapse?

“So, I’ve been deliberately trying to maintain a good relationship with Duke Kalleid.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes. My efforts haven’t been entirely in vain, so… he seems to rely on me a bit.”

I licked my dry lips and calmly continued, “It’s like being a sister.”

“Sister?”

His red eyes sharply glinted.

“Yeah, well. It’s not entirely groundless.”

Just as Dante seemed to wipe my cheek, he grabbed my chin.

Looking into my eyes, he grinned.

“Our dear, did you make the mistake of not locking the door from the first day Duke Kalleid came?”

Damn it.

I internally cursed while smiling along with Dante.

I hoped my smile would appear as relaxed as possible.

“Did I really forget to lock the door?”

“So?”

“I wanted to teach Duke Kalleid a lesson. No matter how much he struggles…”

My soft-spoken voice sounded quite malicious.

“…he can’t escape from here.”

“Hmm.”

Dante narrowed his eyes and stared at me, as if trying to explore my true intentions.

Since it wasn’t a lie, I met his gaze without blinking.

“Alright, let’s say that’s true.”

Dante, with a bright smile, changed the subject as if he were inquiring about my mood.

“How did you find out about Viktor’s suspicious behavior?”

“I’ve been keeping an eye on Viktor for a while.”

Surveillance?

Oddly, it was Dante who showed a strange expression at my casual answer.

“Really? Why were you watching Viktor?”

“Well, Viktor was too suspicious.”

I openly expressed my dissatisfaction with Viktor.

For the first time, Dante looked puzzled.

“What?”

Ordinary people usually don’t resort to surveillance even if they dislike someone. It’s not common to go to such lengths.

“So, I tried to find some trivial flaws to kick him out, but I never thought he would collude with an outsider.”

But I maintained a calm expression.

Observing my expression, Dante threw another question.

“Why did you find Viktor suspicious?”

“Well, he always behaved rudely towards me, who is your lover.”

I shrugged.

“At least in Rose Cross Boarding School, no one should approach me.”

“Is that so? Why?”

“Why are you asking such obvious things, my lord?”

I widened my eyes and looked up at Dante.

“I’m my lord’s woman.”

Dante’s face twitched.

After a moment, Dante burst into laughter.

“Ahahaha!”

I didn’t understand what was so funny, but he laughed heartily, bending over and kicking his feet.

And then…

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Wiping away the tears gathered in the corners of his eyes, Dante nodded.

“At least in this boarding school, no one should dare approach my woman with improper intentions.”

Alright.

I inwardly sighed with relief.

Dante never tolerates anything that could damage his authority.

So, deliberately emphasizing that point seemed to be the right move.

Dante elegantly extended his arm towards me.

“Shall we go to the room?”

He treated a lady like a true gentleman.

…But he wasn’t the same man who escorted me so politely before.

I concealed my complex feelings and placed my hand on Dante’s forearm.

In that moment, I realized.

‘Viktor, you’ve already been killed.’

Under Dante’s well-manicured nails, traces of unwiped blood were evident.

* * *

“Where are you going?”

It was late at night, and I was about to return to my bedroom, but unexpectedly, Dante grabbed hold of me.

“After meeting your lover after so long, do you really think I’d let you use a separate room?”

Dante raised his eyebrows with a pathetic expression.

“My lord, are you too harsh on me?”

“…?”

No, he never showed any interest in me before.

Although his temperament is capricious, couldn’t he consider my situation, where I had to accommodate to his every whim?

…Even though such a retort crawled up my throat, I swallowed the words.

Then, I smiled gracefully.

“I must have hurt you, my lord. I apologize for that.”

I spoke sweetly, just like Elze, who ardently loved Dante in the original work.

“But I’m glad.”

“Glad? About what?”

“I’m happy because it seems my lord values me so much.”

Dante looked down at me with a cold gaze.

I felt a bit tense.

“You say sweet things so well.”

His laughter, mixed with humor, cut through my ears sharply.

“But it’s a problem because it’s a lie.”

I stiffened my shoulders.

“A lie? What do you mean…”

“Is it really not a lie?”

My mouth felt extremely dry.

“If you were your usual self, you would have probably said you’d use the same bedroom as me before I even caught you.”

“…That.”

I licked my dry lips, then expressed my concern with a slightly trembling voice.

“You came late tonight; I was worried you might be tired.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Dante tilted his head in confusion. Suddenly, he reached out and lifted me as if cradling a princess.

I instinctively suppressed the scream that was about to burst out.

“My lord?”

I called Dante in a muffled voice, but he remained indifferent. Carrying me in his arms, Dante took confident strides.

Bang!

The door opened forcefully, revealing an opulent bedroom.

Dante gently placed me on the bed, and the plush mattress swayed like the sea.

I lay on the bed, looking up at Dante. He stared down at me with an inscrutable expression, lifting the corners of his lips in a smirk.

“It seems like my dear underestimates me too much.”

His long and elegant fingers playfully traced my cheek. Following the round contours of my cheek, he brushed over my plump lower lip.

Then, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against my neck, his sharp fangs lightly grazing my tender skin.

“Ugh.”

I barely managed to suppress the moan trying to escape. My heart pounded wildly. It was the moment that the original Elze in the source material would have longed for. Unlike her, I didn’t.

If I became entangled in an obsession with Dante, I might lose my rational judgment…

‘This is dangerous.’

Another alarm bell rang in my head.

“Perhaps it’s because I haven’t seen my dear in a while, or maybe I really like the gift my dear prepared for me…”

With his lips on my neck, Dante whispered in a honeyed and sticky voice.

“Far from being tired, I’m overflowing with energy.”

“My lord…”

“Maybe my dear is scared that I might not be as fond of her… is that terrifying?”

I shuddered for a moment. Despite his seemingly nonchalant words, Dante seemed remarkably restless.

To break his long-standing taboo and spend the night with me…