My Run Away Mistress🌸

20

"It's really hard to believe, but Miss Philone was having a secret meeting with him."

The serious declaration made the air freeze. Benedict bit his lower lip as he felt a pressure that prevented him from breathing properly. It was only when he managed to lower his head down that he heard something.

"Hahaha!"

Killian, who had been pressuring him coldly, laughed. He narrowed his eyes at Benedict, who was frozen in place.

"If you're going to make something up, you should have at least used a straight man for it. I can't believe you are trying to use a homosexual as an opponent. Didn't Gertrude give you a heads up? She knows."

"We have a witness."

Benedict opened the door with a sad expression on his face, as if he had been waiting for her. A girl nodded, scared.

"My name is Melissa. Duke."

Benedict gulped as he watched the trembling girl.

Three years ago, Gertrude's greatest mistake was suggesting to the duke, who had never let any woman near him, that he should take Rowena Philone as his mistress!

Benedict was extremely dismayed to hear that Killian had appointed a mistress while he was abroad! He was a man capable of doing so much! If he had a mistress, she would just drag him down. So, before anyone knew it, he assigned this country girl, Melissa, to stay next to Rowena Philone and act friendly towards her.

If Killian had kicked the mistress out himself over time, Benedict wouldn't have needed to use this method. But, Rowena Philone was far beyond his expectations in every way. As time went on, the Duke took an interest in her that she was unaware of, and that interest grew deeper by the day. Without him even being aware of it.

For the past three years, Benedict had been watching the duke closely and suppressing his impatience and anxiety. Killian Maximilian Devonshire, his wise lord, should not be swayed by anyone. The boy who he followed and was so fascinated by was someone that would rule everyone—with no one else above him. Especially a woman like that, who was not his equal.

That's why Miss Philone was the one who had to stay away from his master. Since realizing that fact, it had been a long time since he had steadily built up his foundation and carefully prepared this trap.

"Melissa Brown."

Benedict, who called out to his servant on behalf of the expressionless Killian, opened his mouth with a serious look.

"You have been with your master every step of the way, except for the times she was asleep, correct?"

"...Yes."

"You have something to report about Miss Philone, don't you?"

Benedict waited patiently for an answer. Since the safety of her own family was at stake, Melissa only had one thing to say.

"Yes, Lady—No, Miss Philone..."

Fighting back tears, Melissa nodded.

"She had an affair with Mr. William. She even dressed as a man to avoid the attention of others."

****

Killian Devonshire didn't keep anyone who betrayed him alive, since he had come of age.

There were many cases. A nanny, who had sold all of his information to the Queen the year he turned fourteen; a servant, who had attempted to assassinate him when he was studying abroad; a professor, who acted clean and pure, but behind the scenes tried to gain the backing of the duke.

All of them went missing, disappeared without a trace. No one noticed. This was because once a body decomposed and rose to the surface, it was difficult to tell its identity.

There were no exceptions there. Of course this had to be the case, even for Rowena Philone.

I have to smash that hateful face, cut out the tongue that spoke of love, gouge out the eyes that looked at another man, another man who was not me. And I will throw her cold body into the sea with no regrets.

So death was actually not a distant thought for Rowena Philone.

Ever since Killian Devonshire had welcomed Rowena Philone as his mistress, many had died because of her, more than she could count.

Poisoned to death, stabbed to death by an unidentified person, sometimes killed in a carriage accident, or crushed to death by a pillar in a fire accident.

For this reason, throughout the past three years, Killian kept his surroundings in check like a hound's eyes observing in the dark.

He knew that the moment he let his guard down, even a little, fangs as sharp as a viper would tear through his mistress.

Once he chose to let go of her hand, there would be nothing to stop the approaching danger. Because the Queen would never miss an opportunity.

But...

As Killian leaned his head against the bed, he stared silently at the woman lying next to him. Her thin frame stood out in the dimming daylight. Her blond hair, loose like golden threads, covered the top of the bed; her cheeks, red as summer peaches; her slender and soft shoulders and arms.

The more he looked at her, the more he found that there was no sign of a sex worker.

It was the face of a pure angel who knew nothing. It was the face of the girl he had met for the first time; the girl whose face had turned red as she smiled shyly at him.

A large hand ran down her smooth cheek and swept over her neck.

Rowena Philone was different from all the people he had killed so far.

This woman belonged to him from head to toe. She was entirely his possession.

He would rather kill her directly by strangling her now, than see her as a corpse when she is killed by someone else's hands.

With a casual look on his face, Killian thought of Rowena, who was clinging to him.

At first he held her hand, baffled by the situation. Of course, even if he asked, there would be no reply from her. If he were to climb over her, he could hold her neck and use more pressure with both of his hands.

He wondered if this woman would still look beautiful even when she desperately gasped for air.

"Ummm...."

The moment he lightly grabbed her neck with one hand, Killian was met with a pair of lively, greenish eyes. She yawned lazily, making his hands pause.

Rowena called out to him.

"Am I dreaming...?"