Chapter 003: This Was Not the Outcome He Expected
Even though she was not actually of the “Beltaite” lineage, there were ways to deceive others into believing she was.
«The dye…!»
But the problem was that the dye was not effective enough, as the color faded quickly.
This was a common problem with all types of hair dyes available on the market.
Therefore, it was possible to find a strand or two of a different color if the hair was searched thoroughly… provided that the hair was truly dyed.
But “Emilia,” with her unique blend of blood, was a natural blonde. For this reason, “David” did not find any strands of a different color in her hair.
David’s face stiffened.
«…Is she truly from Beltaite?»
He felt stunned; he had been certain that she was from the “Ghalen” people and perhaps a spy.
When he saw her for the first time, he was haunted by that uncomfortable feeling he always got when meeting a Ghalenian.
What increased his suspicion was that she had come accompanied by a man he already suspected of being Ghalenian.
David had always ignored the actions of those who dyed their hair brown and pretended to be from Beltaite, because they were only looking for a way to survive after losing their homeland, and he did not wish to crush their hope.
Despite the possibility of them being spies, he had always avoided dealing with brown-haired Ghalenians, preferring that they simply stay away.
But spies who intentionally dye their hair to assume a Beltaite identity—they were a completely different category. Those had to be guarded against more closely, and perhaps even reported.
But… if it wasn’t dye, what was the explanation for this?
In contrast, Emilia thought she had found an opportunity and began to express her anger without hesitation:
“What did you just dare to do, Lord Duke?!”
“Are you truly from Beltaite, Miss Bright?”
“And if I am not, then what am I supposed to be?!”
She exploded again.
Even in this situation, David had a suspicion that she was from the Ghalen, specifically from the “Elan” tribe.
According to his experiences on the battlefield, the Elanians were known for their excessive frankness in expressing their feelings.
As for the “Amila” people—another Beltaite colony—they were by nature calmer, rarely becoming angry. And the Beltaites themselves hid their anger behind smiles, considering the suppression of emotions a type of virtue.
It is true that temperaments vary from person to person, but the blonde woman before him did not resemble Beltaite women at all.
Therefore, David decided to be more certain:
“If you are truly from Beltaite and not a spy, what is the reason for you following me here?”
“I only wanted… some peace…”
She stopped. She realized that repeating the previous lie would not work, especially after he had explicitly questioned her.
For this reason, she decided to mix a little truth with her lie.
She took a deep breath, as if she had surrendered to honesty:
“In reality… I was looking for you, Lord Duke.”
Truth.
“Looking for me?”
“I wanted to see you again.”
Truth.
“And why, Miss Bright?”
“Because your face…”
“…”
“Suits my taste perfectly.”
A fact… even if it sounded like a lie.
Despite her aversion to the Beltaite people, she could not deny that David’s face indeed matched her taste. In fact, his face was close to perfection, making him loved by everyone.
And during her speech, David did not feel any discomfort. Usually, he felt a sense of revulsion upon hearing lies, but he did not feel that now.
His gaze changed, and he stepped toward her.
“Meaning you like my face, is that it?”
“……”
“In other words, I appeal to you, don’t I?”
He took another step closer.
Emilia felt danger and took a step back, only for her back to hit the wall. There was no longer any escape.
She looked behind her for a moment and then looked back at him… he had become very close to her.
“W-what are you trying to do?!”
“Didn’t you say you liked my face?”
“I said that… but…”
“Weren’t you wishing for this to happen, then?”
He lifted her chin with his hand, and her trembling jaw began to follow him without resistance.
His lips approached her lips. Emilia, who had not experienced even a single kiss before, felt as if the world were spinning around her.
She thought to herself: Perhaps these moments are what spies expect to face, but she did not expect it to come in this way, this quickly.
“Endure… for the sake of Elan, for their independence… endure.”
«What is the value of one kiss compared to the greater goal…?»
Although her face had become as pale as a ghost, she tried to convince herself of that.
But David changed the path of his lips, then printed a kiss on her neck. In the next moment, he reached his hand to her waist, while the other slipped through the opening of her skirt to lift her leg to his waist.
Emilia, who had never experienced such physical proximity before, was overcome by a panic she could not control.
Her mind began to collapse.
She tried to think about the matter rationally:
He is touching me… so he is interested in me… and this is a great opportunity for me as a spy…
But a terrible feeling overwhelmed her, as if she had become a fallen woman.
She had always been insulted because of her mother’s background, and she swore she would never end up like her.
With this feeling, her breathing began to quicken… and grow more intense.
David noticed that something abnormal was happening.
“Miss Bright?”
“……”
“Bright…! Miss Bright!”
Her limbs were shaking.
Hyperventilation. He had seen this condition many times among soldiers on the battlefield.
Suddenly, he made her sit on the ground gently and began to speak to her calmly as he used to do with his soldiers:
“Can you hear me?”
“……”
“Try to breathe slowly.”
“……”
“Take a breath for seven seconds, and exhale for ten.”
“……”
“Like that… well done.”
In truth, she had not done well at all. She was trying, but she was barely holding herself together.
David was watching her with a confused heart, but he did not give up.
“Seven seconds inhale… ten exhale.”
“……”
“Excellent, you are doing a good job.”
No one knows how much time passed… but she finally began to regain her normal breathing.
David breathed a sigh of relief, despite feeling disappointed at the same time.
He could no longer deny that she was from “Beltaite.”
Beltaite women were not only emotionally reserved, but they were very conservative… they did not accept being touched by a man from the first meeting, no matter how much they liked him.
On the contrary, Elan women were more open… but the spies among them could not distinguish between the temperaments of Beltaite women, so they acted more impulsively during their missions, and this is what exposed them.
But the girl before him now never acted in that way.
And even if she were from Beltaite, hyperventilation was an exaggerated reaction.
Usually, in cases like this, the woman was expected to simply slap him in anger.
He narrowed his eyes as he thought… then he asked her in a low voice:
“Is this your first time…?”
Emilia’s body suddenly shook. It was as if his question had struck a deep wound.
David swallowed his saliva. He began to feel as if he had committed a heinous crime.
Then he finally noticed… that she was crying.
“…Miss Bright?”
“……”
“Are you… crying?”
The girl had already bowed her head, but she bowed it further until her facial features disappeared behind her long locks of hair.
At that moment, David felt as if a cold sweat had run down his back.
As for Emilia’s feelings, they were no less terrible. An agent collapsing in tears before her target?
That was the worst scenario imaginable.
But the tears triggered by the hyperventilation attack were not going to subside so easily.
She had come close to this state several times during the war—when she saw those fleeing with her meet their deaths in sudden explosions before her eyes, or when she was forced to hide in shelters and hear the sounds of explosions day and night…
However, this was the first time she had reached a real hyperventilation state.
And because it happened before the Duke she was supposed to seduce… the catastrophe was doubled.
In fact, what made matters worse… was that he had touched her.
She felt as though she had destroyed her mission before it even began.
And soon it became difficult for her to distinguish whether her tears were from the effect of the attack… or from the sense of utter failure.
Then David’s voice came to her, cautious, low, hesitating with the question:
“How can I help you so that your condition improves?”
…How?
“I am sorry. I thought this was what you wanted from me, Miss Bright. Tell me, how can I help you feel better?”
“…….”
“Whatever it is, I will do it. If it is in my power, I will do it.”
At that moment, Emilia felt that the hope that had disappeared a short while ago had returned to her once more, approaching with a warm smile.
“Anything…?”
“Anything. As long as I can do it. Of course, unless you ask for all my wealth, for example.”
David said it with a joking smile, but his ash-colored eyes continued to monitor her expressions with extreme caution.
For some reason, Emilia felt that that sharp man, harsh in his speech, had become a little kinder now.
Then she finally opened her lips.
“Lord… Duke Carwayne, then…”
