"Has he always been like that?"
The Duchess inquired as she turned her head and faced the window of the room she was in, admiring the view outside.
Sitting opposite from her was Jin. Similarly looking at the window, he inwardly sighed.
"Yeah…"
They were currently talking about Ren.
He may have changed a little over the years, but thinking back at all the times he had been with him, he couldn't find a way to deny her words.
"Must've been tough."
"Tell me about it."
Thankfully, the Duchess was quite hospitable. Else he really would've been cursing Ren till the end of his life.
He reached out for his pocket and took out a cigarette.
…It was a habit he picked up due to all the stress he'd been facing recently. It wasn't harmful to him anyways, so it didn't really matter.
"What's that?"
"This?"
He lifted the cigarette.
"Yeah."
The Duchess nodded, her eyes carrying a hint of interest.
After noticing how interested the Duchess was, he lifted his index finger to light the cigarette and then took a brief drag from it.
*Puff*
The Duchess's gaze followed the smoke that raised in the air.
"It's called a cigarette, and it's something that helps me manage my stress."
"…There's such a thing?"
"Mhm"
He took another puff before handing the Duchess his pack.
"Want to have a go?"
"Can I?"
"Yeah. Go ahead."
She reached out with caution. Sliding the cigarette out with the tips of her slim fingers, she brought it in close to her mouth and placed it in between her lips before taking it out.
For a good minute, she examined it with wonder.
"What do I do now?"
"Light the tip."
He pointed at the white side.
A blue flame flickered over the Duchess's finger.
Alternating her gaze between Jin and the stick, she brought the finger close to the tip.
"Like this?"
"Yuh."
The cigarette lit, and an orange ring formed.
"Bring it to your mouth and inhale."
Jin explained before she could ask further.
"…Okay."
instructed, she brought the cigarette to her mouth and took a
Only that…
"Cough! Cough!"
bright red, and she began coughing in
fly out from
lied to m—Cough!
started coughing even
"Hahah."
trouble keeping his composure, let out a muffled chuckle. He already knew
fuck are
change in expression and her words
trick me
'…Is this really her?'
interacting with her, he found her new behavior to be a
hiding
or something? Cant you
looked no different than
twitch of his lips, Jin maintained
inhale it properly. Try again, but this
better not be playing with
at him fiercely. Then, bringing the
up, and Jin turned
*Puff*
smoke to float in the air, and Jin could very clearly hear her letting out a series of muffled coughs. Nevertheless, it was a marked improvement over the first attempt she had
burns a
the cigarette. Then, bringing it to
draw on the cigarette in this manner for an ensuing couple of minutes, up until the point where there was
do I
She showed the butt.
it before
"Throw it away."
"Mhm."
a light flick, it
then extended her hand in Jin's
"What?"
she wanted but found himself rather taken aback when he thought about
It couldn't be, right?
"…"
bobbed her hand a
out a cigarette and placed it on her hand.
"More?"
Now, this…
took another cigarette and placed it
staring at Jin. Her gaze and expression were clear. She wanted the
the first time in a long time, Jin was left speechless. Was this seriously the same
'Ah, whatever.'
pros and cons, he shook his head and placed the pack in her hand, which she
"Very generous of you."
'Motherf—'
***
Red Peak, Duke Velmout. I'd
Priscilla—]
"Interesting."
staring at the letter in his
holding a clear glass that was filled with a crimson liquid, his long black hair
stone edge of the balcony, he twirled
couldn't
smirk formed on the demon's face. Seemingly already having predicted
her earlier in the day had already made its way to his ears, so the letter did not come
to an alliance. After all, by that point, the only thing on his mind would
advantageous for him as it would mean he could leverage as much as he could from Priscilla, granted that he would help her get revenge
two
"Alright, then."
of his finger, the letter vanished into thin air, and he returned to his
his suit, he mumbled with a
see just how much I can squeeze
*
sure it's not a
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!