"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."
she brought the cigarette to her mouth and
Only that…
"Cough! Cough!"
entire face turned bright red, and she
soon started to fly out
lied to m—Cough!
coughing
"Hahah."
was having trouble keeping his composure, let out a muffled chuckle. He already knew that this was going
fuck are you laughing
in expression and her
me on purpose,
'…Is this really her?'
she was talking with Ren, now that he was directly interacting with her, he found her new behavior to be a stark
she hiding
something? Cant you fucking hear
different
a twitch of his lips, Jin maintained his
properly. Try again, but this time try inhaling with
be playing with
fiercely. Then, bringing the cigarette close to her
turned
*Puff*
to float in the air, and Jin could very clearly hear her letting out a series of muffled coughs. Nevertheless, it
it burns a
chest while staring at the cigarette. Then, bringing it to
in this manner for an ensuing couple
do I do with
She showed the butt.
at it before casting his
"Throw it away."
"Mhm."
it disappeared
extended her hand in
"What?"
at her strangely. He somewhat had an idea of what she wanted but found himself rather taken
It couldn't be, right?
"…"
and bobbed her hand
and placed it on her hand. She glanced at it for
"More?"
Now, this…
cigarette and placed
even bother looking at her hand before directly staring at Jin. Her gaze and expression were clear. She wanted the
mouth for the first time in a long time, Jin was left speechless.
'Ah, whatever.'
pros and cons, he shook his head and placed
"Very generous of you."
'Motherf—'
***
at the Red Peak, Duke Velmout. I'd like
Priscilla—]
"Interesting."
at the
stood there wearing a flawless black suit and holding a clear glass that was filled with a crimson liquid, his long black hair reached the
edge of the
she finally couldn't wait
smirk formed on the demon's face. Seemingly already having predicted such
Duke Ukhan had played on her earlier in the day had already made its way to his ears,
he been in her portion, he too would've resorted to an alliance. After all, by that point, the only thing on his mind would be revenge rather than the
would mean he could leverage as much as he could from Priscilla, granted that he would help her get revenge which was also within his interest since Duke Ukhan was also a
was essentially two birds with
"Alright, then."
the letter vanished into thin air, and he returned to his
his suit, he
just how much I
*
you sure it's
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