The Author's POV

Chapter 709

"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."

as Jin instructed, she brought the cigarette to her mouth

Only that…

"Cough! Cough!"

entire face turned bright red, and she began

fly

You lied to

started coughing

"Hahah."

out a muffled chuckle.

fuck are

that her subsequent change in expression and

me on purpose,

'…Is this really her?'

directly interacting with her, he found her new behavior to be a stark contrast from the

hiding her

or something?

no different

of his lips, Jin

didn't inhale it properly. Try again, but this time try

better not be playing with

glared at him fiercely. Then, bringing the cigarette

Jin turned his head. They

*Puff*

smoke to float in the air, and Jin could very clearly hear her letting out a series of muffled coughs. Nevertheless, it

burns a

while staring at the cigarette. Then, bringing it to her mouth, she

manner for an ensuing couple of minutes, up until the

do I

She showed the butt.

before casting

"Throw it away."

"Mhm."

flick, it disappeared out of

then extended her

"What?"

idea of what she wanted but found himself rather taken aback when he thought about

It couldn't be, right?

"…"

bobbed her hand a

placed it on her hand. She glanced at it for a moment before looking back

"More?"

Now, this…

another cigarette and placed it on her

at her hand before directly staring at Jin. Her gaze

long time, Jin was left speechless. Was

'Ah, whatever.'

his head and placed the pack in her hand, which

"Very generous of you."

'Motherf—'

***

the Red Peak, Duke Velmout. I'd like to

Priscilla—]

"Interesting."

while staring at the letter in his

clear glass that was filled with a crimson liquid, his long black hair reached the

back leaning against the stone edge of the balcony, he

finally couldn't wait any

face. Seemingly already having predicted

in the day had already made its way to his ears, so the letter did not come as a surprise to him when he

in her portion, he too would've resorted to an alliance. After all, by that point, the

extremely 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 which was also within

was essentially two

"Alright, then."

finger, the letter vanished into thin air, and he

suit, he mumbled with a

see just how much I

*

you sure it's

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