Published: August 15, 2025
The leather whip struck my back.
I let out a sharp scream, collapsed to the ground, and writhed in agony.
“P-please forgive me. Please forgive me.”
Even as I cried and begged for mercy, his whipping did not stop. My clothes tore, wounds appeared on my skin, yet the punishment continued. Tears and saliva dripped down as I kept screaming endlessly.
At some point, I apparently lost consciousness. When I next woke up, I was in bed, my battered body held in his arms.
“I’m sorry, Ella. Seems I went a bit too far.”
He apologized and pulled me close to his chest. I closed my eyes and shook my head.
“No… it’s okay, Lord Dario. It’s just this much. It’s my fault…”
When I said that, he narrowed his eyes with a pained look. Gently smiling, he brought his lips close to my ear and whispered in a sweet, melting voice.
“Yes, that’s right. You’re the one to blame.”
His words were as sweet and sticky as honey, slipping deep into my ear.
“You didn’t accomplish a single one of my orders.”
“I’m sorry, I’m just incompetent.”
“No, you didn’t try your best. If you truly clung to me, there wouldn’t be a man who wouldn’t fall for you.”
“Th-that’s not true. Besides, the count is always busy and rarely at the castle. When he is, he’s almost always with Lady Marie or Lady Lisa. There’s hardly any time when it’s just the two of us…”
Before I could finish my endless excuses, Lord Dario bit my lip. His teeth sank into the thin skin, sending a numb, sharp pain down my spine.
“Ugh…!”
“Putting aside your wife, what about the infant who was by your side? You became a wet nurse so you could sneak into the bedroom, didn’t you?”
“Eek— I-I’m sorry.”
“If you didn’t visit Cyrus’s room, what were you going to do? Whether it was work or personal matters, you should have said you wanted to talk.”
“But, but… I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
He pinched my torn lip tightly, and I kept apologizing without end. Whether from the scolding or the pain, my tears wouldn’t stop. Lord Dario licked up my spilled blood and tears with a smile.
“Well, it’s fine. No rush. I had given up on the idea of Alfred becoming the next duke anyway.”
He scratched at the wounds on my back with his nails, smiling cheerfully.
“The next generation of Cyrus... before that couple has a male heir born, the succession to Cyrus will be up in the air. If Ella bears a son, the next ducal title will fall under my control.”
“L-Lord Dario…”
“First come, first served. Ella, quickly seduce Cyrus Granado. Even if you can’t get pregnant, I’ll handle that. Just claim the boy born is Cyrus’s.”
Lord Dario… I don’t want that. I don’t want to be held by anyone but you.
If I said that, he would lose his temper. So, I swallowed my words and spoke a different excuse instead.
“Do you really think I’m capable? Lord Cyrus seemed to love his current wife deeply. That lady… Lady Marie is truly beautiful. Intelligent, kind, loved by everyone… I could never compare to her in any way.”
“That’s fine. That’s your charm.”
Lord Dario licked the blood smeared on my lips as if it tasted delicious.
“A useless woman who can’t do anything and is loved by no one. Because of that, any man who relies on you will inevitably become obsessed with you. You have that kind of magic power.”
Magic power…
I barely understood what Lord Dario meant.
Enchantress, child of the devil — I had been called those things several times in my life. I didn’t understand what they meant. Since I was little, I just lived humbly, not causing trouble for others. Shrinking away in the corner to avoid being disliked or noticed.
So why did I have to be called an enchantress? What made me different from that Marie?
Lord Dario told me about the background of Marie Shadelan — a beautiful sister loved by all, with parents who adored her. Ugly and useless Marie was unloved, forced to do chores, housework, and care for her much younger brother until she was worn out and called wretched.