When the Villains Unite - Chapter 11; Part 2

“It sounds like you’ve done your sister a great disservice. Why don’t you just apologize?”

It was true that the Orca brothers had tricked Rose into letting them give her a massage yesterday and lusted after her. Afterward, though, Damian really only intended to innocently wash her. However, the sight of his sister, with white skin flushed by the slightest stimulus, slender body shaking with excitement, was both pitiful and adorable, and he couldn’t resist his instincts.

She bit her lips at the sensation of penetration, not even realizing she was holding back moans. As she trembled without making a sound, he lifted her head out of concern, but the sight of her teary-eyed, filled with arousal and shame, incited the fire inside of him. He told himself to be patient, but it was impossible when he saw her like that. His brother was no different than him, and he wanted her right away…

It was their own fault for not showing restraint, for they had fucked her until she fainted.

In fact, he didn’t know where to start in terms of blame for what happened yesterday. No matter how it was looked at, it was always their fault.

It hadn’t been long since they were horrible to Rose in the carriage. Saying he was “sorry” or “wrong” felt insufficient for the weight of his actions toward her.

The truth is, he had no idea what could help. His inability to control his feelings for Rose had made her cry the last time.

“I don’t think an apology is going to cut it.”

“Of course not, but there are only so many times you can pass off a mistake as a mistake… and judging by your refusal to let it go means that you have already reached that limit. So, there’s only one answer.”

Kane picked up his teacup and took a sip. Damian’s eyes sparkled at his words. Kane knew something that Damian didn’t.

“How do you think I can defuse my sister’s anger?”

“It’s simple,” Kane said, “you just have to match her beat from one to ten.”

“…”

“You shouldn’t do what she wouldn’t want you to do. Matching a lover’s heart is a bit more complicated, but since your opponent is your sister, it is easy to do in moderation.”

Damian frowned at Kane’s words.

He didn’t think it would work. Aside from having sex with her, Damian didn’t do anything that would be out of line with what Rose wished.

It was just the sight of her in bed that had completely paralyzed his reason. Every time he lusted after her, he couldn’t control the surge of love for her, forcing him to reveal his true nature. Damian couldn’t understand it himself, and those who had seen the Orca brothers while at work would never imagine them in such a way.

“How often do you have relations with Lady Euassis?”

“What was that…?”

“I apologize. It was a slip of the tongue.”

Realizing that the question had crossed a line, regardless of how close they were, Damian stepped back. 

Instead of being angry at his subordinate for asking about his relationship history with Aria, Kane was confused about why he was speaking about “relationships” at all right now.

‘Wasn’t this just family counseling?’

As he mulled over the question, the puzzle pieces finally came together.

If the Orca brothers thought of her as the opposite sex, not just family, and there had already been a series of changes in their relationships… Was he thinking about it a different way?

Then maybe that’s why they were so angry about…

It makes sense. The issue is more complicated than Kane thought.

Currently, they are step-siblings on paper. Kane could, of course, use his power to manipulate the Princess into taking another noble’s surname and allow her and the Orca brothers to marry. However, the Imperial Law about monogamy prevents them both from marrying her. Changing the law would create a lot of noise.

What the hell are they both thinking?

Kane’s expression hardened, but then he sighed and continued.

“Ha… I guess that’s not the issue right now… Damian, do you know why I don’t want to have sex until marriage?”

“… Cheer up.”

“… Whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong.”

Kane ignored the pity in Damian’s eyes.

“I’m persevering because I value her too much.”

“…”

“Of course, you would think of the Princess in that way. However, for women? Our actions speak louder than words.”

* * *

Damian thought back to the conversation he had with Kane earlier in the day as the carriage made its way back to the ducal residence.

Nothing could be easier than matching his sister from start to finish.

The best gift he ever received for his coming of age was her opening up to him. If Rose’s heart had been different, he would have spent the rest of his life looking at her shadow. So it didn’t matter to him if he waited a day, a month, or years. As long as she didn’t try to seduce him outright, he could remain firm.

‘Seduce.’

Damian smirked as he thought of the word.

It was a word that didn’t apply to the woman who looked at him with those mesmerizing, but innocent, golden eyes. Even if she were to seduce, it would somehow be sloppy and clumsy, but nothing short of destructive.

When that day comes, he’ll throw away all patience and become an actual beast, lusting after her.

Sadly, Rose hadn’t realized how much he and his brother cared for her.

For a few days, if he wanted to, he could…

Knowing her, it would probably make her run away.

He was glad she told him to stay away from her, but not that she wouldn’t see him. Making an unspoken promise to himself that he would never go against his sister’s wishes for the time being, Damian went to Rose’s room as soon as he got home.

Then, he was tied to a chair with Bellamy, who arrived home first.

* * *

I woke up and looked at the clock to see it was already past three. I must have been really tired and fell asleep without realizing it.

Isn’t this how the day and night change?

I sat up in bed and immediately stretched. My body was still very stiff from yesterday’s abuse.

I jumped out of bed and went to the table that held my tools. The Orca brothers would be home in less than three hours, and I had a few things I needed to prepare.

First, I pulled two chairs in front of the bed and then decided to leave my room. I was starving since I skipped both breakfast and lunch.

The door, which had been locked since this morning, creaked open. I hesitated for a moment at the large man standing in front of it, but when I realized it was Sebastian, I straightened up.

“Lady, the Duke has sent a gift for you.”

He held up a square, pink box. I was curious to find out what was inside, but I knew I shouldn’t open it. I decided to set my curiosity aside since I was still angry at the two brothers.

“Later, I want to eat first. Can you prepare food now?”

“It’s finished and ready in the dining room, but I thought you might like to open your present-”

“What’s on the menu? I don’t want anything heavy for my first meal of the day.”

“We have prepared an appetizer with salmon and tender, veal steak.”

At my deliberate deflection, Sebastian didn’t push the topic of the gift further. He followed me to the first-floor dining room and explained the menu.

Let’s get some calories.

I leisurely sat at the table by myself, slowly eating, and ignoring Sebastian’s frenzied activity.

“What is all of this?”

“Lord Damian sent it to you.”

A huge box of desserts arrived at the ducal residence just in time for the end of the meal. Damian realized just in time that Bellamy had sent me a gift first.

From the rose design on the box, it was clear that it was from the bakery on Renesha Street that Damian and I didn’t get a chance to stop by when we went to the theater.

“Ha…”

It probably tastes really good. Surely, one of these boxes contains the chocolate tiramisu I had sung my praises to Damian about.

I glared at the boxes, frowned, and looked away. If I kept looking at them, the temptation to open them would prevail over my stubbornness.

Sorry, kids. I’ll eat you later.

The Orca brothers’ gift onslaught persisted. When I ignored Bellamy’s attempts to speak to me directly, he sent home practically a jewelry store and a new dressing room. His reason for doing so was obviously for me, who had never been interested in luxury.

He’s telling me he can do whatever I want.

Considering his wealth, that level of spending wouldn’t even put a dent in his pockets. However, the frugal spending habits of Koreans that have been ingrained in me were signaling for me to immediately stop him. I wasn’t sure how Bellamy, who had succeeded in getting me to talk to him, would accept my protests. He knew how to deflect my anger and he wouldn’t pass up this opportunity. I mean, just hearing his soft, loving voice would ease my anger, so I decided to continue ignoring him.

But, the gifts grew in size to match my refusals.

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