CHAPTER 7 Part 3

Alena waited for the duke’s response. But before the duke could even say anything, the general talked again, as if he wasn’t even expecting any word from the duke at all.

“Alright, I’ve said my piece, Your Grace. " He paused for a moment. "I also came to report about the lurkers, my lord. Their numbers have significantly increased, if not tripled, since your wedding. We've already apprehended many, but it appears this problem isn't going to subside anytime soon. They are also taking drastic measures to avoid interrogation. Committing suicide before we can extract any meaningful information. However, with your permission, I’m planning to use our method to –"

“No.” the duke spoke at last. “There is no need for that. Just make sure none of them could manage to breach the castle.”

“Understood, my lord.” The general immediately replied, and just as Alena thought the man was finally leaving the room, his voice echoed again. “Oh, and one last thing… your poor old secretary begged me to tell you to finish your already long-overdue paperwork, Duke Donovian. If you want me to finally stop talking and leave you in peace, please finish those papers first. All you have to do is sign them anyway, so…”

The duke started working with the paperwork Elkhart mentioned as if nothing happened. It was as if he had completely forgotten the fact that she was still right under his desk!

She was burning to do something. But she was in a dilemma because doing anything like struggling to escape the duke's grip could attract General Elkhart's attention. She was no longer just worried about what the General would think of her if he saw her in this situation. She was more troubled at the realization that if General Elkhart saw her, it would only validate the Duke's claim that she was indeed alive and well. The last thing she wanted was to inadvertently support the Duke's narrative!

So she needed to remain hidden, to keep the Duke under a cloud of suspicion regarding her absence.

But the thought of just passively remaining under the desk until General Elkhart left was unbearable. She hated the fact that the duke still felt absolutely in control of everything!

That was when her gaze accidentally fell to his crotch for the second time that day.

In that moment, a daring and audacious plan began to take shape in her mind.

Despite the reputation of purity and innocence that had followed her in life, Alena was well-versed in the world of erotic art and literature, thanks to her lady-in-waiting.

Staring at the duke’s crotch made her remember the scenarios she had read.

The scene had been bold, but now it has sparked an idea. What if she could use such a tactic to unsettle the Duke, to finally break his infuriatingly unbothered facade?

The thought of employing such a bold move was intimidating and something that was just…maybe too much for a princess…

A defiant thought struck her. She was a ghost now, beyond the reach of societal norms and expectations of nobility and propriety. Why should she cling to the image of the demure Princess Alena when she is already dead? She was no longer bound by the constraints of her former life. The demure Princess Alena was gone; she was now just a ghost driven by vengeance!

Her expression shifted from reluctance to decisiveness, and she reached out toward his crotch. But before her fingers could even touch the fabric of his trouser, her wrist was caught in a firm grip.

Their eyes locked.

But Alena did not waver.

Maintaining eye contact, she moved her head forward and then kissed him there through the fabric of his pants.