Lady Katherine cried out in pain as Marquess Zoryth pulled her hair, his face twisted in rage. "Father, stop it! My head hurts! How can you do this to your own daughter? You're shameless!" she pleaded, but Marquess Zoryth just laughed.

"You're one to talk, Katherine. You dare to defy me? Do you know who raised you? Do you know whose money that dress came from? It's me, your father. And it's your time to give back to the family. Do you get it, Katherine?"

Lady Katherine's eyes flashed with anger, and she spat back, "How can you use your own daughter for something so ludicrous? You're the one who's shameless!"

Marquess Zoryth's face turned red with rage, and he slapped her again. "You ungrateful child! You're nothing but a tool for me to use. And if you defy me again, I'll personally ensure you'll experience pain from the hands of your father. Now, leave my office at once! You're nothing but a useless thing!"

Lady Katherine stumbled out of the office, her face bruised and her eyes streaming with tears. She walked down the hallway, her heart heavy with sorrow and anger. The maids watched her go, their faces filled with pity and concern.

As she walked, Lady Katherine's thoughts turned inward. "Is this really my fate? How can I covet something that already has an owner? Do I really want this? Father, how can you be so cruel to me? Am I even your daughter? Did you kill Mother too, just because your plan didn't succeed? What really happened to my father? Why did he change so much after Mother died?"

Lady Katherine's thoughts swirled with questions, but she knew she would never find the answers. She reached her room and sat by the window, staring out at the moonlit night. "Maybe I'm also a snake," she whispered, her eyes glinting with a menacing light.

The next morning, back at the Cubresia Duchy, Lord Ethan transformed back into Duke Claude. As he woke up, he smiled, seeing Lady Celeste sleeping beside him. "Celeste, Celeste," he whispered, his voice low and husky.

Lady Celeste stirred, and as she opened her eyes, she saw Duke Claude's intense gaze. She gasped, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Claude," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Duke Claude chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "When did your eyelids grow up? You look really pretty sleeping, Celeste," he thought to himself.

Lady Celeste's face flushed as she realized her position. She quickly sat up, trying to compose herself. "I'm glad you're back, Claude. I've missed you," she said, her voice soft.

Duke Claude's eyes locked onto hers, his expression tender. "I've missed you too, Celeste. Why don't we take a bath together? We can create a baby," he suggested, his voice low and seductive.

Lady Celeste's face turned bright red as Duke Claude suddenly lifted her into his arms. "Claude, what are you doing? I can walk on my own!" she protested, laughing.

"What's the problem, my dear? It's only natural for a husband and wife to bathe together," Duke Claude teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

As they walked to the bathroom, Lady Celeste's heart skipped a beat. She knew that Duke Claude was teasing her, but she couldn't help the way she felt. She was falling deeply in love with her husband, and she knew that she would do anything to make him happy.

Meanwhile, Lord Elesten and Lady Edyth were walking down the hallway when they overheard Duke Claude's suggestive words. Lady Edyth's face turned bright red, and she quickly excused herself. "I have something to do in the front yard, my lord. I'll just go now."

Lord Elesten watched her go, a knowing glint in his eye. "I think I'll go too, Lady Edyth. I have some business to attend to in the office."

As they parted ways, they couldn't help but think the same thing: "Making babies."