I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 125

Nox stroked Launder’s head, pressing down lightly as if urging him to be more forceful. Launder parted his lips and bit down hard on the spot.

A soft gasp escaped Nox, and Launder felt his ears flush hot again at the sound. He licked the spot he’d bitten, then sucked on the pale, thin skin. As he moved up along Nox’s Adam’s apple to the underside of his chin, Nox naturally lifted his head. Launder left a red bruise there, a mark that would be subtly visible if Nox were to tilt his head.

Launder’s lips trembled slightly, yet he moved on to the side of Nox’s neck, leaving more marks. Launder couldn’t quite define what he was doing. It felt like he was committing something scandalous in front of others, yet also like he was performing some kind of ritual.

After leaving three or four such marks, sucking on the skin until it made a soft smack and pulling away, Launder’s lips glistened faintly with saliva. Nox offered a languid smile, tracing his finger over Launder’s lips.

“Today, just wait quietly at home,” Nox said.

“…Yes.”

“There are quite a few dangerous people going. Understood?”

Launder nodded.

Nox lightly kissed his lips, like a child’s playful peck. Just lips touching and parting, a ticklish display of affection.

Launder, in turn, felt this was even more embarrassing. Launder carefully stepped back and stood beside him. Nox rose from the sofa and gestured to the servants. They brought black gloves. Nox put them on and asked, “The carriage?”

“I-it’s ready.”

“Let’s go.”

Nox said, exiting the room first. Launder remained standing in Nox’s room, dazed. He didn’t even notice the servants glancing at him as they passed.

In the empty room, Launder mentally replayed every sensation of Nox’s lips on his own. His Adam’s apple, the underside of his chin, his neckline… After replaying the sensations on his lips for a long time, he suddenly snapped back to reality. He shook his head.

This is all just an act. I mustn’t forget that. I mustn’t forget my place. He slowly exhaled and left the room.

Nox descended to the first floor and boarded the waiting carriage. The carriage was large and opulent, befitting a Duke, and bore the large seal of the Rainerio family. It was clear to anyone who saw it who was inside.

Nox sat with his legs crossed, looking out.

The Duke’s mansion wasn’t far from the Marquis’s. Yet, he already felt tired and briefly closed his eyes. At the party, people would likely whisper rather than approach him directly, and only the Emperor and Khalid would come near him.

But Nox wasn’t going to be a mere spectacle or plaything. When Nox opened his eyes again, only his dark, emerald-tinted pupils remained.

“How will those two react…”

“Indeed, isn’t the news that Duke Rainerio has taken a consort widespread?”

“Did his connections all break when he was reinstated as Duke?”

“Not at all. Didn’t Duke Rainerio visit the Imperial Palace just recently?”

“It might have just been for business.”

Then someone cautiously asked, “Isn’t it just His Majesty the Emperor and Duke Via who still harbor lingering feelings?”

At his words, everyone fell silent and looked at him. Flustered by the attention, he nervously rubbed the back of his neck, then looked around before quietly speaking, “Just a thought that came to mind.”

“Surely not…”

“What could they possibly lack?”

Then some mischievous individuals wagged their tongues. “Perhaps his body was extraordinary.”

“Oh my.” The noblewomen covered their mouths with fans, smiling subtly. The Emperor still had no consort. Neither did Khalid Via. It was natural for older noblewomen to be desperate to push their daughters into that position.

Yet, both men were apparently deeply infatuated with a male slave—no, now the reinstated Duke Rainerio. It was a fact they didn’t particularly want to acknowledge.

Marquis Demitri Andelass keenly sensed the prevailing atmosphere. It seemed Duke Nox Rainerio’s reputation was, indeed, still limited to this.

The moment he brought the champagne to his lips, people began to murmur. The nobles’ gazes instantly shifted to the entrance. Marquis Demitri realized that one of the protagonists currently the subject of conversation had arrived.

As this was his birthday banquet, he had an obligation to greet his guests. He turned his gaze, and through the crowd, he saw an indigo formal suit. And faintly, hair with a greenish tint.

Marquis Demitri Andelass slowly walked and stood before Nox Rainerio. Nox Rainerio looked at him, his green eyes glowing darkly, then subtly lifted his head.

‘Is he trying to assert his pride?’

Marquis Andelass, thinking this, was the first to speak.

“Thank you so much for attending the banquet, Your Grace, Duke Rainerio.”

Marquis Andelass offered a light bow and, as he rose, noticed Nox’s loosened shirt. How untidy. But he quickly realized that wasn’t the issue. The surrounding nobles understood it too.

Inside the shirt, on his fair skin, were several red hickeys.

“Oh my…” someone gasped. Nox’s lips curved into a smile at the exclamation.

“I was a bit delayed due to personal matters.”

The nobles whispered amongst themselves. Despite this, Nox stood calmly, his gaze fixed on the Marquis, showing no sign of embarrassment. Unlike the others, Marquis Andelass was not unintelligent, and he maintained his respectful posture despite Nox’s demeanor. Yes, the one who would extend a lifeline to him was Nox Rainerio himself.

“Congratulations,” Nox said.

“Thank you.”

At Andelass’s exceptionally deferential attitude, the nobles began to converse among themselves. Nox started walking alongside Marquis Andelass. After putting some distance between themselves and the crowd, Andelass whispered, “What about the diamond mine matter?”

“Ah, that.” Nox smiled unpleasantly. At his expression, Marquis Andelass, thinking he had failed, frowned. But the words that came from Nox’s mouth were the opposite.

“30 percent.”

“…30 percent?”

“Well, if I fawn over him a bit more, I might get even more,” Nox mused, though he clearly didn’t relish the idea. Marquis Andelass fell silent at Nox’s unpleasant smile. Nox seemed pleased with his demeanor. He took a glass of champagne from a passing servant’s tray and drained the translucent, sparkling liquid in one gulp.

With his shirt unbuttoned, fully exposing the red hickeys, and downing champagne in one go, he looked like nothing short of a debauched wastrel. A few nobles cast glances his way.

Some clicked their tongues and fanned themselves, while others began to consider approaching him. Nox subtly surveyed the nobles who couldn’t tear their eyes away from him, pretending not to notice. Most were useless, but among them, there were certainly those Nox was targeting.

“Do you know Count Glendipick?” Nox asked Andelass.

“Hmm, not intimately, but I’ve dined with him a few times. That was a long time ago, though.”

“When you were the head of the noble faction?”

“That’s right. He’s an excellent merchant. Unlike other nobles who shy away from commerce, he actively engaged in it and amassed a fortune.”

“What about his son?”

“His son…? He’s a madman and a scoundrel. But Count Glendipick protects him fiercely. Perhaps because he’s his only son…”

“You don’t know,” Nox stated.

“Pardon?”

“Never mind.”

Nox placed his empty champagne glass on a passing servant’s tray. Just then, the crowd began to murmur again, looking towards one spot, even more loudly than when Nox had entered. This meant… Nox turned his head to the entrance.

“His Majesty the Emperor has finally arrived.”

“And Duke Khalid Via too. Are they really so utterly captivated by Duke Nox Rainerio?”

The Emperor’s brown hair and Khalid’s ash-blond hair came into view. Nox watched their entrance with a completely expressionless face. Then, his eyes met theirs. Nox did not avert his gaze, instead turning his shoulder to stand obliquely towards them.

As he seemed about to turn away completely, the pace of the two men subtly quickened.

“Duke Rainerio,” the Emperor called his name first. Khalid stood a step back, observing the scene. Nox stopped his movement and looked at the Emperor. The Emperor’s eyes fixed on him with an insistent gaze.

“What is it, Your Majesty?”

“I wished to speak with you for a moment.”

“About what? I have nothing to discuss with Your Majesty.” Nox replied, his tone even but firm.