Chapter 26: Chapter 26

“Can I leave the room wearing this?”

When she asked with a mildly concerned face, Kate replied with a reassuring bright answer,

“Don’t worry. I’ll clear out the third floor.”

Elysee did not act coy and nonchalantly chose one of the outfits Kate had selected for her. It was a black lace slip that was slightly see-through.

“You can wear a robe over this.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Elysee draped the silk robe that Kate had offered her over the slip.

“Oh, Kate. Where is Mary now?”

“I hid her in my room so it wouldn’t leak out. I told her not to go out, so she stayed there.”

“I see, well done. It puts my mind at ease.”

Kate’s cheeks turned slightly red when she received praise.

“I’m glad. I’ll bring a late-night snack, so please wait a moment.”

When Kate left the room, Elysee loosened her tight robe a bit and tied her waistband up with an easy-to-untie knot. She didn’t forget to change up her makeup slightly to give off a more sensual area. Elysee smiled with satisfaction, as she took in her appearance in the mirror.

“Perfect.”

If a man didn’t fall for the seduction of such a beautiful woman he must be either a eunuch or gay.

It wasn’t long before Kate returned with wine, two glasses, cheese, and ham that are easy to eat. The preparation was flawless.

“Then, have a good night.”

After a polite bow, Kate exited the room.

After agonizing for a while, Elysee gulped down a glass of wine in one shot. She couldn’t even savor it and despite lamenting over it being a waste, she couldn’t help it right now. She had to think of a new image of the Grand Duchess that she had never shown Blake before.

‘There’s no way that the Grand Duchess would actively seduce you first unless she’s drunk. I don’t want you to be suspicious.’

Waiting for a little bit of alcohol to flush her cheeks, Elysee went out into the hallway. As Kate had promised there was no one in the hallway on the third floor.

Standing in front of Blake’s office, Elysee took in a long, deep breath. It was time to start acting.

Shortly after knocking, the door burst opened.

“…Elysee?”

Blake looked down at her in the hallway in surprise, his eyes wide.

“Are you here to see me?”

“Yes. Are you very busy?”

“No, no. Come on in.”

Blake, who brought her into his office, was flustered.

“I’ll be done in a minute—could you wait on the sofa for a moment?”

“I will. Take your time.”

Elysee put the tray down on the table in front of the sofa and filled two cups in advance. Then she sat on the sofa, casually disheveling her clothes.

A gap in her robe revealed her breasts and clear thighs. Elysee took off her slippers and put her legs on the sofa.

A bunch of paper fell from Blake’s hand as he hurriedly arranged the documents.

“Did you come all the way here in that outfit?”

He looked very surprised.

“Yes, I just dropped by before I went to bed.”

“Who did you run into….”

“No. The hallway on the third floor was empty.”

Blake walked over to her without even thinking about picking up the papers scattered all over the floor. He alternately looked at the bottle of wine on the table and Elysee’s rosy face.

Elysee beat him to the punch before he could open his mouth.

“I looked around the wine cellar and found a lot of good wine. I drank a little first.”

“I don’t think it was just a little.”

Elysee suddenly looked sullen and stopped laughing. She lowered her eyelashes and head and folded up pitifully. Pretending to be drunk wasn’t that difficult for an actor with her experience.

“Are you all right?”

“…No, I don’t think so.”

Elysee leaned against him as he sat next to her.

“I think I’m a little depressed for some reason.

“Don’t tell me you want to go back to Clanton?”

“I don’t know. I’m just—lonely and sad…I can’t sleep….”

Blake wrapped her shoulder with a cloudy face.

“Don’t you have me?”

Elysee nuzzled into his arms with tears in her eyes. She got on his lap and buried her face in his neck.

“You’ve been so nice to me, I keep feeling weak. The Grand Duchess shouldn’t be like this….”

“Elysee….”

Elysee vividly felt an object swell in size against her butt.

She wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

“I apologize. I guess I’m a little drunk. I didn’t even know I felt like this—what a disgrace….”

Then she slightly leaned back as if she was about to fall out of his arms.

“What do you mean ‘disgrace?’ Not at all.”

Blake hurriedly pulled her in his embrace and hugged her.

“I’m glad you’re telling me what’s on your mind. Elysee, I want to be your comfort. You don’t need to hide anything. Whatever you choose, I will love you as a husband no matter what.”

Elysee felt her conscience—which she didn’t even know existed for her— pricked at that moment.

‘Wow… you’re too sweet for no reason.’

But that didn’t mean that she was moved or had a crush on him.

‘I’m just acting.’

If she felt as if she was going to fall for each of these words and actions and eventually give them my heart, she wouldn’t have been able to be a proper actress.

Veteran actors hide perfectly. When the camera starts to spin, Elysee erased her existence and lived in the shoes of her character, but after filming she quickly returned back to herself.

Failure to skillfully make this transition would lead to numerous hardships. Like falling in love with their counterparts, getting heartbroken, suffering from depression due to confusion with reality, and struggling with delusions.

‘Don’t think about it and focus.’