Chapter 4

“This must be the place.”

While Ash was dealing with the mountain of work from his family, Erin walked alone through a back alley.

In her hand, she clutched the foul-smelling note from before.

‘I can’t just ignore it.’

The note contained something she truly hadn’t expected.

[Are you the famous Baroness Erin Reshamore?

You were actively seeking clinical trial participants for a while, but it’s been quiet these past few months. I wonder if you found enough people.

In any case, as a reporter, there are a few things I’d like to ask.

I originally planned to meet you formally, but your arrogant assistant kept getting in the way. I just want to have a simple conversation.]

The note didn’t exactly give her a good feeling.

‘A reporter.’

The reporters Erin had dealt with were rarely friendly.

They would mock her and publish nasty articles about her experiments, which made it difficult for her to find clinical trial participants.

The rest of the note followed her expectations—ominous and unpleasant.

[I have a deep interest in your experiments. Most importantly, I’m curious if it’s true that Duke Aston is your patron.

I also wonder why such a great duke continues to sponsor you despite the string of negative articles.

I just want to have a simple chat, so please meet me at the place and time below.]

The reason she couldn’t just tear it up and throw it away like she would have any other time was…

[P.S. Regarding your annoying assistant: I heard from a colleague that he hit a nobleman.

Don’t you wonder why that nobleman didn’t sue a mere assistant, and why no articles were published about it?]

It was that very last sentence.

‘The reason Ash wasn’t sued?’

Erin was a little curious herself. The noble she had met—no, the noble candidate—who had sexually harassed her seemed to have a very strong sense of pride.

He didn’t seem like the kind of man to tolerate a challenge, let alone such humiliating violence.

Not only did he not sue Ash, but he didn’t even come to her office to complain. For a while, Erin was worried he would show up with the constabulary, but she had eventually forgotten the man’s existence altogether.

So, there must have been a reason.

‘And aside from that.’

The postscript could also be read as a threat.

A threat in the style of, “Even if your assistant wasn’t sued and no articles were published, if you don’t show up, I’ll be more than happy to write an article myself.”

‘He must have intended for it to be read that way.’

The idea that this damned reporter might mess with Ash.

“I won’t let that happen.”

Erin shook her head slightly and quickened her pace. She didn’t want anything bad to happen to Ash.

‘He’s such a good assistant.’

And such a good person.

Her pre-existing feelings of affection for Ash…

…had now grown into a feeling that Erin herself could no longer deny.

‘Even though I can’t confess for fear he’ll feel burdened by his superior.’

Still, with the intensity of her new feelings, Erin cherished Ash. That made her even more determined to protect him from any harm.

“Is this it?”

After walking for a long time, a shabby-looking pub came into view.

It was the kind of place where Ash would have told her off, saying, “Doctor, why would you go into a place like this alone?”

Just by looking at it, it didn’t seem very safe.

“But what can I do?”

Now that she was here, she had to go inside. The reporter wouldn’t have called her out just to understand her circumstances.

Creak.

When she opened the door, a smoky lair unfolded before her eyes.

People whispering in corners cast strange glances at Erin, who was wearing a hood.

As Erin stepped inside, a man sitting in a corner approached her and smiled with a greasy grin.

“You’re Baroness Erin Reshamore?”

“And you, are you the one who sent this foul-smelling note?”

As Erin said this and held out the note, the man’s expression became strange. His attitude suggested he hadn’t expected her to be so bold.

But Erin had no intention of backing down.

‘I came out because I was worried about Ash, and I’ll try to negotiate as much as possible regarding that matter.’

She didn’t care if an article came out saying her attitude was arrogant. She had already been slandered enough.

‘Anyway, I’ve never cared much about that stuff.’

In her previous life, now a faint memory, she was an orphan with no connections who met a good mentor and worked her fingers to the bone to earn a scholarship to a prestigious university. Even then, there were people who envied her and suspected she had cheated.

After graduation, she worked at a renowned pharmaceutical company that everyone envied and suffered all kinds of rumors.

There were many times when she couldn’t defend herself because she had no real friends.

‘But maybe it’s thanks to that experience.’

After reincarnating here, she seemed to have acquired the ability to turn a blind eye to whatever people said about her.

The only inconveniences caused by the reporters’ gossip were the difficulty in finding trial participants, having to be more careful when going out, and not being able to leave her laboratory windows open.

‘Wait. Now that I think about it, it was a bit inconvenient.’

In any case, Erin, who decided there was no need to take a submissive stance, rolled her eyes at the reporter.

“So, what do you have to say?”

“You’re in a hurry.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for you if this ended quickly, too?”

At that, the reporter clicked his tongue and began to move.

Erin followed him further inside.

***

Sip.

Erin took a sip of the non-alcoholic drink in front of her and glanced at the ceiling.

She felt a sense of déjà vu.

‘It feels like that time.’

The first time she had interviewed a clinical trial candidate.

Even then, Erin had to show a great deal of patience to endure the low-life trash her opponent was spewing.

This time wasn’t much different.

“…So, what are your thoughts?”

“About what?”

“Is it true that Duke Aston has multiple mistresses?”

At least the words weren’t as vulgar and vile as they were back then, making it slightly more tolerable.

‘I see… he knew all along.’

There was no way the reporters wouldn’t know that Duke Aston was her sponsor. As she had guessed, it seemed they couldn’t publish anything explicitly because of the Duke’s influence.

‘And because of that, they’re digging into the Duke’s life to get back at him?’

The reporter had been asking only about Duke Aston since the beginning, blatantly revealing his intentions. It was clear he had called Erin here to get information on the Duke.

From Erin’s perspective, it was a relief that he wasn’t digging into her affairs, but she couldn’t just speak carelessly about the Duke, either.

Erin shrugged and gave a noncommittal answer.

“How would I know that?”

“If not, then why would he sponsor something like a contraceptive?”

“That would be up to the Duke. And contraceptives aren’t the only thing he sponsors.”

The number of scientists and artists the Duke supported would fill more than a dozen wagons.

The reason he was so fixated on her was obvious. The contraceptive experiment was the most controversial and had the potential to generate the most salacious articles.

“A medicine that could make people infertile… Sponsoring something like that…”

“It doesn’t make people infertile. In fact, the contraceptives currently on the market are much worse for your health.”

“Is it true the Duke is trying to make his political rivals infertile…”

Ah, this is hopeless.

Since the other person was ignoring her, Erin decided to ignore him, too. She would simply offer no comment.

“Sigh. I’m not going to say anything.”

“…”

“You must know that a recipient has a duty not to carelessly reveal information about their sponsor.”

As Erin fell silent and just drank her beverage, the reporter narrowed his eyes. It seemed he was also changing his tactics.

“Hmm. Or is that rumor true?”

“What rumor?”

“The one about you being his mistress… no, his lover.”

“Pffft!”

The drink Erin spat out soaked the front of the reporter’s shirt, but she didn’t feel sorry. The reporter looked a little annoyed, but quickly regained his composure.

Erin didn’t hide her bewilderment as she answered.

“It’s strange that a rumor like that is going around when I’ve never even met him.”

“Stop being coy and just tell me.”

“I have nothing to tell you. Besides, why would the Duke ever get involved with me? Maybe if he were to marry a high-ranking noblewoman of a similar standing…”

“Stop pretending you don’t know. It’s well-known that the Duke has avoided marriage.”

Blink.

Erin blinked at this new information. The reporter continued grumbling.

“Isn’t the Duke famous for stubbornly insisting on maintaining an air of mystery, rejecting marriage offers from all the most prestigious families? It’s the talk of the social circles.”

Huh. She didn’t know that, as she never frequented social gatherings.

“There are even rumors that he’s trying to end his own bloodline…”

My goodness. No matter how she looked at it, the reporter seemed to know more about the Duke than she did. This was all, of course, assuming everything he said was true.

“Ah, is that also the reason he’s supporting contraceptive research? Is it true that he hates his own bloodline…”

“Why don’t you just write a novel?”

The thought she had in her head slipped out. The reporter’s face twisted, but she was starting to feel like she should just get up and leave.

“I really have nothing to say to you.”

“…”

“You asked to meet me, so I came, but it’s not even about my experiment. It’s about the Duke, so I have even less to say. May I leave now?”

It was then, as Erin stood up to leave, that the reporter’s eyes lit up.

“Ah, yes. You were kind enough to come all this way to meet me. That was probably…”

“Probably what?”

“Because of your assistant, wasn’t it?”

Flinch.

She flinched for a moment at his words, but Erin tried to turn away as if it were nothing. It was obvious he would latch on if she showed just how much she cared about Ash.

However, the reporter didn’t seem to miss her brief hesitation.

He gave a vile smile and opened his mouth.

“Then how about we talk about your assistant?”

“If you think you can threaten me with my assistant, then you’ve made a grave mistake…”

“No, no. I think I’m starting to understand. To get through to a person like Baroness Reshamore, I have to give you some information, too.”

“Suddenly?”

She was taken aback by the reporter’s sudden change in strategy and asked a question in response.

The reporter seized the opportunity and pressed on.

“Did you know that your assistant has a powerful backer?”

“What?”

“You didn’t, it seems. Just like you don’t seem to know much about your sponsor, the Duke.”

Erin slowly turned her head at the reporter’s sarcastic remark.

‘A backer?’

He’s not talking about me, is he?

As she entertained the silly thought, memories instinctively flashed through her mind.

Ash, who insisted he had plenty of savings and then bought and forced all kinds of clothes on her at the tailor’s shop.

Even when she said she would pay for their meals, Ash would firmly say, “How can I let a lady pay?” and covered the costs at restaurants and dessert shops.

‘Now that I think about it.’

The money he had spent on her recently was more than what he could have made from his salary. It might have even been far beyond her salary.

He had said he had savings, but the salary Erin had given Ash so far wasn’t enough to save anything.

And Ash, who was with her all day, couldn’t have had a side job…

And what about Ash’s house?

Didn’t the furniture and decorations have a distinctly antique and luxurious feel?

Ash had said that the previous owner of the room had left them behind, but now that she thought about it, the room perfectly suited Ash’s taste.

It matched the clothes he usually wore. And the neatly arranged desk and stationery in his lab.

If those expensive things were something Ash had actually bought…

‘…It would be possible if he had another backer.’

Her reason involuntarily agreed with the idea. 

Thump.

Her heart sank.

Could he have a noblewoman sponsoring him? That seemed entirely possible. In that case…

‘…What does it matter if Ash has a backer or not?’

Even as she thought that, Erin found herself looking back at the reporter.

The reporter clicked his tongue, a look on his face that suggested he both wanted to tell her and didn’t.

As if to draw it out a little longer to squeeze more information about the Duke out of Erin.

Seeing his face, her racing heart began to cool.

Right. This was all just to shake her…

“Perhaps, who knows? Another noble might have sent him as a spy to steal your experiment.”

It could be true!

*What?’

This was far more than Erin could have imagined, who had only been picturing a mistress of a noblewoman.

The problem was…

‘Why does that sound so plausible?’

Even though he had always been kind, Ash was also strict when needed. The reason he was so sweet to her now, even though she was a superior he would soon be parting ways with, was now starting to make sense.

Suddenly, it felt like the pieces of a puzzle were fitting together.

Her logic, which had already been shaken once, unconsciously painted another scene in her mind.

A scene of Ash, instructed by an unknown noble to seduce her and steal the results of the clinical trial.

‘…No!’

Erin shook her head at the wild imagination that had suddenly sprung forth.

‘Ash as an industrial spy.’

It seemed better than him being a noblewoman’s lover, but still…

‘Don’t be swayed.’

You know this is all being said on purpose, Erin Reshamore.

She was now having outlandish thoughts she normally wouldn’t, and all she realized was just how much she cared about Ash.

Erin tried to steady herself.

‘Right. Sure, he’s been spending a lot of money lately.’

But that’s no reason to believe a lie like that.

Clinging to her reason, Erin sighed and turned to leave.

“Even if you say that, I genuinely don’t know anything. It’s none of my business what my assistant does in his private life, anyway.”

“Hey, Baroness Reshamore!”

“I understand your desperation for a scoop, since Duke Aston is so reclusive, but this is getting us nowhere.”

“…!”

“Let’s just end this pointless conversation here.”

It was as Erin was finishing her sentence and heading for the door.

“Ah?!”

A small shriek escaped her as her wrist was grabbed forcefully. The reporter, who had a ruthless grip on her, was pulling her towards him excitedly.

“Baroness! It’s not fair for you to leave after I’ve given you some good information!”

“What good information? You just unilaterally tried to cause a rift between us!”

“Hah! You might think it’s baseless information, but I’ve personally seen your assistant meet with another noble’s secretary multiple times!”

“What did you say?”

It must be a lie.

Even as she thought that, Erin couldn’t help but ask. The excited reporter gripped her wrist even more tightly.

“I’ve told you this much, now you have to give me some information!”

“Ouch! Let go! This is ridiculous!”

She looked around for help, but the people in the pub just glanced at them and said nothing.

Even the pub owner subtly got up and locked the door. Erin let out a silent sigh.

‘They’re all in on it.’

She had somewhat expected it. But for it to actually happen was disheartening.

‘Of course, I didn’t come empty-handed.’

In her pocket, Erin had a self-defense spray disguised as a perfume bottle.

A spicy potion she had brewed just in case. The spray, which was very effective, wouldn’t work on people who already had a different scent on them, like Erin.

‘Now that I think about it, this would probably sell better than regular perfume.’

There would be no self-defense sprays in this world yet.

It was as she was thinking of getting a patent for it and reaching into her pocket that…

“Aagh!”

CRASH!

A loud scream and a noise erupted from the pub’s entrance.

“Huh?”

Startled, Erin turned around…

“Ash?”

Her eyes met with an unexpected person.

“…”

Ash, exuding a menacing aura, was walking into the pub with incredible force.

Whether he was wearing an auxiliary magical tool like the one he used to move the bathtub, the firmly locked door had already been destroyed.

“H-hey! Who do you… cough!“

One by one, the men in the pub who had charged at Ash were being sent flying into the distance. Erin watched the entire scene with wide eyes.

‘Ash…’

He was this good at fighting?

Indeed, for a mere assistant, his body was excessively strong and manly.

When he held her and squeezed her, she would have a futile thought that his firm chest and chocolatey abs would leave an imprint on her body.

‘…Even so.’

Even if he was being aided by a magical tool, Ash’s movements right now looked excessively professional.

When he even picked up a chair and took down a man who was charging at him, he looked like a royal guard or knight…

‘Why would someone who works as an assistant know self-defense like that?’

The moment that question instinctively crossed her mind.

“Perhaps, who knows? Another noble might have sent him as a spy to steal your experiment.”

The reporter’s words flashed through Erin’s mind. It was before she could even deny them as nonsense.

“…Doctor.”

The ominous, red eyes rolled towards Erin.

The first to react wasn’t Erin, but the reporter still holding her.

“H-heeeek!”

“Ouch!”

Whether he was intimidated by Ash’s aura, the reporter roughly let go of her wrist and began to flee, as if he had never cornered Erin at all.

Just as Erin stumbled…

Swoosh.

A cool, luxurious scent drew close. It was a perfume that, she suddenly realized, was far too good for a mere assistant.

Thump! CRASH!

“Augh!”

Ash carefully embraced the staggering Erin and threw a thick glass from the bar.

It hit the reporter in the back of his head, causing him to shriek before collapsing and twitching on the floor.

It felt like it took only a few minutes for everyone except Erin and Ash to be lying on the ground.

Erin stared at the devastated surroundings and belatedly gasped for air.

“Ash! You’re going to get into big trouble!”

“…”

“It was bad enough with that nobleman, but this time…!”

Of all people, he had to hit a reporter. This might not be so easy to get away with!

As Erin panicked, Ash said, “Does that matter?”

He grabbed the wrist the reporter had been holding and began to lead her out of the bar.

He held her firmly, but unlike the reporter’s grip, his was so gentle that it didn’t hurt at all.

“Ash? We can’t just leave…”

“Of course, we can. I called the constabulary, they’ll handle it.”

“It’ll be even more awkward if the constabulary comes! You’ll be arrested for assault!”

“It’s self-defense.”

“What?”

“It’s easy enough to say that they kidnapped you first.”

That won’t work.

She wanted to say this, but Ash’s face was chillingly cold. Erin keenly sensed the faint reproach in his eyes. She found herself instinctively falling silent.

“Coming to a dangerous place like this all by yourself.”

“…”

“Without even a word to me.”

Then, another realization dawned on her.

‘That’s right. I came without telling anyone.’

How did he even know to come here…?

But she couldn’t ask him that, either.

Ash’s expression was just too serious.

“Let’s go, Doctor.”

“…”

“I apologize, but if you say another word here…”

“…”

“I’m honestly going to get angry.”

That made her even more hesitant.

Ash began to walk in silence. Erin, unable to pull her wrist free, simply followed his lead.

***

Thud.

The sound of the lab door opening and closing seemed louder than usual. The sound of Ash roughly taking off his hood and loosening his cravat followed.

“Ah.”

Only after being led inside by Ash did Erin finally feel like she could breathe.

For some reason, she had been so conscious of Ash’s mood during their walk that she hadn’t even dared to breathe loudly.

‘Why is he so angry?’

I know I left without saying anything, but I’m not a child. I was perfectly capable of handling myself…

But instead of questioning Ash, Erin was too busy watching him, her own expression heavy. The reporter’s words suddenly came to mind.

‘I thought it was just nonsense.’

But the more she thought about it, the more something felt off.

‘It was like that even when I first hired him.’

It was extremely rare for anyone to respond to the advertisement Erin had posted.

And for good reason. The salary she offered was a bit… no, quite stingy for a lab assistant.

Of course, it was natural, considering Erin herself was living on a single piece of black bread a day, trying to pay off her family’s debts and cover research expenses.

Those who were desperate for a job and did come would turn and run the moment they entered the lab for their interview.

To be honest, just looking at the old, dilapidated lab, it didn’t look like a place with a promising future.

But Ash had naturally taken the position as if he had been waiting for this very opportunity. He did it without a single complaint that others would have made.

‘He didn’t even try to negotiate the terms of employment.’

And then, he worked harder than she expected and silently took care of her.

That wasn’t all.

‘The clinical trial, too…’

When she was so desperate from her research that she was about to choose a poor candidate, hadn’t he offered to participate in her place?

“I can’t stand to see you rolling around with some unclean scumbag out there.”

‘Unclean.’

That word, in particular, stood out.

Was she overreacting to now hear it as a reference to impurities that would interfere with the experiment?

‘Could it really be true?’

Did he do it because he had another backer?

A calm descended in Erin’s stomach.

Even though she knew the reporter’s words were nonsense, several questions came to her mind simultaneously, unsettling her.

‘To be swayed like this now.’

But Erin also knew.

The reason she was shaken by such words and was searching for possible evidence was because…

‘I’ve come to cherish Ash, too.’

If these suspicions were true, she would be so heartbroken…

Tap.

Erin was lost in thought, looking down at the floor, when her chin was gently lifted.

“Ah.”

She met his red eyes.

His eyes, still full of palpable anger, were trembling beneath his grey hair.

“Honestly, Doctor.”

Ash stared intently at Erin and opened his mouth. His lips seemed particularly red today.

“I don’t understand why, every time I take my eyes off you, you end up in some strange place.”

“Um…”

“Did you not know how dangerous and disgusting that man was?”

“Wait. He was just a reporter…”

“And what did those ‘just reporters’ say about your experiments and about you? You almost got hurt just now.”

Erin had no words after hearing that. For a moment, Ash’s eyes sharpened.

“Or was there another reason?”

“Uh, what?!”

“I asked if you had a reason to meet that man.”

For some reason, hearing that made her feel like she had to make an excuse.

“No, Ash. This, well.”

But she somehow hesitated to tell him the truth.

If she said she went because he was threatening her with him, he might look at her with contempt, as if to say, “The doctor who can’t even take care of herself is worrying about me?”

‘If I told him I went because he said he’d give me information about you.’

…I feel like he’d be disappointed in me.

And if she told him about her suspicions…

She was even more afraid of how Ash would react.

She hoped he would just laugh it off as a baseless suspicion, but given the current atmosphere, it didn’t seem likely.

‘And if this suspicion were true…’

Just as she reached that thought…

Erin’s mouth opened, and she blurted out something without thinking.

“I-it was for the trial.”

“…The trial?”

“Yes. About the clinical trial, I had to talk to that person about something…”

“What could you possibly have to talk about with a reporter…”

Ash, who had been speaking, suddenly stopped.

Erin unconsciously gasped at the sharp gleam in his eyes that followed.

“Gasp.”

Ash’s already red eyes seemed to be burning even brighter. He looked like he could take down a person without a second thought.

“Don’t tell me, Doctor.”

“U-uh?”

“Were you trying to fill in the missing section of the report?”

“What? The missing section…”

Then, a thought quickly flashed through her mind.

The report she had written for the upcoming presentation.

The section that had been left blank, which she had looked at, and Ash had looked at the same part.

‘So that would be…’

The “diversity of test subjects” section.

Only then did Erin realize what Ash was misunderstanding. Goosebumps ran up and down her body.

“Wait. I’m not…!”

No matter what, she wasn’t going to do that with that reporter!

‘Besides, that guy wasn’t even that attractive!’

“Hmph!”

But before she could protest, her lips were sealed by his.

A shiver ran through her body as his hot tongue slowly glided over her lips. She was already so accustomed to Ash that she became aroused with just his touch.

When she panted and opened her mouth, the lump of flesh pushed its way in, wildly stirring inside Erin’s mouth.

He came in so forcefully that her cheeks alternately puffed out, and even the tender skin of her palate was touched, making her feel nauseous.

‘…No!’

The instinct that she couldn’t vomit during a kiss moved Erin’s body first.

Rather than let Ash see that…

Push!

Erin unconsciously pushed Ash away with all her strength. And then, she gasped again and looked up at him.

*I didn’t mean to refuse.’

His firm shoulders gave way to her push, but Ash’s eyes only became sharper.

“Ash, that, well…”

It’s not that I don’t like you…

Before she could say that, Ash tilted his head with a crooked smile, not his usual gentle and soft one. Seeing that, all the fine hairs on her body stood up.

Then, a low voice slowly came out.

“The missing section can be filled with absolute volume, can’t it?”

“U-uh, huh?”

“I’m saying we can fill the missing section with frequency, Doctor.”

‘That’s not the same thing…’

No matter how much volume she had, it wouldn’t satisfy the diversity requirement.

But she couldn’t bring herself to retort.

Before Erin could add anything, Ash ripped off his shirt.

“…”

Erin was speechless at his sudden exposed chest and abs. She didn’t understand how he could take her breath away like that every time, even though it wasn’t the first time she had seen his body.

“It seems you’re not confident in the experiment with what we’ve done so far.”

His slow words fell into her ears. Erin stared blankly at Ash, who was coming closer to her.

“I will take this opportunity… to fill you up completely.”

***

“Heup…!”

Erin slowly closed and opened her eyes.

It was unfamiliar to her that such a hoarse voice had come from her own throat.

The voice, far more cracked than usual, was a result of the prolonged foreplay.

“This, this kind of thing…”

Ash, who had spoken as if to brace her, acted as though he truly meant to melt her down.

He lapped at the peaks on her chest until they were raw, and he massaged and rubbed only the sensitive spots she reacted to.

Perhaps because of that.

The heat that had consumed her entire body, and the feel of the sweat beading and rolling off her naked form felt overly stimulating. It was as if heat rashes were blooming wherever she was damp.

“This is just too…”

But the most stimulating thing was.

“Ah!”

The sensation of his large hands and lips brutally kneading, licking, and sucking her pleasure-quivering body.

It felt as though he was pushing her reason off a cliff as he tormented her peaks.

*’H-how long has it been…’*

It felt like dozens of minutes.

Ash was still latched on to her, licking and sucking her.

As if he wouldn’t leave a single shred of her reason intact.

“Ah!”

Her climax finally hit, wiping her mind completely blank. Erin’s legs trembled, and she tried to push herself up, shouting.

“W-wait! Ash!”

“Stay still, Doctor.”

Ash pushed down on her lower abdomen, making her lie back down. Erin’s face grew even redder as she looked at the spot he was so blatantly pressing on.

‘That spot…’

It was exactly where she’d imagine Ash’s would be when he was inside her. A place very close to her womb.

Ash deliberately pressed on that spot, trying to stimulate her. Erin, her lips trembling, gently shook her head.

‘I can’t take any more.’

She knew Ash was excited, but she felt like she might die of pleasure at this rate.

Furthermore, this drawn-out foreplay kept making her have pointless thoughts.

‘Maybe Ash truly…’

…liked her, and that’s why he was doing this.

That he’s being possessive and jealous because he misunderstood that she was going to sleep with another man.

Thinking like that made the rest of her reason evaporate.

All the suspicions she had that he might be a spy, everything.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

I need to get a grip.

Erin squeezed out what little strength she had left and tried to lift herself up. Then she whispered.

“I, I thought about it and… this is unnecessary after a—”

“No.”

A voice that sounded like a growl urged her to stay put. He spoke right against her, and his hot breath seeped into her.

“That’s your opinion, Doctor.”

“No, it’s really unnecessary.”

“You’re only saying that now?”

“Y-yes. Now…”

Erin didn’t know what to do and reached out as if to push Ash’s head away.

His red eyes met hers in a seductive gaze.

Then, he took her hand and kissed it.

Thump.

Her heart plummeted. Erin flinched again at his overly intimate gesture.

“T-this kind of thing…”

“It’s all necessary. So…”

“Hhh…”

“Don’t move.”

Or you’ll get hurt.

He was using honorifics, but it sounded like an order. She was the one who held the higher rank. It was a strange situation.

“Hhk!”

“You’ll get hurt, I said.”

As he said that and spread her legs, Erin helplessly gave way. Her whole body trembled as his hot, supple tongue drew over her sensitive flesh and licked up forcefully.

“Ah, mmm…”

Ash soothed her and continued to suck on her. He made a soft sound as if she were delicious, then reached up and gently caressed her chest.

Despite his subtly commanding attitude and strong grip that rendered her powerless, his touch was as soft as if he had been anointed with oil, which sent shivers down her spine.

Erin felt the touch of his palm kneading her breast and thought to herself.

‘His hands… were they this soft?’

A sudden realization struck her.

She hadn’t noticed because they were always covered by lab gloves.

Even when they had been together before, she hadn’t paid this much attention, so she hadn’t realized.

The hand of Ash’s that was cupping her chest wasn’t bony and veiny, unlike that of a researcher who only sat at a desk.

It was thick and large enough to be a swordsman’s hand, yet his palm was still soft and his fingers were firm.

‘A researcher’s hands…’

Was he not a researcher?

But at that moment, as if to tell her to stop getting distracted, Ash tightened his grip. The small nipple that had peeked out between his thick fingers was twisted.

“Mmm, mmm…”

Erin moaned and looked at the finger that was pinching her nipple.

‘That.’

A ring was on his index finger. The cold metal brushed against her highly sensitive peak, and it was strangely distracting. Erin’s eyes naturally went to the ring.

‘…Looks expensive.’

For a lab assistant, no less.

The ring itself was quite thick, but the presence of the gem was overwhelming. The pink gem with a deep red hue looked like a ruby.

‘A ruby ring.’

How is he wearing something like that?

Thump.

Her heart plummeted again.

A gem like that was on a completely different level from the clothes he had bought for her or the oddly expensive furniture in his house.

‘The gem itself is ridiculously expensive.’

For a commoner, it would be difficult to even acquire a tiny piece of a gem in a lifetime.

If it were a fake, it would be a different story, but the aura radiating from the one on Ash’s finger seemed to whisper, “I’m the real deal.”

‘If that’s a real gem.’

An object like that could certainly only be obtained by working for a noble.

…Is he working for someone else besides me, after all?

Her stomach churned again at the thought. The confusion was enough to drive her insane.

‘I want to believe.’

I want to believe Ash. But the circumstances are just too strange. Still, I want to believe him. But…

‘What am I supposed to think?’

What kind of person should she accept Ash as?

Her ongoing thoughts came to a halt with a whisper from the man whose head was buried in her.

“You’ve been so still—I thought maybe you were finally listening to me.”

“Nngh?”

“Your concentration is terrible, Doctor.”

“Hhh, ah…”

He reprimanded her by thrusting his tongue inside.

“W-wait, wait! That’s too…”

“You can’t treat something this important so carelessly.”

“I, I’m not being carel…”

“And lying is even worse.”

The man said that and flicked her clitoris as if to punish her.

The strong jolt of pleasure made Erin’s head tilt back. Her waist arched. She felt a strong urge to pee and something gushed out from below.

Suddenly embarrassed, Erin’s face turned beet red.

“D-don’t…”

“If you’d focus, this wouldn’t happen, Doctor.”

Ash sighed into her depths. As Erin flinched, he lightly patted her thighs, bit her plump inner thigh, and continued speaking.

“Still, it’s not so bad.”

“W-what…”

“Since you gushed and got so wet.”

“…”

“Seems like no more foreplay is even necessary.”

Erin’s mouth fell open at his raw words.

“…”

Ash’s face, with a smirk on his lips, was soaked. She didn’t have to ask what it was.

Blink.

Every time his beautiful, delicate eyes blinked, a drop of liquid hanging from the end of his long eyelashes fell.

The moment it fell, passed over the bridge of his nose, and flowed towards his gracefully arched lips…

Lick.

Ash stuck out his tongue and nonchalantly licked his lips. At the lascivious sight before her, Erin felt her own body grow hotter.

It was enough to make all the thoughts she had been having moments ago scatter.

“I always think this, but it’s amazing how sweet you are, Doctor.”

“D-don’t say things like that…”

“Right. That’s not what’s important right now.”

Ash said that, unbuckled his pants, and took out what was trapped inside. It sprang up with a hard flick, drawing her gaze.

The familiar object that always felt a little too big for her body rubbed against her opening, poking and prodding the split seam.

Sensing the impending insertion, her body naturally got hotter and twitched, as if to clench around him. Ash seemed to notice, and a terrible smile returned to his face.

“No need to beg. I’ll put it in, Doctor.”

“T-that’s not…”

“And I’m going to come inside you.”

As he said that and stroked her lower abdomen, Ash rubbed the thick tip against her opening.

Erin’s body flinched repeatedly as he teased her, tracing the outside of her opening as if he were about to bury himself inside at any moment and rubbing her clitoris with the base of his shaft.

“Hhh… ahhh…”

“So don’t worry.”

“A-Ash…”

“Even if you don’t squeeze like that, all of my seed is for you.”

“Don’t say it like that!”

“But Doctor—that is the contract, isn’t it?”

Ash grinned and circled her trembling, rippling breasts with his hand. He sighed with satisfaction at their soft, dough-like feel, then licked his lips and whispered.

“To come inside you until you get pregnant.”

Pregnant!

Startled, Erin quickly shook her head.

“O-our contract doesn’t say that…”

“To keep fucking you and coming inside you until you finally carry my child.”

“It’s not…!”

“Ah. Was it the other way around?”

Ash’s words today felt so strange.

‘It sounded like…’

…he wanted her to have his child.

‘You’re insane, Erin Reshamore.’

Erin was calmly horrified by her own thoughts.

‘To have suspected him, to have been confused, to have thought he might like me, and now to think…’

…he might want to get me pregnant.

At this point, it was a serious condition. 

Twinge.

Erin felt a strange pang in her chest.

Because she knew the meaning of her “serious condition.”

‘I… I might…’

Maybe, more than she thought, she liked Ash…

It was a sudden realization, but in hindsight, it was inevitable.

He was a handsome, well-built, kind man who did his work well and whom she had spent three years face-to-face with.

A man who always looked out for her, took her side no matter what others said, and was the first to rush to her side when she was in danger.

And on top of that, she had mixed bodies with him, and he was even amazing in bed.

‘It would be more strange not to like him.’

It was inevitable for her feelings to grow into something more than just a simple crush.

She suddenly felt a bit like crying. Because she felt like this wasn’t all her fault.

Honestly, wasn’t it because Ash was just too handsome, too well-built, too kind, and too good in bed?

‘I didn’t want to think of him in a way other than that of a professional.’

She knew she would never be able to get out of it, so she didn’t want to.

But sadly, the human heart doesn’t work as one wishes. In truth, she had been fluttering with excitement around him for a long time.

Erin felt her nose sting as she realized her heart’s scale had tipped completely towards Ash.

Then, Ash forcefully spread her thighs and placed her legs on his shoulders.

Slide, slide.

The head of his shaft, which had been rubbing against her lower abdomen and opening, now found its way to her continuously twitching hole. His lips, which had risen with a smirk, were aimed at Erin.

“You’re right.”

“Uhk!”

“It was the other way around.”

Ash, who smiled and spoke slowly, completely unaware of her thoughts, rubbed the tip against her constricted opening.

“Ahhh!”

Erin’s mouth fell open, and she gasped as his pointed weapon pierced her in one swift motion.

It was an object that always felt quite constricting, no matter how much she was filled with it.

Even though he came in when she felt like she couldn’t get any wetter, the inside still felt tight.

Her skin, which fit him without a single gap, seemed to pulse with a heartbeat of its own. Her insides squeezed the invader with all their might, regardless of her will.

“Kh…”

A low groan escaped Ash’s lips. He soothed her by rubbing her clitoris with the tip of his thumb, but her pulsating inner walls showed no signs of stopping. With a scowl, Ash began to thrust his hips.

“Hh, ahhh!”

Erin was shaken by Ash’s thrusts, but she felt a bit like crying.

‘I need to think more.’

I have to decide now.

Whether to push Ash away or to just trust him and let go.

‘But I’m scared.’

She didn’t want to touch the truth that was hidden between them. She didn’t want to ruin everything at this moment, at the very moment Ash was inside her.

‘This feeling is truly new to me.’

The feeling of wanting to cry because she couldn’t do anything.

Even as she thought that, Ash’s body continued to pound into Erin.

Thwack, squelch, thwack.

Her body swayed and rippled.

‘Ah.’

The moment her reason flew away once more, a small voice whispered from a corner of Erin’s heart.

‘Let’s talk about this later.’

Right. They could talk about it later. Not now. Later.

At least when they were both in their right minds. When they could have a calm, rational conversation.

‘So for now…’

For now, she just wanted to focus on this act.

Even if it was an illusion, she wanted to believe that Ash was pouring his whole heart into this relationship. She didn’t want to think about any other possibilities.

‘Because right now,’

Erin wanted to focus on Ash completely.

Her fair skin, glistening with sweat, rippled as it rose and fell with his movements.

As if pleased by the sight, Ash tightened his grip on her waist and exhaled a low breath near her ear.

It felt as though her ear was on fire. Erin instinctively whined, whimpering.

“Ahhh, Ash… it’s too deep…”

“Of course it’s deep, Doctor.”

“Nnghh…”

“I have to reach your womb—to fill it.”

The whisper mixed with a hint of laughter made her inner walls convulse again. It was a reaction she couldn’t control.

Because at that one phrase, at Ash’s words revealing his possessiveness, she instinctively rejoiced.

“You can’t let a single drop spill.”

“Ah, ugh…”

“You’ll take it all, right?”

Even his subtly vulgar words were an overwhelming stimulation.

‘I want to pleasure him, too…’

I want to make Ash feel good.

It was the moment Erin unconsciously wrapped her trembling legs tightly around Ash’s waist.

“…Hah.”

Just as Erin was teetering on the edge of climax, a lukewarm sensation suddenly filled her from within.

“…Ah?”

It was an earlier climax than usual.

‘Huh?’

After spending so long melting her with foreplay, to climax after just a few thrusts—it wasn’t like Ash.

‘Did he just keep himself from climaxing all that time while pleasuring me?’

In a state of being on the verge of release?

Erin’s eyes widened.

“W-wait, Ash, I-I’m—!”

Even though he had already climaxed, Ash didn’t stop moving his hips.

Squelch, squelch.

She could feel white clumps falling from their joined parts. Her roughly held waist ached as if to signal that this was only the beginning. Erin’s mind, already on the verge of climax, went blank.

“You’re wasting it, Doctor. Clenching and spilling like this.”

“Ahh, nnngh!”

Her words of protest were mashed into an incoherent mess. Her inner walls, contrary to her thoughts, kept expanding and contracting, happily squeezing Ash’s essence out.

Ash’s eyebrows drooped, and he shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.

“This is what you asked for. What a waste to throw it away.”

“A-Ash. Ohh…!”

“I have no choice… I’ll just have to come again.”

The sensations pouring down on her already-climaxing body felt violent. Her entire body, sensitive from arousal, was boiling.

“Ahhh…”

Erin unconsciously flailed, reaching out, and Ash grabbed her hand. Then, he kissed her fingertips, one by one, as if he were stamping them.

“We’re not done yet, Doctor.”

“W-wait…”

“You have to show the results of the experiment, don’t you?”

Ash laughed as he thrust his hips, as if the white fluid that filled her wasn’t enough. It was a smile that completely stole Erin’s sanity.

“That even if I come inside you dozens, even hundreds of times… it’s impossible for you to get pregnant from my seed because of your medicine.”

“Hmph!”

“You have to prove that, don’t you?”

Thump!

“I told you. I’ll show you with frequency.”

Even those terrifying words he whispered while pounding into her…

…still sounded to Erin like he was saying he wanted to impregnate her.

Like he wanted to be connected to her in that way, no matter what…

At the moment her heart was drumming, the shaft inside her hardened, swelling again. Erin’s mouth fell open, and she panted.

That’s right. That was our contract.

‘To prove that no matter how much we did it, I wouldn’t get pregnant…’

But how did she come to feel this way?

Even as she thought that, Ash was squeezing and caressing her body as if he would burst. The maddening pleasure in every part of her screamed.

“Ohh, mmm!”

Feeling her sanity shatter from the heat of arousal, Erin’s eyes blinked shut.

That’s right.

‘Just for now…’

Just for now, let’s just give in.

I’ll pretend I don’t know anything complicated.

Then, the last shred of her reason snapped.

***

“Whoa, whoa.”

Trot, trot.

The coachman made a sound to soothe the horses. At the same time, the carriage’s speed gradually decreased. It meant they had almost reached their destination.

Erin, who had been looking out the carriage window the whole time, fidgeted with her fingertips, feeling her hands get sweaty inside her gloves.

Sliiiide.

Someone naturally took her hand and gently massaged it.

“Ash.”

Ash, who was sitting across from Erin, pretended not to hear her call and continued to massage her hand. Then, he grabbed her briefcase, which was next to him.

“We’re almost there.”

“…I guess so. Did I leave anything behind, I wonder…”

“You shouldn’t have.”

“But…”

“The report, checked. The new drug, checked. The presentation materials, checked.”

“You’re the one who packed it all, not me.”

Ash lightly brushed off her grumbling and finally reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“Most importantly, your attire is appropriate.”

“…”

“You have everything you need.”

“What’s so appropriate about this attire…”

Erin muttered and glanced down at herself.

Today, Erin looked less like a researcher giving an academic presentation and more like a noblewoman attending a dinner party.

‘In name, I am a noblewoman, I guess.’

Looking down again, she felt a little awkward.

Her soft, wavy pink hair was neatly styled with a jeweled headband.

On her ears were small pink sapphire earrings that were not overly flashy but not too simple. They were part of a set with the necklace around her neck.

The white dress, which slightly revealed her collarbones, had a simple design but a form-fitting material that accentuated her body.

‘I think this might be the first time I’ve ever worn something like this?’

She had even attended the academy’s graduation ball in her academy uniform. There was no way a family burdened with debt could afford clothes or accessories like this. She had sold all her original clothes and accessories to pay off her debts.

Perhaps that was why. A sense of unease filled her, as if she were wearing someone else’s things.

But that uneasy feeling gently melted away with two words from Ash.

“You’re beautiful.”

“…Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“No. You’re truly beautiful.”

Ash’s eyes were serious. She was reflected in his red eyes.

Erin’s cheeks flushed, and she lightly pressed her hand against her face.

“Still, it’s a presentation, and this feels too much like a social event.”

“This event is a social event.”

“…Besides, these jewels and clothes are too much.”

“You weren’t the only one who received them.”

“I just don’t understand Duke Aston’s intentions.”

There was a reason Erin could wear these clothes and jewels despite her financial struggles.

A few days before the presentation, Ash came into the lab carrying a large box. The sender on the box was Duke Aston.

Next to him was Duke Aston’s retainer, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.

As she instinctively stood up straight, the retainer looked at Erin with a slightly disgruntled expression and opened his mouth.

“Greetings, Baroness Reshamore.”

“Hello. What brings you here… I can meet the deadline for the experiment. The report will be ready soon…”

“That’s not it. I’m here to deliver something.”

“Something?”

It was only then that she noticed the box Ash was holding.

The retainer’s expression, which had been disgruntled, had already returned to that of an experienced servant, and he opened his mouth.

“Duke Aston sent this.”

“…Duke Aston? Why?”

“He said he wanted to match the dress code for this presentation. He would appreciate it if you could wear the designated clothes and accessories.”

“Are you lending them to me?”

“He said you could have them.”

Until then, I just assumed they were lending her some decent, ready-made clothes.

‘I thought the accessories would be, at most, a brooch symbolizing the Aston Duke’s academic society.’

But when I opened the box, what came out was this dress and the pink sapphire jewelry set.

Erin was mortified and said she couldn’t accept them, but the retainer used some miraculous logic, saying that since the box had already been opened, the items were now considered used, and they couldn’t be accepted back.

Ash, too, gently coaxed her, telling her to just wear what she had been given.

“Just take it for now. You can sell it later if you want. Although it would be better if you didn’t…”

“Still, this is a bit…”

“I’m sure you’ll look beautiful.”

“…”

“It will suit you well.”

Ultimately, those words moved Erin’s heart.

She thought it would be nice if Ash thought she looked pretty.

She wasn’t without the desire to show Ash what she looked like in it.

So, instead of sending the clothes and accessories back or selling them off, Erin wore them and came all this way. Of course, she accepted Ash’s help to put them on.

Remembering Ash’s hands zipping up the back of her dress, her cheeks, which had just cooled down, started to feel hot again.

‘I feel a little pathetic.’

I suspected Ash for a moment. But now, I’m pretending I was never swayed and still want to get closer to my assistant.

It felt a little gross.

“You’re really beautiful.”

Ash, as if to block Erin’s thoughts, whispered with emphasis again.

“…Thank you.”

Still, she was happy that Ash said that. Erin’s hands trembled as she lightly touched the pink sapphire necklace that matched her earrings.

‘But… does Duke Aston have that much money to spare?’

Well, I guess so. He’s willing to give such precious things even to me, a person he’s only ever tormented and harassed.

There wouldn’t be just one or two people attending the presentation. Thinking he must have provided all of them with outfits and accessories like this, it gave her a better sense of Duke Aston’s wealth. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he held half the wealth of the entire empire.

‘So, if I do well in this presentation…’

Maybe I’ll get a decent reward.

‘In fact, if I can just get his help commercializing the drug, that’ll be enough.’

Even that would be enough to make me rich. I’ll just give the first production to the heroine.

At that time, I could talk to Ash seriously. I could ask him if he would continue to work with me for the next experiment, and the one after that, even after this trial was over. And that I would pay him well.

Of course, there was still a lingering feeling of unease.

Erin’s gaze slowly drifted to Ash’s fingers, now hidden by gloves.

The afterimage of the ruby ring on his finger was still in her mind.

‘No. I can always ask him about it later.’

At the very least, if Ash had truly been an industrial spy, something would have gone wrong before he came to present to the Duke today.

‘An article would have been published about someone else developing a contraceptive before me, or the presentation materials would have gone missing.’

Anyway, being an industrial spy would only be meaningful if they beat her to the punch, right? It wouldn’t make sense for him to steal it and present it after she’s already made the discovery public.

But nothing like that happened.

She had even checked the materials Ash had prepared for her, just in case, and everything was exactly as she had written it, except for the problematic “diversity of subjects” section. All she had to do was present well to the judges and the Duke.

‘That’s right. There’s nothing for me to lose.’

So, the idea that Ash is a spy must be a baseless worry. It must have been a lie to drive a wedge between us.

With that thought, Erin’s mind was filled with the contents of the presentation she was about to give to the Duke. It was all about the various relationships she and Ash had had.

‘It would be a lie to say that I’m not uncomfortable revealing my private life to the Duke and the judges.’

But this was all the foundation for her future.

Erin began to review the presentation she had memorized, humming it to herself. As she stood with a mixture of nervousness, anxiety, and excitement, the carriage stopped in front of the Duke’s mansion.

Step.

Ash, who got out first, offered his hand to her like a true gentleman.

She took his hand with a hint of shyness, and as he gently wrapped his arm around her waist and lowered her to the ground, he whispered.

“Have a good time, Erin.”

Not “Doctor,” but “Erin.”

Erin’s ears flushed at the name he used. She unconsciously covered her ears and turned back to him with a dazed look, and Ash looked at her with eyes dripping with affection, as if even that was adorable.

“The assistants are supposed to stay together, so I have to be separate from you.”

“…”

“But if you call, I’ll come running.”

“You don’t have to go that far…”

“And this.”

Ash took off his last glove. Erin swallowed, seeing the exact ring she had been worried about on his index finger.

The ruby ring that looked so expensive and precious, the very one that had caused her so much suspicion.

What happened next made Erin’s eyes widen in surprise.

Ash casually took off the ring and lifted the hand of Erin’s he was holding.

“…Ash!”

Erin let out a suppressed shriek.

Ash had naturally slipped the ring from his index finger onto Erin’s ring finger.

“If anything goes wrong, use this ring.”

“What?”

“This is that magical tool. The one that strengthens your power.”

“R-really…?”

Erin asked, dumbfounded.

“Why would you give me something so precious?”

“If the presentation seems to be going south, just use it to pound on the table and yell.”

“What? Why?”

“If you’re going to get kicked out anyway.”

Ash smiled charmingly and added playfully.

“You should at least argue that it’s because they only hurried you and not others, and that they shouldn’t torment someone like this when they didn’t even let you rest like they did the others.”

“Wow. That’s actually very tempting…”

“Right?”

“But he’s sponsored me all this time. Wouldn’t that be ungrateful?”

“So what? You haven’t been slacking off.”

“That’s true…”

As she unconsciously nodded, the ring Ash put on her finger fit perfectly down to her fingertip. Perhaps it was a magical tool, as its size had already shrunk to fit her finger.

It was a very precious ring, even upon a second look.

“…Where did you get a magical tool like this?”

After asking, Erin quickly shut her mouth. She felt as though she had peeled back a layer of the truth she had been trying to avoid.

Thump, thump.

Just as her heart started to race, Ash nonchalantly shrugged.

“I’m renting it, too.”

“Renting?”

“Magical tools for documentation are sometimes used in our experiments, too. I got acquainted with a magical tool shop to secure them.”

After hearing his explanation, it sounded plausible.

‘Did I really misunderstand everything?’

She sighed with relief.

“In any case, have a good time.”

“Oh, okay.”

Ash lightly rubbed her waist, as if he was sad to let her go. His last touch, particularly slow and lingering, brushed against her side and then pulled away.

  was momentarily dazed by his touch until she heard the Duke’s servant’s voice introducing her at the entrance.

“Baroness Erin Reshamore, Doctor of Applied Pharmaceutical Alchemy, has arrived!”

Realizing where she was, Erin snapped her head up.

She then tensed her shoulders and eyes and walked into the banquet hall with a straight back.

Just as Ash had said, she was ready to break the table if she had to.