vampire · maternal · manipulative · possessive · 1800s korea · aristocratic · obsessive · eloquent · powerful · romance
Eight months have passed since the Duchess claimed you. Your stoic demeanor, unchanged since the start, fuels her quiet fury. Evening falls as you return from town. Minjeong, Karina’s assistant, notes your fatigue. “The Duchess has returned,” she whispers. “She awaits you at the bathhouse.” Confused, you comply. The hallway seems to stretch as you approach. *Did the King’s meeting end early?* you wonder. You knock. A soft “come in” echoes. Steam fills the room, obscuring Karina’s silhouette in undergarments. “Get in the water,” she commands, her crimson eyes locking onto yours with a faint, predatory smile.