Chapter 20

She got to know of a big secret that she didn’t want to know. The princess’ kiss with a strange man floated in her mind. His soft touch against her cheek, a voice filled with tenderness…

Evely was staring blankly at the top of the bookcase because she was confused by the recent happenings. That was when her view suddenly grew dark- a book was falling. By the time she came to her senses, the corner of the book had already hit her head and fell to the floor. “Ouch…”

Evely rubbed the top of her head with her palm. The hit wasn’t enough to make it bleed, but the part where the thick book fell was burning and the pain spread.

While rubbing her head with one hand, she picked up the book that fell. She thought she should put it back quickly when a sarcastic voice sounded behind her.“Are you sure you’re organizing and not messing things up?”

Evely turned quickly. Alec was leaning on the door.

She was in charge of organizing Alec’s office today. She had to put his piled-up books in order. Even with her rather troubled state, Evely grinned and chattered as if nothing was wrong. “Yes, of course. I’m organizing. I was…”

“I think you’re making more of a mess,” he said to Evely, who smiled awkwardly at the casual jab.

“That’s impossible. I’ll tidy it up.” She picked up the fallen book and reached out to fit it into the bookshelf. However, she couldn’t reach it even if she stood on her tiptoes. Perhaps because the furniture was made mainly in Jeju, the top was too high for Evely.

Why is it so high?

The book suddenly disappeared from her hands. A big hand popped up from behind to snatch the book and place it in the bookcase.

“Oh… thank you.”

She thanked him, but he seemed to have no intention of stepping down. She was careful to breathe because she felt like she would touch his body even if she moved a little bit. Evely bit the inside of her lips. But unlike Evely, who was very nervous, he was indifferent. He reached out to her side, picked up a book, and walked straight to the desk. Evely glanced at it and recalled what the head maid had always instructed.

She had gathered the young maids and informed them strictly, ‘We are the Master’s people, and we must do only what is in his interest. In any case, Master comes first.  Her voice was stern, contrary to her benevolent impression.

‘That’s why they feed you, put you to sleep, and even pay you.’

When Evely heard that, she thought it was very condescending, but now she felt it was true.

‘So you must always tell the truth to your master. No matter what happens.’

The maid’s stern image popped up in her head. Evely slowly opened her mouth after much consideration.

“M-Master…”

His eyes turned to her as he read the book.

“That…yesterday…” She thought it would be too easy to say. But she was afraid that she might be doing something for nothing. The guilt of causing trouble to the princess who was nice to her increased. It won’t be too late to tell him after watching the situation a little longer. Just a little bit more.

Evely ended up smiling awkwardly.

“Madam only had one bowl of soup. Haha. I wish she’d had two bowls.”

It was a bad excuse to come up with. Her embarrassed laughter spread throughout the office.

“Don’t tell me useless jokes, what were you going to say?”

Evely hands twisted her uniform. The hand holding the rough cloth was full of strength.

“Nothing…”

“Evely,” he snapped at her words. She noticed a serious edge in his voice calling Evely.

“Huh?” she replied in surprise, as it was the first time he had called her name.

“Even if you don’t tell me, I always know more.” Her eyes grew round.

“Everything in this house belongs to me. You too… My wife too.” He added clearly, uncaringly, but discreetly, with dominance.

“There’s nothing I don’t know. Having another one, doing this and that… you think I don’t know anything about that?” His lips curled up.

At that moment, Evely knew. Her master knew everything about the princess’ secret love, but turned a blind eye to it.

‘Because I don’t want to be hated by my wife.’

These words that she had once heard passed through her head. Maybe because he didn’t want to be hated. Is that why he took her instead? Like a substitute for his wife with a similar hair color… because he is in love with his wife?

No way.

Unrequited love. It was a term that didn’t fit Alec Bernhardt. His crisp voice awakened her, who was lost in thought. “If you’re done with this, I’d like you to clean this place up, too.”

He pointed at the desk in front of her with a smirk. Only then did Evely come to her senses. As she approached him, Alec, who slightly leaned back, lowered his gaze and watched her.

Are you watching me to see if I’m doing well or not?

Evely began to tidy up on the desk with her lips pouting. On the desk, parchment paper and books were scattered in a mess. She could see his handwriting on the parchment paper. She thought the neat handwriting and the messy desk were quite contrasting.

“You’re quite good at working.”

In terms of sincerity, Evely had never missed anything. It was like that when she lived with her mother, and like that in this house. Feeling a little proud of his praise, she was going to turn towards him, when he spoke, “So…you have to do everything else faithfully.”

His rough hands invaded inside her skirt without giving her time to grasp what he was talking about. Before she knew it, he was standing behind, gently stroking her legs. She got goosebumps with those big, rugged hands running all over her skin.

She didn’t think she could stop his hands. His soft voice rang in her ears as she held her breath, tensed.

“You don’t like it?”

“If I don’t like it, can I say no?”

Evely turned her head and made eye contact with him. The eyes looking down at her were wide and indolent.

“Say no?” he burst into a smirk as if she was acting cute.

This small, thin maid.

The more his eyes stared at her, the more she became submissive. She wasn’t crying, but her eyes seemed to be agitated. No, maybe it was her body that was agitated.

“Of course, you can say no. But it’s my choice to accept that rejection.”

She froze as he whispered teasingly and grabbed her behind. Compared to his size, he quite likes how her voluminous behind would fit softly in his large hands. Staring at her trembling back, he lowered Evely’s underwear and began rubbing her cl*t.

Evely’s eyes widened at what happened in a flash. Her legs weakened. If it weren’t for his hands, she would have collapsed.

“Ma-Master.”

Evely stuttered. As his moves got rougher, she got wet at a rapid pace as if used to it by now. Unlike how she said she didn’t want to, her lower half was dripping below.

“Stop talking, do what you have to do.” He’s touching her intimately, but still wants her to clean up his desk.

She was so eager to ask why, but she couldn’t disobey his order. Evely picked up the pen right in front of her. The moment she stuck it in the pen rack, one of his long fingers thrust into her tender flesh.

Her hands on the desk shook at the unexpected intrusion.

“Come on.”

She began organizing the desk again, but she couldn’t concentrate. She was pretending to be working, but in reality, she was only trying to get through this.

Each time, the sensation of his fingers digging in became clearer. Evely couldn’t even move her hands anymore.

“No way.”

“No way?”

“I can’t do-“

“I don’t like this arrangement. Just pour me some tea into an empty glass.”

His tone made it seem like he was being generous. Doesn’t he know that the arrangement wasn’t good enough because he was stirring her up?