“He can’t possibly be interested in me! I-it can’t be…”

“Alright. If  I prove to you that he’s interested in you, then will you?”

Ellen shook her head. He was being absurd. In the first place, she did not even think his interest would last very long either.

She didn’t want to look stupid. To seduce the Duke, what nonsense!

“Of course, he’s not as charming and handsome as I am. I understand your hesitation. You can’t even imagine holding him, can you?”

Ellen’s face glowed red. Never would she tell him she did imagine the two people hugging her! But River smiled as if he had already discovered the truth from her facial expression.

“Or are you already all hot and bothered just thinking of being hugged by two men?”

His hand went down her back in the blanket and stroked over her buttocks. Her body naturally flinched, and her breathing broke out.

“He likes when a woman does him with her mouth, but in fact, here is his favorite. He likes to fill that narrow space. If you stick this cute ass out on him, he’ll never resist.”

“No, no. It can’t be…”

Ellen tried to avoid his fingers fiddling her hips. With no concession, he slowly inserted it inside her softened area. Like a cat, her body arched backward, and she sobbed.

“Shall we make a bet? If my brother stays unmoved after seeing this cute part of you, I’ll give up what I suggested earlier. The two of us can just happily enjoy it. But if he gives in….”

Ellen’s eyes, wet with excitement, faced him. With a bright smile, River pushed his finger deeper and wriggled it. She gasped.

“Then you’re in both of our possessions. What do you say?”

It was a stupid thing to do. She had professed herself a fool.

No one wants a woman like her. No, yes. River seemed to be interested in her. He even had the wild idea that the duke was interested in her! If it was not the proof that he thought too highly of her, then what was it?

Or, by any chance, were the two brothers trying to make fun of her? Ellen hesitated for a moment. It was a possibility…except for the fact that the Duke was too busy to do such a thing. To ensure the protection of the royal family on the Kingdom Foundation Day is not an easy task. Both the Duke and River were busy, the first one having meetings with the king every day, and the other supervising work and deploying soldiers. So it was unlikely they would play a joke on her.

No matter how hard she thought about it, it was foolish.

She would get in and exchange a few words, and if the duke did not show interest, she would quickly retreat. All she needed was for the Duke to tell River he was not interested.

“Oh, what are you doing in front of the Duke’s room? Don’t you fear showing him your hideous self?”

At the sound of the shrill voice, Ellen looked up. Countess Bryson in a fancy dress and accompanied by her maid came towards Ellen and stopped in front of her. From her perfectly shaped and decorated hair to the addition of a beauty mark, today as well she looked impeccably beautiful.

Countess Bryson looked at Ellen from head to toe, then snorted and turned around.

“Are you expecting to get a hold of the Duke? Then why don’t you wake up? Before the Duke feel disgusted with something like you.”

Normally, Ellen would have been hurt by her harsh words. But the duke was a man who knew his brother’s scars very well. He certainly was not one to feel disgusted by her own scars. She was very sure of it.

“I’m here because he called me. It’s none of your business.”

The countess rolled her eyes as if she is dumbfounded by the fact that she had answered and leaned towards the maid of honor.

“What did you just say, you arrogant wench?! The Duke called you?”

“He probably has an unimportant task to ask of me. Go ahead and go in, ma’am. It is not of your concern.”

The maid whispered to the countess. She nodded, snobbishly turned again and greeted the soldiers guarding the duke’s room with a quick nod.

“Lady Bryson is here to see the Duke. Please open the door,” said the maid as she walked forward.