Hans's Theory of Responsibility
Hans's Theory of Responsibility. At the Viscount of Ludel's estate, Hans straightened his clothes and stepped down from the carriage. His legs were trembling, but he couldn't let it show. Mari had already returned to her perfect maid persona as if nothing had happened. Only her slightly flushed cheeks and a few stray strands of hair proved what had just occurred between them. She led Hans to Ophilia's office without a word.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
When Hans opened the door and entered, Ophilia rose from her seat and greeted him with formal courtesy.
"I've been waiting for you, Mr. Hans."
Her voice was calm, but the glance she stole toward Mari standing by the door was trembling with anxiety. Mari bowed her head and closed the door.
Click.
The moment the door shut completely, Ophilia's mask fell away.
"Mr. Hans...!"
She practically staggered as she rushed forward and buried her face in his chest. The rich scent of her perfume washed over him, along with the soft warmth of a noblewoman's skin.
"I missed you so much... Why did you take so long to come?"
Ophilia's eyes were moist. She pulled Hans toward the table. There, a pile of silver coins waited—twice as much as last time. Forty silver coins. About four hundred thousand won in Korean money. Hans's eyes widened.
"This is..."
"I won't mince words."
Ophilia took Hans's hand and pressed it against her lower belly.
"Today... is a safe day."
Her gaze trembled with desperate longing.
"Please hold me. This body that my husband won't even look at... I'm going mad from the loneliness."
It was the raw cry of a woman consumed by solitude, stripped of her noblewife facade. Hans's heart ached at her desperation. It wasn't just about the money.
"My lady..."
He wiped away her tears and gently kissed her. The kiss quickly grew fierce. Hans reached for the zipper of her dress and pulled it down.
Shhhk.
Her voluptuous breasts, previously restrained by the corset, spilled out with a heavy bounce.
"Ah... my breasts... touch them more..."
Ophilia guided his hands to her chest as she moaned. Hans took her nipple into his mouth and rolled it with his tongue.
"Haaang! Yes... it feels so good..."
Ophilia's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling hard. He slid his hand lower, slipping beneath her skirt. She was already soaked, like a flood had broken through. Hans probed her entrance with his fingers, checking her readiness.
"You're more than ready."
Hans lowered his pants. Ophilia lay back on the sofa and spread her legs wide to welcome him.
"Hurry... please put it in quickly..."
Hans spread her thighs apart and thrust deep inside her.
Thrust!
"Ahk!"
Ophilia's body arched like a bow. He gazed into her eyes as he began to move—slowly at first, then with deep, heavy strokes. The sound of flesh slapping against flesh and their ragged breathing filled the room.
"Love me... make me feel like a woman..."
At her plea, Hans picked up the pace.
Smack, smack, smack!
"My lady... you are the finest woman there is."
Hans offered the flattery while pounding into her. The taboo thrill of a commoner like himself ravishing a noblewoman—the lord's own wife—only heightened his pleasure.
"Harder... harder! Ruin me!"
Ophilia begged with her eyes rolling back. The elegant noblewife's mask had shattered completely. She wrapped her legs around his waist, grinding her hips to pull him even deeper. Hans responded to her thirst by thrusting even harder.
Smack, smack, smack!
With every impact, beastly moans tore from Ophilia's throat. He was at his limit. Hot lava surged up from deep within his lower belly.
It's supposed to be a safe day... but is this really okay?
A flicker of hesitation crossed his mind, but scorching desire quickly devoured his reason.
I'm just a commoner, and she's a noble lady. I'm in no position to talk about responsibility. My role is simply to give her what she wants... to fill this moment for her.
It was a cowardly rationalization, but in this instant, even that cowardice tasted sweet.
"My lady... I'm coming! Take it all!"
Hans held her tight as he released deep inside her.
Spurt, spurt!
Ophilia raked her nails down his back and let out a long, shuddering moan. When it was over, she refused to leave his embrace.
"Don't go... just a little longer..."
She had completely surrendered to him, not just physically but emotionally as well.
When Hans left the office, his legs were shaking again. Eila, Mari, Ophilia. Three times in one day, and he'd gone all out each time.
At this rate, I'm really going to die from overexertion.
Hans straightened his clothes and headed toward Elise's room. Naturally, Mari was supposed to accompany him as a chaperone. But at the end of the hallway, another maid came running, her face deathly pale.
"Mari, it's terrible! The viscount is drunk again and causing a scene at the main gate...!"
Mari's brow furrowed. She shoved Hans against the wall and warned him in a low, icy voice.
"Do not cross the line. If you so much as touch a single hair on the young lady, I will castrate you for real. Hold out until I return after cleaning this up."
Mari vanished like a storm. Left alone, Hans opened the door to Elise's room.
"Your Grace! You've come!"
Elise rushed toward him as if she'd been waiting and clung to his arm. Then she noticed the empty space behind him and tilted her head.
"Oh? Where's Mari? Why did you come alone?"
Hans broke into a cold sweat and made up an excuse.
"Ah, well... the viscount is causing a bit of a disturbance at the main gate... Miss Mari went to handle it urgently."
The moment she heard that, Elise's eyes sparkled like stars.
"Oh my! Father again? Then Mari won't be back for a while?"
She clasped her hands together, overcome with emotion.
"Your Grace! It's finally just the two of us! I'm so happy Mari isn't here!"
She sat Hans down on the sofa and gazed at him with dreamy eyes.
"I... I've never even kissed anyone before. Everyone treats me like a child... If even Your Grace doesn't see me as a woman, then I..."
Tears welled up in her eyes. Elise subtly grabbed the collar of Hans's shirt and pulled him closer.
"Please confirm it for me. That I am a woman."
Her gaze was fixed on his lips. A gaze full of yearning. Hans's resolve weakened.
A kiss... that should be fine, right?
The moment he leaned in to carefully kiss Elise, a sudden ominous premonition flashed through his mind.
"Um, my lady. If we kiss... what happens after that?"
Elise smiled brightly and answered.
"Marriage, of course! And if you kiss... you get a baby, right? Hehe. I've already picked out names for our child!"
"......!!"
Hans recoiled in horror, pressing himself against the back of the sofa.
Is she crazy? She actually believes kissing causes pregnancy?!
If he kissed her now, he'd become the protagonist of a trashy drama—cheating with a married woman, then marrying her daughter and having a child with her. From that moment on, Hans's desperate defense against kissing began.
"Ah, I'm not mentally prepared yet..."
"A sacred ritual like that should happen on the wedding day..."
Hans used every excuse he could think of to protect his lips. Elise persistently thrust her lips forward, charging at him.
"Just once! Just one little kiss!"
"Absolutely not! I must protect your purity, my lady!"
Hans desperately held her off, blocking her lips with his palm. Just then, the door burst open and Mari rushed back in, panting.
"Young lady!"
She saw Hans blocking Elise's lip attacks with his palm and let out a sigh of relief.
At least... he's not completely devoid of decency. He kept his promise.
Seven o'clock in the evening. The Moonlight Shelter inn. Hans returned to the inn completely drained.
"I'm back..."
"Welcome home, Mr. Hans."
Masa greeted him warmly, but her expression was dark. So many women had come looking for him during the day... It felt like her heart was rotting away. A warm dinner was laid out on the table, but she could only pick at it.
Plop.
A single tear suddenly fell from Masa's eye, sending ripples across her bowl of soup.
"Masa? What's wrong?"
Hans set down his spoon in alarm. Masa confessed through her sobs.
"Mr. Hans... you're so popular. All those young, pretty girls lining up for you... A widow like me must be way down on the list, right?"
Her shoulders shook.
"I'm scared. Scared that one day you'll abandon me and leave."
Hans's heart ached. While he was out there exhausting himself, this woman had been suffering alone with anxiety. He made up his mind.
"Masa. Finish your meal and come upstairs with me. I have something to tell you."
In the second-floor room, Hans sat Masa on the bed and took both her hands firmly in his. He looked straight into her eyes.
"Listen carefully, Masa. The first woman I fell for after coming to Ludel was you. You were also my first."
He pressed her hand against his chest. His heart was pounding wildly.
"You are my eternal number one, Masa. No one can ever take your place. Not any young woman, no matter how pretty."
Masa's eyes widened.
"Is that... really true?"
"Yes. And..."
Hans declared with solemn determination.
"I've been releasing inside you this whole time. I'll keep doing it without pulling out. So if you ever get pregnant..."
He didn't look away from her eyes.
"I will take full responsibility until the end. For both you and the child. I'll work until my bones break to provide for you."
The trap was that he held the same feelings for the other women too, but at least in this moment, he was completely sincere. This was Hans's octopus-style theory of responsibility.
"Mr. Hans..."
Masa threw herself into his arms, deeply moved.
"I love you... I really do..."
The two of them fell onto the bed, feeling each other's warmth.
"Tonight... don't go anywhere."
Masa whispered as she undressed him. Hans smiled and embraced her.
"I won't. I'll stay right by your side."
The fourth time that day. But Hans didn't feel tired. Because this was the weight of being the head of a family.