Breeding Instinct - Chapter 5: Full Moon II (6)

When evening came, Moritz headed to the dining hall in good spirits. He had imagined he might make her feel humiliated in front of all the household staff, but when he saw that only his own meal had been set on the table, he clicked his tongue.

Seems like the slave knows her place better than expected.
Feeling deflated and slightly annoyed, he subtly asked Landon, who was bringing over his food.

“That girl from earlier—where does she eat?”

“…Pardon me, young master, but… may I ask why you’re curious?”

Landon’s question reminded Moritz why he had left this house in the first place: even someone as kind as Landon would always prioritize his older brother’s orders above all else.

“Just curious. I thought she’d be joining me. Feels dull to eat alone.”

“Ah, I see. Then allow me to stay and keep you company. I’d love to hear about your time abroad.”

Though Landon’s warm suggestion lifted his mood a little, Moritz’s resentment still weighed heavier. He had grown up always being second. His parents had always favored his older brother, and everyone who approached him only ever asked about him.

Having rationalized all his bitterness, Moritz finished his meal quickly and headed to where he assumed the girl might be.

That maid from earlier had mentioned she spent most of her time in the Duke’s room.

“Who keeps a sex slave in their own bedroom? I didn’t think my brother could be this stupid.”

He had never even glanced at women before—so what sudden change had made him so protective of some lowly girl? It amused him, but more than that, it frustrated him.
Truth be told, he liked Kanna too.

Her face and figure could easily arouse any man. That faint gloom on her expression made her look like she’d be exquisite when crying. Her waist looked like it would fit in one hand, but her hips were round enough to make bending her over a sight worth seeing.

With those lewd thoughts in mind, he climbed to the upper floor, making his way to the room his father used to occupy. Since his brother was the heir, he had no real attachment to the dukedom itself—but in that moment, he found himself thinking: what if that room, and that girl, were mine instead?

If they were, he could’ve done whatever he pleased.

And not just while his brother was away—he wanted to play with her until his brother grew tired of her.

“A pathetic girl who couldn’t even introduce herself properly. Hmph… Maybe I’ll just take her. I wonder how my brother would react.”

If she disappeared from his sight, perhaps he’d come to his senses—or maybe even be relieved. Moritz wasn’t sure it was worth putting in so much effort just for the sake of his brother’s passing whims.

Without knocking, he flung the door open.

At that moment, the bedroom door burst open from inside, and Kanna hurriedly rushed out.

“Master, you’ve returned—”

Moritz realized she had mistaken him for his brother. Internally smirking, he kept his outward expression calm and friendly.

“Sorry to disappoint you. I’m not him.”

“Ah… n-no, young… young master.”

“You’re stammering an awful lot. You’re not ill, are you?”

“N-no, it’s not that…”

Kanna did tend to stutter when she got nervous, but she wasn’t sick. Still flustered, she somehow managed a response.

“That maid from earlier said something interesting. That you’re my brother’s sex slave—is that right?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Or are you just a regular slave?”

Feigning ignorance, Moritz walked across the parlor and took a seat on the sofa. He stared intently at Kanna, who remained frozen in front of the bedroom door.

It was true—his brother had an unusual taste. Not in a bad way, but in a good one. Where had he even found a woman with such an enigmatic air? If nothing else, it was just like his brother.

With a woman like that as his ideal type, it made sense why none of the noble ladies had ever caught his eye. It wasn’t every day you found someone who radiated both sensuality and innocence just by standing still.

“…I do belong to the master, young master,” Kanna finally said.

“Then, doesn’t that make you mine as well? I hold the Royce name, too.”

Kanna only nodded in response. It wasn’t wrong, after all.

“Well then, would you help me out for a bit?”

“With what…?”

“It’s nothing difficult, so don’t be scared. I just want to read in the study. All you have to do is stand by my side and bring me the books I name.”

“Ah, okay!”

Kanna smiled brightly, thinking how glad she was to have learned how to read. Seeing her gentle smile, Moritz felt a brief twinge of guilt. But it vanished just as quickly. The mere thought of seeing his brother’s twisted expression once he returned to the mansion made everything worth it.

“All right then, shall we?”

Moritz led Kanna to the study. And late into the night, he kept her standing by his side, reading book after book—almost like a punishment—before eventually dozing off right there on purpose.

Since he gave her no instruction to leave, Kanna had no choice but to stay by his side, wide awake, all night long.

* * *

Kanna, who hadn’t slept a wink, was finally able to return to the duke’s bedroom only after Moritz had gone back to his own quarters. Lacking any appetite, she told Marie she wouldn’t be having breakfast and lay down on the bed.

Just as she was about to drift into a sweet sleep, the door burst open—again without so much as a knock.

“Ah, sorry. Were you sleeping?”

At Moritz’s voice, Kanna jumped up.

“N-no, young master.”

“I haven’t been back in the capital for a while, so I’m not familiar with the area. Would you come with me to the tailor’s?”

“Um… that’s…”

Kanna couldn’t answer. Damian had clearly told her not to go outside. She hesitated, unable to speak, and Moritz, watching her with a blank expression, let his eyes wander around the duke’s bedroom—one he hadn’t entered in a long time.

Seeing Kanna in this space, which hadn’t changed since their parents used it, made him unreasonably angry. She looked out of place, like an intruder.

“But you’re a slave, right? Then why are you sleeping in my brother’s bedroom?”

“Ah, well…”

“I thought you said you don’t stutter. Then why can’t you answer a single question properly?”

Kanna found herself speechless in the face of Moritz’s changed tone. Though she had improved somewhat, she still found it difficult to deal with people. She had only just begun getting used to the servants of the duchy, and she had no idea how to handle someone like Moritz.

On top of that, her sleep-deprived mind was spinning with confusion.

“Whatever. If your master tells you to get ready, you do it. Isn’t that a slave’s duty?”

“…Yes.”

“Well, I’m a young master too. So quit the excuses and come with me.”

“Yes, young master.”

“There we go. Now you’re making sense.”

With a smirk, Moritz left the bedroom first. As Kanna followed him out, she belatedly noticed it wasn’t Marie waiting for her—it was Emma.

“Emma, dress Kanna.”

“Yes, young master.”

Following his orders, Emma dressed Kanna in an oversized, worn maid’s uniform she had prepared in advance. Seeing Kanna’s fair, unblemished body in the dressing room filled Emma with jealousy. She must’ve never worked under the scorching sun. Even her hands were pale and smooth, without any of the scars or calluses Emma had earned from hard labor.

Afterward, Emma deliberately tousled Kanna’s hair and tied it loosely with rough twine. Only once Kanna looked even more shabby than herself did she feel deeply satisfied.

And with that, she began venting her pent-up resentment over the scorn she’d received because of Kanna.

“Did you suck the master’s cock like I told you to? That’s how you got in his good graces, right? Then you’d better show your gratitude.”

Then, from the jewelry display at the center of the dressing room, Emma casually grabbed what looked like Kanna’s earrings and necklace and slipped them into her apron pocket.

“I’ll be taking these, okay? Thanks.”

Mocking Kanna, who couldn’t say a word in protest, Emma walked out. Kanna, once alone, checked the display and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the 50-carat blue sapphire necklace Damian had recently given her was still there.

She had no desire for the other jewelry—but this necklace, at least, she didn’t want to give to anyone.

“Hurry up.”

At Moritz’s impatient voice from outside, Kanna left the dressing room in a rush, not even checking how she looked.

Seeing the altered state of her appearance, Moritz felt his interest surge. He found himself impressed by Emma’s handiwork.

“Yes, this is how a slave should look.”

At the sting of his lascivious, sweeping gaze, Kanna shuddered. It had been a long time since she’d felt so exposed under someone’s judgmental eyes—and it was still hard to bear. But still, she wanted to make a good impression on Moritz, as he was Damian’s brother.

Unlike herself, who had been forced to sever ties with her own family, he was different. And if he was Damian’s only sibling, surely he must be someone precious to the master. That’s what she believed.

Moritz acted according to plan. Knowing Landon would never allow her to go outside, he had instructed another attendant to prepare a carriage and had sent Landon off on an errand.

He boarded the carriage with Kanna in tow—though, of course, he made a point of seating her not inside, but up beside the coachman, in a petty display of superiority.

During the brief moment they were apart, Kanna sprayed Damian’s cologne—kept hidden in her maid’s pocket—on her worn servant’s clothes. The familiar scent helped calm her nerves.

The carriage stopped in one of the most prestigious streets frequented by nobles. Moritz entered the men’s tailor he had frequented since before studying abroad. When Kanna tried to follow him inside, a hand yanked her collar from behind, pulling her back without resistance.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

The rough-looking doorman guarding the tailor shop shouted right in her face.

“Ah, I forgot. Let it go, just this once. She’s still new and doesn’t know any better.”

“Hmph. Well, if the young viscount says so, of course.”

“Haha, just like old times.”

Moritz had intentionally neglected to tell Kanna that this tailor was known for turning away commoners.

He gave the doorman a gold coin as a tip, then turned to Kanna.

“Kanna, just so you know—maids and servants aren’t allowed inside this place. You should remember that. And since you’re a slave, your status is even lower than theirs.”

The doorman, hearing this, gave Kanna a look filled with contempt. Suddenly surrounded by strangers, Kanna felt overwhelmed and just nodded silently.

“That kind of answer—who taught you that? It’s incredibly rude, you know.”

At the familiar tone—so much like Damian’s scoldings—Kanna turned pale and managed to speak only after a moment.

“S-sorry, young master.”

“There we go. I’m telling you now, so be careful next time.”

“You’re still too soft, young viscount. Slaves like this only learn through beatings.”

“You haven’t changed either, my man. I like that.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Though he himself was of common birth, Moritz deliberately stood Kanna in front of the doorman who took pleasure in scorning people like her.

“Kanna, don’t move from this spot. Wait here. I’ll come out after I’m fitted.”

“…Yes, young master.”

When Moritz noticed Kanna glancing nervously at the doorman across from her, he smirked and entered the tailor. Ah, she was the kind of woman who was fun to torment. Just the sight of her eyes welling up with tears had made him want to shove his cock in her mouth.

“Should I take her?”

He thought his brother’s reaction would be something worth seeing if that happened. With that thought, he followed the attendant and entered the VIP room.

He didn’t plan to come out for the next several hours.

* * *