“Please, let go. Don’t make me hate you any more than I already do.” Adelaide had risked her life in exchange for playing the role of the Duchess, but she never had any intention of loving Klaus. He was a Northern noble with an elegant facade, yet lacking in any true nobility. Dealing with such a Duke was always a source of embarrassment for Adelaide, who had lived her whole life as a noble lady. They were merely using each other. So there was no way that this could be love, just something as insignificant as that. “You mean something to me.” The more she fell for him, the deeper she fell, everything became a mess. Like an uncontrollable fire. “Do you have any value other than yourself?” Klaus sharply rebuked her with his lips against her throat. “I want everything from you, even your very breath. How is this not love?” “You’re completely insane…” In the worst possible way, you made me realize. The fact that all we have left between us is nothing but hatred.