Battle Divorce! - Chapter 12

Chapter 6.2

Maxim von Waldeck seemed to have a knack for making even the simplest words sound terrifying. He tossed around his absurd reasoning like it was second nature, almost making it feel like an assault and leaving Daisy unable to lower her guard for even a second.

“And that’s not all. Every single night, without fail, I would see you in my dreams, Izzy.”

“….”

“Oh, and in case you’re wondering… they were very dirty dreams.”

Even as he uttered such shameless words, Maxim didn’t so much as blink. If anything, his gaze was deadly serious.

“I know it sounds strange at first, but you’ll get used to it the more you hear it.”

Because I’ll keep calling you Izzy every time I see you.

Maxim whispered smoothly into her ear.

“So, just relax, Izzy. Let’s take some time to get to know each other.”

As he reached to pull down her last shoulder strap, Daisy frantically grabbed his hand.

“W-wait…!”

“Hm? What is it now?”

His warm breath brushed her ear.

Why is he breathing into my ear?!

With his mischievous teasing, her entire ear flushed hot.

Startled, Daisy shrank back, her shoulders tensing. Despite her defensive reaction, Maxim continued, kissing down her neck gently and steadily.

“Oh, are you upset about being the only one with a nickname?”

“Huh? I-I mean… yes!”

“Then give me a nickname too, Izzy. To make it fair.”

“No, that’s not what I meant—”

“Max? Just pick something you like.”

Max? That sounds like a guard dog’s name.

“Ah, Max it is then. Call for me whenever you like, I don’t care what time it is. I’ll come running like a loyal dog.

No, if anything, Maxim von Waldeck’s gaze was less like a loyal dog’s and more like a mad dog’s. A mad dog that would crush its master’s neck without hesitation.

“Call me Max. Max. Okay?”

This wasn’t a suggestion; it was practically an order.

“Ah… ah!”

Finally, he hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her to the bed. As soon as she was tossed onto the soft bedding, Maxim climbed on top of her, pinning her wrists.

“To tame a dog, you need to start by calling it by name.”

“Haa, hng, w-wait…!”

“See? This mutt dared to climb all over its master. So, what are you going to do about it?”

He was calling her the “master,” yet he looked down at her with all the arrogance of one himself. No matter how hard she struggled, his sheer strength left her completely immobilized. He nuzzled into her neck, planting soft kisses before he playfully tugged on her shoulder strap, pulling at it with his teeth.

‘This crazy bastard!’

It was overwhelming. The weight pressing against her stomach nearly made her faint.

It was big. So big that if it slipped between her legs, she was certain she’d tear.

No matter what she did, nothing seemed to work. What should I do? Should I knee him in the groin?

But then what? Would that really stop his relentless…?

Forget it, she didn’t know anymore. She just felt utterly helpless, and all she wanted to do was cry.

‘…Should I just start crying?’

In that instant, Daisy remembered a girl at the orphanage named Vicky, who would cry whenever she found herself in a tough situation.

“Vicky, why do you keep crying?”

“It’s a secret.”

“I promise to keep your secret safe. Come on, you can tell your big sister.”

When Daisy gently coaxed her, Vicky responded with a cute smirk.

“When I cry… at least someone will listen to me.”

So that’s why. Back then, Daisy felt sorry for her, so she hugged her and patted her gently, trying to offer her some comfort.

She found a strategy in those words.

“Your big sister will listen to you even if you don’t cry. So, no more tears, okay?”

“Really? You’ll really listen, even if I don’t cry, Sister Daisy?”

“Of course. I promise. Pinky swear?”

“…Okay!”

When their pinkies interlocked, Vicky immediately stopped crying and smiled shyly. She looked so adorable.

Thinking about it now, Vicky hadn’t been wrong.

Sister Sophia used to say that sometimes children were the most intuitive and wise. When you cry, someone might stop to listen, and, honestly, there was no better way to get out of a sticky situation than with a couple of tears.

“M-Max…”

As Daisy called to him in a trembling voice, Maxim’s eyes widened slightly.