I flinched at the sudden closeness and turned my head in surprise.
“Just a little.”
“A little won’t be enough.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I don’t want my sincerity to be misunderstood because of a woman whose face I can’t even remember.”
“…I have never misunderstood your sincerity.”
How could I misunderstand when you always approach me so honestly?
I thought he had nothing in common with Lilien, but at times like this, it was clear they were siblings.
Edmund frowned slightly, as if displeased, and bent down. His silver hair cascaded over my forehead.
“Then, please look at me.”
As our bodies grew closer, my heart started to tremble. The suffocating tension made me stubbornly stare into the air.
“Etricia.”
Then, in a fervent voice, he urged me on while rubbing the inside of my wrist.
Hearing my name, my heart pounded, and I slowly turned my head toward him.
The next moment, I found myself staring at his enchanting figure, my mind growing hazy. His face was partially shadowed, but his eyes gleamed as if they held pieces of the full moon. They shone like the piercing gaze of a beast in the dark forest.
Edmund lowered his gaze slightly and tilted his face down. His nose brushed against my cheek before pulling away.
At a distance where his lips could touch mine at any moment, his face exuded a sensuality that overwhelmed all my senses—my sight, my breath, even my awareness.
“Love me.”
This time, his eyes held the certainty that I would accept him.
Caught in his golden gaze, I gazed up at him for a moment before closing my eyes.
With our eyes shut, our lips and noses brushed against each other in an agonizing tease. Even the lightest touch of his lips left me dazed.
When I let out a deep sigh, he, too, let out a sound akin to a suppressed groan.
His lips hovered over mine, brushing along the edges as if exploring. He seemed inexperienced, hesitant in his movements. Normally, I would have found it endearing and laughed, but right now, I had no room for such thoughts.
After tracing every curve of my lips as if memorizing them, he seemed to make up his mind and lifted my chin, pressing his lips firmly against mine. The soft sensation made my entire body burn.
Like a parched traveler, I rose onto my tiptoes to seek his lips. Responding eagerly, Edmund captured my lips, rubbing and nibbling them.
“Ah.”
When he bit my lower lip slightly harder, my lips naturally parted. He seized the moment, deepening the kiss. As if it had ignited something, his once gentle touch turned rough.
Overwhelmed by his force, I lost control. A shiver ran down my spine, and my mind blurred. All I could do was hold onto his shoulders for support.
As I stumbled backward, our lips parted with a soft sound. Gasping for air, I blinked open my eyes.
“W-Wait. A little slower—”
But he didn’t give me a moment to catch my breath. He frowned slightly before parting his lips again, as if ready to devour me. As my head kept tilting back from his force, his large hands wrapped around my waist and nape. Like a wave pulling me under, I was drawn into his embrace.
When our lips finally parted, I gasped for air and met his gaze.
In those deepened eyes filled with passion, I saw a woman with flushed cheeks and glistening jade eyes. His gaze, which had been scanning my face, gradually changed. As if suddenly realizing something, his eyes widened in shock.
I, too, snapped back to reality.
“Etricia—”
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, I fled the garden, leaving even my fallen shawl behind.
Like a rabbit running from a predator, I sprinted back to the mansion, where silence greeted me.
“Haa… Haa…”
I climbed the stairs, panting, supporting myself on my knees. My heart was pounding uncontrollably, but I couldn’t understand why.
My cheeks, the corners of my eyes, and every place he had touched burned with heat, driving me mad.
Desperately, I rubbed my face with my cool hands and glanced around the empty first floor.
Fortunately, the servants were all in the banquet hall. If anyone had seen my face, they would have thought I was feverish. Relieved, I climbed the stairs and reached my bedroom.
Just as I reached for the door, a hand grabbed mine from behind.
Startled, I turned around to see Edmund standing there. My heart sank for a completely different reason.
‘The kiss was already embarrassing enough—why did he follow me…?!’
Unlike me, who was flustered, Edmund calmly draped the shawl over my shoulders. His fingers brushing my skin sent a shiver through me, and I instinctively shrank away. His hand paused at the same moment. When I glanced up at him, his expression had stiffened, as if lost in thought. His lowered eyes were filled with guilt.
“I must have scared you.”
“You didn’t…!”
My voice was louder than expected, surprising both of us. We stared at each other with wide eyes before breaking into awkward laughter.
As he adjusted my shawl again, he spoke.
“I’m sorry. You were so beautiful that I lost myself.”
As if I weren’t already warm enough, my face grew even hotter. I deliberately looked away.
“…It’s okay.”
“I probably had no composure since it was my first time.”
“Your first time… even a light kiss?”
Edmund nodded. I stared at him; my mouth slightly open in surprise.
I had suspected as much, but hearing it from him directly was still shocking. Even someone without romantic experience usually had at least a kiss out of curiosity.
Noticing my surprise, Edmund rubbed his face. He muttered a small curse, as if regretting his words.
As I remained speechless, he glanced at me through his fingers, his ears turning red.
“…Is that strange?”
I nearly squealed from the cuteness. Just moments ago, he had been all instinct, and now he looked like this.
An unfamiliar sense of fulfillment filled me. Was being someone’s ‘first’ always this exhilarating?
And yet, despite his appearance, he had never even kissed someone before. The thought of the Edmund from the original story filled me with a mix of emotions.
“It’s possible. It’s not strange at all.”
Only then did Edmund relax and smile. His usually cold features softened with warmth, making it impossible to look away.
He took my hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of it.
His crescent-shaped eyes melted as he gazed at me with the tenderness of a lover. My heart pounded.
I quickly pulled my hand away and turned toward the door.
“…I should go in now. Good night.”
Then, I hurried into the bedroom as if running away. I was so flustered that my hand slipped while closing the door, and it shut with a loud bang.
“Uh…”
I was startled by how loud it was—right in front of his face, too.
‘I hope he’s not upset.’
There was no sound from the other side, so I couldn’t tell. I stared at the door for a moment, then pressed my ear against it to listen.
“Etricia.”
Startled by the sudden voice, I bumped into the door with a loud thud. I heard him chuckling from outside.
“I thought I forgot to say good night.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
‘So embarrassing.’
He must’ve known I was eavesdropping, judging by his laugh. Still, I bit my lip and held my breath, pretending I wasn’t there.
Then I heard Edmund’s footsteps approaching the door.
His husky voice sounded like a whisper right in my ear.
“And…”
Rustle. I heard the soft sound of skin brushing against the wood. The door creaked faintly too, as if he was leaning his hand or forehead against it.
“Next time, I won’t leave so quietly.”
“…”
My mouth fell open.
‘Does he even realize what that means?’
While I was still dazed, I heard his footsteps slowly fade down the quiet hallway. I slid down against the door, covering my face with both hands.
‘You’re crazy. Crazy, Etricia.’
Once Edmund disappeared, reality hit me like a splash of cold water.
This wasn’t something I could excuse like I did back in the Buell estate with alcohol. The overlapping sensations—the warmth, the breath, the touch—came back to me vividly. So vivid, I could probably dream about it.
Just thinking about what happened made my heart beat slowly but clearly—thump, thump.
Edmund was not just my friend’s younger brother, or a benefactor, or a fellow soul bound by revenge and shared pain… Not anymore.
I lowered my hands and stared blankly at the ceiling. Then, with a loud thunk, I hit my head against the wooden door and sat there for a long time.
“Countess.”
“…”
“Countess?”
A refined voice brought me back to my senses.
Lady Wickley was in front of me, holding a teacup and gazing at me quietly. That’s when I realized—ah, right. I had come to ask for her permission to promote the LeBron ring at the outdoor party.
It was only proper to get the host’s consent. No one would feel good about their carefully prepared party being used for commercial purposes without their agreement.
I had just asked her for that permission… and yet, here I was.
I touched my forehead and gave her an awkward smile.
“I’m so sorry, Marchioness Wickley. I can’t believe I spaced out after coming to see you.”
The Marchioness gave a small smile and shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s fine. But Countess, you look a bit pale. I was starting to worry.”
“I just didn’t sleep well. Thank you for meeting me on such short notice.”
“You know you’re always welcome. And besides, you’re my savior.”
“Savior? Oh, no, that’s too much.”
“Thanks to you, I fully recovered. By the way, you’re staying at Duke Mipedian’s estate, aren’t you?”
Lady Wickley said, setting down her teacup.
