Ch.75Rael’s Plan (4)

The carriage, which had never stopped since leaving the Royal Capital, finally came to a halt.

When I slightly parted the thick curtain covering the window, I could see the ocean in the distance and a massive mansion right in front of us.

We had finally arrived at the Duchy of Gideon’s vacation home overlooking the sea.

“Lael, wake up.”

I gently shook her as she slept leaning against my shoulder.

I had wanted to chat about various things during the journey, but…

Unfortunately, she seemed quite tired and kept dozing off, so I offered her my shoulder.

She must have woken up early to prepare herself, so this was my way of showing appreciation for her effort to look pretty.

When I woke her, she blinked her eyes and smacked her lips.

“Oh!”

She jumped in surprise when our eyes met and quickly turned her head away.

She wiped her mouth with her hand—she must have drooled a bit.

I wasn’t particularly bothered by her drooling since I’d seen it countless times during our adventures.

No, this was actually more like the real Lael.

Until now, things had felt a bit awkward.

Thinking she was now comfortable, Lael turned to face me again. She smiled.

I was momentarily captivated by that beautiful smile before breaking into laughter.

The red color she had applied to her lips had smudged slightly to the side.

Had she forgotten proper noble lady etiquette after all our adventures?

With that thought, I reached out, placed my hand on her cheek, and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with my thumb.

The smudged red color gradually disappeared, and her lips returned to their pretty state as if nothing had happened.

“Crow…”

Lael called my name pleadingly.

Though it wasn’t my intention, there had clearly been physical contact, and a peculiar atmosphere began to flow between us. She thought I was asking for something.

Since I touched her lips, she probably thought I wanted a kiss.

The heart follows the mood, and actions follow the heart.

When I tilted my head, signaling my intention to kiss her, Lael gently closed her eyes, ready to accept it.

Her small, cute lips and mine began to draw closer, with just one final step remaining.

Knock knock—

Someone knocked on the carriage door.

Startled, both Lael and I opened our eyes and stared at each other for a moment.

Then we hurriedly separated and returned to our original seats.

Not side by side, but across from each other as we had been before departure.

“Let’s go out.”

Lael, who had suddenly reverted to her role as the duke’s daughter, said this as the door opened, revealing four servants and a butler bowing their heads.

After exiting the carriage with me, Lael stopped in front of them.

“I’ve already communicated the plan, but I’ll say it once more. From today for about four days. Except for bringing my friends tomorrow, I will not permit anyone to remain here.”

Her voice was resolute.

It conveyed her determination not to allow any objections.

The servants and butler of the Gideon family naturally wouldn’t dare go against their master’s will.

They all bowed their heads, simply waiting for her next words.

Of course, they must have had their opinions.

After all, it seemed absurd to leave their master, a duke’s daughter, alone.

However, they couldn’t possibly voice such thoughts.

If she wished for them not to speak, it was the duty of servants and butlers to comply.

Click.

Lael took a step forward and spoke.

“Then you may all return. Please focus only on bringing my friends tomorrow.”

“Yes, Lady Lael.”

The white-haired butler’s response was brief and concise, yet respectful and courteous.

It was evident how long he had served the Gideon family without even asking.

The dignity of a ducal house.

I could vaguely sense it from him as well.

Leaving him behind, Lael and I headed toward the vacation home.

Click. Click.

Each time her shoes touched the ground, a cheerful sound echoed.

Upon reaching the entrance, Lael extended her hand and pulled the massive door.

Creeeeak—

The firmly closed door opened, revealing an immaculate, luxurious interior without a speck of dust.

With that as her backdrop, she lightly grasped the hem of her skirt, spread it slightly to the side, and bowed her head in greeting.

“Thank you so much for accepting my invitation today.”

I took in her appearance.

The elegance emanating from her restrained movements made her look even more beautiful, and combined with the antique interior, she resembled a painting.

It was hard to see her as just an adventurer anymore.

A shy noble girl who wanted love and wanted to give love.

At least to me, that’s how she appeared right now.

Perhaps sensing my dazed stare, Lael expressed her confusion.

“Crow? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…”

I let my words trail off as I looked around.

‘No one’s here.’

While we were standing there, the carriage carrying the servants had already departed.

I had tried to restrain myself with many eyes watching, but…

This must be some divine sign telling me not to hold back.

Whether from an evil god or a holy one, it didn’t matter.

Even if there were no gods and things just happened to flow well, it didn’t matter.

What remained unchanged was my desire for the lady before me, the duke’s daughter.

I began to move forward.

Striding purposefully toward her, matching my desire for her.

Click—

Startled, she stepped back.

However, her face was smiling, and her eyes revealed that she wanted something.

Unable to escape far, she was caught by me.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her into the building. Then I pushed her against the nearest wall.

It wasn’t a premeditated action.

I just wanted to prevent her from running away and keep her from moving.

I had never considered myself someone who gets excited by restraining others.

I had always thought people who did such things were crazy, but now I was clearly in a state of extreme excitement.

It wasn’t that they were normal; I had departed from my normal state.

Our heavy breaths intertwined, and she gently raised her chin, relaxing her previously closed lips.

Whatever she had applied to her lips gave them an alluringly reddish tint that had been tempting me since morning.

There were too many eyes watching for us to get intimately involved, and our relationship couldn’t be discovered.

At least not by the Gideon family.

I was confident I could withstand pressure from the ducal house, but I had too many things at stake.

Things I couldn’t give up.

The students, my professorship, Riano, Elin, Derin.

And the woman before me, wanting a kiss.

I had intended to kiss her in the carriage, but someone had frustratingly interrupted.

Because of that, I was in quite a disgruntled state.

That emotion burst forth into action, and I roughly covered her lips with mine.

My larger lips devoured her smaller ones, and she fiercely resisted in return.

It was amusing.

She adjusted to me in everything else, but when it came to kissing, she tried to win.

However, I had no intention of losing.

I decided to exact revenge.

I planned to clearly and definitively punish her for stealing a bread crumb near my lips with her tongue.

My tongue advanced through the gap already made slick by our saliva.

Startled, she opened her eyes wide, looked at me, and locked her teeth like a barrier.

But I persisted, continuing to knock on that door.

Wasn’t this what you wanted?

When I gave her that look, she slightly, just a little, unlocked the barrier and accepted me.

I don’t really know how to do this properly.

So I can’t judge whether it’s good or bad.

But one thing I know for certain:

The feeling of tongue against tongue sends a wild thrill throughout the body.

Just a slight touch, and I felt a tingling sensation around my nape.

Our tongues, which had momentarily pulled back with a slight twitch, slowly, slowly came together again.

Awkwardly but earnestly, they intertwined to feel each other.

Is what I’m feeling now love?

It’s hot and intense.

It feels like my brain is on fire.

My entire body is dominated by desire, wanting her on its own.

After craving each other for a while…

“Haa…”

She separated her lips and exhaled roughly. And simultaneously, she collapsed to the floor.

The sensation was like being hit in the brain as I looked down at her flushed, reddened face, tears welling in her eyes.

I now understand why Riano called her a fox.

I’m enchanted just by observing her actions and making eye contact.

I extended my hand to her.

I couldn’t leave my fox collapsed on the floor.

“Are you okay?”

“Crow…”

She gave me a pitiful look, grabbed my hand, and stood up.

A simple action of helping someone who had fallen.

But for us right now, it held a deeper meaning.

Once held, our hands refused to separate, as if glued together.

Her body heat transferred to me through our hands, and she buried her face against my chest.

I feel love.

It’s as if her emotions are being transmitted to me, like a massive wave rushing in.

With her face still against my chest, she looked up to meet my eyes and said,

“All the dates others had that I missed until now… Can I make up for them all today?”

It was clearly a jealous remark, but…

I didn’t mind.

“As much as you want.”