At perfect timing, Lexion wrapped his arm around her waist and buried his face into her shoulder.
“Mm, I’m here, honey.”
“Where have you been until now… Wait, did you just come in through the window?”
“Yeah. I figured if I got caught, I wouldn’t be able to leave again. I just stopped by for a bit. Needed a recharge from seeing you.”
At his petulant tone, Milena let out a sigh.
“What’s keeping you so busy?”
“I know, right? Even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough.”
He murmured into her shoulder, voice muffled. Milena stroked his soft silver hair, carrying the scent of winter.
As he inhaled deeply, it felt like his lungs filled to the brim with her white mana. Lexion savored the warm energy he held close, eyes hazy as he asked,
“How about you? Is everything okay here? Are you uncomfortable at all?”
He felt guilty for not being able to look after her himself amidst his hectic schedule. If she said she was unhappy here, he was prepared to move her elsewhere.
“Everyone’s been overly kind. Oh, and I met Sir Sharfel too.”
“Really? What did my brother say?”
“He already knew about our one-year contract.”
“That bastard Gérard must’ve reported it.”
“I thought you told your brother everything since you two are close.”
“Hah. No matter how close brothers are, we don’t share our private lives.”
Like lovers reunited after a long absence, they spent the short time together sharing the moments they’d missed. Before long, he sat down and pulled her into his lap.
“At first, I was nervous, but now it feels like I’ve gained a big brother. And the rest of your family’s wonderful too.”
“Hm, I’m jealous now.”
He said he was jealous, yet his face looked utterly pleased. That made Lexion even more endearing to her.
“What about me, honey? Didn’t you miss me?”
Ah, now she understood the cause of the odd emptiness she’d been feeling while staying here. Everything had been comfortable, but the part that couldn’t be filled was due to Lexion.
His presence had a far greater impact on her than she realized. With that late realization, his arms felt even more secure.
‘I’ve been thinking about him a lot.’
She chuckled to herself. Perhaps because the place was unfamiliar, she had leaned on Lexion more than she expected.
“Why are you laughing? Did I say something funny?”
“No reason.”
Milena lowered her gaze and fiddled with his cravat. His delicate features, broad shoulders, the smooth yet firm feel of his embrace—she had grown fond of it all.
“No reason?”
“Your arms just feel comfortable now.”
Lexion, staring at her shadowed lashes, swallowed hard. Her wickedly sweet words stirred a powerful desire from deep within. He pressed his throbbing temple, trying with superhuman effort to hold himself back. If he started, he wouldn’t be able to stop until morning. His voice naturally dropped into a husky tone.
“Hah… I have to leave soon.”
“Okay. Take care.”
“So cold… seriously.”
He felt petty, like he was the only one desperate. He bit her bare earlobe in frustration.
“Mm—”
His lazily lidded red eyes, like those gazing at a ripe fruit, began to burn. As his face slowly drew closer, she closed her eyes.
His hot tongue slid between their lips, diving in deep. As his wild mana absorbed her white mana, she instinctively lowered her head… no, she drooled and submitted.
Ugh. Like a damn dog. Didn’t they say magic often reflects its master?
His hand supporting her back slowly traced her spine, slipping under the thin negligee over her thigh. Just as it was about to move further, he clenched his fist tightly.
He praised his own self-control in his mind and ended the kiss with a final, pressing movement.
Breathless, he pulled away and regretfully licked her plump lips with his red tongue, savoring her like a sweet candy. While doing so, he slipped a ring onto her finger.
“This is a gift.”
“Huh?”
“A wedding present. It has the same magic as your old wooden ring, so it’ll hide your white mana.”
Still dazed by his warmth, Milena blinked slowly and looked down at her hand. The wooden ring had vanished, replaced with a green-glowing ring on her fourth finger. The weight was substantial, and her previously dazed eyes sparkled with joy. Milena beamed brightly at her first real gift.
“It’s beautiful.”
God, she’s going to drive me crazy. Did she even realize how powerful her smile was?
“Thank you, Lexion.”
Seeing such pure happiness on the usually expressionless woman’s face shattered the last of his self-control in an instant.
“Sorry, but I’m just gonna be a damn dog now.”
He couldn’t resist and kissed her again. Holding her tightly, he stood up and laid her on the bed with eyes burning with passion.
The air was thick with desire. In their heated, desperate kisses, body heat and emotion tangled together intensely.
.
.
.
Morning had come.
“….”
Milena sat blankly, replaying last night in her head, face flushed red. At the critical moment, when the red earring dangling from his ear sparkled, Lexion had cursed under his breath and left.
They hadn’t gone all the way, but his touch was so seductive and overwhelming, she’d nearly lost herself. She feared she might become addicted to the pleasure he gave.
“Haa… I can’t let myself get used to this.”
No woman could resist eyes that looked at her like she was his whole world.
“Young Madam! Are you awake?”
At the knock, she quickly sat up—then stopped. Glancing down at her body, she immediately covered herself with the blanket.
“Jenny, can you bring me a robe?”
“Pardon? Ah—yes!”
As she covered the lingering marks on her skin with the blanket, she thanked Jenny and slipped on the robe while the maid prepared her bath. Why does he like leaving marks so much?
“All done!”
“Thanks. Oh—by the way, what happened with the intelligence guild?”
“Huh? Oh, that… Young Master Lexion hasn’t returned yet, so, um… Is it urgent?”
As she headed into the bathroom, Milena gave Jenny a look.
“That’s strange, Jenny. Lexion told me to do whatever I needed. I don’t need his permission to go to the intelligence guild.”
“Ah, yes! Of course, you don’t—”
“Mm, I’m going out today, so get things ready.”
Without seeing Jenny’s panicked expression, she went into the bathroom.
Outside, Jenny stomped her feet in frustration. She hadn’t heard from Gérard or Lexion. If Milena ended up going to the guild and got caught—what then?! With a teary face, Jenny reluctantly started preparing for her mistress’s outing.
Then, a bit of good news arrived.
“Young Madam, you have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
She didn’t know many people in the capital.
“They said they had a prior appointment with you from Madam Blanc.”
The timing was perfect. Just as she was preparing to leave, Blanc had arrived. Milena let out a soft sigh.
“Tell them to come in.”
“Yes, I’ll let them know.”
At her permission, two carriages entered the Duke’s estate. Blanc’s staff began unloading clothing into the parlor. The clothes were all for a young boy.
It seemed Blanc had taken her earlier warning to heart. Holding Ashedel’s hand, she walked in to see Blanc bowing politely.
“Thank you for having me, Madam.”
Tall and impeccably dressed in a sleek three-piece suit, Blanc had tied her usually loosely braided white hair into a neat bun. Radiating a masculine aura, she bowed respectfully, her usual mischief nowhere in sight.
“This is an apology for my earlier rudeness. I hope it pleases you.”
Looking at the neatly arranged outfits for Ashedel, Milena glanced at the boy. They had been short on clothing for him. Again—great timing. But this time, in a good way.
“Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen Madam Blanc speak normally!”
Jenny whispered in awe, and Milena smiled, accepting Blanc’s greeting.
“Seeing your sincerity, I’ll forgive your earlier rudeness. But only once. Don’t expect a second chance.”
Blanc, who had kept her head bowed the whole time, straightened up with a slight smile, the heavy mood instantly lightened.
“Well then, shall we start with the young master’s clothes?”
All of Ashedel’s clothes, supposedly ready-made, fit him like tailored pieces, and every design suited him perfectly.
“I’ll take them all.”
“Oh my, as expected of the Silbert family’s daughter-in-law—you’re so generous. Now then, shall we pick out your dresses, Madam?”
