The next morning, I left the mansion's front door wearing a red velvet dress with a white mink cape.
To head to Tempshire Palace. Servants brought out my luggage and loaded it into the trunk of a waiting black car. Sitting in the driver's seat was Noah's secretary, Vincent, whom I hadn't seen in a long time.
He greeted me with his still dry and indifferent face.
“It’s been a while.”
“Secretary Ford. How have you been?”
"No. I ran away from home at the age of thirty-three. How can I be okay? I'm sure my name has been erased from the Ford family forever by now."
While I was hesitating with nothing to say, Noah, who had gotten into the car late, leaned back on the seat and sighed.
“I don’t want to go.”
I don't want to go, so why are you dressed so nicely?
He wore a slim herringbone coat with a belt around his waist. The different color of the collar made it look like a uniform at first glance.
Her hair was swept back, as if he had used pomade, revealing a smooth forehead. Furthermore, his furrowed brows, slightly furrowed, made him already overflowing with decadence even more vivid, making it impossible to look away.
I tried to hide my fascination at first glance and cleared my throat.
“You’re dressed up nicely.”
Noah, who had been expressionless at the extremely restrained compliment, quickly smiled. He lifted his chin, stroked his neatly knotted four-hand tie, and proudly replied.
“I want to look cool because I’m going to be the Princess’s husband.”
“You look pretty even with your hair up.”
“Yeah. They say I look bad if I put my hair up, but do you like it better this way?”
He deliberately furrowed his eyebrows and raised one corner of his mouth. While I was pondering whether it would be more appropriate to cover it up or not, I heard Vincent's dry voice.
"Can I stay at the palace for a while? I have to work with Mr. Rotsilt anyway."
Vincent called Noah "Mr. Rotsilt." Despite his timid expression of discontent, Noah seemed unfazed.
"Yes."
As Noah nodded in response, a subtle joy flashed across Vincent's wheat-colored eyes.
I thought I heard a faint muttering, 'Your Excellency...'
He happily started the car.
The area around Tempshire Palace was certainly a thriving commercial district, filled with stylish people in trendy attire.
Men in classic attire with neatly slicked-back hair and glasses, perhaps because it's fashionable to look intellectual, and women dressed elegantly and luxuriously in clothes that emphasize functionality rather than just flashiness.
As an island nation, trade and shipping thrive, so civilization will likely develop rapidly. With abundant materials, there will be plenty to create.
As I entered the palace, past the guardsmen in red uniforms standing like toy soldiers, I was greeted warmly by Baroness Mason.
“Did you have any trouble getting here? I’ll show you the way.”
Her eyes rolled smoothly toward Vincent.
“Nice to meet you. I am Baroness Zelda Mason, knight and maid of honor to Her Majesty the Queen.”
"I'm Vincent Ford, Mr. Rotsilt's accountant, secretary, business partner, accident recovery worker, and all-around errand boy. I have more work to do, but I'll let you know when the opportunity arises."
“You work a lot. I do too.”
Vincent nodded at the Baroness's chuckling reaction, his expression indicating that it was not a joke at all.
The Baroque room she led me to was spacious and ornate, almost embarrassing. It was filled with polished mahogany furniture, and the windows were hung with crimson satin curtains.
Beneath the ivory wallpaper stood a carved alabaster sculpture, resembling a sprinkle of snow. The patterned marble floor was covered with an undeniably expensive imported carpet.
Even though they had prepared a luxurious room, Noah still looked dissatisfied.
“Why are there two beds?”
"Then, sleep on the left side one day and the right side the next. You can relax. You can also go out into the city and explore the commercial districts and tourist attractions."
Despite Noah's complaints, Baroness Mason accepted them with a bright smile, then told him about nearby restaurants and tourist attractions before leaving. Noah, who had been looking around the room for a moment, turned to me with a serious expression.
“I’d like the right bed today.”
"...Yes."
I was thinking of the left bed instead of the window bed, but Noah didn't seem to be in a good mood, so I decided to obediently follow his suggestion.
After a while, a palace maid came in, bowed politely, and helped unpack and organize the luggage.
After finishing unpacking and eating lunch, I sat on the bed and took out a few puddings I had brought with me. I ate two in no time.
Noah, sitting next to me, was looking at me with curious eyes.
“You're almost done eating. I’ll go buy some more later.”
"Great."
I chuckled and picked up another pudding of a different flavor. Noah, his eyes wide, tilted his head in surprise.
Her hair, which had lost most of its dye and turned a silvery gray, swayed gently.
“Are you eating again?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Eat later. I have something to check.”
Noah lowered his head, brought his face close to mine, and wore a kind expression.
The pudding that had been in my hand was now in his. I awkwardly folded my hand, which had been robbed of the pudding, and placed it on my knee.
To head to Tempshire Palace. Servants brought out my luggage and loaded it into the trunk of a waiting black car. Sitting in the driver's seat was Noah's secretary, Vincent, whom I hadn't seen in a long time.
He greeted me with his still dry and indifferent face.
“It’s been a while.”
“Secretary Ford. How have you been?”
"No. I ran away from home at the age of thirty-three. How can I be okay? I'm sure my name has been erased from the Ford family forever by now."
While I was hesitating with nothing to say, Noah, who had gotten into the car late, leaned back on the seat and sighed.
“I don’t want to go.”
I don't want to go, so why are you dressed so nicely?
He wore a slim herringbone coat with a belt around his waist. The different color of the collar made it look like a uniform at first glance.
Her hair was swept back, as if he had used pomade, revealing a smooth forehead. Furthermore, his furrowed brows, slightly furrowed, made him already overflowing with decadence even more vivid, making it impossible to look away.
I tried to hide my fascination at first glance and cleared my throat.
“You’re dressed up nicely.”
Noah, who had been expressionless at the extremely restrained compliment, quickly smiled. He lifted his chin, stroked his neatly knotted four-hand tie, and proudly replied.
“I want to look cool because I’m going to be the Princess’s husband.”
“You look pretty even with your hair up.”
“Yeah. They say I look bad if I put my hair up, but do you like it better this way?”
He deliberately furrowed his eyebrows and raised one corner of his mouth. While I was pondering whether it would be more appropriate to cover it up or not, I heard Vincent's dry voice.
"Can I stay at the palace for a while? I have to work with Mr. Rotsilt anyway."
Vincent called Noah "Mr. Rotsilt." Despite his timid expression of discontent, Noah seemed unfazed.
"Yes."
As Noah nodded in response, a subtle joy flashed across Vincent's wheat-colored eyes.
I thought I heard a faint muttering, 'Your Excellency...'
He happily started the car.
The area around Tempshire Palace was certainly a thriving commercial district, filled with stylish people in trendy attire.
Men in classic attire with neatly slicked-back hair and glasses, perhaps because it's fashionable to look intellectual, and women dressed elegantly and luxuriously in clothes that emphasize functionality rather than just flashiness.
As an island nation, trade and shipping thrive, so civilization will likely develop rapidly. With abundant materials, there will be plenty to create.
As I entered the palace, past the guardsmen in red uniforms standing like toy soldiers, I was greeted warmly by Baroness Mason.
“Did you have any trouble getting here? I’ll show you the way.”
Her eyes rolled smoothly toward Vincent.
“Nice to meet you. I am Baroness Zelda Mason, knight and maid of honor to Her Majesty the Queen.”
"I'm Vincent Ford, Mr. Rotsilt's accountant, secretary, business partner, accident recovery worker, and all-around errand boy. I have more work to do, but I'll let you know when the opportunity arises."
“You work a lot. I do too.”
Vincent nodded at the Baroness's chuckling reaction, his expression indicating that it was not a joke at all.
The Baroque room she led me to was spacious and ornate, almost embarrassing. It was filled with polished mahogany furniture, and the windows were hung with crimson satin curtains.
Beneath the ivory wallpaper stood a carved alabaster sculpture, resembling a sprinkle of snow. The patterned marble floor was covered with an undeniably expensive imported carpet.
Even though they had prepared a luxurious room, Noah still looked dissatisfied.
“Why are there two beds?”
"Then, sleep on the left side one day and the right side the next. You can relax. You can also go out into the city and explore the commercial districts and tourist attractions."
Despite Noah's complaints, Baroness Mason accepted them with a bright smile, then told him about nearby restaurants and tourist attractions before leaving. Noah, who had been looking around the room for a moment, turned to me with a serious expression.
“I’d like the right bed today.”
"...Yes."
I was thinking of the left bed instead of the window bed, but Noah didn't seem to be in a good mood, so I decided to obediently follow his suggestion.
After a while, a palace maid came in, bowed politely, and helped unpack and organize the luggage.
After finishing unpacking and eating lunch, I sat on the bed and took out a few puddings I had brought with me. I ate two in no time.
Noah, sitting next to me, was looking at me with curious eyes.
“You're almost done eating. I’ll go buy some more later.”
"Great."
I chuckled and picked up another pudding of a different flavor. Noah, his eyes wide, tilted his head in surprise.
Her hair, which had lost most of its dye and turned a silvery gray, swayed gently.
“Are you eating again?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Eat later. I have something to check.”
Noah lowered his head, brought his face close to mine, and wore a kind expression.
The pudding that had been in my hand was now in his. I awkwardly folded my hand, which had been robbed of the pudding, and placed it on my knee.
“What is it?”
The man, who rarely comes up with mundane ideas, chuckled. A beautiful smile appeared on his face. Then, he casually blurted out something shocking and explicit.
“Would you like to take off your clothes?”
For a moment, I doubted my ears.
Take off your clothes in broad daylight? What did I hear?
The words, spoken without even a hint of hesitation, were neither high nor low, like a casual conversation. Noah's expression, so casual it seemed like pure curiosity, left me confused, and I just stared.
When there was no answer, he asked kindly.
“Shall I take it off for you?”
Noah stared at me with a harmless expression, as if he had no intention of doing anything. I let my gaze drift down to his neatly tied tie.
“Suddenly?”
I barely managed to force my voice out of my congested throat, but he raised the corners of his mouth calmly.
“It wasn’t sudden. I’ve been curious about it for a while, and I had to see it anyway.”
“It’s too bright... and it’s so sudden.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, glancing around the room, which felt bright and sunny. He sat facing forward, smoothly loosening his tie.
He said, folding the tie neatly and placing it on the dresser next to the bed along with the paper bag containing the pudding.
“It has to be bright so you can see well, right?”
So why should you look at my body in such a bright place? I held myself with both arms as if defending myself.
“No. It’s embarrassing.”
“Hmm. You’re wearing a dress, of all things. The buttons are in the front.”
Noah, who had been brushing his chin and looking at me, seemed to ponder for a moment. After a moment of reflection, he looked straight at me and spoke plainly.
“Just take off your dress. I have no other intentions.”
“There's only one reason why they're telling you to take your clothes off.”
“There is only one.”
His voice dropped a tone, and his words trailed off. His once aristocratic, elegant face took on a strange, unnatural expression.
He looked at me with narrowed eyes and smiled seductively. Seeing his face brimming with joy, I mumbled and mumbled.
“I... I’ll go wash up then.”
“It’s not something serious enough to warrant washing again. Should I check in the bathroom?”
Noah's cheeks dimpled lightly as he winked and smiled mischievously. "Check?" "I must have misunderstood again." Embarrassed at being caught in my short-sighted, hasty judgment, I glanced at him with embarrassed eyes.
“What are you trying to confirm?”
"Many more."
"All right."
Since you've already promised to get married, it would seem even stranger to overreact to someone just looking at your back.
After he drew the curtains, he sat on the bed and stared at me as if he were watching. I turned around and unbuttoned the front of my dress, and the red velvet fabric flowed down to my feet.
His shadow was reflected on the floor as he approached me, standing in my winter petticoat and corset.
It feels like the shadow is swallowing me up.
A breath settled on my bare shoulders, making the hairs on my face stand on end. I felt a gentle tickle from the feathers.
He tugged lightly at the corset laces with his fingers and made a languid voice.
“Take this off, too.”
“I can’t take it off by myself.”
“I know. I’ll let you go.”
A tingling sensation ran down my spine wherever his hand touched. It was fortunate I had turned away. I didn't have the confidence to show my heated face now.
He sighed as he slowly and delicately untied the corset laces.
“I don’t know why you wear such uncomfortable things.”
“I think it’s improved and gotten better.”
“Yeah. I guess it would be uncomfortable for men, too.”
His warm breath clung stickily to my neck.
“It’s hard to take it off.”
Suddenly, a thrill ran down the back of my neck, causing my shoulders to rise. I squeezed my eyes shut as the words whispered to me like a subtle hint.
Even his gaze looking from behind became burdensome, so I curled up small and shouted weakly.
“Do it quickly!”
“Yeah, it’s difficult. There are twelve to solve, but I’ve only solved three.”
Noah let out a nasal laugh. I stood there helplessly, like a puppy trying to stop itself from running.
"Cold?"
"A little..."
It looks like he saw goosebumps appearing on my skin.
Unlike his usual sly, lazy demeanor, he skillfully and quickly untied the laces and removed the corset. I wrapped my arms around myself, hugging myself tightly. At first glance, it looked like I was cold, but that wasn't the case.
He looked at my bare back, picked up the flannel robe from the bedside, and draped it over my shoulders as he spoke.
“That’s right, I just heard about it.”
“What is it?”
"Here."
He gently pressed his finger against the underside of the wing. Even the slightest sensation made me hypersensitive, causing my back to arch. My ears were also ringing, and I couldn't control the pitch of my voice, so I let out a shriek.
“What the hell is that!”
"There's a scar here. It's not a scar, it's more like a birthmark. You've never shown it to anyone except the mansion maids, have you?"
“Molly always helps me put on my corset. She says she has the strongest arms.”
“Don’t show it to anyone from now on. Except Molly and me.”
“What are you talking about...”
"Are you talking about the spots on my back?" I asked, turning around. Then, a sudden jolt of shock struck me. It was because I realized he had just draped my gown over my shoulders, leaving it unfastened.
Noah's eyes, with their mysterious color, were fixed unwaveringly on this spot. He slowly tilted his head, his gaze resting between the parted folds of my robe.
“I thought you were only going to show your back.”
His soft voice sent a shiver of dizziness from the back of my neck to the top of my head.
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