Emily bit her lip nervously, observing his expression. She'd explained to him clearly enough why she'd staged a remarriage, but Killian's expression was utterly uneasy.
“So you pretended to remarry an Eloise believer to get in there?”
"Yes, that's right."
Emily nodded vigorously.
With everything in place, there was no need to check further. Killian swallowed a sigh and moved on.
“...Please don’t do anything dangerous like that again.”
He felt ashamed that he was still jealous of Emily's nonexistent second marriage partner.
“Yes, I promise.”
Her heart felt lighter as the misunderstanding was finally resolved, and she looked around.
“By the way, orange juice...”
The two glasses of orange juice that Killian had bought were now lying on the floor, utterly ruined.
"Ah."
Unable to drink, Emily became even more thirsty than before. Killian, embarrassed, tried to buy her another bottle of juice.
As the sun set, merchants began selling alcohol from their carts.
“Would you like some alcohol instead of juice?”
Cherry wine, a must-have at Vancent's summer festival, is a cocktail made with crushed cherries on the bottom and a cherry on top of the drink.
Before we knew it, everyone was holding a glass or two of cherry wine in their hands.
A merchant who happened to be passing by them must have heard what Emily was saying and handed her a glass of cherry wine.
“It’s three pennies.”
Killian chuckled at the natural pressure and paid. He was going to drink anyway, so he couldn't ruin the bright mood for three pennies.
“Have you ever tried it?”
"No."
He'd never had time to enjoy leisurely festivals. And sweeter drinks like cherry wine weren't really his thing.
Emily took a sip first, and when she said it was delicious, he drank it too.
But it was too sweet for Killian to enjoy.
Just then, in the square, calm music began to play, and lovers began to hold hands and dance.
Emily, who was feeling good after drinking, suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Shall we dance too?”
First, when Emily took his hand, Killian lowered his gaze to the floor, trying to hide his surprise. He knew his expression must have looked strange.
“So you pretended to remarry an Eloise believer to get in there?”
"Yes, that's right."
Emily nodded vigorously.
With everything in place, there was no need to check further. Killian swallowed a sigh and moved on.
“...Please don’t do anything dangerous like that again.”
He felt ashamed that he was still jealous of Emily's nonexistent second marriage partner.
“Yes, I promise.”
Her heart felt lighter as the misunderstanding was finally resolved, and she looked around.
“By the way, orange juice...”
The two glasses of orange juice that Killian had bought were now lying on the floor, utterly ruined.
"Ah."
Unable to drink, Emily became even more thirsty than before. Killian, embarrassed, tried to buy her another bottle of juice.
As the sun set, merchants began selling alcohol from their carts.
“Would you like some alcohol instead of juice?”
Cherry wine, a must-have at Vancent's summer festival, is a cocktail made with crushed cherries on the bottom and a cherry on top of the drink.
Before we knew it, everyone was holding a glass or two of cherry wine in their hands.
A merchant who happened to be passing by them must have heard what Emily was saying and handed her a glass of cherry wine.
“It’s three pennies.”
Killian chuckled at the natural pressure and paid. He was going to drink anyway, so he couldn't ruin the bright mood for three pennies.
“Have you ever tried it?”
"No."
He'd never had time to enjoy leisurely festivals. And sweeter drinks like cherry wine weren't really his thing.
Emily took a sip first, and when she said it was delicious, he drank it too.
But it was too sweet for Killian to enjoy.
Just then, in the square, calm music began to play, and lovers began to hold hands and dance.
Emily, who was feeling good after drinking, suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Shall we dance too?”
First, when Emily took his hand, Killian lowered his gaze to the floor, trying to hide his surprise. He knew his expression must have looked strange.
Emily burst out laughing again at the sight of Killian. She followed his bright smile.
So they walked slowly into the crowd.
Putting his hand on Emily's waist, Killian, who was awkward at first, gradually started to breathe in sync with her.
At one point, the two people looked into each other's eyes as if they were lost in each other's eyes.
Was it after her trip to Sinope? Emily realized that, focused solely on her own survival, she was missing out on what really mattered.
He got better and better.
She liked him because he was strong with others but weak with her.
She liked him for being jealous, and she liked him for granting all her requests unconditionally.
"Wouldn't it be difficult? Given the difference in status, he might not know how to treat you unless you approach him first."
If, as the nanny said, that was true, she didn't want to hide her feelings. She wanted to believe that the original Emily and the present her were different.
'Should I just get drunk and do something?'
Before Killian could even properly perceive it, a warm sensation touched his lips and then disappeared.
Startled by Emily's sudden kiss, Killian stopped all movement as if his thoughts had come to a standstill.
Killian was staring at her with large eyes, a shy smile on her face. Emily's gaze, anticipating something greater, left Killian completely out of his control.
Killian swallowed Emily's lips as if possessed. Perhaps the alcohol he had just consumed had raised his body temperature, but the lips he was seeking felt hot.
Killian's hand, pulling the back of her head, was strong, but Emily's lips were soft against his. The scent of alcohol had vanished, leaving only the sticky taste of cherry, and her lips were so sweet.
As his breathing began to quicken, Emily gently tapped his shoulder. Killian continued to entangle their tongues, trying to soothe her.
Their breaths came and went, and someone's soft moan could be heard.
Now, it was truly the limit. Emily pushed him away hard, and their lips finally parted.
A handsome man with a cool demeanor was looking at her with burning eyes. Emily's heart raced under Killian's fiery gaze.
As the music stopped, Killian's consciousness slowly began to return.
'What have I done?'
It was a moment he'd dreamed of but never dared to hope for. Killian was still too young to admit he was in love.
***
Emily was depressed all day.
Clearly, it seemed like they had made progress the day before, but there was an inexplicably stronger wall between them.
They had dinner together almost every night, but today he even told her he would be home late.
Emily wondered, "What on earth is wrong?" At first, she was bewildered, then depressed, and now she was starting to get angry.
“You took my first kiss, you bastard!”
She didn't like him because he changed as if he had taken on all the worries of the world just because of that one kiss.
“Huh, why don’t you try being a lone wolf for the rest of your life!”
As Emily came down to the dining room, grumbling, Mayo came out into the dining room in confusion.
“Madam, you are having dinner a little early today.”
“There’s no one waiting, so can’t we eat a little earlier?”
“Haha, that’s not possible. I’ll get it ready for you right away.”
Mayo gulped and entered the kitchen at the sight of Emily, who was looking prickly for the first time in a long time.
“Mayo, what’s going on?”
Other servants slowly began to flock towards Mayo.
“I don’t know... Madam is in a very bad mood.”
At Mayo's words, Roxy asked Butler Alvin.
“The two arrived early yesterday. What was the atmosphere like then?”
"At that time?"
Alvin stroked his chin as he recalled the memory.
Killian came in, escorting Emily as usual, and then they each went to their rooms. He didn't really remember much about them...
“Is that all?”
"Yes."
Alvin's answer left a disappointed expression on his face, and this time his gaze turned to Chili.
“Then what about you, Chili? You were serving Madam yesterday morning.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
At those words, Chili stroked her chin and tried to recall the memories.
Apparently, Madam came in, washed, changed clothes, and went to bed. She didn't seem particularly upset or uncomfortable.
“...”
“Is it the end?”
“Yeah, that’s it?”
At that moment, Cezanne, who had been quiet, opened her mouth.
“But wasn’t this morning a little strange?”
"What?"
“Even when Madam spoke to Killian, he only gave short answers, and it seemed like he was avoiding Madam.”
Alvin greatly sympathized with Cezanne's words.
“Come to think of it, His Grace had some work left for today, but suddenly came to work.”
“Are you saying that the boss is avoiding Madam?”
Ivan's mouth dropped open as he listened to the story. He couldn't imagine the boss treating his wife coldly.
“It’s clear something is going on.”
As the two masters became displeased, the servants' worries deepened.
And at the same time, Killian was also feeling frustrated.
“Why are you so upset? Did you have a fight with your wife?”
Knox asked, plopping down in front of him.
“I guess they fought because there’s no answer.”
He clicked his tongue and called the employee.
“Here, bring me a bottle of malt whiskey.”
"All right."
The employee who went to get the alcohol glanced around briefly and then brought out the most expensive alcohol.
As he placed the drink on the table, Knox checked the brand and grabbed him by the collar and shook him.
“Do we look like fools?”
“Sorry, sorry! I’ll bring it back.”
“Bring it straight this time.”
The employee ran back to the display case, this time giving them a reasonably priced whiskey, and then hurriedly left for another table.
“Son, you should have given me something like this a long time ago.”
Knox briskly poured himself a bottle of whiskey and spoke to Killian again.
“Now tell me. What’s the problem?”
“I didn’t call you specifically to discuss my worries, so just keep your mouth shut and drink.”
“Oh my! Don’t be shy and tell me everything, brother!”
Knox sat cross-legged, muttering.
"Is this a marital problem? I'm not very good at that kind of thing."
“No, just drink.”
"Then why did you call me? I'm sure it wasn't because you didn't want to suffer alone."
When there was no response from Killian, Knox frowned.
“Seeing as there’s no answer, I guess it’s true. I thought your personality would improve after getting married, but it seems you’re still unlucky.”
He munched on the side dishes that had come with them and poured out advice that Killian didn't even want.
"If you fought with the lady, it's 100% your fault. Anyway, you don't know how to win a woman's heart at all."
Killian, who was listening to him, roughly ran a hand through his hair as if he were tired.
“We didn’t fight.”
Then, swallowing his words, he brought out the bottle and poured it into his own glass. Knox watched Killian silently, sighed, and then asked a meaningful question, as if he knew something.
“Do you regret getting married?”
This time, Killian didn't answer.
At that time, that was the only way he could think of to protect her. He thought that keeping her by his side was the only way to protect Emily from them.
But right now, he still hasn't figured out what he can do for her. So, he's afraid his feelings will grow even bigger.
“What are you so afraid of? You’re not afraid of anything.”
“That’s true when I think about my life.”
The problem now was that Emily was in his life.
“You’re an idiot.”
Knox drank his drink and cursed at Killian.
“Killian!”
Then Giovanni came running into their drinking party.
“What’s going on?”
“There was a murder in our area.”
At those words, Knox jumped up from his seat.
“What? A member of our organization was killed?”
Giovanni spoke with a frustrated tone, as if he was even more troubled than that.
“The murdered person... is a member of the Giuliano Family.”
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