Shioana, who had been leaning against a stone statue in a corner of the dim garden, lifted her head a moment later. The light reflected from the ring on her finger flickered in her bloodshot eyes.
Marriage, which she had only vaguely thought of, is now right around the corner.
"...Ha."
She once dreamed of being proposed to when she was young.
When the blonde, blue-eyed prince smiled kindly at her, she gently nestled into his arms.
Just imagining it made her heart feel like it was going to burst.
'But why is reality only bewildering?'
The moment Count Noah was about to kiss her, she realized it for sure.
'I don't like that person at all.'
Of course, Count Noah was too good a match for her, given her wealth and power.
He was affectionate and even kind. But that was all.
Shioana couldn't picture a future with Count Noah at all. Even the moment he slipped the ring onto her finger, she felt suffocated rather than her heart flutter. It was uncomfortable enough just for their fingertips to touch; was it even possible to get married and live happily ever after?
The whole family must be looking forward to this wedding, so she didn't know what to do.
It was a night where her worries only deepened.
Just then, a rustling sound came from near the stone statue.
"...Etienne?"
At her voice, the figure in the shadows stopped in its tracks.
Shioana straightened her aching back and cautiously headed in the direction of him. His shadow, standing among the bushes, touched Shioana's feet.
"..."
Shioana, standing a few steps away, could not easily speak. It had been a long time since they had looked away from each other, so an awkward atmosphere hung in the air.
'What should I say to strike up a conversation?'
On the day he gave her a crocus and turned his back on her, she realized the feelings she had for Etienne.
Thinking of Etienne made her heart race, and she suddenly felt sad. Her mouth felt rough, and her head burned. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. So, she decided that she needed to keep her distance from him.
She absolutely hated confusion. But she didn't want to part ways like this tonight.
She couldn't help it even if people criticized her for being fickle.
"Why did you try to just leave even after seeing me?"
Her voice, heavy with tears, broke the silence of the night. Hearing Shioana's voice, he let out a short sigh.
"Were you standing here watching me back then?"
She knew it all too well, but she wanted to hear it from Etienne's own mouth.
"..."
However, even after waiting for a long time, there was nothing to hear from him.
"Etienne, why did you come here today?"
Actually, it might have been something she wanted to ask herself, not him.
Why she pretended not to know him after seeing him, and what the reason was for coming to this place where he was standing.
Shioana was overwhelmed by her uncontrollable emotions. She could neither get closer to Etienne nor keep her distance. Just as she was muttering to herself, unable to even take a step toward him, an arm suddenly shot out of the darkness and pulled her along.
"...!"
Shioana, held in his arms, reached out and lightly clutched Etienne's shirt. Then, burying her forehead in his chest, she began to sob.
"You were the one who just handed me a flower and left. I was standing there like a beggar."
With his back turned, he never once looked back at her.
As if he would never see Shioana again.
"If only you had waited a little longer. You left so quickly...."
On the night she saw him through the window, she lingered by the window for a long time, searching for the figure of Etienne who had vanished while she was putting on her gown.
As she poured out the hurt feelings she had been holding back, his hand slowly patted Shioana's back.
"What are you trying to do, young lady?"
"...What do I do..."
"Why didn't you just keep pretending not to see?"
Etienne struggled to compose himself as he watched Shioana treat him like a ghost. Since it seemed he wouldn't be able to stop, he thought it was actually a relief that at least Shioana was doing so.
'I really thought so.'
"I missed you, Etienne. So...."
Shioana trailed off toward Etienne, who was not looking her straight in the eye.
"So what do you mean, Miss?"
Etienne swallowed an angry groan as he looked straight into her blue eyes.
This audacious noble lady barged into his life at will and toyed with Etienne's already chaotic heart.
"Are you, are you angry?"
"What right do I have to get angry?"
Etienne reached out and stroked her finger wearing the ring. It seemed that guy, who was all flash and no substance, had finally proposed. He gripped the ringed finger tightly and scowled.
'This ring doesn't suit her.'
If it is him, he will craft a sapphire resembling Shioana's eyes into platinum.
'What could I possibly do for you...?'
Startled by the thought he had, Etienne hurriedly pulled his hand away from her.
It was a feeling he had for the first time since leaving Urceka, where he was born and raised. He wanted to do something. He wanted to have something. This kind of greed to do something for someone.
Just then, Shioana took a step closer to him and whispered.
"Still, we're quite close."
"How can a slave and a noble be close?"
Etienne, who had hugged her tightly just moments ago, stepped back and spoke sadly. It was painful for him to have such feelings for Shioana, to whom he had even received a wedding ring.
"Oh. Don't go, Etienne."
"The night wind is cold, so please go back."
Just as he was about to turn his back after bidding his final farewell, Shioana wrapped her arms around Etienne from behind. Etienne looked down at her hands wrapped around his waist with a peculiar expression.
"I told you not to go. You're a slave, so why don't you listen to your master?"
“Please let me go.”
He looked down at Shioana's fingers, which he could shake off with just a little force, and pleaded.
"I am your master. So I can do as I please."
She knew very well that she was being unreasonable right now.
She knew that he must look childish and pathetic right now. But right now, at this moment, she couldn't let Etienne go.
"You will regret it."
"I already regretted it."
On the day her father first brought him home, she should not have looked into Etienne's eyes for so long.
Had she not felt curiosity toward him, approached him, and grown close to him, she might have happily accepted Count Noah's proposal.
"I won't say it twice."
Etienne, still standing with his back turned, acted fiercely as if to issue a warning.
"I'm never letting go of this hand either."
She wasn't scared at all of Etienne's warnings or threats.
A strange excitement enveloped her entire body, and Shioana thought her heart might burst right then and there. As she felt his body heat, the vague emotion took on a definite form.
'The person I want is not Count Noah, but Etienne.'
The sad story Martha had told her came to mind, but she squeezed jer eyes shut.
"There is nothing I can do for you, young lady."
He could not bring Shioana into his life, which was already miserable enough. However, he also could not turn away from the hand that held him.
"What I wanted was for you to look at me now."
He slowly turned around at Shioana's words and cupped her cheeks with both hands.
“And what’s next?”
As Etienne slowly opened his mouth, her spring flared up.
She had thought about what came next, but she couldn't bring herself to voice it. As the rough hand caressed the soft cheek and her chin, Shioana was unable to say a word.
"..."
"I will become a loyal slave who listens well to my master, so please give me your orders, young lady."
As Etienne bowed his head slightly and whispered softly in her ear, Shioana's shoulders trembled.
Every time he uttered the word 'young lady,' she felt a strange sensation. A peculiar feeling spread, and her heart pounded.
"You can do as you please with me."
Long fingers gently ruffled Shioana's long hair.
Shioana's breasts swelled with every breath beneath her dress, and hot breath continuously escaped through her parted lips.
'...Beautiful.'
Her gaze remained fixed on Etienne's face as he met her eyes, his hair tightly wrapped around her fingers. The hair, fluttering slightly in the wind, fully revealed his smooth forehead and thick, full eyebrows.
'I feel like I can't breathe.'
The red eyes, resembling crushed pomegranates, seemed to be casting a spell on her. So, she said something she would never normally even think of saying.
"Kiss me."
Etienne's face instantly turned serious at her bold request.
"Do you realize what you are saying right now, Miss?"
"I know it all too well, Etienne."
Shioana, reaching her hand that had been fumbling his shoulder higher, stood on tiptoe with her arms wrapped around his neck. Then, with her eyes closed, she immediately sought his lips.
She was sure their lips had touched, but the sensation was so rough.
"I-I-sorry, I haven't tried it even once yet."
Shioana stammered in embarrassment when the kiss she had boldly attempted ended in a miss after hitting his chin.
She lightly caressed her lips with her fingertips, but a large hand violently wrapped around Shioana's waist and pressed his lips against the back of her hand.
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