Chapter 2.6

About fifteen days later, Rizle tried again.

“It’s such a nice day, Count. There’s no snow today, and the sun is shining brightly. On a day blessed by the sun like this, don’t you feel even slightly inclined to propose to me again?”

During that time, Rizle constantly brought up the topic whenever she had the chance. Each time, Heizen’s answer was always the same.

“No.”

It didn’t matter if Rizle spoke confidently, timidly, as if on the verge of tears, or pleadingly—nothing worked.

“If you don’t propose to me, I won’t let you pass through this hallway!”

Rizle stood in front of the guest room he often used, spreading her arms wide to block his way. She was determined not to let him enter and rest.

Heizen crossed his arms and looked at her quietly. Though he said nothing, his expression was provocatively daring her to try.

Rizle became stubborn and resolved to stand there until he got annoyed and asked her to move. However, she lost to Heizen in a battle of patience.

He stood still without showing any signs of discomfort, while Rizle’s outstretched arms began to ache after just ten minutes.

‘This stubborn man. What’s the big deal about doing it again? Why won’t he?’

Just as her arms started to hurt too much and she was silently cursing him, Heizen made an offer.

“I have some chocolate. Would you like some?”

Surprisingly, he invited her into the room. It was a tempting offer, but her pride held her back from immediately accepting.

“It’s Germain’s chocolate.”

At the mention of Germain’s chocolate, her resolve wavered. It was so popular that even she had trouble getting it.

Pretending to give in reluctantly, Rizle lowered her arms and stepped slightly to the side.

“I heard you weren’t interested in women, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. You even know what women like.”

As Heizen opened the door and stepped inside, Rizle threw out the remark. She knew it sounded petty and sarcastic, but she wanted to get back at him for her aching arms.

Heizen glanced at her out of the corner of his eye before stepping inside.

“Because you like it. I’m not interested in other women.”

Rizle’s eyes widened at his words.

“Hmph. How can you be so sure I like it, Count? What if I don’t?”

She snorted, but her cheeks turned red. It was puzzling how he could casually say such sweet things yet be so stubborn about proposing.

Heizen slowly raised his hand and gently caressed her cheek. Her lips, nose, and cheeks—his thumb lightly brushed over them as he gazed deeply into her eyes.

Rizle thought his touch felt pleasant. Perhaps it was because his hands were much warmer than hers. The warmth seemed to spread from where he touched her, reaching her fingertips, toes, and even her stomach.

Rizle parted her lips slightly, then quickly shut her eyes. She thought he was about to kiss her, and the ticklish feeling in her stomach made it impossible to keep her eyes open.

But contrary to her expectations, Heizen only brushed her lips a few more times before pulling his hand away. Then, he retrieved Germain’s chocolate from the table.

When Heizen didn’t do anything, Rizle opened her eyes slightly, feeling something was off. Seeing him sitting as if nothing had happened and placing the chocolate on the table left her feeling strangely disappointed.

Awkwardly, Rizle sat across from him. Heizen gestured toward the chocolate with his eyes. Rizle picked up a square piece from the box and popped it into her mouth.

Germain’s chocolate was usually so delicious that it moved her to tears, but this time, she could hardly taste it. Her attention was entirely on him instead of her tongue.

“Aren’t you going to have some, Count?”

She asked Heizen, who was quietly watching her eat. He shook his head.

“I got it for you, so don’t worry about me.”

How could she not notice someone staring at her so intently?

Rizle glanced at him and grumbled inwardly.

“Well, then, I won’t hold back. Thank you.”

With her expression of gratitude, Rizle fell silent. As she stopped speaking, silence filled the room. It felt suffocating and warm, as if the air had thickened, even though the fire in the hearth was nearly extinguished.

Rizle quietly rolled the piece of chocolate around in her mouth with her tongue. Before she knew it, the square shape had transformed into a sphere.

‘Just like how Heizen licked my tongue…’

The memory of their kiss suddenly surfaced in her mind, causing her face to flush bright red. Thinking such thoughts with him right in front of her was mortifying. If he noticed, it would be beyond embarrassing.

“This… this is really delicious.”

Rizle broke the silence, trying to steer the conversation back to something proper. But realizing she had just thought about their kiss while calling the chocolate delicious, she felt even more awkward.

The more she tried to stop thinking about it, the more her thoughts spiraled out of control. In her imagination, Heizen slid his tongue into her parted lips, licking the chocolate off her tongue. As their tongues moved together, it felt as though the chocolate melted even faster.

By the time the chocolate had completely dissolved, Heizen’s hand had moved to her chest, gripping it firmly…

“Rizle.”

“Y-Yes?!”

Startled by her own lewd imagination, Rizle gasped and practically shouted in response.

“S-Sorry! I was just… thinking about something else for a moment.”

What if he asked what I had been thinking about? 

Rizle panicked at the thought. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—Heizen didn’t press further. Instead, he brought up the reason he had called her.

“Are your arms sore? Would you like me to massage them for you?”

Perhaps because of the inappropriate thoughts she had just been entertaining, Rizle found his suggestion oddly suspicious. Even if his intentions were pure, she couldn’t bring herself to nod in agreement.

If he were to touch her, she felt her mind might spiral out of control and explode. She decided it was best to refuse.

“I don’t want to… because I feel like you might end up doing something else.”

But instead of a clear rejection, nonsensical words slipped out of her mouth. Rizle immediately regretted it.

Would he find her words offensive? She tensed up, waiting for his reaction. Luckily, Heizen remained calm and simply offered a single remark.

“You’re not wrong.”

The fact that he admitted it left Rizle gasping. She crossed her arms over her chest protectively. For some reason, she felt she couldn’t stay here any longer. Heizen’s gaze was far too intense and heated.

Even though she wasn’t wearing pajamas but proper clothing, it felt as if she were standing n*ked before him. She was overwhelmed with embarrassment.

Rizle instinctively knew that if he approached her now—if he kissed her and began touching her—there would be no stopping him. Swept up by the mood, history would be made today, right here, right now!

Shivering slightly, Rizle abruptly stood up and grabbed the box of Germain’s chocolate.

“I’ll take my leave now. Thank you for the chocolate.”

“Rizle.”

“Rest well!”

Clutching the box to her chest, Rizle fled the room.