Chapter 3.3

“Come this way.”

A shoemaker holding a measuring tape stood beside Rizle. When Heizen didn’t move, Rizle approached and tugged his arm.

Bewildered, Heizen let her lead him. He removed his worn-out boots and had his foot size measured.

“What color do you like? I think this brown leather is soft and nice, but do you prefer something sturdier?”

Rizle gestured toward two types of leather—brown and black—and asked him to choose.

Heizen felt a sense of defeat. Before the date, he had polished his shoes until they gleamed. They were high-quality shoes he had bought with the gold he had been rewarded for his wartime achievements.

But somehow, he had ended up wearing his old boots without realizing it. In his haste to prepare his outfit and hair, he had forgotten to change his shoes.

“Rizle, by any chance…”

Was it because you didn’t want to walk beside a man wearing shabby boots?

Heizen trailed off, his voice tinged with bitterness.

“Oh my, did you figure it out? How did you know?”

Rizle gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. Realizing his assumption was correct, Heizen’s mood sank further. He blamed himself for not having the presence of mind to change his shoes.

“So what? It’s not that noticeable. Matching boots like this as a couple isn’t a big deal!”

Even if he objected, she would still go ahead and buy matching leather boots for the two of them.

Declaring her intentions, Rizle urged him to quickly choose which leather he preferred.

“…Then I’ll go with the brown leather.”

“Alright, I’ll order two pairs of boots—one for the Count and one for me—with this leather. Once they’re ready, please deliver them to Troskan Castle.”

Rizle cheerfully gave instructions to the shoemaker.

By the way, how long will it take to finish them? If it takes too long, we might have to receive them at Castle of Boeur instead of Troskan. I’d like them before the wedding—will that be possible?

Heizen watched Rizle chat with the shoemaker, lost in thought. Only then did he realize that many of the items she had purchased were black, matching his color scheme.

After finishing at the shoe shop, the two returned to Troskan Castle by carriage. Heizen carried her shopping bags all the way to her room.

“Were you upset today?”

As he placed the bags on the sofa, Rizle glanced at him nervously.

“Now that I think about it, I might have treated you too much like a porter. You must have felt bad. And deciding on matching boots without asking you…”

Rizle looked dejected.

Heizen approached her and gently caressed her cheek. He wanted to kiss her right away. But remembering what she had said earlier, he held himself back.

However, Rizle closed her eyes and tilted her chin slightly toward him. Heizen counted to ten, but he didn’t move. Rizle pouted and slowly opened her eyes.

“We went on a date today.”

“I know.”

“Don’t you think a date should have a proper ending?”

“…”

“Isn’t there something missing?”

Was she testing my patience? 

Heizen swallowed hard as he gazed into her sparkling blue eyes. He bit his lip, fighting the urge to steal her lips right then and there.

Desire, no matter how tightly chained, began to creep out. In the end, Heizen kissed her. Despite wanting to take it slow and gentle, he found himself pushing her against the wall.

Though his actions were a bit rough, Rizle didn’t resist. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck. The chains holding back Heizen’s desire snapped entirely. It felt as if his mind had exploded.

Heizen licked her lips and slid his thick tongue into her mouth, coaxing her to accept him. When Rizle gasped for air, he soothed her by gently pressing and stimulating her soft flesh.

He barely stopped his hand from moving to her chest. Instead, he caressed her cheeks and ears tenderly. Her softness was so addictive that he felt he could touch her forever if she allowed it. But he couldn’t.

Heizen became aware of the changes in his body. If they stayed close like this, she would notice soon. Reluctantly, he pulled away from her lips.

As Heizen tried to step back, Rizle clung to him, refusing to let go. She leaned against his chest, her half-lidded eyes blinking slowly.

All day, she had been thinking about how to get him to kiss her. Now that she had succeeded, Rizle was overjoyed.

Feeling his warmth, she smiled contentedly. But Heizen couldn’t stay still. He fidgeted uncomfortably, as if something was bothering him. Rizle soon realized why.

“Count, can I touch this?”

Heizen froze, instantly understanding what she meant by “this.” Rizle took his silence as permission and placed her hand over his trousers. She traced the firm outline beneath the fabric.

She slid her hand along its shape, noting how even through the thick material, it felt substantial. Gripping his belt, she looked up at him. Her gaze silently asked for permission—or perhaps demanded it.

Instead of responding, Heizen exhaled shakily. Rizle, her heart pounding, unbuckled his belt. His restrained manhood sprang free.

“…”

Rizle was speechless. She realized the thickness she had felt earlier wasn’t just because of the trousers. As before, she slid her hand along its length, this time directly. Before long, its tip began to glisten.

Rizle touched the liquid with her hand and then brought it to her nose to smell it. It didn’t seem to have any particular scent. She used her wet hand to touch his manhood again, drawing circles around the tip where the liquid was seeping out.

“Heu…”

Heizen, who had been gritting his teeth and suppressing any sound, let out a breath. He was leaning slightly toward Rizle, his right arm propped against the wall for support.

Rizle carefully observed him as she slowly moved her hand down to the gl*ns. When she gently rubbed the ridge, his body flinched.

Encouraged by his reaction, she tried to go further down, but Heizen lowered the arm that had been resting against the wall. He lifted Rizle’s skirt and slipped his hand underneath.

“Ah!”

When his long, thick hand explored between her thighs, Rizle couldn’t help but let out a sound. Her grip on his manhood tightened.

Heizen leaned his left arm against the wall and used his right hand to caress her damp womanhood.

“You’re womanhood’s wet.”

Rizle’s face turned bright red in an instant. It sounded like an accusation of being indecent and lewd.

“Of course, it gets wet when touched. And you’re like this too, Count.”

“You were wet even before I touched you.”

When he clarified the facts, Rizle was left speechless. Overcome with embarrassment, she buried her face in his chest. It was the first time she had ever heard the word “womanhood” spoken by a man, let alone referring to hers.

Heizen lightly kissed her ear and fumbled to find her cl*toris. When he began to gently stimulate it with circular motions, Rizle burrowed into his arms.

The hand that had been moving slowly began to pick up speed, and soon, it moved rapidly as if shaking something off. Rizle trembled, rubbing her head against his chest. Unlike the dull pleasure of a kiss, this felt like an electric shock.

“C-Count… Count…”

Rizle called out in a trembling voice. Heizen bit her ear gently, as if not to hurt her, and whispered.

“Heizen.”

“Ah… Heizen…”

She called him as he wished, but he didn’t stop his hand. He continued to move his fingers, driving her toward pleasure. She tried to endure it, but then Heizen’s fingers slipped inside her opening.

Rizle gasped sharply and looked up at his face. Heizen, his face flushed, gritted his teeth, and the corners of his lips curled into a faint smile.

“Heizen… Ah!”

When their eyes met, Heizen licked his lips and gently rubbed the inner walls of her womanhood. He could feel the increasing wetness inside.

“Rizle.”

His voice, tinged with his breath, sounded sultry. Rizle found herself resenting Mary, who had anticipated her return and warmed the room beforehand. It was so warm that she felt like her entire body was melting.

It was when Heizen’s fingers, which had been exploring her inner walls, touched a certain spot. Rizle’s hips noticeably jerked. Heizen didn’t miss it and pressed firmly on that spot, stimulating it.

“Ah… W-Wait… Ah…”

Flustered, Rizle couldn’t form proper words. She let go of Heizen’s manhood and instead gripped his clothes tightly, causing them to wrinkle. She wanted to push him away, feeling that she couldn’t handle being stimulated there any longer.

But Heizen didn’t back off. He persistently tormented her.

“Wait… Please, take it out…”

Finally, Rizle managed to form a complete sentence.

Heizen complied, withdrawing his fingers as she requested. Then, he kissed her cheek with smacking sounds.

Just before she reached her limit, he stopped, allowing Rizle to let out a sigh of relief. However, her peace didn’t last long. Heizen inserted two fingers this time, pushing them in deeply.

Each time he thrust his fingers in, Rizle felt a sense of crisis. No matter how hard she bit her lip to endure it, it was useless. Heizen’s fingers mercilessly ravaged her. In the end, Rizle reached a light climax, her strength leaving her body.