Chapter 4.3

Heizen had already made up his mind to take her away regardless of her answer. Yet, as he waited for her response, his heart pounded wildly. It felt similar to the rush he experienced when charging into battle at the sound of a trumpet.

“Are you proposing to me right now?”

Rizle asked. Heizen couldn’t bring himself to say yes. He feared that admitting it was a proposal would lead to her immediate rejection. It wasn’t just a suspicion—it was almost a certainty.

As Count Warkliber, he could have formally approached the Thruella family with a marriage proposal. But he hadn’t. Instead, he planned to steal her away in secret. The Marquis of Thruella aside, Heizen was convinced that Rizle would refuse him outright. To her, he was nothing more than a boring man.

Heizen’s mouth felt dry. 

Should I just throw her over my shoulder and leave before she could answer? 

He seriously considered it.

‘Yes. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll take her and….’

Just as he made up his mind and began to lift his head, Rizle’s hand pressed down on it. With her snow-dampened hand, she began stroking his hair.

“Your hair is so black.”

Heizen blinked, startled by the unexpected comment. Had she forgotten everything she just said because of the alcohol?

While he hesitated, Rizle started playing with his hair. She changed his parting and even shaped it into horns. Finding it amusing, she giggled.

“Young Lady.”

Feeling that he couldn’t let things continue like this, he gently lifted his head and called her. Rizle, who had been laughing, suddenly frowned.

“Why are you proposing in winter? Why not in summer?”

She grabbed Heizen’s cheeks with both hands. Her lack of control caused a loud slap-like sound.

“In summer, when the garden is in full bloom, I’d want a proposal. There’s a romantic charm to it—like saying, ‘Even when all these flowers wither, my feelings for you never will.’ That’s what I wanted to hear! But now, there are no flowers. How can you talk about flowers when there aren’t any?”

“…… I’m sorry.”

“This is just so unfair!”

Rizle furrowed her brows and tightened her grip on Heizen’s face.

Heizen looked up at her with wide, surprised eyes, his cheeks squished. He felt wronged. How was he supposed to know she had such a romantic dream? If she had told him, he would have taken it into account.

“I couldn’t wait until summer. If I didn’t do this now….”

He tried to convey his sincerity through his eyes. Rizle’s expression softened slightly, and she released her grip on his cheeks.

“If you’re serious, then put it on me.”

Rizle held out her left hand with a coy expression. Heizen carefully took her hand and slipped the ring onto her fourth finger.

Rizle looked at the ring on her hand and smiled softly.

“Oh my, it’s beautiful. It’s exactly my style.”

She didn’t like rings that were too thin or too thick. Large gemstones felt burdensome for daily wear, so she preferred rings with small, multiple stones. This ring was precisely like that.

“I’ve been observing you all along in Kabakia. I know what kind of rings you like and even what you’ve purchased.”

“I thought you were bored following me around while shopping.”

“It was an enjoyable time.”

Rizle clasped her left hand, now adorned with the ring, with her right hand and tilted her upper body to the side. Then, she glanced at Heizen with a suspicious look.

“You’re not Heizen Warkliber, are you? He never responds to me this well. Whenever I say something, he just seems tired and acts like he dislikes me.”

“The person I dislike is myself, for being so nervous that I frequently missed opportunities to get closer to you.”

“I like men who are gentle and can take my teasing. Can you handle my teasing, Count?”

Heizen nodded seriously with a determined expression. That was exactly what he wanted.

Still doubtful, Rizle leaned in close to examine his face. She was so near that he could feel her breathing in and out. Nervous, Heizen swallowed hard.

“Yes.”

He answered, clenching his fists tightly on his knees. Rizle, with a prim expression, moved away and rolled her eyes.

“Alright. Go to my father tomorrow and get his permission.”

Heizen had never expected her to accept him. He was so relieved that he almost fell sideways while still kneeling.

He was thankful—so thankful that she had accepted his feelings. However, this meant his plan to elope with her was no longer necessary. 

What should I do now? And what about the magic stone I had bought at an outrageous price?

“Well, I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions!”

Still, if she was this happy, those were minor concerns. If he could formally take her as his wife, that would undoubtedly be the best outcome.

Heizen decided to abandon his plan and waited for morning to come. At the crack of dawn, he went straight to the still-sleeping Marquis of Thruella. It was a joy to openly request Rizle Thruella, whom he had once thought he could only steal away. Though the Marquis nearly fainted upon hearing the news.

“How beautiful.”

Even the winter sunlight streaming through the arched corridors suddenly seemed beautiful. In over a decade of working here, Heizen had never thought such a thing. It was a testament to the profound change in his heart.

Love was truly radiant and beautiful.

Heizen’s heart swelled with anticipation at the thought of soon holding Rizle Thruella, who shone like this dazzling sunlight, in his arms. At this moment, he felt as though he could love everything in the world.

Although he had been told to wait in his room, he couldn’t sit still. He wanted to walk under the sunlight that reminded him of Rizle.

He wandered the corridors, passing by the knight’s quarters and training grounds that had once been his home. Nostalgia washed over him as he returned. But then, he saw the back of the person who had brought him such happiness. He was about to run to her in a single stride.

‘If I can’t remember, it doesn’t count. Last night’s events never happened!’

Those horrifying words pierced through his ears and struck his mind like lightning. The warm and pleasant winter sun that had felt so comforting moments ago turned cold in an instant.

Rizle Thruella, as if it were all a lie, remembered nothing.

Heizen felt betrayed. Though he narrowly avoided having everything nullified, he was uneasy. Regrets flooded in—he should have taken her away when he had the chance. Now, stealing her away was impossible. Everyone already knew of his desire for Rizle, so he would be the first suspect.

Heizen resolved to protect this marriage at all costs. He avoided doing anything that might give others grounds to criticize him. He even decided not to touch Rizle before their wedding.

But he failed.

Heizen returned to his room, locked the door, and let out a heavy breath. His lower body, where her touch lingered, was still heated and swollen.

“D*mn it….”

He cursed under his breath, staring at his hand. He couldn’t believe that this hand had been inside her. The fact that she had found pleasure from his touch filled him with immense joy. At the same time, it terrified him.

‘What if someone makes an issue out of me touching her before the wedding?’

To shake off his fear, Heizen pulled out his aroused member and began to move his hand. The sinful pleasure of using the same hand that had explored her intimate place overwhelmed him.

* * *

Left alone in the bedroom, Rizle trudged toward the bed. The heat Heizen had left in her body lingered, and she didn’t know what to do with herself. She couldn’t calm down.

“Young Lady.”

Mary’s voice startled Rizle. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t noticed Mary entering the room.

“Why are you sitting there so absentmindedly?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just a bit tired.”

“It must be because you went out. I’ll prepare your bath.”

Mary, thinking nothing of it, began getting the bath ready. Rizle hesitated as she was about to undress. If she took off her clothes now, Mary would notice the dampness on her thighs.

What should I do? 

After a moment of deliberation, Rizle awkwardly said, 

“I’ll bathe alone today.”

Mary gave her a knowing smile and left the room. Rizle had a sinking feeling that Mary had figured everything out. Embarrassment flooded her, making her entire body flush. She felt utterly mortified, but the wetness below remained stubbornly present.

In an attempt to erase the evidence, Rizle quickly got into the bath. She wanted to stop thinking about such indecent things, but the hot bathwater felt like Heizen’s embrace.

“I should’ve taken a cold bath.”

Regretting her decision, Rizle hurriedly finished bathing, hoping that by morning, her condition would improve.

To her dismay, Rizle’s state didn’t improve the next day. She found herself blushing uncontrollably whenever she saw Heizen. It wasn’t like when she had merely imagined kissing him. Now, she had seen his firm, sizable length with her own eyes and had even touched it.

That very thing would soon enter her. Yes, the two of them would consummate their relationship. Not just once or twice, but countless times until their passion cooled.

Rizle began looking forward to that day. She even wished it would come sooner. But after that night, Heizen didn’t touch her at all.

He kissed her, but nothing more.

“If we’re going to get married anyway, wouldn’t it be alright if things progressed a little faster?”

Even when she hinted openly, he would simply kiss her forehead or cheek and leave it at that. Though he was tender, Rizle found it deeply unsatisfying. The unfulfilled desire gnawed at her, driving her to frustration.

Soon enough, Rizle fell into a state of s*xual frustration. It became a problem. She grew irritable and distracted, unable to focus on conversations.

“Rizle.”

Heizen said something serious, but she missed it because she was sulking.

“Sorry, I was lost in thought. What were you saying?”

“There’s an issue in Boeur that I must attend to. I’ll return as soon as it’s resolved, so the wedding will proceed without delay.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.”

Rizle replied in a disinterested tone, and Heizen’s expression darkened.

“If it were up to me….”

Heizen trailed off. Resting her chin on her hand, Rizle glanced at him. He looked as though he wanted to say something but was holding back.

“Would you like me to go with you?”

Rizle glanced up slyly. Heizen’s eyes widened dramatically. It seemed she had struck a nerve. Gaining confidence, Rizle looked up to the upper right with a prim expression and spoke.

“Since Boeur will be the place where I’ll live for the rest of my life, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to visit in advance. What do you think, Count?”

The reason he had been acting so reserved, saying he wouldn’t do anything before the wedding—it seemed like the issue might also be related to the location.

The Marquis of Thruella furrowed his brows just seeing the two of them together. Though he remained silent, his expression suggested he had a lot to say. Who knew what he might have said to his future son-in-law behind Rizle’s back when she wasn’t watching?

Her brothers were also a problem. Even when Rizle tried to set the mood and hinted for them to leave, they absolutely refused to budge. Instead, they often wedged themselves between the two. While Gilbert’s behavior was inconsistent, Albert, who liked Heizen immensely, acted the same way.

Her mother had only made one comment, but it had been sharp and to the point.

‘I hope there won’t be a child before the wedding.’

Rather than offering encouragement after giving her approval, the family seemed intent on interfering at every turn.

Perhaps in a place where her family couldn’t meddle, Heizen might act more openly. In Boeur, there would be no one who could say anything to the Count of Warkliber, so there was a chance.

“If you don’t mind, Count.”

“Thank you.”

Heizen, his face flushed, clasped Rizle’s hands tightly in his. His face, glowing with joy, looked happier than ever.

Internally, Rizle celebrated her victory. She barely managed to suppress her laughter, narrowing her eyes instead. Though her expression made her look even more suspicious, that didn’t matter.

‘You don’t even know what I’m thinking. You’d better be prepared, Heizen.’

Rizle admired her own cunningness and, at the same time, felt a pang of pity for Heizen, who seemed so happy without knowing her true intentions. She couldn’t even imagine the dangerous glint in the eyes of the man she thought was so innocent.