Chapter 5.5

Heizen smiled as he looked at her eyes, hair, and lips. Truthfully, jewels suited her beauty better than glass, but he hadn’t been in a place to acquire such things. He had no money.

“I ground down the broken glass pieces to remove the sharp edges and carried them with me.”  

Heizen closed his eyes and opened them again, mentioning he still kept them in a drawer in the study. Thinking of those times, he felt pitiful and couldn’t believe he was now lying with her. His heart swelled.

“Collecting such things because they shine. You should have been called a raven, not a ‘Black Rock’, Heizen.”  

Rizle teased. Heizen laughed and pulled her into his arms.

“Then I’m a raven who succeeded in bringing the shiniest thing to my nest.”  

Heizen seemed to want to sleep again, falling silent. Rizle lay quietly in his embrace, then woke him.

“Heizen, I’m bored.”  

Before Rizle could finish speaking, Heizen grabbed her bottom. As he tried to spread her legs, Rizle slapped his arm.

“I didn’t mean that. I want to leave this room and move around a bit.”  

“Let’s do it in a position where you can move a lot.”  

“Are you pretending not to hear me say I want to leave the room?”  

Rizle glared, and Heizen avoided her gaze.

“The only scenery here is either the bed or your broad chest and tireless lower half.”  

Not that she disliked the view. But how could someone live only eating, sleeping, and having s*x?

“I want to take a walk, feel the breeze, and see the scenery.”  

“I can’t let you. You might be blown away by the wind on your walk.”  

“Excuse me, Count Warkliber. You’re not mistaking me for a dandelion seed or something, are you?”  

Unless it was a tornado, a person wouldn’t be blown away. Rizle pouted.

Heizen rubbed her protruding lips with his thumb.

“If you decide you want to fly away, you can go anywhere.”  

“Are you worried I’ll leave you?”  

Rizle asked in surprise. 

Had I done anything to make him uneasy? 

Pondering, she realized she wasn’t entirely without guilt.

“Is it because I asked to annul the proposal?”  

“……”  

“I won’t say that anymore. No, I’ll ask instead. Heizen, I love you. Don’t annul it; marry me.”  

She confessed shyly, hoping he would feel reassured knowing her feelings. But he seemed skeptical.

Rizle frowned and raised her upper body. She planted her arm beside his face and looked down at him. Her long golden hair fell over his face.

As her hair fell, Heizen closed his eyes briefly before slowly opening them. Rizle wore a hurt expression.

“Do I seem like I’m lying?”  

“No.”  

“Then why do you doubt me?”  

“I’m not doubting you; I’m anxious. You think that way now, but people’s hearts can change easily.”  

His voice sank deeper and deeper. Rizle climbed off his body and sat with her back turned to him.

“Heizen keeps doubting me, so I should just run away while he’s asleep.”  

She spoke as if talking to herself but deliberately raised her voice for Heizen to hear.  

“Then I’ll have to move the bedroom underground.”  

Heizen sat up and said this as if he was serious about moving it immediately. He wrapped his arms around Rizle’s waist. When she struggled in protest, his hand grabbed her br*ast, brushing against her swollen n*pples.  

“Ah!”  

When Rizle let out a gasp, Heizen pressed his lips to her shoulder. A shiver of thrill ran through her, but she quickly came to her senses and pushed his face away.  

“Rizle.”  

Heizen grabbed the back of her neck, trying to pull her toward him. Rizle grabbed his arm and bit down hard.  

“Ah!”  

She hadn’t meant to bite so hard, but Heizen groaned with a frown. Startled, Rizle released her bite, only for Heizen to suddenly press his lips against hers as if he hadn’t been in pain at all.  

Realizing she had been tricked, Rizle lightly hit his chest. Still, she didn’t reject the kiss, which reassured Heizen as he deepened it.  

When their lips parted, a string of saliva connected them. Rizle wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and glared at him with narrowed eyes.  

“I want to make lots of memories with you. In the garden, in the carriage… If possible, even in some hidden corner of the plaza.”  

“Rizle, I didn’t know you had such preferences.”  

Heizen seemed a little surprised but accepted her tastes. If she wanted to, he could accommodate something as simple as being outside.  

“Will you be able to hold back your moans?”  

Though he could adjust to her wishes, it would be troublesome if she wanted others to hear her moans. He wanted to monopolize her sweet voice. The thought of someone else hearing it filled him with jealousy.  

“What are you talking about?”  

Rizle tilted her head in confusion. She rolled her eyes, trying to figure out what he meant, and then it dawned on her.  

“You’re crazy! I was talking about kissing!”  

She was shocked. How could she possibly mean something like that in a place where they could be seen or heard by others? Rizle repeatedly denied it, emphasizing that she hadn’t meant it that way.  

Only then did Heizen realize he had misunderstood. Rizle complained, asking what kind of person he thought she was to imagine such things. Her face turned bright red, and her anxious denial only made her seem more suspicious.  

“Did you imagine it? Holding back your voice because you might get caught, but getting so aroused that you can’t help it? Getting wetter than usual…”  

Rizle quickly covered his mouth with her hand and shushed him.  

“You couldn’t even talk properly before, but you’ve gotten so mischievous lately. Why are you like this?”  

Heizen admitted it. Now that he had revealed his hidden instincts, he found himself itching to tease her with suggestive words. Her embarrassed reactions were simply too adorable.  

“Just wait. I’ll think of something to get back at you.”  

Rizle muttered under her breath.  

Heizen found her idea of revenge endearing. Even if she tried saying something suggestive, it would only excite him further, leading him to devour her until she cried.  

“How terrifying.”  

For his own amusement, Heizen didn’t reveal the truth. He pretended to be scared. But Rizle immediately realized he wasn’t afraid at all.  

“You’re mocking me! Heizen, I’ll make you regret it!”  

“Regret it?”  

“Yes, regret it. I’ll say something so shockingly indecent that you’ll be stunned.”  

Heizen thought to himself that if it were truly indecent, it would only make him happy, not regretful. Rizle seemed to think she was planning revenge, but to him, it sounded more like a reward.  

“That sounds… terrifying, no, exciting.”  

Heizen accidentally let his true feelings slip but quickly corrected himself. However, Rizle had already heard everything. She glared at him with fiery eyes. Heizen kissed her cheek and got out of bed.  

“Let’s go out.”  

“Oh my, really? You were talking about locking me up underground because you didn’t trust me, and now you’ve had a sudden change of heart?”  

Heizen looked back at Rizle. While he had genuinely considered moving the bedroom underground, he didn’t feel the need to tell her that.  

“I also want to make memories with you.”  

Heizen extended his hand to Rizle. She pouted at him for a moment before smiling and taking his hand.  

The thought of going out after such a long time thrilled her. Rizle put on makeup, styled her hair beautifully, and changed into a light yellow dress. With a white fur coat and gloves, she was ready to go.  

“How do I look? Is it okay?”  

Rizle spun around and asked Heizen.  

Heizen nodded with a satisfied smile. Seeing her so happy lifted his spirits as well. Though he had been slightly anxious about going out, her joy reassured him that he had made the right decision.  

Just as they were about to leave the castle, an unexpected guest arrived from the capital. It was Viscount Lambus, sent to deliver a message from King Loen.  

Heizen tried to postpone the matter, but Viscount Lambus insisted that the king’s order was urgent. Reluctantly, Heizen delayed their outing to hear him out. However, the so-called urgent royal command turned out to be utterly absurd.  

“Count Warkliber, His Majesty orders you to become the nephew-in-law of the Emperor of the Western Empire.”