Chapter 10

Since she had originally disguised herself as a perfect man through a magic item, Rivera made an excuse that she was looking for an investment while pretending to be Adrian. It was the only excuse she could think of.  

In doing so, Rivera asked to be introduced to an upright and sturdy man with a clean record regarding women, claiming that such men would make long-lasting partners. She even sweetened her words to make her case.  

‘Later, I got caught impersonating Adrian because we happened to be in the same city.’  

Some nobles had discussed seeing the Duke Bartman, and when they noticed the duke’s whereabouts didn’t align at the same time in different places, her cover was blown.  

‘I thought I was going to die back then.’  

Fortunately, the magical item’s performance was excellent, and even when a mage nearby tried to use an unlocking spell, the magic wasn’t dispelled. However, rumors started spreading about a fake roaming the city, and the news eventually reached the Emperor’s ears.  

Rivera considered telling Adrian the truth, but the atmosphere surrounding the noble impersonator was so hostile that she couldn’t bring herself to speak. Instead, she sought out Adrian’s aide, Seth.  

– Please, save me just this once.  

She begged and begged, promising to do anything if he kept her secret. At the time, Seth said he would ask for one favor in the future, and since her life was hanging by a thread, Rivera agreed.  

“I kept my promise!”  

Why would Adrian, who ignored even the Emperor’s orders, go to subdue the barbarians? It was because Rivera persuaded him. Seth had used the favor she owed him.  

‘That scammer!’  

The Duke Bartman impersonation incident ended with a scammer being framed for exploiting the poor and driving them to their deaths. Meanwhile, Rivera persuaded Adrian to subdue the barbarians.  

The deal between them had been perfectly concluded, and now he was changing his words.  

“Isn’t it dirty to use someone’s weakness like this?!”  

Meriang, who had delivered the letter, asked worriedly.  

“Miss…….”  

“What?!”  

Rivera cried out in a voice that sounded like she was about to burst into tears.  

“The person who delivered this letter said you’d meet them if they waited outside.”  

Hearing this, Rivera approached the hallway window. Outside, a carriage from the Bartman family was parked, and Seth was smiling and waving at her.  

‘That scoundrel!’  

She went outside to talk to Seth. His request was simple yet difficult.  

It was to meet Adrian.  

Rivera had a hunch that today would be an unusually long day.  

***

‘Am I too late?’  

Adrian arrived at the Iaron Earldom close to midnight, as his meeting with the Emperor had gone on longer than expected.  

“You all stay here. I’ll check if Rivera is asleep.”  

Although he could have sought permission from the Earl of Iaron to meet Rivera, Adrian decided to climb over the wall. It would be troublesome if his visit woke her up.  

Luckily, Rivera had just been about to sleep. She was lying on the bed, rolling around but still awake. When he knocked on the window, she gasped in surprise and looked around frantically.  

“You…!”  

Startled, she quickly opened the door for him.  

[Goodness! Why is he acting like a thief? What if I had been completely undressed?]  

He wanted to tell her that it didn’t matter since he had already seen her n*ked.  

“You’re not asleep.”  

“You told me to wait for you. Come in quietly. My parents are asleep.”  

Letting an unrelated man into her room, Rivera sat on the bed, hugging a pillow.  

“Seriously… Do people even know? The great Duke Bartman climbs over women’s walls.”  

“What would they do if they knew? They wouldn’t dare say a word to my face.”  

“Hmph! Your foul personality is the problem. You go around killing people all the time, so everyone gossips behind your back.”  

“They only died because they deserved it. I never killed anyone innocent.”  

It was the truth.  

Looking around the room, Adrian pointed at the ceiling light. The room was so dark he couldn’t read her expression.  

“I want to turn on the light.”  

“No.”  

Rivera insisted they talk in the dark. If Meriang found out she was still awake, she might come in to nag her, and Adrian’s presence could be discovered.  

“Let’s talk with the lights off. No, I’ll talk first.”  

Adrian felt tense but tried to calm his nerves.  

In the dark room, only their breathing could be heard. Then, words came out that Adrian hadn’t expected.  

“Let’s pretend that what happened that day never happened.”  

Why was the conversation going in this direction? 

Adrian couldn’t understand.  

“I was so drunk and out of it, I think I made a mistake…”  

“So you want to pretend it never happened?”  

“Yes.”  

She said it would be better for both of them. Adrian was genuinely furious.  

“What if I say no?”  

From the moment they met, she had been part of his future. He had lived for this day. Now that he was finally one step closer to his dream, she wanted to go back to how things were?  

“Pretend it didn’t happen? Do you think you can just erase it like that?”  

“Adrian…?”  

“Do you even understand what your words mean to me?”  

He took a deep breath and said,  

“To you, I was just a one-night stand.”  

“That’s not true!”  

“Then what is it? What? Was I not good enough? Is that why you’re throwing me away like this?”  

Why was everything going wrong? Why didn’t she love me?  

The emotions he had suppressed finally erupted.  

“It was my first time, being with a woman. My heart was racing like crazy, and I was ready to take responsibility for your future. But how could you…”  

Adrian was deeply hurt.  

“How could you throw me away like trash?”  

“It’s not like that! I’m upset too, but I can’t remember… Huh!”  

You don’t remember…?  

Adrian grabbed her shoulders and said in a low voice,  

“Say that again.”  

Silence filled the room.  

“Well, it’s just…”  

Rivera lied again.  

“It was a slip of the tongue. Yeah! That’s it.”  

“Answer me properly. Do you remember or not?”  

Rivera lowered her head.  

“…I don’t.”  

Adrian exhaled deeply, as if his world had collapsed. Rivera, realizing her mistake, felt guilty and slumped her shoulders.  

“I’m sorry. I think I drank too much. I remember going to your house, but after that, I don’t remember anything… I tried to recall, but…”  

“So you couldn’t remember and decided to pretend it never happened?”  

“No, it’s not exactly like that… But I feel so wronged. Did we really sleep together? How could I not remember anything? Could it be that I…”  

“Hey.”  

Adrian’s last bit of reason snapped.  

“Don’t say nonsense. There’s no other man for you. That night, the only man with you was me.”  

His eyebrow twitched.  

“You don’t remember, so you want to pretend it never happened? Then I’ll make you remember. I’ll make it real.”  

Rivera welcomed the idea of making her remember.  

“There’s a way to do that?”  

“Of course.”  

“How?”  

“By doing it again.”  

“…Again?”  

He leaned so close that their breaths mingled.  

“I’ll recreate the night we spent together.”  

【 The Beginning of a Contractual Relationship 】  

The night was thick with clouds, obscuring the moonlight, but eventually, the moonlight broke through and illuminated his body.  

“Is this… really okay?”  

With a soft rustle, he removed his shirt and unbuckled his belt. Seeing his firm abs, Rivera couldn’t help but gulp.  

“Why wouldn’t it be? We’ve already seen everything there is to see.”  

Rivera didn’t know where to focus her gaze as the impromptu strip show unfolded before her eyes.  

“Where are you looking? Here, focus.”  

Adrian grabbed her wrist and placed her hand on his chest. As he leaned closer to give her a better view, her face flushed red as she took in the sight.  

“How is it?”  

Without answering, she carefully examined his body.  

It was the first time she had seen him like this while sober, and even Adrian felt a little nervous. What if she didn’t like his body? The thought crossed his mind.  

[This is insane… So sexy!]  

“…?”  

Adrian was momentarily taken aback.  

He had encountered many people who hid their true feelings, but this was the first time he’d seen someone blush shyly on the outside while thinking such bold thoughts on the inside.  

[What should I do? Should I ask him to take off more?]  

As her thoughts became bolder, Adrian decided to step up his game.  

“Take a good look. See what your man’s body is like.”  

His muscular physique, honed through years of knightly training, combined with the sight of his arousal standing tall, made her face turn even redder.  

Rivera covered her face with both hands, peeking through her fingers.  

[It’s… huge.]  

Her heartbeat quickened.  

Most women would find the sight of a man’s arousal intimidating or even repulsive, but Rivera was different.  

“Do you want to touch it?”  

“…Huh?”  

He guided her hand to his arousal. Startled, she tried to pull her hand away, but as he gently moved her hand up and down, a strange sensation washed over her.  

She marveled at the veins standing out on his length, her fingers exploring curiously, prompting a soft groan to escape his lips.  

‘This feels… indecent.’  

As she continued to touch the firm, warm flesh, a peculiar emotion overcame her. Especially when she gripped it lightly and saw his strained expression, it was oddly satisfying.  

“Ah…”  

Rivera tentatively gripped his arousal with her hand, moving it experimentally. Watching the foreskin retract to reveal the sensitive tip was something she had never seen before.  

Like a curious child, Rivera continued her exploration.  

‘It gets bigger the more I touch it.’  

The sight was fascinating. As her movements became bolder, Adrian cupped the back of her neck and pressed his lips to hers.  

“Mmph!!”  

She hit his shoulder, protesting the sudden kiss, but it was futile. His tongue slipped between her parted lips, intertwining with hers.