Chapter 1.12

Karl Lavresion visited her workplace twice a week. He waited until she finished work, walked with her in the park, had dinner, and went to a hotel to sleep together.

Before she knew it, she had grown accustomed to their intimacy. Spending time with him also became a routine. Although their first meeting had been terrible, she realized over time that he was inherently kind.

It wasn’t her imagination. He was unintentionally kind to her. Finding a reason for her misunderstanding made her feel slightly better.

For instance… even after they were intimate, when he held her close and enjoyed the afterglow.

“You’re just going to leave while I’m in the shower again, aren’t you?”

She had already slipped away several times while he was in the shower after they were together. To prevent this, Karl Lavresion deliberately held onto her, refusing to let her go.

Even when she tried to wriggle free, he firmly wrapped his arms around her shoulders, ensuring she couldn’t escape the bed. After a few attempts to struggle, she sighed and gave up.

“Stay a little longer before you leave. You always try to get home before midnight. Do you have a curfew or something?”

“No…”

To be precise, she didn’t need one. She had never stayed out late before. She was always at home. She had never left the capital, Rebram. She had no friends or close relatives. Her only close relationships were with her mother and Baron Evris.

“Should we go somewhere, Leti?”

He started talking to himself, staring at the ceiling.

“I’d like to visit the Royon River.”

“…You can go with someone else. Why do you always want to go with me?”

“It’s no fun with other men.”

Karl Lavresion sighed deeply and rested his cheek on her shoulder.

“Chevrem is boring. No beaches nearby, no festivals, nothing exciting about this country.”

He listed all his complaints about Chevrem. Having grown up in Chevrem and knowing little about other countries, she tilted her head in confusion. 

Did that mean other places were different?

“It’s too cold here to swim.”

“Is swimming your hobby?”

“Yes. What about you?”

He returned the question, but she couldn’t find an answer. She didn’t have any hobbies. She had never tried swimming, horseback riding, or hunting—activities nobles often enjoyed. She was a noble in name only, born a mistress’s daughter.

Born from a mistress and an illegitimate child made her a convenient subject of gossip among the empire’s citizens and an object of disdain among the nobility. No one tried to get close to her, nor did she have the opportunity to form connections. She had never been invited to a tea party or participated in a debutante ball.

She was always alone or with her mother.

“I don’t have one…”

“Nothing?”

“No. Nothing. I’ve never tried anything…”

Having never experienced anything, she didn’t even know what she liked. He seemed taken aback, frowning as he carefully chose his words. Finally, he cupped her cheek and asked, 

“You’ve never swum before?”

“No.”

“Horseback riding?”

“…No.”

“Hunting?”

“No…”

“Then you’ve never tried boating or surfing either.”

“…”

“And since you said that was your first time drinking… have you ever been invited to a tea party?”

“…No.”

Each time she said no, he looked at her as if she were a caged animal. Embarrassment washed over her. She slapped his hand away from her cheek and lowered her gaze. Having lived in isolation, she had never confronted her own sense of shame. She lacked experience and wisdom, making her nothing more than a naïve girl. She hadn’t even done the things others considered ordinary.

She thought she had moved past such feelings after starting work, but it seemed she had been mistaken.

Just because she had found a purpose didn’t mean she was a person of value. It only led her to believe so…

A surge of self-loathing bubbled up from deep within. She turned her back to him and curled up.

“Leti.”

He grabbed her by the shoulders. As her body turned, she saw his startled face. He furrowed his brows in discomfort and let out a low groan.

“I didn’t mean to insult you. It’s just… um, you’re different from the people I’ve met before. I wasn’t trying to blame you or criticize you.”

She understood. That wasn’t why she felt down. But Leticia didn’t want to explain it all to Karl Lavresion. She didn’t have the energy for it, nor did she want to drag her wounds out into the open.

“Oh, right. How about we visit a villa?”

A villa?

“There’s one the Emperor gifted to my mother. I heard there’s a lake there. I’m a bit worried because of the cold weather, but I think we could still have some fun.”

“…Why?”

Because he felt guilty? Or because I was the only suitable woman around? 

She tried to guess his answer, but he said something unexpected.

“I think you’d love swimming.”

“…….”

“I really think you’d enjoy it.”

As he said this, he smiled and rubbed his nose against hers. It was one of his habits.

Thump. A dull sensation echoed in her chest. Soon, her heart began to race.

A villa, swimming… The fragmented words floated around in her mind. The sound of her pounding heart reached her ears.

But then reality struck her. She was working to pay off her mother’s debt. She couldn’t afford to take time off.

“I… work…”

“You can find someone to fill in for you temporarily.”

“H-how…?”

“That’s easy. Leave it to me.”

Easy? How? 

Her thoughts became muddled again, but then he pinched her cheek. The faint sting made her cry out, 

“Ah!”

“Again, overthinking.”

“…….”

“I told you not to overthink, didn’t I? Just follow your heart.”

But…

Would swimming be fun? Would an unfamiliar villa be exciting and not frightening?

“It’ll definitely be fun. Just like the first time you tried drinking, no, even more so.”

She bit her lips and shifted her gaze nervously.

The truth was, she also wanted to visit a villa like other noblewomen. She wanted to try horseback riding. She wanted to receive invitations. She wanted to have a debutante ball. She wanted to make friends her age. She wanted to have heartfelt conversations with someone.

Anyone would do… as long as they stayed by her side. Because she was lonely.

“Let’s go, Leti.”

He gently cupped her cheek as he spoke. Like someone enchanted by a ghost, she nodded. It was irresistible.

***

“Hmm~”  

Karl Lavresion hummed a tune as he rummaged around the room. He tapped his foot in rhythm with the melody, flipping through documents, opening the wardrobe, and peering into empty drawers. Hans cast a sidelong glance at his distracted lord and furrowed his brows.  

“You seem to be in a good mood.”  

“Yep. I’m going on a trip. It’s perfect timing since I’ve been restless. This is my first proper vacation since coming to the Chevrem Empire.”  

“Leticia Evris again? Along with that illegitimate young lady?”  

“Yep.”  

Hans sighed inwardly. Karl had always enjoyed the company of women back in Arhadan, so it wasn’t surprising that he’d continue doing so here. However, something was different this time. Back in Arhadan, his lord had preferred to casually date multiple women at once. But here, he only met Leticia Evris. Even considering that Karl didn’t know many people in the Chevrem Empire, it was unusual.  

Moreover, Leticia Evris herself was a problem. The fact that she was an illegitimate child was one issue, but the bigger problem was that she was the Emperor’s illegitimate child. Her mother being a commoner only added to the complications. There wasn’t just one or two issues with her.  

“Wouldn’t it be better to date a young lady from a proper noble family? It seems the Emperor would prefer that as well.”  

“I don’t like serious relationships. If I meet the woman the Emperor wants, things are bound to get too serious.”  

Karl Lavresion grimaced as if the mere thought repulsed him. He had already dealt with such problems in Arhadan and had no intention of going through the same ordeal again. Especially since he wouldn’t be staying here for long.  

“You might regret it later.”  

“Why?”  

“What if that illegitimate girl starts crying and clinging to you, Your Highness, claiming she loves you?”  

“Ah… That would be annoying.”  

He clicked his tongue as he closed the wardrobe door. Thinking about it, there was indeed a possibility. From the very first day they met, she had looked at him with hopeful eyes just because he had been a little kind to her.  

“Well, I’ll deal with that if it happens.”  

Now it was Hans who clicked his tongue and made a sour face. Hans spoke with genuine concern.  

“Your Highness, there won’t be any issues, right? You’ll be able to return to Arhadan without any problems, correct?”  

He absolutely didn’t want to get stuck here because of some unforeseen issue. Hans had a fox-like wife and rabbit-like children waiting for him back in Arhadan. It had already been three months since he left. He missed them terribly. His goal was to return to Arhadan as soon as possible.  

“Don’t worry. That will never happen. By the way, Hans, pack my things for me. We’re leaving in three days.”  

“Yes, yes. Of course. Have fun on your trip!”  

His lord had a light heart, just like his frivolous lower body. Hans sincerely hoped that the illegitimate girl wouldn’t fall in love with his lord—for the sake of both his lord and the girl.