Chapter 2

With one hand, he gripped her chest as if squeezing it, while with the other, he restrained her slender wrist and thrust deeply.

His overwhelming manhood stirred inside her, and as he moved fiercely below, Astrid’s reason completely vanished.

Before they knew it, words had disappeared and only passion remained. They focused solely on each other, like animals mating.

Tears welled up at the corners of Astrid’s eyes. Just as she felt so overwhelmed with excitement that she wanted to sob, he increased his pace.

“Mm, ugh……!”

Her whole body desperately wanted Kaiden. Astrid, feeling as if she might burst at any moment, cried out in a voice like a scream.

Every place where they touched burned, and then, at some point, hot liquid spread deep inside her. Her body convulsed on its own, and love fluids dripped out.

She fainted away.

* * *

“Kaiden, can you please go back to your room now?”

“Just a bit more…… did you know you have two moles here?”

As his large hand slowly played with Astrid’s ear, her head throbbed. Unlike Kaiden, who looked pleased, her whole body ached with every movement.

Last night, it had been nice to celebrate graduation with close classmates and enjoy drinks together.

｢Stop drinking. There’s something I want to talk about.｣

But just as the party was in full swing, Kaiden took her glass away.

Caught off guard, Astrid stayed sober, while her friends, thoroughly drunk, all fell asleep.

In the end, after taking care of the servants and her limp friends, she returned to her room.

Then Kaiden came to Astrid’s room through a secret passage known only to the direct line of the Raselles Duchy.

They had meant to talk, but somehow things turned intimate.

Last night, and now again.

Astrid pushed away the clinging Kaiden and turned her head toward the window.

Dawn had already broken, and silvery sunlight fell across the sheets. Snow that had fallen all night must have piled up, so she needed to hurry and prepare to leave for the estate. But the man who had passionately shared her bed showed no sign of hurrying.

Afraid the maids might barge in at any moment, Astrid anxiously poked his side. Kaiden reluctantly sat up, but after only a few steps, he returned to the bed.

“Do we really have to go back to the estate?”

“If you say one more word, I’ll get angry.”

When Astrid clenched her fist, Kaiden pouted as if sulking.

Even after making love several times, he still seemed full of energy. Meanwhile, her whole body was aching.

Feeling somewhat wronged, Astrid glared at him. Kaiden playfully laughed and pulled her into his arms. Then, with a kiss so deep it made her dizzy, he hugged her tightly. As if he’d never see her again, he held her with all his strength.

It was only a few months. Once Astrid returned to the estate, she would begin a full-scale succession competition with her relative Andrew for the Marquis position. Astrid was one of the top students at the Academy, and Andrew, greedy and foolish, was unfit to inherit the Marquis title—she deserved it.

If Astrid became the Marquis, Kaiden, the second son of the ducal family, would be awarded the Howard Earldom and live as Marquis Astrid Hamilton’s Consort.

All she had to do was follow the path set before her, but for some reason, her heart kept fluttering.

Perhaps sensing her feelings, Kaiden gently kissed her golden hair.

“If you’re ever in danger, give up the Marquis position. You also have the option to become the Countess of Howard.”

“That’s so reassuring. Thank you.”

“The Howard estate is close to Hamilton, too. There’s not much difference from becoming a Marquis.”

He clasped Astrid’s hand tightly. His thick fingers tickled her slender wrist. As their palms touched, warmth spread again, and Astrid, startled, pushed the man’s back.

Worried someone might knock at any moment, her small hand moved urgently.

As Kaiden reached the bookshelf where he had appeared the night before, he frowned slightly and spoke.

“Promise me, Ast, that you won’t overdo it.”

“Mm, don’t worry. I’ll come for you soon.”

Astrid rose on tiptoe and stroked his fine silver hair. The hair that had been damp with sweat the night before now shone as if nothing had happened. She wanted to touch it more, but time was already running out.

He gazed at her for a moment, then turned away. Soon, the bookshelf moved, and the sound of footsteps faded into the distance.

At last, the happy time was over. Realizing this, Astrid stood blankly in front of the closed bookshelf.

It had been like a dream for a few days.

The Duchy of Raselles, at Kaiden’s request, had invited Astrid and her classmates to the ducal residence in the capital, Duddingston, and she had enjoyed herself with Kaiden’s older brother, Norton, and her classmates.

When Astrid had seen Norton Raselles, the Young Duke, at the Academy, she had thought him cold, but this time was different.

He gladly guided Astrid and her classmates around the mansion and had tea with them. If she married Kaiden, he seemed like someone who would become good family.

The night before their departure, when Kaiden came through the secret passage known only to the direct line, she had been so shocked she nearly fainted, but the night she spent with him was so blissful she would remember it forever.

‘I need to get ready.’

Now Astrid had to return to the Hamilton estate and jump into a fierce succession battle.

When she first declared her intention to compete for the Marquis title, her mother disapproved. But Astrid didn’t want to hand over the family to a fool like Andrew just because he was a man.

Her father, on the other hand, encouraged her to compete with her brother.

So she had no choice but to use all her abilities to win.

Astrid Hamilton didn’t know how to lose.

With a bright smile, she rang the bell. The maids entered the room carrying washbasins.

She felt as if only good things would happen from now on.

* * * Time Skip ***

Perhaps because it had been a while since she’d traveled toward the capital, Duddingston, memories with Kaiden kept coming to mind. Memories from the Academy and the Raselles ducal residence filled her head, leaving her feeling stifled.

It was all useless now.

Forcing herself to shake off the thoughts, Astrid checked her watch.

There were only twenty minutes left until the 5 a.m. train.

It was midwinter, and the cold wind stung her ears. The chilly, damp air made her chest ache, but she couldn’t slow down. Anxiously, she hurried past the platform at Central Station.

At last, she spotted a train with [Meadows Express] displayed on the railway sign, and a long sigh escaped her lips.

Astrid had come to the eastern region on business for the first time in a while. She was scouting a location for the Mason Merchant Guild’s new branch and checking market trends and local specialties.

Just yesterday, Astrid had finished her morning schedule and taken a walk around the old castle and the frozen lake. The flock of birds flying leisurely under the low clouds had captivated her.

She had finished her short sightseeing and was returning to her hotel when a hotel staff member handed her a telegram. Calmly opening it, the printed message jumped out at her.

[Landslide in the Tate region, urgent return requested.]

Tate was a city in the western region where the Mason Merchant Guild’s headquarters was located.

Taking a deep breath, Astrid handed over her work to the staff who had accompanied her and quickly bought a ticket for the Meadows Express.

As it was a busy travel season, all second-class seats were sold out, and only first-class was left.

With the merchant guild expanding its business, the ticket price felt wasteful, but she couldn’t hesitate.

She used to ride the deluxe class without a second thought.

Astrid let out a hollow laugh as she looked over the train.

The Meadows Express consisted of one dining car, one sleeper car, and two general cars. The massive train reminded her of a black snake, leaving her with a strange feeling.