A return gift.

What kind of return gift had he prepared this time?

Larinne could not help but grow tense. The memory of what he had once done as a so-called return gift resurfaced in her mind.

‘Surely not like that time…’

They were alone in the room.

The bed where they had been tangled up together that day was just behind them, and the ceremonial garment worn for the rain ritual was just a piece of cloth wrapped up and fastened with pins — it would be easy enough to remove.

Inevitably, her thoughts wandered to that embarrassing memory from that day.

“I’ll decline the return gift.”

“I believe it will please you.”

“No. It’s really alright.”

Seeing that Larinne’s cheeks were flushed red, Libehi Winterd let out a faint laugh.

She had thought that if she refused him so openly, he would back off. Instead, however, he began to reveal his true intentions.

“!”

A hand with raised veins slipped into her silver hair.

Thanks to the fragrant oil Chardi had carefully applied, it flowed smoothly across the back of his hand.

“Duke Winterd, such behavior could cause misunderstandings in the Eastern Empire.”

“I know.”

“….”

His face was suddenly so close that she gasped.

The image before her eyes was crimson, as though layered with countless desires. Just looking at him made her body grow hot.

He continued to tempt her.

His red pupils were lush and sinful, like the forbidden fruit that tempts humanity.

His languid voice sealed the deal.

“I know. I’m doing it precisely because I want to be misunderstood by you.”

How was she supposed to interpret his words?

Larinne, who usually prided herself on remaining composed in every situation, felt her judgment slipping.

She swore she had never experienced anything like this before.

“…How is this a return gift?”

“I thought it might be troublesome if the symptoms of the companion dream appeared during today’s rain ritual.”

It sounded plausible, but it was a ridiculous excuse.

“I didn’t have a companion dream today.”

“Ah, is that so?”

‘Then I must have been mistaken.’

The added remark carried not the slightest trace of apology. The way the corners of his eyes curved like a crescent somehow made him resemble a fox.

“Since we’ve already started, I would like to finish giving you the gift.”

Had his hand always been so bold as to thread through her hair?

Those long, thick fingers that had once explored a hidden, flooded marsh now caressed the nape of her neck.

It felt almost as though her neck were being licked.

Was it because his hand was cold?

Her senses sharpened.

As his fingers slid deeper, a strange shiver spread across her skin.

This was far too dangerous.

Shivering, Larinne seized Libehi Winterd’s wrist and stopped him.

Forcing herself to remain calm, she offered a plausible excuse.

“…I am already engaged.”

“You’re planning to run away soon anyway.”

Yes, as he said, Larinne did intend to escape her fiancé. She had never loved Seidon Varbel and had never considered him to be her equal.

From the outset, Larinne had been nothing more than a kept woman to Seidon.

It was a pathetic excuse.

“Do you know something? Compared to when we first met, you show far more expressions now.”

The delegation from the Kingdom of Lirmen had only been in the Eastern Empire for a few weeks.

‘Have I really changed in that time?’

Thinking back, it seemed that lately she spent less time drowning in sorrow.

‘That’s because this man keeps doing such absurd things…’

Those shameless acts had etched themselves into her memory.

How ridiculous must they have been for them to suddenly resurface in the middle of her daily life?

Larinne shot the man a sidelong glance.

Now that she thought about it, many of those changes were connected to him.

Thanks to the companion dreams, she no longer suffered from nightmares, and his outrageous boldness had left her so dumbfounded that she started laughing more often.

‘Has he been observing me all this time?’

Hearing something about herself that she had never even noticed from another person felt strangely embarrassing.

As the corner of Larinne’s lips slowly fell, he leaned his body toward her.

“That was a compliment.”

He brought his cheek to rest against the hand that held his wrist. Perhaps he was someone whose body temperature ran colder than others.

Even the cheek touching the back of her hand felt cool.

‘That day he burned like fire…’

Once again, the memory of the bed resurfaced without warning.

Foolish Larinne.

No matter how much she scolded herself, the swelling cloud of imagination refused to fade.

“I prepared this as my return gift.”

Like a cat marking a person it favors with its pheromones, he rubbed his cheek against the back of Larinne’s hand for quite some time.

“Ah.”

She had expected something far more excessive.

Compared to the tension she had felt, the return gift was rather simple, and a small exclamation slipped from her lips.

At the sound, Libehi Winterd chuckled softly.

“It seems you’re disappointed.”

He added in a teasing tone.

“That sigh certainly sounded that way.”

“…You’re overinterpreting.”

When had she ever sounded disappointed before? Feeling oddly embarrassed, she tried to pull her hand away, but he interlaced his fingers with hers to prevent her from doing so.

Apparently, touching a woman’s hair had not been enough for him — now he had even laced their fingers together.

Even someone utterly lacking in awareness would have recognized such a direct expression of intent.

“Duke Libehi Winterd.”

“You may interpret this however you please as well.”

How could he be so shameless? Even when she looked at him in disbelief, he didn’t flinch.

Now, he pressed his lips to the back of her hand. Their touch was brief, then again slightly to the side — soft lips brushing her skin before lifting away.

A strange sensation rippled through her like a wave.

It was odd.

Why did his actions, unlike those of other men, not feel repulsive at all?

“Shall we run away together?”

He spoke while pressing a finger firmly against the spot where his lips had touched, rubbing the lingering warmth on the back of her hand.

When no answer came immediately, he slowly lifted his lowered lashes and looked at Larinne.

The faint anxiety in his eyes—surely that was just her imagination.

“I could take you with me and run away right now if you wished.”

“That wouldn’t be possible.”

“Because of your people?”

Larinne answered with silence. If she accepted his proposal, she could escape the hellish Eastern Empire far more safely.

It was a tempting offer. But she could not abandon her companions.

“I wish you were more selfish.”

Larinne did not waver.

She began calmly speaking words she had carried deep within her all her life, words that had made her stronger in every moment.

It was a confession she had never spoken to anyone before.

“Duke, when I was first brought to the Eastern Empire, I was only three years old.”

“……”

“How do you think a three-year-old girl who lost her parents in war managed to survive in an enemy nation?”

Dark clouds passed over his eyes.

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t.

What was he thinking?

Although she could not read his thoughts, he looked like a seriously injured deer.

The sorrowful, pitiful eyes of a wild animal cast out from its herd because of its injuries.

Looking at those eyes made Larinne’s own heart ache.

“I exist today because of the selflessness of countless people.

I cannot betray their kindness.”

“…If you truly refuse to change your mind, then at least use me.”

She felt the strength tighten in the hand interlaced with hers, as if he had no intention of letting go.

In a way, the desperation behind it almost made him seem pitiable.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“It means I will build a bridge along the path you choose to walk.”

“This has nothing to do with you. It’s our fight.”

The people of the Kingdom of Lirmen were also of the same Lemen blood, but she could not drag innocent people into danger.

On that point, Larinne was unwavering.

“I want to stand with you.”

“Sir Libehi Winterd.”

“The blood of the Lirmen also runs in me. Allow me to follow you as the last remnant of my selflessness—please do not cast me aside.”

“You may end up in danger as well.”

Unable to endure Larinne’s firm resolve any longer, Libehi Winterd pulled her into his arms and whispered,

“Even if the end leads to h*ll, I will go. So please do not face danger alone. Do not come back wounded like this, and do not try to bear everything by yourself.”

His head, buried against her neck, trembled slightly. A familiar scent drifted toward her.

Though he had denied it during their first meeting, Larinne could not help but think of that child.

The fragrance of longing spread through the depths of her unconscious.

“…You keep making me think of that man.”

“……”

What expression was he wearing now?

The silence did not last long.

“Then do you hate me for it?”

The slow question brushed against the nape of her neck like a fingerprint being pressed into skin.

As his hot lips moved—opening and closing with the words—the hairs along her body stood on end.

***

“Lady Larinne, Lady Larinne…!”

Larinne, who had been staring blankly into space, suddenly lifted her head at the sound of someone calling her.

When she regained her senses, the golden chariot prepared for the rain ritual was already gleaming beneath the brilliant sunlight.

“…Sorry, Chardi. What did you say?”

“You have to enter now.”

She could not even remember how she had made it this far.

Nor what answer she had given to Libehi Winterd’s final question.

Seeing Larinne rub the nape of her neck, where the lingering sensation still remained, Chardi asked with concern.

“Lady Larinne, are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

After forcing her expression into composure, Larinne looked ahead.

Servants dressed in white ceremonial robes stood in a long line.

The rain ritual was about to begin in earnest.

‘Pull yourself together.’

Her thoughts were muddled, but for now she had to focus entirely on the ritual.

If she made a mistake during another ceremony, it might be overlooked.

However, if she faltered during the Rain Ritual, the innocent minority tribes would be blamed.

As Larinne steadied herself, a large shadow fell over her.

“Can’t you get your head straight?”

A sharp voice lashed down like a whip.

When she turned, an arrogant man was looking down at her with clear disdain.

“There will be no mistakes.”

“There’d better not be. If you have any sense.”

Following Lady Lily’s teachings, Larinne began to walk gracefully behind Seidon, who had already stepped forward.

Together, they made their way through the endless procession and climbed onto the golden chariot.

It would soon depart for the Pactio River, where the Rain Ritual Ceremony was to take place.

“Once the ritual at the Pactio River is finished, come directly to the lower district residence.”

After delivering the one-sided order, Seidon suddenly pulled the reins without warning.

“!”

Caught off guard by the abrupt start, Larinne stumbled—failing to notice Seidon exchanging a silent glance with someone nearby.