When the two arrived in Pelios, it was late evening.

Audrey was speechless as soon as she got out of the carriage.

“…Are we really riding in this?”

“Yes.”

“……”

All of this was because of the carriage they were to transfer to.

‘Why did they prepare such a carriage!’

The snow-white open carriage pulled by two white horses was adorably decorated with flowers and ribbons.

Sitting side by side, they would look exactly like a newlywed couple.

Moreover, without windows or a roof, there was nowhere to hide once aboard.

Swoosh.

“Welcome to Pelios!”

“……”

Meanwhile, a red carpet unfurled before their feet. At its end, the snow-white carriage waited for them.

“If it’s not to your liking, I’ll have another carriage prepared.”

“…No, it’s fine.”

In the end, Audrey walked the red carpet with a resigned face.

She judged it better to endure all this embarrassment and get home quickly.

‘I just need to bear with it for a little while.’

But once in the carriage, she felt hot gazes despite it being evening.

“…It’s a bit tight.”

The earlobe of Duke Frith, sitting right next to he,r was even hotter.

The coachman, confirming that the two were seated tightly together, took the reins.

“We’ll depart now. Heeyah.”

“Ah!”

“…!”

The carriage jolted slightly.

Following the movement, the arms of the two sitting side by side brushed against each other as if being crushed.

‘Damn…!’

Derek, completely frozen, had to regulate his breathing while fixing his gaze on the distant darkness.

It was because Dodori’s body temperature kept bothering him.

But the problem was that there was nowhere else to retreat due to the narrow carriage.

Already occupying 3/4 of the narrow seat by himself, why did it still feel so cramped?

‘I’d believe it if they said this was a children’s carriage.’

No matter how he folded his unnecessarily robust body, it was of no use.

Dodori was almost crumpled up.

‘Is she even breathing?’

Derek kept turning to the side out of concern for the silent Dodori.

Not knowing that she was grateful for his massive build, acting as a shield.

The snow-white carriage traveled through the darkness for quite some time.

They finally arrived in front of the lodging that Lucas had prepared in advance.

“…I’ll prepare a more comfortable carriage for tomorrow.”

“I’m fine with this.”

“I’m not fine.”

“…?”

Leaving behind these incomprehensible words, Duke Frith hopped off the carriage.

Thud.

‘Hmm?’

Audrey picked up something that had fallen to the carriage floor. It seemed to be a personal item from his pocket.

Though it was dark and hard to see, the soft leather cover appeared to be light pink.

Quite uncharacteristic for Duke Frith.

“You dropped this.”

“…!”

“It looks like a novel.”

Duke Frith, somehow looking flustered, approached with quick steps.

“A novel, yes, that’s right. A very informative novel that shows a brilliant author’s insight along with scathing criticism of imperial society.”

“…Ah.”

“I read it very occasionally. Occasionally. It’s not even my book to begin with.”

He hastily snatched the book from Audrey’s hand. His manner of volunteering explanations for things she hadn’t even asked about seemed quite suspicious.

‘I correct myself. This will be the truly last lie I tell you.’

But Audrey didn’t care much. What did it matter to her what he read?

Just then, Lucas belatedly joined them.

“Oh? You haven’t gone in yet?”

“We were about to.”

“Wow, look at this tree! They said it’s over a thousand years old, and it really is huge!”

“Stop saying useless things and lead the way.”

“……”

Lucas, who was unusually making a fuss, became dejected.

‘I was just trying to set the mood. You’re so clueless, sir.’

He felt sorry for his lord, who failed to notice the assistant’s grand scheme.

Wasn’t this lodging chosen after extensive research?

First of all, the thousand-year-old tree stretching grandly behind the inn was stylish. Plus, the area behind the inn was dimly lit, creating an incredible atmosphere.

Imagine walking there together.

‘…Even without existing affection, it would naturally develop.’

Since Lucas had already set the mood, couldn’t they just pretend to go sightseeing?

Then they could have taken a cozy walk while engaging in small talk.

‘Sigh.’

Lucas was so disappointed in himself that he didn’t know what to do.

“Welcome. How many are you?”

“Three people. We’d like separate rooms, please.”

“Oh dear, what shall we do… tsk.”

The old woman who had greeted the guests cheerfully suddenly clicked her tongue.

“We only have one room left.”

“……”

Derek coldly turned to his assistant.

The tactless Lucas subtly raised his eyebrows as soon as their eyes met, as if sending some signal.

But the crimson eyes grew even fiercer.

‘He’s lost his mind.’

He couldn’t stand the sight of his assistant, who couldn’t even make a proper reservation, yet was acting smug.

“Didn’t you say you’d take care of everything and I should trust you?”

“…What?”

“You can’t do anything right.”

How exhausted must Dodori be after riding in a carriage all day with that small body?

‘Any more moving around would be too much.’

Derek immediately made a decision.

“I’ll sleep in the tree.”

“…!”

This isn’t right?

Lucas and the old woman secretly exchanged glances.

‘In all my years, I’ve never seen a young man like this.’

Normally, in this situation, shouldn’t one reluctantly agree to share a room?

With an unkept promise to just hold hands while sleeping.

But not even on the hallway floor, but in a tree!

‘My goodness… what a passionate young man.’

In over 50 years of running the inn, this was the first such extreme case.

Thanks to this, Audrey was mortified with discomfort.

If the lord of the land was sleeping in a tree, what right did she have to sleep comfortably in a bed?

“I can just sleep in the lobby-“

“No.”

“……”

“I didn’t bring you along to make you suffer like that.”

“……”

“So you take the room.”

Duke Frith drew the line very firmly.

“I’m used to camping, so I’ll be fine.”

“……”

The assistant watching this scene felt like he would die of frustration.

‘No, but how can you say you’ll sleep in a tree!’

What kind of man uses his war experience for something like this?

Sure, back then he probably slept on galloping horses and by riverbanks teeming with leeches.

But did he really need to camp out on a day like this?

“Your Grace. Please reconsider-“

“You can sleep on the street or in the stable, I don’t care.”

“…!”

“Pathetic.”

Derek completely ignored his assistant’s final advice and went upstairs.

It was to check that Dodori’s accommodation was safe.

‘The window is sturdy. The bed is wide enough for two people to sleep in.’

Only after thoroughly checking even the texture of the blanket did he feel reassured enough to leave the inn.

Lucas followed him around, whimpering like a puppy that needed to pee.

“Your Grace, are you really going to sleep there?”

“What choice do I have?”

“But-“

“Stop being annoying and get lost.”

“…!”

Yikes. It seemed revealing the truth now would only make the atmosphere worse.

Though it was extremely uncomfortable to see his lord setting up in a tree when there were perfectly fine empty rooms available, what could he do?

“Tomorrow, I will definitely get you a room.”

“You’re still here?”

“Sleep we-, no, I’ll see you tomorrow!”

“……”

Lucas hastily retreated before more sparks could fly.

‘Finally, the nuisance is gone.’

Only then did Derek turn on a light and take out a book.

He didn’t forget to carefully check his surroundings before opening the cover.

‘No one around.’

Finally, the light pink leather cover was turned. Soon after, the hidden title was revealed.

《The 103,850,659th First Kiss》

“…Unnecessarily provocative.”

It would have been quite troublesome if the cover had been opened in the carriage earlier.

He might have caused unnecessary misunderstanding with Dodori.

Just imagining it made him dizzy.

“Really, what perverted taste.”

His furrowed brow revealed his displeasure toward his assistant.

Why, of all books to lend, would he choose such a lewd one?

“……”

Still, since it was a famous romance novel, he intended to read it. This was all for a successful proposal, after all.

‘I suppose it’s better than reading nothing at all.’

But his first romance novel instantly captivated him.

His crimson eyes danced quickly over the text, and his heart pounded.

Finally, the moment approached when the protagonists, having confirmed their feelings for each other, were about to share a passionate kiss.

“…!”

Derek almost fell out of the tree after reading the first sentence.

Their lips met softly, and their breaths mingled.

The book that Lucas had strongly recommended contained content as provocative as its title!

He unconsciously glanced around, like a child afraid of being caught doing something wrong.

‘…Am I already allowed to read something like this?’

No matter how he thought about it, this book seemed too overwhelming for his level.

The only physical contact he’d had in his entire life was accidentally covering Dodori’s hand.

But he couldn’t stop his eyes from drifting toward the book.

Although the content was difficult to accept now, wouldn’t these be things he needed to know eventually?

“Right. There’s nothing wrong with studying in advance.”

Derek succumbed to his unusually strong academic enthusiasm today. His crimson eyes continued to dance over the text for quite some time.