Chapter 5 – Issen (Part 4)

Bryant, true to his ‘craftsman’ nature, handled her in various ways. He would caress her as softly as a feather and bind her as tightly as chains. His body was much larger and stronger than hers, so it was no problem for him to do whatever he wanted. The first time he grabbed both of her hands and pinned them above her head, Evelyn was so surprised by his immovable strength that she was almost scared.

However, he always handled her with care. When she gasped, teetering between pleasure and pain, and finally cried, he would immediately stop and kiss the tears at the corners of her eyes. He would gently stroke her head and face, whispering apologies. He knew well how to comfort a woman crying in a state of high excitement. The ultimate pleasure that followed was a natural reward.

At such times, Evelyn couldn’t help but fall into a delusion. A delusion so naive and foolish that it was embarrassing to even put into words.

He was very interested in every corner of her body, but the place he spent the most time caressing was her face. The place he kissed with the most care was also her face. He frequently pressed his nose against her hair and neck, taking deep breaths. As if he wanted to keep everything about her inside him.

And amid the continuous act, he would invariably whisper her name in a meltingly soft voice.

“Evelyn.”

Evelyn listened to the sound with her eyes closed. The man’s voice calling her name softly.

“Open your eyes.”

“……”

“I want to see you.”

A large hand gently caressed her cheek. Evelyn struggled to lift her eyelids. Her breathing was mixed with a slight hoarseness. As her blurred focus adjusted, she saw his eyes. So close, eyes of blue-gray closer than her own body.

The bedroom, with the lights still on, was bright. A bit excessively bright. So Evelyn could see everything in detail. The thick eyelashes. The unwavering eyes. Eyes that looked straight at her alone.

Her face was clearly embedded in his jet-black pupils.

“Haah,”

Evelyn sighed with her eyes open. The pleasure continued to beat against her rhythmically. Rising softly and slipping away ticklishly. Rising again, slipping away again. But the man’s eyes were persistently and vividly looking into hers. As if he would never let go. As if he would swallow her whole forever. So Evelyn’s heart fluttered again.

Why do you want to see my eyes more than my body? Why do you look at me with such a deep gaze? Why do you whisper so tenderly and kiss me?

Why do you keep making me misunderstand?

Something sharp pricked her heart. Fragments of emotions pierced into her suddenly weakened heart. Joy and sadness. Ecstasy and sorrow. Loveliness and resentment.

In the unorganized chaos, Evelyn reached out her hand. She pulled the man’s neck, who was staring at her, and clung to him, kissing him with her eyes closed. It was a bold move for the first time, lacking any finesse, but the man willingly accepted the woman who burrowed in like a child seeking affection.

Evelyn raised her arms to touch him. His sweat-dampened neck, his stone-hard shoulders, his soft and damp hair. But she didn’t hug him with all her might. After all, he wouldn’t stay until the end. He would leave without hesitation when the time he set for himself came. Evelyn didn’t want to be pushed away when that time came. It was better not to hug him at all.

And everything never strayed from her expectations.

“Aah,”

So everything would eventually turn out as she predicted.

Bryant Clifton was undoubtedly a kind man. He never forgot to kiss her after their relationship and wiped away all the sticky traces left on her body. He tidied the bedding for the exhausted woman and stayed by her side until she fell asleep. They shared long conversations regardless of the deepening night.

But he never stayed until the end. When the time he set for himself came, he invariably left. After lightly kissing the forehead of the woman pretending to be asleep, he quietly got up and returned to his own space. The kiss that remained so kind to the end. Lovely and resentful.

In the silent darkness, Evelyn quietly opened her eyes. The bedroom with the lights off was dark, but light from outside seeped in through the curtained window. She looked at the faint patterns on the ceiling, then turned her head. The door he had just opened and left was firmly closed. Staring at that door, she slowly let out a long, low sigh.

The night deepens. Evelyn blinked alone in the darkness, curled up. Tomorrow was the day to meet the Empress, so she had to get some sleep. Although it seemed unlikely that sleep would come easily, she forced her eyes shut and huddled her shoulders.

*

Today, too, the sky over Issen was bright from dawn. Except for the rainy season in August, which was in the middle of summer, the weather was like this almost all year round. Bright and warm, with a climate as fresh as spring. Bryant didn’t find this weather particularly appealing, but he liked that it provided excellent lighting indoors.

There wasn’t a single spot on the large mirror in the bathroom. The man standing in front of it wore only a towel around his waist. With cream-like white foam covering his chin, he picked up a razor with a sharp blue blade. The keenly honed blade reflected the sunlight. If wielded skillfully, it seemed capable of killing a person. Even a slight deviation in angle would cut the skin, but Bryant handled it with ease. Having done it every day since adolescence, he couldn’t help but be adept.

Even shaving every morning, his chin would inevitably turn bluish by evening. How troublesome it would have been if he had to call a barber daily. It was fortunate that he was skilled enough not to need one.

Each time the razor passed, smooth skin was revealed. With just a few motions, the foam on his face disappeared entirely. After checking his clean-shaven chin in the mirror, he set the razor down. He washed off the soap with cold water and dried his face. He liked the freshness right after finishing a shave.

After grooming his hair, he left the bathroom and checked the clock. 10:30 AM. The carriage would be arriving soon. It was customary for the carriage sent from the palace to wait in front of the house for about 10 minutes, so there was still plenty of time to dress properly.

Bryant suddenly found himself curious again. 

What might she be doing around this time? 

He had sent an experienced maid to assist her, so everything should be proceeding smoothly. They had breakfasted separately in their rooms today, as he wanted to be considerate of the lady who would have much to prepare for her outing.

But he already knew what she would look like today. The dress, gloves, and shoes—all were things he had bought for her. The earrings he gifted her yesterday would surely complement them well. The thought made him smile involuntarily

With a faint, silly smile on his lips, Bryant began to dress himself in the clothes prepared for him. He put on black trousers and a white shirt, then slipped into black shoes. Fastening his cuffs with buttons bearing the family crest was a formality for entering the palace.

The stag of Elgagrove is permitted only to the Marquis’s brothers. Bryant’s son would not be able to use this crest. Of course, that’s assuming he had a son.

After securing the cuff buttons, he turned away from the mirror. The coat hanging on the hanger was meticulously cared for. The richly embroidered tailcoat with a high collar was the attire nobles wore on formal occasions. To enter the Empress’s audience chamber, one must be impeccably dressed.

As he donned the tailcoat and fastened its buttons, Bryant thought about how it had been just a month since he last wore it. A month. So much seemed to have happened in that time. As he once again felt the disruption of his timeline, he thought of the person responsible for it.

For Evelyn, this was her first visit to the Imperial Palace. Her anticipation for visiting such a place for the first time must be immense. That curious woman might want to stay there all day. Even if she spent an entire day, she wouldn’t be able to see half of that vast palace.

Therefore, the role of the guide is all the more important. While adjusting his appearance in the mirror, Bryant thought about today’s schedule, the time required, and the distances between various places to create the best itinerary. The main palace, the annex, the relic museum, the Emperor’s forest, and the Merry Stern Garden. He selected and excluded points she might like several times.

Then, from beyond the closed window, a rhythmic noise approached. The sound of multiple horseshoes clattering on the hard surface. It seemed the carriage had arrived.

“Mr. Clifton. The carriage has arrived.”

By the time the butler, who had come up to the second floor, informed him, Bryant had already finished all his preparations.

“Inform the lady that we will depart in 10 minutes.”

“Understood.”

He instructed the butler, whose reflection was in the full-length mirror. After the butler disappeared beyond the door, he opened the cap of the perfume bottle and thought. Once the business is concluded, perhaps a trip would be nice. There’s no need to rush back to Kingston.

Since Evelyn didn’t have any particular place she wanted to visit, he could take her wherever he wanted. If they took the train and traveled north, there were the perpetual snowfields, and if they went all the way south, there were sun-drenched beaches. Having endured Kingston’s chilly winter for several months, the latter seemed more appealing.

Staying on an island renowned as a resort for a few days and getting a tan would be nice. Swimming in the cool sea during the day and lying on the warm sandy beach counting stars at night. The impromptu plan appealed to Bryant. 

Could she swim? Or would she just read a book on the beach? 

Either way, there was no reason it would be bad.

Perfume was sprayed into the brightly streaming sunlight. Standing in front of the mirror, Bryant inhaled the familiar scent. Unconsciously, he chuckled again.