“D*mn it, Catherine…!”

Where did she think she was going with a body weakened by a cold!

Michael was too anxious to bear it. He wanted to jump on a horse right away, rush to Catherine, grab her and shout.

That she couldn’t go anywhere now, that she would stay in his arms until death, that she would be under his protection.

That even if she was sick, she should be sick in his arms, and that her laughter and lewd moans should all happen only in his embrace…!

“Haa, d*mn it.”

Should he have given her some kind of assurance before leaving? Would Catherine have waited for him then?

Thinking about it now, he might have been mistaken.

He should have convinced Catherine first, should have secured her heart firmly as his before leaving…

On that day when he visited the suffering Catherine, he heard from the Countess, Catherine’s mother, that Count Notrisha was looking for a marriage partner for Catherine, which made him lose his mind.

—…I wonder who they’re trying to match such a fragile child with. Anyway, Michael. Don’t say anything to Catherine. With her personality, who knows what she might do. Oh, and if you happen to know any young nobles who are as trustworthy and intelligent as you… Ah, never mind. What am I saying? Anyway, thank you for coming, Michael. Take care on your way back.

He felt as if he heard something fall with a thud somewhere in his body. When he came to his senses, his carriage was heading toward his territory instead of the Heimdall mansion.

Though he was worried about Catherine who hadn’t woken up yet, he also feared his own greedy desire that might emerge toward the awakened Catherine, so he consoled himself that being away from her for a while wouldn’t be so bad.

‘…h*rny b*stard.’

Catherine had developed a fever because of him and had become too exhausted to get out of bed.

Her lips, breathing hot, labored breaths, were extremely red. Her pale complexion was covered with sweat-soaked hair sticking to it.

As he carefully removed the hair, Michael was startled.

While he was distressed by Catherine’s suffering, on the other hand… a strange satisfaction filled him.

This small body was responding hotly because of him. Her body was reacting entirely to the lovemaking they had shared.

Under her wet clothes, she must be full of marks left by him. His sticky s*men might still be pooled inside her.

Thinking of that, sweet saliva pooled in his mouth. At the same time, he felt disgust toward himself.

That’s why Michael consoled himself that being away from her for a very short time wouldn’t be bad. For Catherine’s sake, not anyone else’s.

In case he couldn’t resist Catherine if she tempted him saying she was fine. No, he definitely wouldn’t be able to resist. Michael thought it would be better to be apart for just enough time for her to rest sufficiently and recover.

Of course, the desire that welled up at all times, Catherine’s breathing, sweet skin texture, and such things tormented him, but it was better for him to endure than to make Catherine bedridden.

If he couldn’t treat her preciously, it was better for him to suffer.

But who would have thought that this journey, which he expected to last at most ten days, would exceed two months.

“Hah……”

Michael gritted his teeth and gauged the weather outside the window. It had gotten cold, but it wasn’t yet the severe cold season when snow falls. If he rode from here, he could arrive within three days.

Even if the letter took about five or six days to reach this place, if he left right now, he could barely make it by the day before or the day of the masquerade ball.

The problem was…

Michael anxiously looked at the tightly closed door. Beyond this door, in the first-floor banquet hall, a feast was in full swing. There was a close noble friend who had guarded the frontier with Count Notrisha, and he had visited him on his way to the capital with his family.

Count Notrisha warmly welcomed Count Apfzen who had come without notice and held a feast. Michael, who was staying at the castle of the Notrisha family, was naturally invited to the feast as well.

If he hadn’t met the messenger who brought Catherine’s letter after the feast had started, he would still be standing in a corner of the feast.

“…I can’t leave right now either.”

He still hadn’t passed Count Notrisha’s final test.

But he couldn’t afford to stay and resolve that. Just thinking about Catherine going to a masquerade party where all sorts of promiscuous nobles would gather in a few days…

Grind.

His jaw tensed involuntarily. His impression, which had become sharper in the past few days, sank ominously. He clenched his fist several times, then turned his body.

The reason he was here, the reason he willingly accepted Count Notrisha’s test, was all because of Catherine. There was no way that guarding this place was more important than Catherine’s well-being.

The moment Michael, who had firmed his resolve, flung the door open—

“Kyaa!”

Something seemed to be pushed bluntly, and with a thud, a woman in a bright dress fell to the floor. Surprised, Michael reached out his hand toward the fallen woman.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, yes, I’m fine… Ouch, no, I’m not. I think I’ve sprained my ankle.”

The woman who had been awkwardly smiling and waving her hands was Liese, the eldest daughter of Count Apfzen, who was a close friend of Count Notrisha.

Liese, who had been rubbing her ankle as if it hurt, looked at Michael intently with her cheeks turning pink.

At her gaze, which seemed to hold some expectation, Michael quickly added:

“I’m sorry. I opened the door without checking if anyone was outside. Would you wait a moment? I’ll call a servant for you.”

As he rapidly spoke and turned to run, Liese hurriedly grabbed the hem of his clothes with a panicked hand.

“J-just help me up!”

“Me?”

“Yes. I fell because of you. S-so please support me.”

Michael’s face hardened at Liese’s unexpected words. Liese, who was observing his surprised face, quickly added:

“Please.”

Michael looked at her with a somewhat stiff face, then sighed lightly and extended his hand.

After all, it was true that she was hurt because of him, so he couldn’t refuse her request for help. Especially since she was Count Notrisha’s guest.

“Take my hand.”

“…Thank you.”

Liese firmly grasped Michael’s hand, which had become somewhat rough but was still long and neat. Her small hand, trembling with tension, was cold.

The two walked down the corridor in silence. Michael’s steps slowed to match Liese’s limping gait.

Though he was in a hurry, he didn’t show it to the injured Liese. And anyway… even if he was going to leave, he needed to talk to Count Notrisha first, so he had to go to the banquet hall.

“Um… You’ve been in there for a long time, and I was worried something might have happened since you weren’t coming out. I saw you leave in a hurry earlier.”

“I see.”

Michael smiled ceremoniously and nodded in understanding. At Michael’s lack of further response, Liese bit her lip awkwardly.

She wanted to say more, but she was too nervous to speak well. Liese had known about Michael before. She first saw him at her debutante ball two years ago.

The man who softly illuminated one side of the spacious royal ballroom was very proper and mature, unlike other nobles of his age.

He didn’t smile much, and he wasn’t a man with many friends around him, but he shone.

The moment she saw him smiling with a comfortable face while talking with Catherine Notrisha, Liese’s face turned red. Seeing his face, which even looked cold, become so affectionate, a strange desire stirred within her.

That winter, though she had to return to her territory with her father, Liese often recalled Michael whom she had seen that day.

She wanted to meet such a man. No, if given the chance, she wanted to meet the man named Michael Heimdall.

‘Michael Heimdall? He’s close to the Notrisha family. I heard he is very close with the Count’s only daughter. They practically grew up together. The wives are very close, you see.’

But the name Catherine Notrisha always followed Michael Heimdall. The two were like a pair; if one mentioned Michael, Catherine followed, and if one mentioned Catherine’s name, Michael followed.

They were said to be friends like siblings, but could such a thing exist between a man and a woman?

So Liese gave up her feelings. She decided that even if she happened to see Michael in the capital, she would not give him her eyes or heart.

The fortunate thing amidst the misfortune was that Liese had quite a beautiful appearance. There were many people who liked her.

Liese decided to try to like someone who liked her. That was the wise thing to do.

But… before arriving at the capital, she saw Michael again at the Notrisha house where they briefly stopped.

Her heart responded hotly, making her decision to give up seem meaningless. Liese thought this was her last chance.

Although he was at the Notrisha house, Michael was alone without Catherine Notrisha. Moreover, he had become even more handsome than two years ago.

If before he had been a beautiful and noble creature, the Michael she saw again exuded the scent of a male. He had become more manly and somehow rougher.

So Liese completely forgot her decision to give up her fantasies about him and decided to muster her courage once more.

It felt like if not now, she would never be able to approach this man like this. Even meeting him at the moment she had decided to give up felt like some kind of fate.

Liese overcame her shy nature and pursued him.

She waited for a long time after he hurriedly entered his room, but he showed no signs of coming out. Just as she took a deep breath and was about to knock on his door, the door flung open and she fell.

‘If not now, then never.’

Liese glanced at Michael’s long, clean hand supporting her and his profile.

It seemed like there would be nothing more to wish for if she could hold this hand she was now grasping and enter the banquet hall together. But he seemed somehow anxious and lost in other thoughts.

Just around that corner was the entrance to the banquet hall. Liese nibbled on her lips and gathered her courage.