Chapter 2.3

When she opened her eyes again, it was almost time for dinner.

And it wasn’t that she woke up on her own—Feroza woke her.

“Ellie, aren’t you hungry? You should eat.”

“Mmm…”

Without thinking, she curled up and buried her face, and heard the sound of someone stifling a laugh.

“Cute as you are… I can’t let my lover go hungry.”

At the word ‘lover’ ringing in her ear, Ellie’s eyes snapped open and she sat up.

She looked at Feroza with wide eyes, and he smiled softly.

“L-lover?”

“Of course, we’re lovers. After you slept with me… Were you planning to just wipe your mouth clean and pretend nothing happened?”

“T-that’s…!”

Flustered, she stammered, and Feroza pulled her out from under the blanket and suddenly lifted her up in his arms.

Startled, Ellie screamed and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Your Grace!”

“You called my name so well earlier.”

“That’s only because you kept telling me to call you by your name.”

She turned her head away and mumbled, and Feroza’s laughter sounded in her ear.

When she glared at him with fierce eyes, it was obvious he was trying hard to hold back his laughter.

Feroza gently set her down on the edge of the bathtub and began to fill it with water himself.

Ellie stared at him in a daze, and soon he came over holding two small bottles.

“There’s rose scent and lavender scent. Which do you prefer?”

“Uh, I like lavender.”

“I thought that would suit you better, Ellie.”

He smiled softly, set the bottle down, and then lifted her again, settling her in the tub.

Since the water was running hard, the tub quickly filled with warm water.

He sprinkled a few drops of lavender bath oil, and soon the scent filled the bathroom.

When the water reached just above her chest, Feroza reached out and turned off the faucet.

Ellie folded her legs and sat with her knees up, blankly watching the steam rising.

“Ellie.”

“Yes?”

Feroza pulled her closer by the arm he’d wrapped around her waist.

Because of that, something thick and long touched her bottom, and her face grew hot.

She pretended not to notice and looked straight ahead, but his amused voice reached her.

“Are you embarrassed?”

“No?”

“But your ears are red.”

Then, suddenly, he nipped her ear lightly.

Startled, she flinched and turned her head quickly, and Feroza took the opportunity to kiss her.

Honestly, they’d kissed so much by now that her lips were swollen.

When his hand started to move lower again, she quickly grabbed it.

Feroza lifted his head from their lingering kiss and cocked his head.

“Ellie, why?”

“How can you even ask why?”

She narrowed her eyes, and he laughed softly.

“Alright, I’ll stop.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

After that, Feroza didn’t touch her again until the bath was over.

She’d expected him to act sly and persistent, but he was surprisingly restrained.

He even dried her hair himself with a towel.

Ellie glanced at Feroza through the mirror as he carefully dried her hair.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Huh? N-no?”

“You’ve been staring for a while now.”

She thought she’d been sneaky, but he’d noticed.

“I-I wasn’t staring!”

Flustered, she turned her head away.

Feroza chuckled, and her ears burned red.

“By the way, Ellie.”

“Yes?”

“I have a present for you.”

“A present?”

At the sudden mention of a gift, Ellie’s eyes widened in surprise.

Before she knew it, he was holding a box in his hand.

“Here, a present.”

Feroza placed the box in her arms.

It was a bit large, so she wondered what it could be and asked,

“Should I open it at home? Or can I open it now?”

“You can open it now.”

Ellie set the box on the table and opened the lid.

Inside was a beautiful dress.

“Gasp…!”

“I thought it would suit you perfectly, so I bought it.”

“For… for me?”

“Yes.”

Feroza nodded with a gentle smile.

Ellie stared at him in a daze, then turned back to look at the dress.

Honestly, the dress was so pretty it made her eyes widen.

“It’s beautiful…”

“Try it on.”

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

The dress was obviously expensive, and she felt it was too much for her to accept.

“Isn’t this too expensive?”

“Who knows? I’ve never thought anything was expensive when buying things.”

He really was a Grand Duke.

Ellie gulped.

“So are you going to refuse the gift?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s…”

“I picked it out thinking of you. I went and chose it myself.”

“Ah…”

He looked so forlorn that she felt really bad about refusing.

As she hesitated, Feroza came closer and took the dress out of the box.

“Then at least try it on. It would be a waste not to.”

“Still…”

“I just want to see you wearing it. Please?”

Feroza fiddled with the ribbon on her chemise.

“Then I’ll put it on and take it off right away.”

“That’s fine.”

It was the best compromise she could make.

Thankfully, he didn’t insist she keep the gift, just nodded lightly.

The dress fit her perfectly.

“How did you know my size?”

“How could I not? I can tell just by touching.”

Feroza reached out and stroked her waist.

Ellie glared at him and slapped his hand.

“Hands off.”

“So cold.”

The back had buttons, so Feroza had to fasten them for her.

“Could you help me with these buttons?”

“Of course.”

She felt him fastening each button one by one.

When he finished, he led her to the full-length mirror.

“Look, Ellie. Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Wow…”

They say clothes make the woman, and it was true.

The soft sky-blue dress, which matched her pink hair, shimmered and the frills weren’t too much, making it even better.

“No one but you could pull off this dress.”

“That’s not true.”

She was about to take off the dress when there was a knock.

“Dinner is ready.”

Feroza immediately wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Let’s go eat, Ellie.”

“Huh? I need to change first…!”

“Change later. You should eat while it’s warm.”

With that, he led her out of the room.

In the end, Ellie was dragged by Feroza to the dining room.

“After dinner, I’m definitely taking this off.”

“Taking it off? If you’re going to take it off, can’t you do it in my bedroom and get on the bed?”

“What are you saying!”

At his whispered words, she jumped and reflexively slapped his arm.

Startled at what she’d done, she gasped, but fortunately, he just started laughing, not offended at all.

“Ellie, you’re so cute.”

“…You’re the only one who says things like that, Your Grace.”

“Haha!”

In the end, Feroza burst out laughing.

The dining room wasn’t far.

When the door opened, she saw a very large table.

And there were only two places set.

“Sit here, Ellie.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Feroza politely pulled out her chair.

She sat down carefully, and he sat across from her.

Soon, the food was brought out.

It started with soup, then salad, steak, and even grilled lobster.

“Lobster…”

“Do you like it?”

“Ah, y-yes…”

She blushed, thinking she must look childish.

Feroza moved some neatly prepared lobster meat onto her plate.

“Eat a lot, Ellie.”

“You too, Your Grace.”

“I’m full just watching you eat.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, and he just shrugged and picked up his fork.

“Ellie, do you like wine?”

“Um, a little…?”

“We’ve got a delicious wine in. Try it.”

Feroza gestured to the butler, who disappeared and soon returned with a bottle of wine.

“It’s sweet and tasty.”

“Then just a little…”

It was red wine, and as soon as she smelled it, the sweet aroma hit her.

She took a sip and found it sweet and delicious.

“This is good…”

“Have more. There’s plenty left.”

It was so sweet and matched her taste so well, she kept drinking, finding it addictive.

In the end, except for the glass Feroza poured for himself, she finished the rest of the bottle.

Sitting blankly, staring at her plate, she heard the sound of a chair moving from across the table.

When she looked up, Feroza was coming closer.

“Ellie.”

“Yes…”

“Can you stand up?”

“Of course!”

Ellie immediately jumped up from her seat, but felt dizzy and staggered.

“Oh dear, Ellie.”

“I’m not drunk!”

“Sure, sure. You seem perfectly fine.”

Feroza answered with a voice full of amusement.

“Excuse me, Ellie.”

He slid his hands under her knees and lifted her up in a princess carry.

“Stay over and leave tomorrow. I’ll send word for you.”

“I can go home…”

“Well. I think differently.”

Feroza said in a low voice.

“When you get drunk, Ellie, you become too cute and I don’t want to let you go.”

“I’m not cute at all…”

“Sure, let’s say that’s true.”

He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

In a hazy state, Ellie squirmed and burrowed into Feroza’s arms.

She could feel his arms tighten around her.

Blinking, she looked up at Feroza.

“Your Grace…?”

“…Ah, sorry.”

When she tilted her head in confusion, he immediately relaxed his grip.

Even without opening her eyes, she could tell he was walking and climbing the stairs.