She ran her hand over the marks and the heat of the night before came flooding back. Just then, she was pulled into a firm embrace from behind. She looked up to find him smiling at her with drowsy eyes.

“Did you sleep well?”

The bedroom had its own bathroom, but she had come out to the sitting room bathroom so as not to wake him. He must have used the bedroom bathroom, because his breath smelled fresh. Jeanne didn’t pull free of his arms and stayed like that for a moment.

Well. Being held like this by someone isn’t unpleasant. She had thought she wasn’t particularly fond of being held, but it seemed that wasn’t quite right.

After her mother went missing, Jeanne had never given her affection to others carelessly. Even with Alice, her cousin, even with her aunt, even with her friends, there was always a line. It was a line she had drawn within herself, so others never noticed it.

Being his partner, having spent a night together, didn’t mean the line she had drawn with Ruhir had disappeared. They were going to part ways eventually, after all. They were simply enjoying each other.

She turned around in his arms and looked up at him, and warm green eyes were looking back at her. The drowsiness had cleared from them quickly, and they were bright and alert.

“Yes. I slept well. And you?”

“I did too.”

Facing her, he pulled her snugly into his arms. Through the open bathrobe she could feel his muscles clearly. Hers was open too, and their bare chests pressed together. Is he starting this right after waking up? It’s nice, but aren’t you hungry?

He was holding her and pressing light kisses to the back of her neck when Jeanne spoke.

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”

“Oh. It is that time. Sit down for a moment, I’ll make something quickly.”

“Do you have ingredients?”

“Yes. I went out to the plaza early this morning and bought a few things.”

When had he gone out? It was even more surprising that he didn’t look tired. She went to the kitchen and found a basket full of ingredients. She thought about changing out of the bathrobe, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“I’ll help.”

“It’s fine. Your back must be sore, so let me make it. Is seafood risotto alright?”

“Yes. That sounds good.”

She sat at the table and watched him cook. Since they had always eaten out, this was another first. It didn’t take long to make lunch, and a delicious smell drifted through the air.

She rested her chin in her hand and watched his back. He’s the second prince, so why is he such a good cook? Don’t people usually have someone to do it for them? Before long, a bowl of risotto that looked wonderful was set in front of her.

“I’ve made it for family and friends before, but you’re the first outside of them, so if it doesn’t suit your taste, tell me.”

“Just the fact that you made it is enough.”

She said that and carefully scooped up a spoonful of the steaming risotto. The moment it went into her mouth, her eyes went wide on their own. It’s genuinely delicious from just one bite. Couldn’t you sell this? She wasn’t particularly picky and generally ate anything well, but this was good enough to make her want to keep eating.

“It’s delicious. You’re a really good cook.”

“Really? I’m glad.”

He let out a quiet breath of relief. If it hadn’t suited her, he had been ready to make something else right away. Watching Jeanne eat was entertaining. She seemed to think she wasn’t showing it, but she was.

It just felt like something you could only see if you were close to her or if she had let you in. Had they grown that close over two months?

After lunch, Jeanne immediately tidied up. Ruhir tried to do it himself, but she sat him straight down on the sofa.

I have a conscience, you know. He had taken care of everything last night, so it wouldn’t feel right to let him do the washing up too.

There wasn’t much either, so it was done quickly. She stretched out and was heading toward the sofa when she felt like looking around the place. There was a sitting room, a kitchen, and several rooms.

Besides the bedroom and bathroom where they had slept, what was in the other rooms? Were they used as guest rooms when someone came to stay?

“Can I look around?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

She took him at his word and walked over to a door, and the moment she opened it her eyes lit up.

“This is basically a library.”

It was a storeroom lined with books. Someone must have been keeping it up, because there wasn’t a speck of dust. She stepped inside and looked around to find spellbooks, books on swordsmanship, and more. These are rare books you’d only find at an antique bookshop.

She was looking around in wonder when he spoke from the doorway.

“They’re books I received as gifts from my older brother, friends, and tutors. I used to keep them at the imperial palace, but since starting at the academy I’ve been storing them here. When I get married someday, I plan to move them all.”

Being the second prince, he would typically receive a title upon marriage and come into a residence of his own. But since the imperial family got along well this time, perhaps he would stay in the capital. She found herself curious about who would end up marrying Ruhir.

Whether they would be engaged first and then married, or whether he would receive a formal proposal directly. Wondering about it wouldn’t get her any answers, so she simply nodded and moved on.

“Can I read them?”

“Yes. As many as you like.”

“Then let me pick out a few.”

There were many books she couldn’t easily get her hands on elsewhere, and she was delighted. Still, reading just a little was important, so she brought four to the sofa. While she was choosing, tea and dessert had been set out.

She heard the clinking of dishes. When did he prepare all that?

“I’ll just read the four.”

“Alright.”

She was the one who had suggested spending the whole weekend together, so she felt a slight pang of conscience. But I can’t pass up books that interest me. She sat in the warm sunlight reading, and the only sound was the turning of pages.

She was so absorbed in her spellbook that she had lost track of what Ruhir was doing, when he came over and settled at her feet.

“Don’t mind me. Keep reading.”

“Hm?”

“I can’t interrupt the time you love.”

Saying that, Ruhir smiled playfully and parted her legs. She was still in the bathrobe, but the way it fell open left her bare and exposed. Even after being buried inside her all through the night, the way she closed up so neatly, as though it were the first time, stirred him even more.

He pressed a light kiss to her inner thigh and looked up at her with a smile.

“You seem to have incredible focus, Jeanne. Want to bet on whether that holds up when you’re feeling good?”

“……Hm.”

Thinking back to the sensations of the night before, she was fairly certain she would lose, and yet something competitive began to stir in her. Even if she felt something, couldn’t she just pretend she didn’t? She rolled her eyes in thought, then nodded and held the spellbook up closer.

She had pushed through studying under all kinds of distractions, even when she was unwell. Maybe she could actually win this.

“And if I win?”

“If you win, I’ll grant you whatever you want. If I win, you have to grant me mine.”

He seemed to sense he would win, and pressed another kiss to her inner thigh. Having been with her once, he had grown bolder. Jeanne’s cheeks colored slightly and she went back to reading the old book.

She had kept the bathrobe on because it was comfortable, but if she had known it would come to this, she would have changed. Ruhir settled between her legs and looked at her. In the daylight, everything was plainly visible, and he lifted both her legs and draped them over his shoulders.

She was clearly trying not to let it show, but the trembling alone told him she already wasn’t managing. He wondered what he should wish for when he won.

Just as he was about to begin, Jeanne suddenly pushed his head away.

“Why?”

“We ate, and we had a snack, so let’s go brush our teeth together first.”

The slight urgency in her voice made it funny. There was still plenty of time, so Ruhir got up without argument.

She had been trying to buy herself time, but brushing their teeth was over faster than expected. Still, her racing heart had settled considerably.

Maybe she could ignore Ruhir and read all the way to the end of the book after all. Jeanne sat back down on the sofa and buried her face in the old book so deeply it looked like she might be swallowed by it.

She seemed to be trying to hide her expression, but her face behind the book was perfectly visible. He smiled faintly and sat back down between her legs, running his hands lightly over her feet. He wanted to lick the top of her foot because it was endearing, but she might pull away.

He stroked her feet and then lifted them onto his shoulders, parting her legs again. Before they had brushed their teeth she had been dry, but now it was different. Slick warmth was slowly seeping out from the tight entrance.

Ruhir, feeling certain he was going to win, buried his face between her legs.

“-Hm!”

The moment his warm mouth closed around the bud it had been sucking and teasing all night, her body gave a sharp jolt. His tongue was only just beginning to move and already this strange sensation was rising up. Her body, remembering the pleasure of the night before, wanted nothing more than to rush ahead.