Chapter 6. Crossing the Line

“Mmm… dizzy. Brother… I’m dizzy.”

“Get a hold of yourself. I’m not your brother.”

What…

Dominic was about to scold her for drinking so much but closed his mouth. He realized there was no point in lecturing someone who was drunk.

Karina kept trying to sit down on the floor while whining about being dizzy and sleepy. The reason he couldn’t let Lady Crawford make a spectacle of herself in front of so many people wasn’t just because she was his best friend’s sister.

“Hah. Damn it.”

Why did she have to wear such an outfit? Every time he looked down at her, who was much shorter than him, her ample chest was clearly visible. The exposure was too much, far too much.

If she were to sit down in that dress, all the men gathered here today would…

“Damn it.”

Before, when they had no connection, he could have just passed by with a disapproving look at his friend’s thoughtless sister. But now he couldn’t.

Because Karina Crawford was no longer just a friend’s sister.

The sight of Dominic escorting Karina out of the banquet hall drew much interest from the crowd.

Karina Crawford and Dominic Winchester were opposites in every way. The strict and stern Dominic, and the outgoing, attention-drawing Karina. Seeing these two together was as incongruous as a fish growing legs.

“Lady Crawford usually doesn’t drink much, I wonder what happened today?”

“She seemed quite troubled about something.”

People exchanged remarks, surprised at Karina’s disheveled state. Though she appeared to be someone who might enjoy revelry, being bright and attracting others with her glamour, she surprisingly rarely drank.

“She seemed perfectly normal when she entered the banquet hall.”

“I wonder… Could something have happened between those two?”

“Right? Just look at them leaving together.”

“Well, that’s probably because Lord Crawford asked him to… but it is strange, isn’t it?”

“Yes. There must be something going on.”

Besides Her Highness’s debutante being the main event, there was much to see today. The Winchester family’s second son attending the ball in splendid attire, leaving together in a carriage with the usually composed Karina was the most interesting scene of this ball.

* * *

Only after boarding the family carriage did Dominic finally relax. Karina, who kept trying to lie down on the floor saying she was sleepy, had started hiccupping by the time they left the banquet hall.

This woman never really acted according to his expectations. Worried about Karina’s dignity among people, Dominic had practically carried her while walking.

Dominic loosened his cravat with one hand. While escorting her wasn’t physically demanding, it was mentally taxing. Especially whenever her soft br*asts pressed against his arm as she kept leaning on him.

‘Dear God…’

Dominic had to recite prayers with his eyes closed.

“Ha.”

A long sigh escaped his lips. He looked at Karina who’s sleeping peacefully against the carriage wall after causing so much trouble.

Her neatly styled hair had come undone, with strands sticking to her cheeks. Should he remove the strands of hair? Dominic found himself ridiculous for even considering it.

It was just removing hair. The fact that he was hesitating over such a simple gesture proved he was overly conscious of Karina.

His hand touched her flushed cheek. Feeling his cool fingertips, Karina’s lips curved up in pleasure.

“That’s cool.”

At those words, Dominic, who had been brushing her hair back, flinched. When he quickly withdrew his hand, it was Karina who felt disappointed. The coolness moved away from her cheek. Opening her eyes slightly, Karina finally noticed Dominic sitting in front of her.

“Dominic?”

Not Brigadier General Winchester, but Dominic.

His heart dropped at the change in address.

Unable to distinguish between dream and reality, Karina smiled lazily and looked at Dominic with drowsy eyes.

She’s deliberately trying to seduce men.

Looking at her disheveled appearance, Dominic clenched his fist tightly. Lucas asking him to escort Karina was absolutely the right decision.

If it had been another man…

They would have rushed to kiss her right away.

“Why are you like that? You look like someone who’s being punished.”

Her giggling laugh was full of mischief.

“Where am I?”

“…This is the Winchester family’s carriage. We’re heading to your home, so please wait a little.”

“Home?”

“Why did you drink so much? I heard you don’t usually get this disheveled.”

Worried that the poor evaluation of his sister might worsen, Lucas had made excuses about his sister even in that situation. Saying things like she’s usually more thoughtful, or that she rarely drinks but strangely drank a lot today.

“It’s all because of you.”

“Because of… me?”

“Yes. Why do you keep tormenting me?”

As ‘Brigadier General’ changed to the familiar ‘Dominic,’ her formal speech had naturally disappeared as well. Though thinking it was just some drunk talk, Dominic’s lips relaxed at the more comfortable form of address and conversation.

“When did I ever torment you, Lady Crawford?”

“Today, and last time, and the time before that.”

Karina protested, counting on her fingers like a child.

“We met four times, and all four times you did!”

The first time they met. She was harshly scolded for eavesdropping and so she kissed him in anger.

The second time. They had a date in town and they kissed again. He made a scene by touching her chest.

The third time. He threatened her with a blade, telling her to cut off his hand.

And today. He even approached her where everyone could see. Thanks to that, she even received encouragement from Lady Lindid.

“I really can’t tell if you’re thinking things through or not… Do you really want to make things work with Olivia…”

Her voice trailed off sleepily. Dominic felt a bit hurt when Karina called Olivia by name, who she had always formally addressed as Lady Lindid.

Realizing he wasn’t the only one she called by name.

“Tell me! Is that what you really want? Huh? Is it?”

Karina kicked her feet while whining. Her shoe flew off and landed on the other side of the floor.

Dominic sighed and put the shoe back on her foot.

“Yes. That’s… what I want. That’s why I asked for your help.”

Actually.

I’m not sure.

Was it really about wanting things to work with Olivia?

But he couldn’t say no. Because then this annoying woman in front of him would likely cut ties with him immediately.

Helping with dating.

Helping with love.

Without such pretexts, there would be no reason for them to meet anymore.

Karina mumbled at Dominic’s words. Though her voice was too quiet to hear everything, he caught the phrase that it was a very difficult task.

“You think it’s difficult?”

“Of course. You’re too… too too much my type in looks but you’re too too too too proper inside.”

For a moment, Dominic’s hand stopped as he was putting on her shoe. It felt like even the air in the carriage stopped flowing for an instant. But Karina, unaware of the situation, continued speaking.

“How can that be? When you like someone, don’t you want to hug them and kiss them and do even more than that? Being noble and elegant? Sure, that’s nice. Platonic love… that’s fine too. But if you keep holding back like that always, your turn will never come.”

Karina said while drawing a line in the air.

“Try crossing the line. If you don’t cross it, you’ll always stay in the same state, okay?”

Karina lectured, reeking of alcohol, saying that physical relationships are just as important as spiritual love. If he didn’t understand that, he’d never be able to have Olivia.

However, none of those words reached Dominic’s ears.

“Am I…”

Dominic asked in a low voice to Karina, who had suddenly gone quiet.

“Your type?”

“Totally! Completely. But don’t misunderstand, okay? It’s just your face. No, your body too… Hmm. Your body too…”

Giggling, Karina lifted Dominic’s chin as he knelt before her, putting on her shoe. Their eyes met.

“This black hair with a slight blue tint is nice.”

Her hand ran through his hair, trailing down his neat forehead and eyebrows.

“Your handsome eyebrows are nice, and your inflexible eyes are nice too.”

“…What else?”

“What else? Hmm. Your nose is handsome too, and though your lips look a bit stubborn.”

Karina said with a grin.

“You’re a good kisser.”

“…Am I good at kissing?”

He was nearly at his limit now. His voice, barely maintaining composure, was burning with passion. Unaware of Dominic’s situation, Karina nodded her head up and down. Feeling dizzy from her alcohol-induced swaying, she leaned back against the wall and said.

“Honestly, it seems like a lie that you’re asking to be taught how to kiss.”

“It’s not a lie.”

“But you’re too good at it. Among all the men I’ve kissed.”

Karina counted on her fingers and smirked.

“You’re number one.”

Ha.

Really.

She’s a woman who drives people crazy.

He clenched his fist so hard that veins bulged on the back of his hand.