Even after Ethan led If into the inn, the murmuring outside did not stop.

Since this was the only inn, the soldiers were probably all staying here. Maybe that was why the interior was relatively tidy.

Ethan sat on the creaking bed and took in his surroundings – the layout of the inn, which he had noticed on his way in, the structure of the room, the routes for a quick escape, including a few backup routes he could use if necessary.

He didn’t even bother unpacking. If anything happened, he could just grab his backpack and run.

There were noticeably more things than before, but since they were for two people instead of one, it was inevitable.

Besides, he didn’t care much about it himself, but now he had a well-bred lady with him, so of course there had to be more luggage.

Ethan frowned and pressed his fingers tightly to his forehead. But the noise outside – the very cause of his irritation – showed no sign of abating.

If stood still and stared at Ethan. The frown on his face was the one she had seen most often. Though this time it seemed a little different.

She had never been one to observe others closely, so reading people’s thoughts or feelings from their expressions was something she struggled with. But after spending so much time by his side, she couldn’t help but begin to understand – even if only when it came to Ethan.

It was easy enough to tell the difference between his habitual frowns – born of his personality – and those that were reflexive reactions to pain. This was the latter.

From what she could see, there didn’t seem to be any visible injuries, so maybe it was his ear?

“Ethan.”
“What.”

His voice was blunt.

If ignored him and reached out to cover both of Ethan’s ears with her hands.

“Can’t you hear it now?”

She didn’t really understand how someone who always complained about how loud everything was – because he couldn’t control his physical senses – could say something like that. But if that was what Ethan said, then so be it. I didn’t think too much about it.

A rustle.

The hood that had been wrapped tightly around her body slipped off.

As Ethan leaned into her, If tilted her head to watch him.

He often got close to her, but leaning on her like this, in a situation like this…

“Does it hurt?”

She asked the question based on what she had learned from being with Ethan, but he didn’t answer.

Was he in so much pain that he couldn’t speak?

Even when he was angry, he had always answered her before.

As if she gently cupped Ethan’s cheeks, his head naturally tilted upwards. Without hesitation, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

What began as a light kiss quickly deepened in an instant.

Before she knew it, her body was on the bed, receiving a series of fragmented kisses.

It was just their lips touching and yet, with how close they were, she couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

She clung to Ethan and laughed softly.

It was a sensation she could only feel with Ethan – no one else.

The feeling of his tongue sliding smoothly into her was now familiar to her.

Following what she had learned, If closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck, his strong arms pulling her tightly against him.

Their bodies, pressed together, quickly grew hot – so much so that even her arm touching his felt burning.

“Mm…”

By now she was no longer startled by the soft moans that escaped her lips.

She squirmed slightly at the ticklish sensation.

Her heartbeat, though slower than Ethan’s, was racing fast for her.

As his hand pressed against her br*ast, her heart pounded harder, feeling as if it would burst.

The deep thumping echoed through her body, rising to her head and ringing loudly in her ears.

Heat, from where she didn’t know, followed the rhythm of the pounding, spreading through her body and setting her on fire.

Tears welled up on her flushed cheeks, her eyelashes soaked from the heat-induced tears.

“Ethan…”

There was only one way to release the heat that had nowhere else to go.

She reached out for Ethan.

Her body, exposed by the dishevelled clothing, was flushed with heat.

As she breathed out in short, shallow gasps, calling for him, Ethan let out a deep sigh.

“Don’t rush me.”

His voice was lower than usual, ending in a soft moan.

Hearing his words, If tilted her head in confusion.

All she’d done was call his name – she couldn’t understand why he’d said that.

Ethan frowned in frustration at her reaction.

‘I’m always the one struggling.’

Still, there was something a little pathetic about the way he squeezed his body into her little embrace.

‘Not that I was ever very dignified to begin with’, he scoffed to himself.

As her soft platinum hair brushed against his cheek, If let out a clear, ringing laugh.

At the sound of her bright laughter, Ethan, his expression relaxing into something dazed and languid, pressed his lips to her rounded shoulder.

Where his lips passed, small red marks began to bloom.

The marks on her pale skin were strikingly sensual.

Perhaps that’s why Ethan had gotten into the habit of leaving his mark on every part of If’s body.

“Mm…”

She let out a shallow breath. The breath that touched the flushed skin lingered, tickling her. The hands that caressed her skin were hot, leaving traces of residual heat, and when combined with his breath, the warmth refused to fade.

Her round br*asts changed shape with a single touch. The soft flesh tensed from within and the n*pples stood stiff and *rect. Slick with saliva, their shape shimmered even more vividly.

The pointed tip of his tongue pressed against her soft skin. Though the sensitive tip trembled in the air, he teasingly avoided it, as if to make her want more. She had told him she preferred that spot to any other. But despite her sulky feelings, her body moved on its own.

“Heeek…”

As she twisted her waist, Ethan wrapped an arm around her and gently bit the tip of her br*ast.

“Ahh!”

Her body, already used to pleasure, instinctively parted her legs. Ethan smiled at the sight and leaned down to press his lips to hers.

He had taught her everything – how to embrace pleasure and how to lose herself in it. A quiet sense of conquest filled her.

Ethan buried his lips between her parted thighs.

She moaned.

“Quiet.”

As soon as he slid his tongue into the small opening, an almost painful tightness gripped the root of his tongue.

The sensitive spot that could barely hold two fingers before couldn’t take even the slightest touch.

Overwhelmed by the heat rising from within, If instinctively grabbed Ethan’s arm. The searing sensation of Ethan’s warm breath made his lower body feel like it was on fire.

In response, Ethan took If’s hand and intertwined their fingers, holding on tightly. The firm grip quickly helped to calm If’s shaking body.

But as Ethan’s tongue moved deep inside her, If twisted her waist several times. The sensation of something moving of its own accord deep inside her – something she couldn’t control – was far more intense than she had imagined.

“Ahh, mm…!”

Still, If didn’t pull away – knowing the climax that would soon overtake her. Although her body shook and she let out a strained moan as she twisted her waist, she didn’t close her legs.

Seeing If like that, Ethan pressed his face even closer, touching her deep inside.

“Haah!”

As If’s *rousal spilled out, it soaked the corners of Ethan’s mouth. Pulling his tongue back, Ethan licked his lips and looked down at her.

Raising his upper body, Ethan wiped the tasteless *rousal with his thumb. Others would say it tasted sweet or strange or all sorts of things, but to him there was no taste at all.

If anything, the river water had more taste. As he licked his wet thumb, Ethan looked down.

With If’s chest rising and falling heavily, the softly rounded br*asts stood out even more. The sight of If gasping for breath, unable to hide her flushed face, stirred Ethan’s desire.

“Ugh…”

Everything down there was slick and wet. But having been teased deep inside, the body now craved even more, twitching and yearning for deeper stimulation. Although nothing touched the sensitive walls, they still clenched and pulsed in anticipation of what was to come.

With a tearful expression on her face, If grabbed Ethan’s hand. Her small hand couldn’t fully grasp Ethan’s, only managing to hold on to a few fingers.

“Ethan…it tickles…my hands are too small to reach. Can you touch it with yours for me?”

Since that first failed attempt, If had often thought about the reasons for her failure. Maybe it was the spot she was reaching for – or so she thought, although it wasn’t quite right. Still, it was more than enough to tempt Ethan.

She pulled Ethan’s larger, longer fingers, leading them down to where it tickled.

“….”

‘God, I’m going crazy.’

Ethan let out a dry laugh, but as if bewitched, he lowered his body towards her. He was determined that no matter how much If cried or begged, he would hold him to the end – at least for today.

But once again, the world was not on his side.

The searing heat between them quickly cooled at the sound of someone approaching from outside.

A clatter.

As quickly as the heat had risen, it faded just as quickly. The moment he heard the sound from beyond the door, Ethan sprang to his feet, completely forgetting what he had been doing.

His physical senses, far sharper than those of others, immediately picked up the distant sound – the clanking of armour and muffled voices mixed together.

“Why now…?”

Breathless and unable to calm her ragged breathing, her voice stretched out, tangled with shaky gasps.

Watching her panting beneath him, Ethan raised his hand to her flushed lips. His large hand covered nearly half of her face.

“Shh.”

Unlike when he had simply held her hand, this time he pressed his palm gently over her mouth to prevent any sounds from escaping. Her cheek, trapped under his hand, was slightly squeezed and moulded to her shape.

As she rolled her eyes and moved her lips in soft, restless motions, the underside of his palm tingled at the subtle sensation.

Ethan chuckled softly at the feathery tickle, but his gaze shifted quickly. Still holding If in his arms, he straightened, his eyes flickering sharply.

Hidden by the window, his eyes scanned quickly outside. Though both irises were the same colour, the feeling they gave off was completely different now.

A red dragon engraved in the centre of the armour –

The very people who had once seized him and thrown him into Belphirn. A symbolic emblem worn by every soldier of the Granat Empire.

Whether the innkeeper had reported them or not, the speed with which the soldiers surrounded the place was swift.

Thud, thud!

As the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the inn, Ethan pressed his forehead against the body he held in his arms.

The sound of clanking armour followed the footsteps that surrounded the building outside.

Though the soldiers below tried to cover their presence as they opened the door, there was no way to hide the sound of those heavy suits of armour.

A deep sigh escaped Ethan’s clenched teeth.

“Ethan?”

Rustle, rustle.

As a hand gently stroked his hair, his body melted under the touch – but inside, everything was turned upside down.

‘Damn it,of all times, they had to show up now.’

Ethan muttered under his breath, his lower body still refusing to calm down.