Chapter 4 – Seize (Part 2)

“Go to the banquet with me.”

At Olivie’s straightforward words, Robin, who had been about to bring the teacup to his lips, stared intently at her.

Her throat seemed to dry up as if she was nervous, and she swallowed hard. Her face appeared to show a slight hint of anxiety.

Yet even so, Robin did not offer any particular answer. 

With a cool and cold expression, he seemed to be waiting for further explanation, which made Olivie let out a small sigh.

‘Is he the same person?’

Was he really the man who had been so passionate that day?

Had I thought too lightly of this? 

Just then, Robin tilted his head slightly without saying much.

“Every time you see me, you ask me to do something.”

Rejected.

He was clearly showing reluctance, just like other young noblemen.

As the young Earl of the Tanner family, he must have heard the rumors going around now. His gaze seemed to see through her intention to use him.

But she couldn’t back down now.

If she were going to back down just from hearing something like this, she wouldn’t have arranged this meeting in the first place.

She knew very well how disgraceful it was to cling to that night, which she had promised herself would be just one night.

‘I can’t back down.’

“Then let’s make a deal.”

At Olivie’s words, Robin raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

Seeing his reaction, Olivie felt a bit more at ease, thinking she had passed one hurdle, and met his gaze with a slightly more confident expression.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t see the magic you used that day, Lord Tanner.”

Magic itself wasn’t illegal in the Kingdom of Plen, but using magic was. 

It might sound absurd, but it meant that even though mages were recognized in the Kingdom of Plen, they had to be strictly monitored. Yet, the young Earl of the Tanner family had used magic privately. It was certainly a potentially problematic matter.

She had never heard from Emily that Robin used magic. Olivie’s conclusion was that he had brought magic from outside through magical tools or other means.

Of course, if not for this situation, whether he used magic or not would have nothing to do with her, and she would never have mentioned it. And if this deal was successful, the secret would be buried forever with Olivie’s memory.

Even if it was despicable, she had no choice.

After all, she was desperate. She needed to secure the advantageous position.

But

“……”

Robin remained silent, showing no particular reaction.

It wasn’t a grave crime, but there was certainly room for trouble.

Olivie clasped her hands together anxiously.

Was he angry because I had been too harsh? 

As all sorts of thoughts ran through her mind, she raised her head…

“That night, you called me ‘oppa.’”

“……”

“And now, in the daylight, I’m Lord Tanner?”

As if recalling that night, Robin tilted his head slightly. Like a lecher, his gaze lingered on her nose and lips for a long time before he raised his head again. When their eyes met as he twisted one corner of his mouth into a smile, she felt a chill in her chest.

‘That’s it.’

The expression that Emily had told her about with a shudder.

That exact face, that exact look in his eyes.

The same expression he showed to Count Miguel’s third son.

As she recalled, a few days after that incident, the third son of Count Miguel was expelled from the capital and had not been able to return from his estate since.

Remembering that past, her lips went dry as she wondered if she had made an unnecessary threat.

Maybe she should have looked for other young noblemen, those a year younger. In her haste to resolve the matter, she felt as if she had somehow walked into a tiger’s den. Her chest ached, and a cold sweat ran down her back.

If she didn’t handle this properly, she might be banished to her estate and never set foot in the capital again…

‘No.’

“No, I’ll just forget…”

“Alright, let’s do that.”

“……”

Momentarily confused about what they were agreeing to, Olivie blinked, and Robin, with a slight smile, bit his lower lip. Somehow, he seemed to find her irresistibly cute.

‘Olivie, you’re crazy.’

Get a grip.

She patted both cheeks and shook her head, and Robin, who also shook his head, stood up slightly.

“Let’s go to the banquet together. How many times would suffice?”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah.”

Hearing the voice from across, Olivie quickly looked up, disbelief written all over her face.

So easily?

She squinted her eyes, wondering if he had some other motive.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Robin nodded obediently without showing any particular expression. There didn’t seem to be any hidden intentions in his response.

‘Was I mistaken?’

Perhaps because she had Emily’s words in mind, everything about him seemed suspicious. But even if he did have ulterior motives, the fact remained that there were no other options for her right now.

So she had no choice but to think positively.

“Thank you.”

“For what? I just chose to help my sister’s friend rather than become a criminal.”

Robin gave a slight laugh as he picked up his teacup.

His words somehow sounded devoid of spirit, but there wasn’t time to dwell on that.

“Just three times, please.”

“Alright.”

“Five times?”

At Robin’s breezy response, she added two more fingers to the three she had initially held up, and he nodded as he sipped his tea.

“Alright, five times it is.”

‘It’s settled.’

Having overcome a major hurdle, all that remained was to talk to her father and mother. Olivie discreetly wiped the sweat from her palm with a handkerchief. Then she looked back at Robin and smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Lord.”

But…

“However, there is a condition.”

The condition that followed caused a slight crack in Olivie’s bright smile.

“That’s the condition?”

“Yes.”

Olivie, who had been staring at him for a moment, shook her head as if in disbelief.

“So, you mean…”

“After the banquet, spend one night with me at that mansion.”

“……”

Despite Robin’s kind explanation, Olivie blinked as if she didn’t understand.

Spend the night?

Was he talking about the s*x we had a few days ago?

Spending another night like that?

‘Why?’

She had never heard of him having a long-term relationship with anyone or being particularly close to any woman. She knew from Emily that he was particularly fastidious about these kinds of things.

‘He didn’t even go to the banquet with anyone other than Emily.’

But why?

‘With me?’

Olivie stared intently at him, unable to shake off the endless questions swirling in her mind.

“That’s the condition?”

“Oh, and if I can add one more, call me Robin instead of Lord.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Startled, Olivie sharply cut off Robin’s words.

“Then there are two conditions?”

“Yes.”

“It seems like you’re getting the short end of the deal.”

“Well, I’m not one to make losing deals.”

Seeing Robin’s confident smile, Olivie felt a strange pang in her chest.

Why would such a handsome man…?

‘Was he satisfied with me that night?’

It was the only reason she could think of for such a condition. Regardless, it was a very favorable condition for Olivie as well.

A night with him.

The truth was, she hadn’t been completely satisfied with just once.

Honestly, even now, the point at the top between her tightly pressed thighs was tingling and even getting damp. If she spread her fingers and touched it, it would flow down her thighs.

The thought of having five times the opportunity to be with someone who excited her just by looking at him was almost too much.

‘I should have asked ten times.’

Feeling a little regretful, Olivie smacked her lips and squeezed her thighs together a little tighter. Then she looked up as if nothing had happened.

“Alright.”

“Then, the title…”

“I’ll call you oppa.”

She firmly set the boundary, as if calling him by his name was absolutely out of the question, and he nodded as if he understood.

“Be prepared.”

“……”

“You’ll have to call for me day and night.”

Robin emphasized the word “night” with a grin as he extended his hand. Olivie also smiled and took his outstretched hand.