As Arne’s whisper echoed in his mind, the veins on the back of his hands gripping her thighs bulged. As he thrust in relentlessly, hot breath burst from Arne’s lips.

She couldn’t make a sound. The shaft, swallowed to the base, mercilessly pounded only her sensitive spots. Every time it plunged deep and withdrew, the red inner flesh clinging to the member was pulled out and pushed back in repeatedly.

Each time he thrust in and out again, love juices gushed out. Arne twisted her body and met Cedric’s red eyes.

Every time he entered her, her heart tightened exquisitely. He, the one who had come to her, was hot. Her heart beat rapidly, mixed with mysterious emotions.

The flesh along Cedric’s knuckles gripping Arne’s thighs turned red with the surging pleasure.

At that moment, holy flames rose from the holy water surrounding Cedric. Groaning, Cedric gritted his teeth and instead thrust his member in deeper and faster. It felt like his legs would melt and break off from the holy flames. It was a warning.

He had to stop.

He couldn’t stop.

Damn it.

At this moment, Cedric had to admit it. That he was of the detestable Renigrad bloodline. That he was a being who could use the demonic power flowing in this blood, but was also swayed by its mischief.

The more intensely his gaze intertwined with Arne’s, the longer it had been since he lost control.

“Damn it.”

As the entire hot spring overflowed with holy flames, Cedric exhaled and barely managed to pull out.

Seeing Arne’s face splattered with the suddenly spurting white fluid, Cedric bit his lip. The lewd and explicit flesh rekindled desire.

He clenched his fist tightly as his shaft twitched and rose again at the touch of her flower-like entrance.

When the red mana seemed to subside, Arne slowly lifted her eyelids and touched the opaque liquid on her lips, Cedric grabbed her hand and pulled her into an embrace.

Hot spring water poured over Arne’s face. Cedric tightened his jaw and wiped Arne’s face clean.

As memories gradually returned, Arne’s face turned red.

“Ah… Just now, I… to you, Lord Cedric…”

As Arne’s head spun and she moved her lips, Cedric’s gaze slowly moved from Arne’s eyes to her chest below the core.

Embarrassed by the er*ect pink n*pples visible through the rippling hot spring water, Arne hurriedly covered herself and blushed.

Cedric slowly raised his eyelids and stared at Arne’s dilated pupils. Seeing her embarrassment after having just been in his arms, Cedric raised one eyebrow.

“I-I’m in my right mind now. If you keep staring like that…”

“……”

It felt like all the skin exposed above the water would turn red. Slowly turning his head, Cedric picked Arne up and entered the log cabin. He handed her Serena’s dress that he had brought and turned around.

“Change. I’ll keep my back turned.”

As Arne took the dress, there was tension in his withdrawing hand, seemingly careful not to touch her at all.

Only the sound of rustling fabric could be heard. The veins on Cedric’s neck, who stood with his arms crossed and back turned, bulged as his Adam’s apple bobbed. He clenched his fingers tightly and spoke.

“My lady, never touch red mana again in the future. Be careful. And.”

Arne, who had just tied the ribbon of her dress, looked up at Cedric’s voice.

“Me too.”

“……”

It seems I can’t control myself in front of you. Swallowing the rest of his words, Cedric turned around.

His eyes sank deeply.

“Next time, even holy water won’t be able to stop me. Either we’ll have to mix our bodies until the red mana disappears, or you’ll die from cardiac arrest. It seems you’re particularly sensitive to my red mana.”

“……”

“I’m also of Renigrad blood, so I’m not free from Renigrad’s curse. If you’re afraid…”

“I’m not afraid. I’ll break that curse for you.”

“What?”

“So I won’t run away either. But…”

Arne moved forward and stood in front of Cedric, meeting his eyes. Arne’s lips slowly parted as she stared at Cedric’s trembling pupils.

“Why did you kiss me today?”

“……”

Silence fell as their gazes intertwined, with only the sound of their breathing continuing. His tightly closed lips curved lazily as they opened.

“I, too, am a man who can’t resist a beauty.”

He slowly ran his hand through his hair and lifted his eyelids to gaze at Arne’s red eyes. He grasped Arne’s hand, swollen from the holy water, and kissed it.

“The blessing, let’s stop here for today.”

Cedric’s low voice echoed in her ear as he pulled his lips away. He looked down at Arne, whose pupils were slowly dilating. Deep desire swirled in his intensely profound gaze.

* * *

The atmosphere in the Renigrad grand ducal residence had frozen stiff. It felt like walking on sharp ice.

The sound of Rein exhaling through his nose broke the silence. Seemingly unafraid, Rein grumbled in front of Cedric. Tirelessly, he moved his lips and chattered busily.

“Lord Cedric, can’t you come to see me during the day like normal? Why have you been barging in at dawn to drag me away lately?”

Rein put his hands on his hips and raised his head, as if determined not to back down this time.

“This is clearly trespassing! Please guarantee my sleep time!”

“Didn’t you agree to make the magic tools before my dinner with the lady? If you look at the contract, if you miss the delivery date, the sponsorship money that was doubled due to the schedule will be completely withdrawn…”

“I should have come to see you, but you came yourself. Please sit here.”

Rein hurriedly ran over and placed two boxes on Cedric’s desk.

“You made me come personally, so I couldn’t deliver it to the lady on time.”

“I heard you’re going to the Ipellita Garden with Lady Ronia today? It would be better to deliver it then. Wouldn’t it be like a gift?”

Rein smiled brightly. Cedric shook his head as he tilted his wine glass.

“So, have you finally decided to call affection what it truly is?”

Cough.

“Are you alright?”

“It’s not affection, I tell you. Are you still on about that affection nonsense?”

“Didn’t you start courting her? I thought that’s what it was.”

“It’s not.”

“Then why did you make me stand here and try on all these clothes from here to there, asking what looks good?”

“I’m just being courteous.”

“All of a sudden? You used to wear anything, saying it was bothersome, and didn’t even measure, so your necktie was too small recently.”

“I was busy then.”

Rein pouted.

“Then why are you having the lady’s dress tailored again?”

“Her dress was soiled due to House Renigrad’s mistake at the banquet.”

“Then why are you going to the Ipellita Garden now?”

“I received my grandmother’s heirloom and agreed to express my gratitude.”

“You made me choose flowers on top of clothes?”

“Gratitude should be properly expressed.”

“This… Argh. It’s so frustrating.”

Rein clutched at his hair.

“How is it that you’re not improving, but getting worse? If this isn’t affection, what is it?”

“Kindness. The lady is beautiful, and I’m one of the men who wants to be kind to beautiful people.”

“This time it’s kindness? Why don’t you show me that kindness too?”

“You’re not beautiful, are you?”

Rein’s mouth gaped open and closed. Understanding the words, he exhaled heavily through his nose and pouted.

“The lady looks pretty when she dines, pretty when she walks, pretty even in a soiled dress, and pretty just breathing, right?”

“That’s obvious.”

“We agreed to call that affection.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Isn’t it natural for a pretty person to look pretty when eating, walking, dressing, and breathing? You’ve got the cause and effect reversed.”

“Argh.”

Rein beat his chest in frustration.

“It would be faster to just ask the lady! Whether this is truly kindness or affection.”

“I haven’t approved your new magic tool production documents yet.”

“It’s kindness. Not affection.”

Rein immediately nodded. He nodded vigorously. Cedric chuckled, finding it ridiculous.

“But why couldn’t you meet the delivery date this time? You’ve always been precise with dates.”

“Well…”

He couldn’t say that it was because he was also making the magic tool requested by the lady. If he knew about his deal with the lady, who knows what would happen.

“You did request a pair of magic tools, Lord Cedric, it’s still making two magic tools, isn’t it? It’s bound to take longer.”

Cedric raised his right eyebrow suspiciously but didn’t probe further. Rein breathed a sigh of relief. He hurriedly opened the box to change the subject quickly.

“Let’s look at the items first.”

In the box Rein opened was a pearl necklace. Rein was startled. He had taken out the wrong box.

“Isn’t this… the lady’s necklace she was wearing at the banquet where she collapsed?”

Rein swallowed hard.

“Actually, the lady asked me to sell it secretly, perhaps needing quick cash, but it wasn’t easy. It’s hard to find a buyer, so I still have it.”

“I’ll buy it. Keep it a secret from the lady, and you just deliver the money to her.”

“Yes.”

Rein scratched his head, surprised that the matter was resolved even better than expected.

“Then I’ll be going now. It seems I’ll be cutting it close to the appointment time.”

Pushed out of the office by Cedric, Rein continued to scratch his head.

‘There was something else I wanted to say, but what was it?’

Having hurriedly met the lady before meeting Cedric and not having slept properly, his memory was hazy.

“Ah! I was going to tell you that Young Master Kale has intensified the investigation as if he’s cornered, and it doesn’t look good!”