Chapter 11. Let’s Start with a Kiss

“When did you get here?”

“I was informed late that you were here, so I was a bit late. You were sleeping uncomfortably, so….”

It seemed Aster himself had given me the lap pillow. He was dressed in a thin shirt and pants, probably having come after washing up post-training.

With Aster smiling with his chin resting on his hand, I felt embarrassed to meet his gaze. Looking out the window, I saw the sunset had descended, making it a bit dusky. It seemed I had slept for quite a while.

As I was trying to calm down, Aster leaned in close and murmured,

“Now I see you were more interested in my thigh than my face.”

Our knees touched naturally, and with nowhere else to retreat, I replied,

“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to touch you. The sofa felt too hard.”

“That’s because you kept touching it. I don’t mind, though.”

His soft whisper felt like it was tickling my ears. His smiling eyes made the mole under his eye stand out even more.

“You seem to be shy when you’re sober. You weren’t like this that night.”

“Well, that’s because I wasn’t in my right mind then….”

I was about to argue when he leaned in closer and whispered,

“Shall we try it while you’re sober?”

“…….”

“You’re cute, Camilla Francis.”

I froze, unable to respond, and he backed off gently. His cautious actions contrasted with his bold words.

But my heart was already pounding uncontrollably from his words.

‘Calm down, heart!’

With that face and those harmful words, it felt like my mind was spinning. If he had lingered a moment longer, I might have nodded my head in agreement.

Aster asked with a lazy smile,

“So, what brings you here?”

“Oh. I heard from Mrs Ayla Letia that you asked her to be my chaperone.”

“Ah, I see.”

Aster looked somewhat disappointed and muttered to himself,

“I thought you came because you wanted to see me.”

Thump.

My heart felt like it dropped with a thud.

His downcast eyelashes, slightly stubbornly set lips, and the way his red eyes looked—all of it.

Facing a man exuding such charm, I was losing my mind. Then Aster lightly touched his fingertip to mine.

“Actually, I wanted to see you. I was planning to visit the castle after work.”

“Thank you for arranging the chaperone. It will make my debutante preparation much easier.”

“Are you only going to thank me with words?”

“What else?”

Aster grinned at my response. Then he tapped his cheek lightly.

I knew all too well what that gesture meant, and my lips parted slightly. While I hesitated, he even closed his eyes. He really wanted to act like a real couple.

“Hurry up.”

At his urging, I slowly brought my lips closer to his cheek. Just as I was about to touch his cheek, Aster tilted his head, causing my lips to brush right next to his mouth.

“Oh.”

Startled, I tried to pull back, but he leaned in and pecked my lips like a bird. The more I retreated, the more he nibbled at my lips. Even though it was a light touch, it brought a strange tension.

Just as I was about to fall completely backward from his push, he grabbed my waist and straightened me up, smiling brightly.

“On second thought, a cheek kiss seems a bit insufficient.”

This… this seductive man.

I looked at Aster, dumbfounded, as he stole my lips without warning. He smiled lazily, like a satisfied predator. I felt like I had fallen right into his trap.

Biting my lower lip, I asked,

“Does the young duke have his cheek attached to his lips?”

“Isn’t this normal for lovers? To touch and be close whenever they want. Besides, you were feeling me up earlier.”

“That was unintentional…!”

“Then I’ll say mine was unintentional too.”

I couldn’t argue against Aster’s teasing words and just moved my lips silently. It was really unfair since I had touched him inadvertently in my sleep, but I had no rebuttal.

Then he spoke in a lingering tone.

“For a couple, this level of intimacy is quite reserved. I almost didn’t let you go.”

He smiled as he gently touched my lips with his fingertips.

“Did you know? Your lips are incredibly sweet.”

In his deep gaze, I saw my own blushing face.

The spot where his lips had touched felt hot. As the distance between us closed, my heart began to race faster. Come to think of it, we were alone in the deputy commander’s office. Both the windows and the door were closed, making it a sealed room.

For a couple, it was an ideal place to do something intimate. And Aster and I had agreed to have a real relationship.

Sensing my tension, he leaned close to my ear and whispered.

“This time, I’ll do it properly. Like real lovers.”

He emphasized the words ‘real lovers.’ With that, he pressed his lips gently between my ear and cheek. His soft movements seemed to reassure me not to be startled.

The unfamiliar sensation made me grip the sofa unconsciously. When I squeezed my eyes shut, the surrounding noises became louder. I could faintly hear the footsteps of people leaving work outside the closed window.

Aster trailed down my cheek and paused just before my lips. When I opened my eyes after a while, I saw his red eyes gazing at me intently.

The moment our eyes met,

“Should I stop?”

He asked playfully, with eyes that clearly indicated he wouldn’t stop even if I said yes.

My body was already heated up. After teasing me so much, he pretended to give me a choice.

“Just the lips. Nothing more.”

Aster chuckled at my demand. Then, still with his lips touching mine, he replied.

“Alright. Let’s start with a kiss.”

With that, his warm breath enveloped my lips. The first kiss in a sober state was vivid enough to remind me of that night.

His soft lips gently touched my upper and lower lips, then slid between them. The heat passing over my teeth made me breathless. He placed his hand over mine on the sofa.

As his large hand enveloped mine, I felt a heavy sensation, as if I were trapped. The more forcefully our hands were clasped, the more my heart pounded.

When I pulled back, he moved closer, and when I leaned in, he retreated. Just as I was about to run out of breath, he pressed his thumb against my lips and whispered.

“You can breathe.”

“Haa.”

Taking his words as a signal, I inhaled deeply. Soon, our lips met again instinctively.

* * *

‘We really just kissed.’

Back at the castle, I stared blankly at the ceiling from my bed.

Despite saying we’d start with a kiss, Aster really ended it with just a kiss. Although he did exactly as I asked, it felt strange. It was as if I had wanted more.

‘Let me take you home.’

After the kiss, he gently tidied my hair and whispered softly. His gentle reaction was different from what I had expected, thinking we might end up in bed.

He pounced like a beast while kissing, but his voice afterward was so composed. The contrast made my heart flutter even more.

By the time I accepted his escort and returned to the castle, it was already late at night.

I had never kissed for so long before. My lips felt numb and were more swollen than usual. The heat and sensation of his lips were still vivid. As I absentmindedly touched my lips, I realized I was constantly thinking about Aster and shook my head.

“Get a grip. Why are you acting so desperate?”

It seemed his face was too much to my liking, making it hard to refuse when the mood was set.

Was I always this easy? No way!

There had been other men who approached me besides Aster. Many tried their luck, thinking they had a chance since my fiancé was not in the capital.

But none of them caught my interest. I often used my engagement as an excuse to decline their advances. I was so firm that I was even called the Iron Wall of Francis.

This made Aster my first real relationship. So I wasn’t sure how far a real relationship could go.

A contractual relationship was still a relationship, but since we decided to make it real, the boundaries were unclear.

‘What are you doing tomorrow?’

‘I’m going to a salon to try on dresses for the debutante.’

‘Perfect timing. I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow.’

‘Why you?’

‘It’s natural for lovers to see each other’s clothes, right? Were you planning to wear it without showing me?’

‘That’s not it, but you don’t really have to….’

‘Call me Aster. Please call me Aster, Camilla.’

At the sudden mention of my name, my heart started pounding again. Unable to meet his gaze, I lowered my head and replied.

‘Alright. …Aster.’

Thinking about how he smiled so widely made my cheeks heat up again.

While talking in the carriage, we naturally agreed to meet again tomorrow.

I suddenly got scared that we might end up getting married in the blink of an eye. But it was just a fleeting thought.

‘What should I wear tomorrow?’

I fell asleep while contemplating the dress I would wear the next day.

* * *

The next day. I was getting ready to go out when Serri came in and said,

“Miss, you have a guest.”

“Already?”

It was earlier than the time I had arranged with Aster. I hurriedly put on my earrings, and Serri looked puzzled.

“Already? Did you really have a prior appointment with Paris Blanche?”

Huh? Why is that guy’s name coming up here all of a sudden?