Chapter 25. I Know What You Did Last Night

* * *

Waking up to the hot sunlight streaming through the curtains, I sighed softly.

“I must have been bewitched.”

Recalling the events of the previous night, I couldn’t help but groan. To have broken Aster’s rationality and dragged him to the hotel again.

Reflecting on how I had held onto someone who didn’t want to, I felt an urge to dive into the artificial lake at Francis Castle.

“I only remember the useless things too well.”

Forgetting the things I should remember.

I groaned softly and turned over.

“!!”

I belatedly realized someone was next to me and stiffened. Right beside me, Aster was sleeping with a face full of contentment.

His silky silver hair gleamed even in the morning light. His clear, clean skin showed no trace of last night’s heat.

I let out a hollow laugh at his serene face.

‘Just like that day.’

It was a scene reminiscent of our first meeting. Back then, I was startled and fled immediately.

Now, there was no point in running away since he would find me, and we were already engaged, so there was no reason to run.

Seeing his solid muscles brought back memories of last night. Not satisfied with just the terrace, we had ended up at the hotel.

It wasn’t just Aster who was thirsty and hungry.

A hot night without even properly taking off our clothes. The dress hem thrown back, blocking my view as I swayed aimlessly.

I seemed to have grown quite fond of his body. Given how often we spent the night together, it was certain.

‘Hmm. I feel like I just had a really trashy thought.’

I shook my head and slowly tried to sit up. But before I could, he grabbed me. At some point, Aster had woken up and pulled me into his arms.

“Trying to run away again?”

The skin-to-skin contact was still hot. His morning er*ction kept nudging my lower abdomen.

Feeling embarrassed, my voice came out in a whisper.

“I’m not running away. You know where I live anyway.”

At my sassy response, he let out a deflated laugh. Then he lightly bit my earlobe. The sensual act, continued without a thread of clothing, made my body heat up. But I couldn’t take any more.

Having been tormented all night, I had no strength left. I wriggled in his arms, trying to escape.

“I can’t do it anymore.”

“You provoked me so much last night. Now you’re backing out?”

“I-I didn’t know it would be like this!”

“You’re the one who said you’d help, Camilla.”

Aster’s voice oozed with seduction, as if he was ready to push that beast into me at any moment. My body was already reacting to his every move.

It was a tense situation. If this continued, I might be devoured again. Gathering all my strength, I grabbed his cheeks and said,

“I’m hungry!”

“Oh.”

“Who does this without feeding someone first? You said you didn’t want to be rough!”

At my near-shouted plea, Aster hesitated. His eyes didn’t seem as crazed as last night.

I pleaded again.

“Come back to being human, Aster!”

Not a beast!

Unable to say the last part, I glared at him. He chuckled, seemingly understanding.

“It was a joke.”

It wasn’t a joke, though?

He looked ready to go if I had said yes.

Seeing my disbelief, Aster shrugged and got up.

“I’ll calm down and come out. As you can see, it’s like this.”

He made a bombshell declaration and leisurely headed to the bathroom. I stared blankly at his retreating figure before quickly turning my head.

In the mirror, I saw my flushed face and lowered my head. Even that wasn’t enough, so I covered my face with my hands.

It was a morning where I had to admit just how healthy Aster Blanche’s body was.

* * *

After a quick breakfast with Aster, I changed into new clothes to hide the fact that I had stayed out and headed to Francis Castle.

There was no way I could put on the dress that had been torn to shreds by Aster like a beast.

I entered in a modest outfit, as if I had just returned from morning mass, but the first person I ran into was Father.

Father, who was smoking a cigar in the lobby, spoke to me.

“You’re late.”

“I was at mass, so I’m a bit late.”

I made my usual excuse, but it was a lie that would soon be exposed. Father crushed his cigar in the ashtray and said,

“Is that so? That’s strange. I just returned from mass myself.”

“…”

“Staying out all night, and lying about it. That’s not like you.”

His reproachful tone made it clear he knew I had stayed out. He must have been waiting for me in the lobby since morning.

I knew better than to lie further and risk his wrath. I confessed immediately.

“I’m sorry. I drank too much at the party last night and couldn’t take the carriage back. I lied because I didn’t want you to worry.”

“You must have enjoyed the party enough to get drunk.”

Usually, he would let it slide, but this time he was quite persistent. And his tone seemed unusually sharp.

“Yes, it was my first time at such an event, so I was very nervous. I rested nearby and came back in the morning.”

I awkwardly smiled as I spoke, and Father stared at me. His gaze then fixed on the scarf around my neck.

“You usually don’t wear scarves because you find them uncomfortable.”

“Oh, my throat felt a bit scratchy this morning.”

I answered casually, fiddling with the scarf. In truth, Aster had left marks on my neck, so I had no choice but to wear it.

If I had come without it, my family would have noticed.

‘I’ll have to tell him not to leave marks in visible places next time.’

Aster had a mischievous streak. The way he had grinned while leaving those red marks made it clear he did it on purpose.

His seductive smile still lingered in my mind.

Meanwhile, Father, who had been scrutinizing me, softened his tone.

“Alright. You must be tired, so go rest. I’ll have some honey water brought to you.”

“Thank you.”

Just as I thought the scolding was over and tried to leave quietly, he called out.

“But Camilla.”

“Yes?”

“Did that scoundrel not even bring you back?”

“No, I told him I was fine…”

Unconsciously, I almost answered smoothly but caught myself, realizing that it would be an admission of spending the night with Aster.

My vision shook as if there was an earthquake in my eyes. When I turned around creakingly, I saw Father with piercing eyes. It seemed he had figured out more than just the fact that I stayed out. He must have known and was leading me into a confession.

“F-Father.”

So, you see…

As I stammered and reached out to Father, he let out a deep sigh and bit down on his cigar harshly.

It meant he was very angry. Father, who always put out his cigar in front of his children, was smoking it now.

He hadn’t even touched cigars before Mother passed away. It seemed he was trying to overcome his anguish, even if it meant harming his body.

I stood next to him like a criminal. Having been caught and lied about it, I had no excuse for whatever punishment was coming.

Father smoked his cigar continuously and then threw it roughly into the ashtray.

“…I knew a day like this would come, but I never thought it would be with Blanche.”

“Father…”

“I knew it. That bastard’s face was too much your type. …In the end! That guy bewitched you with his face!”

Father’s voice rose progressively, revealing his growing anger.

‘What? You knew my type?’

Even though you said he looked like a weasel…

Realizing Father’s true feelings, I sighed softly. He must have known all along but was in denial.

But his denial ended when he faced a daughter who stayed out all night with that scoundrel.

Father, having lost his composure, rubbed his face and muttered something before speaking sharply.

“Do you like that guy?”

“What?”

“No, you wouldn’t stay out if you didn’t like him.”

“No, Father. Please wait.”

Calm down and listen to me.

I didn’t know how far his thoughts had gone, but I felt I needed to stop him. Father’s imagination often went far beyond what even Mother could control.

But unfortunately, Father, who had already imagined everything, shouted before I could intervene.

“Bring that rascal to the house immediately!”

* * *

So, less than half a day after we parted, Aster was invited to our house.

Father greeted Aster with a stern face.

His displeasure was evident in his eyes. Reluctantly, he extended his hand to Aster in a gesture of welcome. Of course, no kind words came out.

“I never thought a day would come when I would invite Blanche with my own hands.”

Aster smiled faintly at the pointed remark about Blanche. I looked at Aster with a worried face.

I had roughly explained the situation, but I wasn’t confident. Just as I was confused about whether he was nervous or not, Aster calmly made a statement that could devastate the current situation.

“Nice to meet you, Father-in-law.”