Chapter 32

In their renewed contract, Charlotte was just as determined to give it her all.

“Duke!”

The greenhouse door opened, and Charlotte entered with a cheerful exclamation. Erhen, who had been reviewing documents, quickly set them aside and turned around. Charlotte, her footsteps quick and light, leaped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.

For a moment, Erhen froze at the sudden rush of her sweet scent and her embrace. But only momentarily. Soon, as an unfamiliar warmth filled him, he placed his hands around her waist. In a low voice, Erhen murmured,

“You’re early.”

“Well, it’s the first day of our relationship. We can’t spend it like any ordinary day.”

Her bright voice, full of anticipation, brought a slight smile to Erhen’s lips as he asked,

“So, what do you want to do today?”

Peeking up from his embrace, Charlotte looked at Erhen’s face. After a moment of thought, she said playfully,

“Take a walk with you.”

“A walk?”

“Yes. I want to walk along the beach we visited last time.”

“There’s no snow today.”

“Even without snow, I think it’ll still be beautiful.”

She added, giggling, that she had learned from the staff earlier that the coastline was one of the top ten local dating spots known only to locals. Erhen, who had already scouted the location through Philip and taken her there, swallowed his secret and gave her an awkward smile.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

However, despite her enthusiastic reply, Charlotte showed no intention of leaving immediately. When Erhen looked down at her with a questioning gaze, Charlotte wrinkled her nose.

“Let’s stay like this just a little longer.”

“Hah.”

In the end, Erhen chuckled and pulled her closer. As if not wanting to let her go, he held her tightly. Feeling the warmth of his embrace, Charlotte tightened her grip around his neck. 

Could the first day of dating be this happy? 

To Charlotte, the entire situation felt like a dream.

And so, it didn’t take even a day for Erhen to naturally start wrapping his arms around Charlotte’s waist whenever she ran into his arms.

***

On their way to Blumen.

Instead of taking the main road, which was the shortcut to the café they used to frequent, they opted for a longer, roundabout path. Unlike the bustling main road filled with travelers of all statuses visiting Heringen, the quieter side path had become another one of their favorite dating spots.

Walking hand in hand, Charlotte looked up at Erhen, who was dressed impeccably in his usual formal dating attire. Noticing her gaze, he paused his steps, bent down slightly, and looked her in the eye.

“What?”

“Hold still.”

Raising her hand, Charlotte ruffled Erhen’s neatly combed hair. His meticulously styled hair now fell lightly across his forehead. Charlotte grinned mischievously.

“I like it better this way.”

Though he should have said something about her messing up his hair, Erhen found himself at a loss for words, captivated by her bright demeanor.

Instead of scolding her, he cupped her face, along with her coral-colored hair, in both hands. Then, he leaned in and gave her a light kiss on her puckered lips.

The startled expression that spread across her face satisfied him.

“I like you.”

Erhen smirked.

But before Charlotte could process his words, she was already flustered by another issue.

“I told you not to kiss me in public!”

***

It was the day of an employee-only party at Charlotte’s café.

Charlotte, who rarely got drunk, had drunk so much that Ras had to carry her in, her arm slung over his shoulder. Despite her strict orders not to come near the café during the party, Erhen had spent the entire day waiting for her on a garden bench, his expression blank.

When he saw Ras and Charlotte approaching, he quickly rose and strode toward them, his sharp gaze fixed on Ras. Recognizing Erhen, Charlotte, her eyes unfocused, exclaimed,

“Oh! My ex-husband!”

Then she giggled.

Flustered by her behavior, Ras hurriedly handed Charlotte over to Erhen, muttering, “Viscountess, Viscountess…” practically shoving her toward him. Once Erhen securely took her, Ras glanced at him nervously and said,

“Your Grace, please take care of the Viscountess. Lida is still at the café.”

“Alright.”

With Erhen’s nod of approval, Ras quickly fled, climbing into the rented carriage he and Charlotte had arrived in. Knowing the peculiar tension between his master and her ex-husband, Ras had no intention of lingering.

After Ras’s departure, Erhen supported the drunken, staggering Charlotte by her shoulders and led her toward the annex. As they climbed the stairs to their floor, Charlotte, slightly sobered, opened her bleary eyes and glanced around. There was no one else in sight. It was just the two of them.

This is my chance. 

Charlotte stood on her tiptoes.

Smack.

Charlotte’s lips lightly brushed against Erhen’s cheek. Surprised, Erhen looked down at her, and Charlotte grinned slyly.

“Hehe.”

Her crescent-shaped eyes sparkled like jewels under the soft glow of the wall-mounted lights. Meeting her gaze, Erhen furrowed his brow.

“Charlotte.”

His tone was stern.

Though it was just her name, it was clear he was silently asking why she had drunk so much. But Charlotte, already heavily intoxicated, wasn’t in a state to feel reprimanded. And beside her was the handsome Duke she loved.

Once again, Charlotte stood on her tiptoes. Smack. This time, her lips met his.

“Heehee, Your Grace.”

She giggled at him playfully. For a moment, Erhen froze, his jaw tightening.

“Agh.”

With a low groan, he gently pressed her against the wall. Trapping her within his arms, he lowered his head toward her.

Starting with a nibble on her lower lip, he urgently claimed her breath. Overwhelmed by the dizzying sensation, Charlotte clung to his shoulders, parting her lips to meet him. Lowering one hand from the wall, Erhen pulled her slender waist firmly toward him, chasing her teasing movements with relentless persistence.

As their kiss deepened, the faint scent of alcohol from Charlotte lingered at the tip of his nose. It was at that moment, as their kiss grew more fervent, that Erhen’s mind cleared.

This isn’t right.

With a soft smack, he broke the kiss. Charlotte’s confused gaze followed, as if questioning why he had stopped.

Erhen spoke.

“That’s enough for tonight.”

“Just one more kiss…”

Charlotte whined, shaking his shoulder.

“No.”

Erhen was firm.

Charlotte pouted.

“Why?”

“It’s late.”

“What? What does that even mean? Wait, hold on. Hold on, why?!”

When Charlotte began to protest, Erhen led her to her room and pushed her inside. Dragged into her room against her will, Charlotte shouted indignantly,

“What is this?!”

“I’ll tell the staff to prepare a hangover remedy for you tomorrow morning.”

Before she could finish her sentence, Erhen locked the door with a spell. Click. The sound of the lock was followed by bang, bang, bang, as Charlotte pounded on the door.

“What’s with this door?! Why won’t it open?!”

Her shouting soon quieted as the alcohol fully took hold, and she began to drift off to sleep.

Leaning against her door, Erhen waited until the room fell silent. He then instructed the staff downstairs to check on her before retreating to his room across the hall.

Closing the door behind him, Erhen slumped against it.

Charlotte, drunk and unguarded, was far too adorable. Her smile, directed at him, was impossible to resist. And for a moment, he had lost control. It had been shameless of him.

Covering his face with both hands, he muttered to himself,

“What a pathetic fool.”

Charlotte was just as beautiful as she had been back then, but he couldn’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Though he hadn’t been drinking, her scent had almost intoxicated him.

Taking a deep breath, he ran a hand down his face, releasing his pent-up emotions with a sigh.

“This is driving me crazy.”

Yet, the corners of his lips twitched upward despite himself. It was clear—he was utterly smitten with Charlotte.

That was how it was for a month.

Although it was a contract, Charlotte and Erhen began to love each other as best they could, expressing their feelings for each other without holding back.