The smooth neckline leading to the steeply sloping shoulder line, ending in a round shoulder, and the collarbone between them was so deeply hollowed it looked like it could hold water.

Lucian covered his eyes with the hand that had been on his forehead.

“Do you have no sense of shame?”

“Even summer dresses have this much exposure. Your Highness is being too sensitive.”

Adelia responded nonchalantly.

Although a different curve was slightly visible through the lowered clothing, not just the shoulder, it wasn’t extreme exposure. It was less revealing than a light summer dress.

Compared to the summer clothes she wore in her previous life, this level of exposure was modest.

Adelia tapped just below her collarbone as if to urge him.

“Even if we don’t go out today, we’ll have to do this anyway, since I’ll need to wear outdoor clothes tomorrow.”

“Hah…”

A low groan escaped between Lucian’s lips. He turned his head sharply, covering his eyes from the glimpse of the fair shoulder before him.

Even though he knew it was something that had to be done at some point, he couldn’t bring himself to approach boldly.

His ears turned red as he lowered his head, rubbing his face dry.

He opened his mouth with difficulty.

“What should I do? A kiss mark…”

His voice trailed off, almost swallowing the last words.

Adelia quietly blinked her eyes.

A brief silence fell in the room.

‘Oh right. This person has never dated before.’

Only then did she vaguely remember the setting from the original story. The Crown Prince who had never harbored love, only looking at the princess.

It was a fact she had forgotten due to his handsome appearance that seemed capable of captivating anyone.

Having no experience, and being unlikely to read romance novels or adult literature, it was natural that he didn’t know.

Realizing this anew, Adelia slightly covered her mouth.

“You really never had a lover, did you?”

“…It seems you’ve had many. Judging by how well you know.”

She felt a dull gaze through the large fingers where red eyes were occasionally visible.

Lucian grumbled with a growling sound from his throat.

If you count the years she lived as an adult in her previous life, it would be more than one hand’s worth of dating experience.

However, in Adelia’s body, she had barely spoken to men, let alone dated, counting them on two hands.

“Let’s just say I’m well-versed in theory.”

Adelia shrugged nonchalantly. She pulled the collar of her blouse again, revealing soft skin.

Pointing to just below her collarbone with her finger, she explained.

“You just need to put your lips here and suck. Just with your lips, don’t bite.”

“I understand…”

Lucian took a deep breath and removed his hand from his face. Through narrowed eyes, he saw Adelia’s face and fair skin.

His cheeks felt like they were burning. His red eyes moved back and forth, unable to find a focal point.

Meeting Adelia’s eyes made him shy and look away, and looking at the skin where he had to place his lips made his heart race as if he was doing something wrong.

“Just a moment… Excuse me.”

Lucian placed his hand on her shoulder. Adelia flinched slightly at the slightly cold touch.

It wasn’t fear, but surprise. Although the touch was careful, as if he was handling something precious, Adelia, unaccustomed to others’ touch, couldn’t help but be slightly startled.

At this reaction, Lucian hesitated. Then Adelia placed her hand over his and smiled slightly.

“Please continue.”

Adelia took Lucian’s hand and pulled the collar of her blouse to the side.

Every time his calloused hand slightly brushed against her delicate skin, Lucian flinched and hesitated. But eventually, led by Adelia’s hand, he moved the clothing aside and took in the sight of her white neck.

Lucian swallowed hard as he lowered his gaze to look at her neck.

He moved stiffly, nervous.

As he bent his waist politely and lowered his head to her shoulder, a sweet scent wafted over him.

It was a pleasant fragrance, like a bedding well-dried in warm sunlight with a hint of fruit scent.

Lucian carefully kissed below her collarbone. The sound of his pounding heart transmitted through his lips.

Adelia’s shoulder twitched at the moist sensation settling on her soft skin.

‘This is…’

The black hair, rarely seen up close, tickled her skin as it swayed beneath her eyes.

Between the strands of hair, gently moving eyelashes and a smoothly extended sharp nose bridge made their presence known. Even from above, it was still a perfect face.

Adelia’s long eyelashes trembled as she felt the sensation of her skin being sucked.

‘It’s more embarrassing than I thought.’

Her whole body felt hot every time Lucian’s warm breath touched her skin. The feeling of his lips twitching on her skin and sucking stickily made her feel strange.

Adelia bit her red lips tightly.

Although she was the one who had asked for the kiss mark first, she was the one who became nervous.

At that moment, Lucian lifted his eyelids. The red eyes in his fiercely open eyes looked at her.

Adelia hurriedly turned her head and swallowed hard at the intense gaze that felt like it could swallow her whole just by meeting it. She felt like she might be completely consumed by that gaze and unable to escape if she wasn’t careful.

“That’s enough.”

Adelia suppressed her trembling voice. She curved her lips into a smooth arc, pretending to be calm. She didn’t want to show that she was nervous after being the one to request it first.

When the unspoken permission was given, Lucian lowered his gaze and slowly removed his lips. Cold air rushed to the skin where warm breath had been touching.

As the gaze that had been looking at her disappeared, Adelia exhaled a breath mixed with relief.

Lucian wiped his mouth with his sleeve and took a step back. Adelia wasn’t the only one with a flushed face. A faint blush had bloomed on his usually stoic face.

“Is it done?”

“Yes. It left a deep mark.”

Adelia turned her body slightly to look at her reflection in the full-length mirror.

A beautifully bloomed petal on the snow-white skin caught the eye. The trace that was left deeply gave off a seductive feeling.

Adelia brushed the reddened area with her finger. Although it was the only mark, it was so vivid that it looked like she had been thoroughly loved.

Adelia adjusted her clothes and then pulled the bell rope to call a maid.

“I’m going out, so please prepare outdoor clothes. Something ordinary would be nice.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Adelia entered the dressing room and chose one of the outdoor outfits prepared by the maids.

She chose a thin blouse with ample sleeves tightened with lace, and lace on the chest, decorated with a blue ribbon.

The skirt, blue with a checkered pattern, was tightly cinched at the waist with silver buttons for decoration, and flared widely from the hips, moving bouncily with her movements.

The maids dressing Adelia glanced at the deep mark left on her skin.

‘The rumors will spread well.’

Adelia ignored the maids’ rudeness. She even brushed over the mark, as if to show it off better. It was also amusing to see the young maids blush every time she did so.

After changing clothes, the red mark was no longer visible. But standing in front of the mirror, Adelia unconsciously traced with her eyes where the mark had been.

* * *

Lucian had finished preparing first and was waiting for Adelia at the entrance of the mansion.

“Did you keep the coachman in check?”

“Yes, I promised substantial compensation, and his family lives nearby, so there’s no chance of leaks.”

“Is the carriage ready?”

“Yes, this way.”

Lucian had already bribed a tight-lipped coachman and prepared a carriage.

For security reasons, the location of their honeymoon was treated as top secret until the end of the trip.

Even the gossip-loving servants had to keep their mouths shut until the trip was over. If they became loose-lipped, their heads might become loose as well.

‘I was going to go out alone if she had just rested.’

He had originally planned to go out alone today to look around the local shops. He hadn’t intended to disturb Adelia’s rest, but changed his plans after hearing that she had never rested before.

‘It’s not like she’s a workaholic, but she’s never rested before. No wonder she doesn’t know how to enjoy a trip.’

Even Lucian, who looked like he would only work, took breaks on holidays. Moreover, being naturally active, he couldn’t be satisfied with just loosening up in the training grounds.

When in a new place, he preferred to look around.

As Lucian was thinking this while waiting, Adelia came out of the mansion, ready to go.

“You’re here.”

“You were already out here. And you’ve prepared the carriage,”

“Despite appearances, the interior should be fine. A luxury carriage would stand out too much.”

“It’s fine for a short while. This looks good enough.”

To disguise themselves as a commoner couple rather than nobles, they chose a carriage typically used by wealthy commoners instead of a luxurious one. They also chose clothes that weren’t too grand in design, but made of the highest quality fabric.