“It’s a shame we couldn’t finish the dance.”

Rosia blinked her large eyes while taking a sip of wine. Aiden added,

“You’re quite famous, you know.”

“What do you……”

Rosia’s face colored with embarrassment. Famous? Aiden picked up a chocolate and handed it to Rosia.

“I saw the article. About you and Grand Duke Gragford.”

So that’s what he meant. Rosia lowered her head in embarrassment. She had vaguely expected everyone to misunderstand her after seeing that article, but when Count Hess’s son mentioned it directly, her face grew hot. Rosia hurriedly drank more wine. She thought drinking might help improve this feeling somewhat.

“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”

Aiden asked worriedly. Rosia gave a small smile to indicate she was fine. Then she suddenly wondered if he knew that she had been hired by Count Hess. It hadn’t been mentioned even once until now. Rosia put down her empty glass on the table. And just as she was about to say how pleased she was to be working as a governess, someone else approached them. More precisely, approached Rosia.

“Lady Berthe.”

It was a low, beautiful voice. Rosia’s shoulders stiffened. She turned her stiff neck to look at him.

“…… Your Grace.”

“Hello, Your Grace. It’s been a while.”

Aiden followed with a good-natured smile and greeting. Nigel glanced at him briefly before staring at Rosia again.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

“Now?”

“Right now.”

Rosia was wary, wondering what nonsense this strange man would spout again. However, she couldn’t damage Nigel’s dignity in front of Aiden, so she reluctantly followed him. She bid farewell to Aiden with just a nod. Aiden waved lightly at Rosia with an unreadable smile.

Next to the party hall was a small space created for taking brief rests. There was no door, but an expensive patterned curtain separated the resting area from the party hall.

As soon as they entered, Nigel turned around so quickly it made a whoosh sound and looked down at Rosia.

“Is that the best you could do?”

As if to say, ‘enough to choose over me?’ Nigel let out a hollow laugh while brushing back his slightly fallen bangs. Rosia, who had been checking if the curtain had fallen straight enough to hide them from others’ view, was dumbfounded. He maintained his manners well enough in front of others, but with Rosia, he didn’t even try to hide his brazen and arrogant personality. Rosia politely clasped her hands down and replied deliberately,

“Your Grace, you don’t even know Count Hess’s heir.”

“I can see what kind of person he is just by looking at his face. Ah, but our innocent little lady probably wouldn’t understand.”

Nigel retorted sarcastically. Rosia couldn’t understand at all why he was being petulant. After all, he himself had even danced with his brother’s fiancée.

“I had no idea you were so fond of gossip, Your Grace.”

“I’m just stating what I see.”

“To me, it sounded like slander.”

“It’s not.”

Nigel spat out irritably. Rosia closed her mouth, having nothing more to say to him. They had never even had a proper conversation. Even for Rosia, who had never disliked anyone before, Nigel was overwhelming. Silence passed between the two. Whether Nigel was thinking about something or had no thoughts at all, he just silently stared at her.

Rosia felt uncomfortable with the whole situation. Aiden would know that two people had disappeared, and others would notice too. Not only was someone as noticeable as Nigel gone, but Baroness Luther would soon be wandering around looking for Rosia. Nigel seemed like someone who desperately wanted Rosia’s reputation to plummet to rock bottom. Rosia was about to say she would return to the banquet hall, when—

“If you’re done speaking, then I should……”

“Rosia! Rosia!”

At that moment, Baroness Luther let out a high, piercing cry. She must not be caught with Nigel. That thought alone dominated Rosia’s mind. In that instant, Rosia’s small body was suddenly pulled. The long red curtain that covered the window enveloped her vision.

Suddenly pulled, Rosia reflexively stretched out both hands to support herself, fearing she might fall. However, what her palms touched was not a solid wall but the warm body of a person. Rosia looked up with wide eyes. Nigel’s brilliant eyes stared directly back at her.

What is happening? Rosia felt dizzy. To be hiding behind a curtain, pressed right against Nigel. If anyone saw them, it would be more than just trouble — it would be a scandal. Rosia would once again become a laughingstock and occupy the front page. But if she left now, she would give Baroness Luther ammunition, so she was stuck in a situation where she couldn’t move either way.

“My, where on earth did she go? Not dancing when she should be.”

The Baroness’s footsteps were right nearby. Rosia’s heart pounded rapidly. Pressed almost against Nigel’s chest, she could only take shallow breaths as her face, neck, and ears turned bright red. Perhaps due to excessive tension, her whole body trembled. What could Nigel be thinking? Afraid that even the slightest movement might bring her closer to Nigel, she could only bite her lips tightly. Nigel’s breathing mixed with hers, making her head spin. Rosia deliberately looked down at her feet.

“Rosia Berthe.”

Nigel’s voice languidly tapped her ear. The tip of his long, soft fingers gently rubbed her lips. Rosia looked up at him in surprise. Their eyes met. Her heart felt like it had dropped.

Nigel’s golden eyes were just like the midsummer noon sun. Hot, seemingly distant, yet existing right before her eyes.

Nigel tilted his head toward Rosia. His fingers that had been caressing her lips moved slowly, brushing past her neckline and exposed collarbone.

“What are you——!”

Rosia urgently grabbed Nigel’s hand, but Nigel smiled and slipped his fingers between hers. Their naturally intertwined hands connected. Their touching palms felt like they were burning.

Rosia barely managed to squeeze out her voice.

“Your Highness, why……”

“Shh, be quiet. You don’t want to be discovered.”

Only then did Rosia remember that they needed to avoid the Baroness. She could only groan inwardly without saying anything. She wanted to run away from this place immediately.

“Rosia! Seriously, someone said she went this way.”

The Baroness shouted sharply right beside them. It seemed someone had informed her that they saw Rosia enter this place. The Baroness wasn’t someone who gave up easily, so she might throw open the curtain at any moment. Rosia wanted to pull out her hand that was damp with tension, but Nigel held it tight and wouldn’t let go. His other hand was still gently caressing her lips.

A ticklish and strange sensation rose from her toes. Rosia could only stare at Nigel, not knowing what to do.

“Rosia.”

Nigel whispered again. Before Rosia could respond, his face drew closer, and their lips met. Rosia tightly closed her mouth and held her breath. Nigel gently pulled down her chin. Naturally, Rosia’s lips parted, and in an instant, Nigel’s hot tongue invaded. Rosia was completely overwhelmed, powerless to do anything.

Nigel’s tongue continuously stirred inside Rosia’s mouth. After sweeping across her teeth, it passed by softly before strongly intertwining with her tongue. Saliva that hadn’t been swallowed trickled between Rosia’s lips. Nigel’s hand slowly moved downward. His large hand teased her br*ast through her clothes, then wrapped around her waist before moving down to her b*ttocks. Everywhere his hand touched felt hot.

“W-wait……”

Rosia tried to grab Nigel’s hand, but he was faster. His hand, which had already lifted her dress, invaded between her undergarments. His fingers, which had been teasing her as if to torment her, entered her already soaking entrance in one swift motion.

“Ah……”

Rosia swallowed her moan. Nigel devoured her lips again. Rosia’s emerging moans crumbled inside Nigel’s mouth.

She could feel Nigel’s er*ect manhood pressed against her. Nigel kissed her somewhat urgently while continuously moving his fingers.

Rosia tightly closed her eyes, breathing heavily. A tear rolled down her cheek.

“Hnng……”

A weak whimper escaped between Rosia’s lips. Nigel kept kissing her while stirring her inside as he pleased. Rosia’s mind turned completely white. The unfamiliar pleasure and excitement completely captured her entire body. From below came wet sounds she had never heard before. She felt like she was losing her mind. Despite thinking she should stop, moans kept bursting out, only to disappear into Nigel’s mouth just before they could escape. Nigel’s fingers stirred her deep inside quickly. Rosia was practically hanging onto him for support.

“Ah, hng……”

Finally, her vision flashed white. Something seemed to burst inside her body, and then thick fluid trickled down her slender thighs. Nigel moved his fingers to leisurely rub Rosia’s inner walls before slowly pulling out. His fingers were completely soaked. Rosia almost collapsed on the spot.

“Where on earth did she go, really.”

Just then, the Baroness’s angry voice was heard before her presence gradually faded away. Rosia stared blankly at Nigel with unfocused eyes before hurriedly pushing him away and fleeing from behind the curtain like someone burned. Barely managing to straighten her disheveled dress, she looked back. Nigel’s eyes, full of heat, were staring straight at her. Rosia’s lips trembled, but no words came out.

Nigel spoke first.

“Rosia.”

It seemed like he might reach out and grab her at any moment. Rosia hurriedly bent her knees in a curtsy.

“Then…… I shall take my leave, Your Highness.”

And with that, she turned around and left. She didn’t know how many steps she had to force herself to take to avoid stumbling. Her hands, barely hidden by her dress sleeves, trembled violently. This feeling was a first. Her lower region, where Nigel’s fingers had invaded, was wet. Her heart pounded as if it were beating in that intimate place. It still felt like Nigel was inside her.

“Rosia! Where were you? Your complexion looks bad. Are you alright?”

When she returned to the banquet hall, Aiden, who had been standing alone, approached and said something, but Rosia could only mumble, “I’m not feeling well, I need to go back.” Her heart was racing as fast as when she had fallen from a tree as a child. Everything was filled with Nigel’s scent. She rubbed the back of her hand several times trying to erase the traces, but it was useless. Rosia repeated to herself many times that she needed to return to the mansion and wash quickly. She wanted to shake off this strange and peculiar feeling as soon as possible. The feeling that was as humid and hot as if she had just emerged from a damp bathtub, an unfamiliar sensation that was impossible to put into words.