As he laid her on the bed without ulterior motives, he suddenly thought of the nightmares she must have had, and his feelings became complicated.

“Come to think of it, you must have suffered from nightmares alone all this time.”

She probably had no idea that he had comforted her when she couldn’t sleep at night.

Though he was the one who needed to rest, he couldn’t lie down because he had to watch over Lucilia sleeping peacefully. Despite trying to ignore it, his curiosity had already risen, binding his limbs and making him sit beside her.

While quietly observing her, Aaron noticed Lucilia frowning and quietly rose to block the sunlight streaming into the bedroom.

Even while drawing the curtains, his gaze wouldn’t leave Lucilia.

Only after confirming that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes had smoothed out did he return to sit on the bed.

“Aren’t you sleeping too comfortably? If you knew what I was thinking, you couldn’t be like this…”

She was completely unconscious, intoxicated by alcohol. That made it fun to look at her all he wanted.

“Ah, huff…”

Her insides must be quite hot, as she kept sighing.

Every time she exhaled hot breath, her trembling lips looked so adorable that he couldn’t help but smile.

Sometimes she would furrow her brow when hair stuck to her cheek tickled her, or shake her small head from side to side to adjust her uncomfortable pillow.

“Woman, stop tormenting me.”

Aaron carefully removed the hair from her face.

“I told you it’s dangerous to start this in the daytime. How innocently you sleep.”

Though it wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t offered her alcohol in the first place, he tried to blame Lucilia.

He didn’t even realize the thick humor seeping through his resentful tone.

After admiring her twitching features for a long time, Aaron couldn’t resist the drowsiness and lay down beside her.

She was in such a state that she wouldn’t notice if someone carried her away, so he moved closer. Still, fearing he wouldn’t be able to control his impulses if their skin touched, he maintained some distance.

But Lucilia, unaware of such consideration, moved to find a comfortable position regardless of danger, and happened to turn on her side facing him.

“Ugh.”

For a moment, Aaron covered his mouth.

Just as he thought she might burrow into his embrace, her lips happened to touch his bare chest, right on the n*pple.

Aaron covered his forehead while holding his breath.

If he breathed and the round protrusion rubbed against her, his patience might snap.

He could just move back…

That would solve the problem, but his agility, usually displayed on the battlefield, had mysteriously disappeared.

He couldn’t possibly be this dull.

His body wouldn’t listen, as if coated with an anesthetic that stiffened his muscles.

“Please just stay still.”

Once again, a deep exhalation flowed out, and her silver-white hair, blown by his breath, tickled his chest.

“This is maddening.”

He shouldn’t have lain down next to her.

He should have abandoned his desires earlier, d*mn it!

After getting close to smell her fragrance, what was the use of suffering now?

Looking back at his detestable behavior, he sank into untimely self-reflection.

Could he confidently say he hadn’t wanted this situation?

Even now, if she permitted, he would immediately satisfy his l*st.

Ah, this is why they call him a son of a b*tch.

It was just then.

Lucilia gradually pushed the bed with her toes and moved up to near his shoulders. If he tilted his head slightly, his lips would touch her nostrils.

To make matters worse, Lucilia’s face bent backward, and her densely lowered eyelashes began to flutter.

Their eyes met when he was unprepared.

Like the midday sun, a passionate and brilliant orange light flowed from her eyes.

Aaron was also in a state of weakened reason as the effects of alcohol spread languidly through him.

Because of this, he didn’t avoid directly meeting her captivating eyes.

Time seemed to stop. In the strange feeling of souls interlocking as one, he didn’t have the presence of mind to move a finger.

His heart pounded uncontrollably.

Even as he was dazed by this sensation he had never experienced before, he wondered what Lucilia might be feeling now.

“What are you thinking?”

The saint who always read others’ thoughts was right in front of him.

How vast a world might be unfolding within her?

It was the perfect opportunity to look inside.

Perhaps Lucilia would reveal her true feelings.

“Huh? Other people can’t move when they look into my eyes…”

“Is that so? I must be different from those people. I asked what you’re thinking.”

“That I’m fortunate?”

During their brief exchange, the smile forming at the corners of Lucilia’s mouth grew deeper. She giggled as if something pleased her greatly.

“What’s fortunate?”

“You don’t hate me?”

“…”

Her voice, heavily laden with alcohol and drowsiness, unexpectedly pierced his heart.

Aaron, startled, quickly closed his mouth.

“You… desire me?”

How could this be…

He had been completely caught off guard.

It was absurd enough that she had read his mind so easily, but even more astonishing were his suddenly assaulted lips.

Her soft skin overlapped with his, pressing firmly against his lips like a seal before pulling away.

He thought that was the end, but there was more.

Several light kisses in succession.

Was this a dream…

Even though he had been drinking, he wasn’t so intoxicated that he couldn’t maintain his reason. Though not entirely clear-headed, he was definitely thinking properly.

That’s why he had been barely suppressing his urge for physical contact.

But what a twist this was.

“I thought you hated me terribly. But you don’t?”

Their lips remained layered one over the other. With each small whisper, Lucilia’s teeth grazed his lower lip.

When he slightly extended his tongue due to the tickling sensation, Lucilia also stuck out her tongue to erase the slippery feeling on her lips.

From then on, it was pure instinct.

In an instant, they were captivated by each other and deeply united.

Without time to worry.

Without the mind to consider reason.

While their mouths were entangled, his exposed upper body quickly heated up.

Even t*rture by fire at the hands of an enemy would seem less terrible than this.

Yes, this feeling was truly terrible.

A lament escaped at the vexation of his body beyond control.

While continuously sucking her tongue in search of sweet spring water, unfortunately, even his heart joined in, pumping to regain composure.

His heavily bunched muscles gave him a strange, indescribable feeling—neither painful nor tingling. They kept trying to press against Lucilia and rub.

This couldn’t continue. He would end up making a mistake.

Aaron withdrew his tightly sealed tongue.

“Hah, be quiet and sleep.”

Though he immediately regretted that brief retreat, he cut it off before creating a bigger regret.

Aaron, who had wanted to lie down his tired body, couldn’t close his eyes because of someone.

Having escaped from the bed to the sofa, he glared at Lucilia.

She was truly a bewitching woman.

Though she had an innocent face, she might not be ordinary.

How could she draw out the raw beast in him so instantly?

He had been thoroughly enchanted.

After his lips were suddenly stolen, he completely let go of his senses. With a mindset of “whatever happens, happens,” he greedily explored her.

He didn’t stop until their lips were swollen and m*ans escaped from the aching pain.

No, he couldn’t stop.

In that moment, cold judgment was impossible.

They said she had lost her sacred power, but that was a blatant lie.

Beyond clearly seeing into people’s minds, she played freely with others’ emotions.

Although dark desires seethed inside him, he had always tried to maintain his dignity. That’s why he had been able to protect her without taking her until now.

But Lucilia made him realize he was a beast, as if mocking his efforts.

Like a witch in sheep’s clothing.

A witch who retained her sacred power…

“Ugh, what a mess.”

His knuckles, inserted between his hair strands, were roughly crushed.

Aaron irritably scratched his scalp.

“I should leave or something. If I stay here, I’ll go crazy too.”

Just as he was about to rise, gripping the sofa armrest after organizing his turbulent thoughts, the person who had thoroughly turned him inside out stirred and opened her eyes.

Awakening from her short nap, Lucilia looked at the sunlight shining through the curtains and then gazed at Aaron with drowsy eyes.

“Is it still daytime?”

“Yes.”

“Did you get some sleep?”

“Yes.”

He had intended to leave, but he was once again bewitched by this enchanting woman.

Aaron went to Lucilia with a glass of water.

“Is your throat dry?”

“Seeing the water suddenly makes me thirsty. Thank you.”

With each word she spoke, the lips he had crushed throbbed.

She seemed to notice something unusual about her skin, different from usual, and ran her tongue over it.