“Reiner.”

“Sit.”

Reiner gestured toward the chair that had originally been placed there for the lady of the house.

It was right beside his, separated only by a shared armrest.

Rachel sat down and watched the people who were enjoying themselves to the fullest.

A smile spread across her lips.

“They’re good people.”

Reiner finished the wine remaining in his glass.

“When I was little, I’d never been outside the estate.”

Rachel suddenly began talking about something she had never told anyone before.

Perhaps it was the wine.

Or perhaps it was because the bond made her feel closer to Reiner than anyone else.

For some reason, tonight she felt as though she could tell him anything.

“My father worried about me so much. I just wanted to do whatever I could to put his mind at ease.”

Because of that, Rachel had never learned how to mingle with people.

Everyone at Flynn Castle had always tried to give her whatever she wanted.

“When you first left, I was frightened because everything was so unfamiliar. But thanks to that, I think I learned so many new things.”

Rachel turned to look at Reiner.

His reflection shone clearly in her bright brown eyes.

“Vincent says I’m good at dealing with people, but honestly, I’m the one who’s learned the most. I’ve realized that ordinary people and nobles are all the same in the end…”

Absorbed in what she was saying, Rachel tilted her wineglass too far.

A stream of wine spilled onto Reiner’s trousers.

“Ah!”

Startled, Rachel quickly set her glass on the armrest and jumped to her feet.

She snatched up a napkin from the table in front of Reiner and hurriedly dabbed at his thigh.

“I’m sorry.”

Fortunately, she had reacted quickly enough that the wine hadn’t soaked deeply into the fabric.

As she pressed the remaining stain with the napkin, the firmness beneath Reiner’s trousers made her unconsciously catch her breath.

It was as though his body embodied every masculine charm imaginable.

What would it feel like to touch those sculpted thigh muscles with her bare hands instead of through fabric…?

“Gah!”

Good heavens.

How could she even think something like that?

This was unmistakably a sign that the power of the bond was beginning to spiral out of control.

The dreams she had been having flooded back into her mind, and panic seized her.

‘I have to get away from Reiner. Now!’

The bond’s power had been growing stronger and weaker in cycles.

But one thing was certain.

At this moment, it was anything but weak.

The impulse that surged through her was impossible to restrain.

She wanted to touch not only his lips, but every part of him.

What would his arm feel like?

What would it be like to be wrapped in those strong muscles?

Things they had never done together unfolded in her mind as vividly as though they were memories.

Just as the startled Reiner started to rise from his seat…

Rachel instinctively grabbed his arm.

“I’m done!”

She straightened up abruptly.

But in doing so, she accidentally knocked over the wineglass resting on the armrest.

Thunk.

Just before it struck the floor, both Rachel and Reiner reached for it at the same time.

The instant Reiner’s long fingers caught the glass first—

‘Oh no…’

Rachel, having lost her balance, brushed her lips against his cheek.

The moment their lips touched, she knew she was in serious trouble.

It felt as though lightning had exploded inside her head.

Something that had remained tightly coiled within her suddenly burst free.

The power of the bond she had barely managed to suppress was rising again.

In that instant, the urge became overwhelming.

She wanted to touch every part of Reiner.

What would his arms feel like?

What would it be like to be held within those powerful muscles?

Experiences they had never shared flashed through her mind as though they had already happened.

Startled by the unexpected kiss, Reiner began to stand.

Without realizing it, Rachel gripped his arm tightly.

“Ha… Reiner.”

Even the slight furrow of his brows stirred her senses.

For a brief moment, Rachel almost pressed her lips against his crimson eyes.

Perhaps…

Perhaps it was all because of those extraordinary eyes.

The only crimson eyes in the world.

If she hadn’t met his gaze that summer when she was nine…

She might never have saved him.

Because the instant she first saw him, she instinctively knew she would remember those eyes for the rest of her life.

“Reiner, with me…”

“Whoa! Duke! What do you think you’re doing?!”

The booming voice made Rachel bite her lip.

At the same time, everyone at the banquet noticed the two of them.

The hall, which had fallen silent for a heartbeat, suddenly erupted into an uproar.

“Hey! If you’re already this passionate, what are we supposed to do with you two?”

“Duke! You’ve been apart for two years, and you’re making it this obvious already?”

The men pounded on the tables, shouting and cheering.

When Reiner turned to glare at them, they all flinched and quickly looked away.

Letting out a sigh, Reiner looked down at Rachel.

“Don’t mind them. They’re just teasing.”

As expected, Rachel had turned crimson all the way to the tips of her ears, her head lowered.

‘She must’ve been terribly embarrassed.’

She was far too innocent for this sort of attention.

Her breathing had become so uneven that her slender back rose and fell as though she were quietly sobbing.

Reiner’s mind was consumed with a single thought—he had to get Rachel away from here somehow.

He took her hand and helped her to her feet.

Her small hand fit perfectly within his.

“Come with me.”

Holding it firmly so she wouldn’t slip away, Reiner led her out of the banquet hall.

***

‘What do I do?’

Rachel had no idea how many times she had repeated those words to herself.

As if kissing him hadn’t been enough…

Now they were holding hands.

It was the first time she had held his hand again in two years.

She still remembered the rough calluses on his palm with perfect clarity.

How could she not?

After he left, she had held Reiner’s hand every night in her dreams.

Only later had Vincent explained what those long fingers and hardened palms truly meant.

‘Do you know why even the roughest men respect the Duke so much? Unlike other nobles, he always does everything himself before asking anyone else to.’

‘You mean Reiner built every ship himself?’

‘That’s exactly what I mean. He keeps trying until he gets it right, and only then does he teach everyone else. He’s never been the type to sit back and give orders.’

Thinking about everything Reiner had carried on his own made Rachel’s heart ache.

A fallen noble.

Simply because he still bore the title of Duke, he had probably endured more prejudice than anyone else.

Bang.

Reiner shoved the door open.

He led Rachel inside and sat her down on the bed.

Without realizing it, Rachel pressed a hand against her chest.

Unlike the noisy banquet hall, the room was so quiet that she feared even the frantic pounding of her heart would reach him.

“Rachel.”

Without answering, Reiner turned away and walked across the room.

Watching his back in silence, Rachel slowly took deep breaths.

Perhaps it was better this way.

‘If I can’t see him… I won’t want to touch him.’

Just as she was beginning to calm down…

A glass of cold water suddenly appeared in front of her.

“…?”

When she looked up, Reiner was kneeling on one knee, watching her with concern.

“Drink. It’ll help settle your stomach.”

Rachel stared at the glass, its surface clouded with condensation, before accepting it.

The cold clinging to her feverish skin was so jarring it made her head throb.

She sipped the water little by little.

“They were just being obnoxious. Don’t take it to heart.”

“Haa… I’m fine.”

When Rachel set the glass down, Reiner picked it up again and placed it on the table.

He seemed unusually restless.

Lost.

That was probably the best way to describe it.

He stared into the empty air for a moment before looking back at her.

“So… um. You mentioned going to the capital.”

His gaze remained fixed on Rachel.

“Should we start preparing tomorrow?”

The distance between them had become too close.

Rachel held her breath.

“I think we can finish getting everything ready in three or four days.”

After a brief pause, he added,

“You haven’t been back to visit your family in a long time either.”

At that moment, Rachel couldn’t hear a single word.

They were so close that if she leaned forward just a little…

She could touch him.

She had to pour every ounce of strength into stopping herself from reaching out.

Every bit of her self-control was focused on keeping herself from losing her mind in that deep, gentle voice.

Even now, the power of the bond was tempting her every second.

The elf blood within her longed for Reiner.

Touch him.

Hold him.

Breathe in his scent until it fills your lungs.

Fill your entire body with him.

Don’t you want to know how intoxicating it would feel?

“Rachel.”

Reiner gently lifted her chin with his fingertips.

“Ah!”

‘No!’

Without thinking, Rachel slapped his hand away.

As though she had touched blazing fire, she scrambled backward across the bed until her back struck the wall.

“Don’t touch me!”

Reiner’s hand froze in midair.

Only then did Rachel realize what she had just said.

“Gasp!”

As expected…

Reiner stood motionless, his lips slightly parted.

“No… I didn’t mean…”

Rachel’s mind went completely blank.

She had no idea how to fix this.

“…I see.”

Reiner slowly rose to his feet.

“I didn’t realize you disliked me that much. I’m sorry for touching you without permission.”

With a bitter smile, he turned away from her.

Step by step, he walked farther from the bed.

Rachel watched his retreating figure, panic gripping her.

She couldn’t let him leave with that misunderstanding.

“That’s not why!”

The force of her own voice surprised even her.

Reiner stopped at the door and looked back.

Clasping both hands tightly together, Rachel called out,

“It’s because I’m afraid of skin contact!”

Reiner tilted his head, clearly confused.

“So… um…”

She had told him the truth.

Now she had no idea how to explain it.

After a moment, Reiner quietly finished the thought for her.

“So… you’re saying you have some kind of trauma that makes you afraid of physical contact with men?”

“Yes.”

Rachel nodded vigorously, as though he had given her the perfect answer.

“That’s exactly it!”