27

“Elsia, you were young, and I was young, too. So you don’t have to feel sorry for me. I’m sorry to you as well.”

“What do you have to be sorry for?”

“…And Richel did nothing wrong. She only helped me. But I want you to know just one thing. Everything was done for you.”

Adrian didn’t want Elsia and Richel’s relationship to become strained, so he defended Richel.

“Why do Richel and you keep saying everything was for me?”

Elsia asked, as if she didn’t understand.

“I think it’s time to tell you. I’ve wanted to say it for a long time, but I couldn’t because you hadn’t told me your real name.”

“Ah… that’s true.”

Elsia seemed to recall the past for a moment at Adrian’s words.

“Actually, when I heard you were engaged, I decided to give up on you. If your fiancé was a good person, that is. So I investigated Mars, your fiancé, because I wanted to know if your future would be happy.”

Elsia seemed surprised by his words. Her wide eyes trembled.

But it wasn’t surprise or disappointment—it was a look of longing.

“Mars isn’t the kind of man you think he is. My secret investigation showed he’s violent and rude. He acted cultured in the city, but revealed his true nature in his territory. I couldn’t let you marry such a man… Sorry for investigating your fiancé without telling you.”

Adrian couldn’t raise his head out of guilt. He couldn’t bear to look at Elsia’s face, fearing she’d be disappointed.

But suddenly, he felt warmth on his cheek.

When Adrian looked up, Elsia’s hands were gently cupping his cheeks, and her deer-like eyes were filled with tears.

“Actually… I suspected it, so I had an investigation commissioned, too. But that doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’ve already told my father I can’t marry him.”

“Elsia…”

Adrian softly stroked the tears at Elsia’s eyes.

“Thank you for not giving up on me. If it weren’t for you, Adrian, I would have been trapped in an unhappy marriage.”

Elsia smiled brightly as she spoke. Her smile was so lovely that Adrian embraced her in his arms.

“I love you.”

At the same time, an unbelievable word came from Elsia’s lips.

Adrian let go and looked at her again.

“I love you too. You asked me to answer you before, right? It’s late, but I’ll say it now. My answer is that I love you, too.”

Elsia spoke with a warm and gentle smile.

As soon as he heard those words, Adrian hugged Elsia tightly again. He felt her warmth and fullness spread to him.

‘I’ve got her.’

At the same time, he felt he had finally obtained what he so desperately wanted.

Adrian had finally won Elsia’s heart after so long.

He never imagined that suppressed feelings would lead to such immense joy and happiness.

“Is your heart really mine now?”

Adrian wanted to confirm it over and over, to dispel the fear that this was all just a dream.

“Yes, can you feel my lips on your cheek?”

A soft touch brushed Adrian’s cheek and then left.

Feeling her touch so vividly, he knew it wasn’t a dream.

Now that he was sure Elsia felt the same, Adrian’s heart swelled.

Smooch.

Adrian gently pressed his lips to Elsia’s, as if marking her.

He wanted to show that Elsia was his. Then he pecked her lips again, several times in quick succession.

Elsia blushed and smiled shyly, then gently pressed her lips to his.

He felt her calm, heated breath and the soft touch of her lips, and a sweet, ecstatic kiss followed.

After the kiss of relief, Adrian felt like a couple just starting their love—his heart filled with joy and excitement, and he felt light and at ease.

He resolved never to lose Elsia to anyone.

When their breathing grew heavy and their lips parted, Adrian gently embraced Elsia and carefully laid her on his bed. Then he slowly began to undress them both.

But seeing Elsia’s cheeks flush, Adrian couldn’t hold back anymore.

He hurriedly lowered Elsia’s dress and gently stimulated her chest.

“Mmm…”

Elsia tried to suppress her voice.

“It’s okay to make noise. No one here at Brightwell cares.”

“But… how can I…”

Elsia spoke in a trembling voice, embarrassed. Adrian kissed her eyes, finding her beautiful.

“From now on, you’ll be the lady of the Brightwell family. There’s no need to worry about such things.”

He hadn’t received Earl Portman’s permission yet, but Adrian didn’t mind.

He had won Elsia’s heart, so even if it took years, he would never give up.

He believed that with sincerity, the Earl would eventually understand.

Adrian deliberately teased Elsia’s sensitive spot.

“Ahh…”

Elsia moaned involuntarily, her body trembling.

“You’re… mean.”

Elsia glared at him with a dissatisfied face, turning her head away.

“Look at me, Elsia. I want to see your face.”

At Adrian’s pleading, Elsia turned to look at him.

Adrian kissed her cleavage and sucked gently.

As a red mark appeared, he felt pleased, as if marking her as his own.

He slowly moved down, leaving traces all over her body.

Her pale skin began to bloom with flowers. The last was inside her petals.

When his tongue entered, Elsia’s body flinched and honey began to flow.

Adrian carefully tasted her sweetness.

“No… don’t.”

Even as Elsia tried to block his head with her hands, he swallowed her nectar and stimulated her most sensitive spot, making her tremble and m*an.

Satisfied with her reaction, Adrian slowly entered her. Strangely, from the start, her inside felt like it fit him perfectly.

‘Is this fate?’

Every time Adrian entered Elsia, he thought so.

The union after their hearts connected gave him a new sensation.

Once the guilt deep inside disappeared, he felt even greater pleasure.

It felt different from when their feelings were one-sided. He realized that emotional connection was most important.

He slowly watched Elsia, trembling beneath him in rhythm.

She was so lovely, Adrian couldn’t stand it.

Now, the way she naturally accepted him, the mischievous smile she gave him, the way she released honey for him, her expression at the peak—everything about her was lovable.

“Only look at me. Only feel me.”

Adrian’s mind was filled with Elsia, but perhaps she sensed he was thinking of something else, as she suddenly grabbed his cheeks and pulled his face toward hers.

Now that their feelings were confirmed, Elsia seemed to have no intention of hiding her heart.

Her desire to monopolize him electrified Adrian.

He poured even more of his feelings into her, but Elsia still seemed unsatisfied.

“Come harder.”

At Elsia’s words, Adrian felt a bigger, dizzying sensation surge through him.

How could she always choose such lovely words?

Adrian pulled Elsia close and began moving harder inside her.

Elsia’s whole body trembled, and she smiled in satisfaction, breathing excitedly.

As pleasure built, Adrian’s movements became faster, and Elsia shuddered, crying out at her cl*max.

She seemed to have reached a peak. Adrian, also at his limit, poured everything into her and then lay down beside her.

The heat in the room rose. Seeing Elsia’s face, lost in pleasure, made Adrian feel good, as if he had made her happy.

“One more time?”

Adrian showed her his renewed desire and asked, and Elsia blushed and nodded gently.

Though they had been together many times, Elsia still felt shy.

But as Adrian approached, Elsia parted her legs herself, and Adrian entered her again.

Elsia’s nails dug into Adrian’s back as she moved her hips.

Stimulated by her, Adrian gripped her waist tighter and moved even more vigorously, continuing until the waves of pleasure reached another peak.

“Just one more.”

Adrian asked Elsia again after each time.

“How long are you going to say ‘just one more’?”

Elsia complained, but still granted Adrian’s request.

He knew he should stop for her sake, but seeing her sweetness made him want to keep going.

The more they joined, the more his desire grew, and he felt his blood boil.

Unable to control his longing, Adrian surrendered to his instincts before Elsia, like a beast crying out.