31

Elsia, who had just said goodbye, came back into the room and wrapped her arms around Adrian’s waist.

“Elsia, go home now. We can meet tomorrow.”

“No. We can meet today and tomorrow.”

He tried to push her away, but Elsia only clung tighter.

“I give up.”

Adrian, unintentionally wrestling with Elsia, finally surrendered.

He could have forced her away, but his conflicting desire to keep her and let her go left him powerless.

In the end, Adrian took Elsia’s hand and led her outside the villa.

Elsia followed, wearing a victor’s smile.

* * *

The two chose the largest tree in the dense forest.

Standing where Elsia’s back nearly touched the tree, Adrian pulled her waist close, and Elsia wrapped her arms around his neck as their lips met.

A languid, deep kiss began. Their tongues explored each other slowly, soon turning into a passionate kiss that stole their breath.

Adrian’s hand moved up from her waist to her back, and as he untied her dress, Elsia’s chest was gradually exposed.

His hand touched her chest and began to caress her gently.

Each time Adrian flicked her peak with his fingers, Elsia’s body shivered. He teased her, circling around her sensitive spot.

“Stop playing around!”

Elsia pushed Adrian’s chest and broke the kiss, grabbing his mischievous hand.

Adrian smiled, then gently bit her chest.

A brief, tingling pain swept through her body.

“You’re… mean.”

Elsia glared at Adrian, who laughed loudly.

“Sorry. You’re just too cute.”

The seductive smile and his words made Elsia feel like her body was melting.

While Elsia lowered her head in embarrassment, Adrian’s hand moved down, stirring inside her underwear.

The soft touch sent deep stimulation and excitement.

Every place his hand touched, Elsia felt thrilling sensations and twisted her body.

Enjoying the pleasure, Elsia slowly removed her damp underwear.

Her fl*ids had soaked it from the sweet, tangled thrills.

Adrian’s rough touch softened as he kissed Elsia again.

“Mmm…”

The stimulation above and below made Elsia’s breath quicken.

Just before she ran out of breath, Adrian’s lips and hand left her.

Elsia’s chest rose and fell as she gasped.

“Are you all right?”

Adrian asked, seeing her flushed face.

Elsia nodded slowly, and he gently turned her body.

As Adrian lifted her full skirt, cool air slipped in below, giving her an empty feeling.

“It’s a bit cold.”

The evening forest was chilly. Elsia shivered unconsciously.

“It’ll get warmer soon.”

Knowing what he meant, Elsia’s cheeks turned red.

Soon, Adrian’s hardened desire pressed against Elsia’s thigh from behind.

His hand parted her legs, then moved to her hips.

Adrian grabbed Elsia’s hips and penetrated her in one swift motion.

He then gripped her waist tightly and began moving.

‘Amazing.’

It was their first time outdoors, and every movement inside her brought overwhelming pleasure.

Elsia gripped the tree tightly whenever the intense stimulation rocked her body.

Adrian’s movements were rough yet warm and electrifying.

As waves swept through her body, Elsia’s grip loosened and she slid downward.

Just before her body collapsed completely, Adrian grabbed her arms from behind, lifting her shoulders slightly.

Each time her body rocked backward, shock and pleasure surged through her. The once gentle rhythm grew faster and more intense.

“Haa… haa…”

The sounds of birds and insects mixed with their m*ans, heightening the atmosphere, while the cool night air slightly tempered their heat.

“Ah… Adrian!”

The more intensely Adrian moved inside her, the more Elsia called his name.

Just saying it made her heart melt—it was hers now.

The more she said it, the more excitement surged, and the thrill wouldn’t stop.

Her petals gripped him tightly, as if not wanting to let go. Responding, Adrian released her arms, wrapped her waist, and moved even harder.

Adrian’s desire poured into her, and Elsia cried out, feeling happiness as his cl*max erupted inside her.

The more she was with him, the more Elsia felt she was discovering a new world. Even unknown sensations or first-time thrills weren’t scary with Adrian—nothing was frightening when she was with him.

* * *

“Make sure to dress me up prettier than usual!”

Elsia was busy from early morning. She spent more time than usual choosing what clothes to wear, what hairstyle to have, and which accessories to put on.

It was her first date with Adrian, so her excitement showed no signs of settling.

Wearing a tight yellow silk dress with a big ribbon on the chest that showed off her figure, Elsia waited for Adrian to arrive.

Thinking about spending time with him made even waiting enjoyable.

Suddenly, the sound of the door bursting open came, and Marie rushed into the room.

“Why are you running in? You could come slowly, why so hurried?”

Elsia was puzzled by Marie’s behavior, but thinking Adrian had arrived, she checked herself in the mirror, straightening her outfit.

“It’s… it’s just…”

Marie couldn’t finish her sentence. Elsia couldn’t tell what had her so flustered.

“Sir Mars has come to visit.”

“Suddenly?”

Elsia looked at Marie in surprise. Why and without warning?

“Yes.”

“Did he come to apologize to me?”

Though surprised, Elsia asked calmly.

“Maybe, I guess?”

Marie didn’t seem to know why Mars had come either.

After Earl Welsley had apologized to her father and left, Mars had promised to apologize too, so Elsia had expected he’d come, but not so suddenly and without notice.

Now that his true nature was exposed, maybe he’d given up on keeping up appearances.

Elsia wasn’t pleased, but she went downstairs to meet Mars.

Mars stood at the door with three knights he’d brought. It was odd to bring three knights, and his eyes didn’t look like someone coming to apologize.

Elsia felt uneasy.

Even though Earl Welsley had apologized, Mars seemed unaware of the situation, glaring at her sharply.

“What brings you…”

Since Mars had come to Portman, Elsia tried to greet him politely, bowing her head.

At that moment, Mars grabbed her arm. Elsia was pulled into his arms, and a sharp sword was pressed against her neck.

“Kyaaah!”

The maids at Portman manor screamed at the sight.

Mars was cowardly. To take someone greeting him and turn her into a hostage—his actions were beyond the pale.

Elsia felt foolish for having thought to be polite, never imagining Mars would go so far.

“Quiet! Earl Portman! Tell him to come out right now, or I’ll kill this girl!”

Mars threatened Elsia with the sword, demanding Earl Portman. But unfortunately, he was out on business.

“He… he’s out. Sob…”

Marie answered, crying.

“Bring him before me now! Right now! Didn’t you hear me?”

As he shouted, the Portman knights rushed in.

If anyone upset Mars, he seemed ready to slit Elsia’s throat.

So, with Mars threatening Elsia, they couldn’t rush him or fight the knights he’d brought.

Elsia signaled to some servants to just watch Mars’s actions.

If they stayed calm, Mars wouldn’t harm her immediately.

He only wanted one thing.

He needed Earl Portman to ask Earl Welsley to forgive Mars’s crimes, to let them go.

“Do you know what you did? You dared to come between my father and me!”

Mars pressed the sword closer to Elsia’s neck in anger.

Elsia didn’t know what Earl Welsley had done to Mars, but she knew she had to calm him before her father arrived.

“Put that down and talk with me calmly. I don’t know much about the Welsley family’s current situation, so explain it to me, and I’ll tell my father when he comes.”

Mars hesitated for a moment, then pressed the sword closer, demanding Elsia’s answer.

“Listen carefully and deliver my message, got it?”

“Yes, yes. I’ll speak for you. Please, go ahead.”

Mars kept the sword at her neck as he spoke.

“The Welsley family should be inherited by me, but because of you, my father decided to pass it to Marion. Do you think it makes sense for the second son to inherit instead of the eldest? And he wants to give the territory I received to Marion.”

As he spoke, Mars’s sword pressed closer to Elsia’s neck.

“And what? He said I have to apologize to a crazy woman like you just to get a bit of property. Because of you!”

Apparently, Earl Welsley, fearing isolation in noble society, chose to abandon his eldest son Mars and pick his second son Marion.

Elsia had never met Marion, but rumor had it he was kind and diligent.

“I’m sure Earl Welsley didn’t mean it. Why not talk to him again? Right now, even.”

Elsia hated to side with Mars after being called crazy, but she wished he’d just leave.