2.2

“I’m going to be content with this.”  

“Be more ambitious! That guy used you, so you should use him too. You fool.”  

Donna was exasperated. The word “fool” was practically glued to her lips. To be honest, Sir Leon Guilford was a decent man, making it hard to give up on him entirely. But his walls were far higher than expected.  

Many women had tried to make him their lover, only to fail every time. Ellen, too, had known that getting close to him wouldn’t be easy, but Donna had held on to a sliver of hope.  

Since Ellen had at least succeeded in starting a relationship with him, Donna thought she had a different starting line than the others. She wanted Ellen to push harder to win his heart before they parted ways.  

Even if it meant stirring up guilt in the man who felt sorry for her, Donna hoped Ellen could hold on to his heart. Only then did it seem possible to break through his defenses.  

But Ellen, having already been rejected once, was now acting defensively and passively. She behaved as though it was a foregone conclusion that she wouldn’t win Leon’s heart.  

If only she would act more assertively! 

Watching Ellen make no effort at all was driving Donna crazy.  

It pained Donna to see Ellen pretending not to be hurt while knowing she would have to enter an unwanted marriage in a month. She wished Ellen would try everything she could before giving up.  

“Why don’t you try initiating physical contact first?”  

If she was going to be hurt anyway, Donna thought it might be better to let go of everything and at least create some memories.  

Did she really need to win his heart? Couldn’t she just gain something else instead?  

Even the most impenetrable man must have a weakness. So Donna encouraged Ellen to seduce him, even if it was just physically.  

Given the current situation, it seemed easier to target his body than his heart. Even if Ellen couldn’t win his heart in the end, Donna thought it would at least be worthwhile if she could have the man she admired, even physically.  

“What?”  

As expected, the innocent Ellen widened her eyes in disbelief.  

“Fill the emotional void with physical closeness. Just go for it! What’s the big deal between lovers? Everyone prefers free love these days. Things are more open now, so you should go with the flow.”  

“….”  

For Donna, seduction might have been an easy suggestion, but for Ellen, it was a daunting task.  

She had never dated a man before, and now she was supposed to make a bold move? What if he was so startled that he ran away?  

“If your relationship is going to end in a month anyway, you might as well create some memories. Men can be intimate with women they don’t even like. And if you’re lucky, Sir Guilford might fall for you physically and then give you his heart too. Physical affection can lead to emotional attachment. Do you understand what I’m saying?”  

“Sir Guilford isn’t that kind of person.”  

“Don’t be so sure. He might not fall for other women’s advances, but he could fall for yours. Why don’t you at least try before dismissing the idea?”  

“….”  

Ellen knew it was absurd. She also knew such actions could come across as desperate and pathetic. But as Donna continued to persuade her, Ellen found herself tempted to follow her advice.  

“Do you really think it’ll work?”  

“Yes. You should enjoy yourself too. Who told you to accept his proposal in the first place? It was Sir Guilford who pushed you into this, even though you hadn’t even thought about confessing. So you should take advantage of the situation. Do you remember what you told me the day you heard about the bet? Instead of being angry about being made a laughingstock, you said you’d turn it around to your advantage. So be a little more ambitious and take action. No one will blame you for it. In fact, they’ll envy you rather than laugh at you.”  

“…How? Should I seduce him?”  

Ellen’s resolve wavered. She had wanted to be content just admiring him from afar, but she found herself growing greedy.  

“Create an opportunity.”  

Donna smiled meaningfully and took Ellen’s hand.  

* * *

Two weeks had passed since Ellen started dating Leon.  

There was still no progress between them. Leon kept his distance, and Ellen, following Donna’s advice, tried to take things further but failed every time.  

Her initial goal was to hold his hand, but she kept missing the chance. So she tried skipping ahead to bolder gestures, like linking arms, brushing shoulders, or sitting closer to him. But those attempts failed as well.  

How could she set the mood?  

Since this was her first experience with romance, Ellen didn’t know how to create an atmosphere. She couldn’t figure out the right moment for physical contact.  

Creating an opportunity and setting the mood was no easy task.  

To make matters worse, the situation seemed to be deteriorating. Leon now appeared to be preparing to end their relationship.  

From a certain point, he began hesitating, as if he wanted to say something but kept postponing it. Ellen gradually realized that the time for their breakup was approaching.  

As a result, she grew increasingly anxious.  

Should I just grab his collar and kiss him? No, that’s too aggressive. What if he feels uncomfortable?  

If she acted out of the blue, he might find it strange. In their current relationship, Leon held all the power. If he became even slightly upset, their relationship would end.  

“Um….”  

“Look over there. The clouds are shaped like a heart! Isn’t that amazing?”  

Whenever Leon seemed about to say something, Ellen would try to divert his attention. She was terrified he would bring up breaking up, so she couldn’t help but be more cautious every time they met.  

“I see.”  

Leon nodded at Ellen’s words.  

“….”  

Silence fell between them.  

Leon was deliberately cold toward Ellen, hoping she would grow disillusioned with him and leave.  

He didn’t want to hurt her, but there was no way to make her give up without causing some pain.  

So, despite confessing to her, he intentionally made it clear that his feelings weren’t deep. It was his way of subtly encouraging her to find someone better who could cherish her.  

However, no matter how harshly he treated her, Ellen always responded with a bright smile. And every time, Leon’s heart felt like it was sinking.  

The more they met, the more Leon came to realize that Ellen was a pure, kind, and good woman. She had the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.  

Her radiant smile only deepened his guilt.  

Strangely, though, while he felt guilty, he also found himself enjoying the sight of her smile directed at him.  

On days when he acted cruelly, seeing her clear blue eyes tremble as she held back tears made him wish she would keep smiling at him instead. It was a selfish desire.  

“Sir Guilford?”  

Watching Leon lost in thought beside her, Ellen let out a small sigh.  

He must be thinking about how to tell me it’s over, right? I can’t take it anymore.  

“Shall we head back?”  

Afraid he might bring up breaking up, Ellen stood up to leave.  

“Kyaa!”  

But at that moment, she tripped over a tree root sticking out of the ground and lost her balance, falling forward.  

Instinctively, she closed her eyes tightly. Her palms and left cheek hit the hard ground.  

Huh?  

It should hurt, but it wasn’t as painful as she expected. She had fallen onto solid ground, so it should have hurt. Something felt strange.  

Ellen slowly opened her eyes to figure out what had happened, only to freeze in place. When she opened her eyes, Leon’s face was right in front of hers.