His words were remarkably reassuring. It felt like this man could truly solve anything. Though that would only work if His Grace didn’t return.

“Let’s go. I’m really hungry.”

“Yes.”

Walking together with the man who affectionately wrapped his arm around her shoulder now felt quite natural. Though he was somewhat rough and still self-centered, she knew he was careful with her in his own way, so she had grown accustomed to this level of intimacy.

“I’m going to get drunk tonight.”

“Me too.”

They had even reached the point where they could exchange such jokes.

She remembered the day when a deafening thunder seemed to tear the sky apart. The day she drank with Rian in the dining room. That day, she had insisted on returning to her hometown, only to be severely punished by the suddenly changed Crazy Rian. It had been such a terrible night that she didn’t even want to recall it, and she never imagined she would one day be sitting side by side, drinking amicably with the very culprit.

The atmosphere was pleasant, and the sound of falling rain was soothing. Fortunately, today there was only rain without the dreadful thunder. She enjoyed the warmth of the man who put food in her mouth after each drink, and the pleasantly tipsy feeling. Belita kept smiling broadly, feeling so elated that everything seemed perfect.

“What makes you so happy?”

“This atmosphere……”

Rian smiled at her, finding her slightly slurred speech cute. With her flushed face, grinning happily while eagerly accepting and munching on the food he offered, she looked especially beautiful today. Rian began to get in the mood, resolving to make her ride on top of him tonight and go wild.

Just then, Belita burst out laughing and muttered,

“Pfft. It’s really funny.”

“What now?”

“I thought you were just a crazy bastard, but I never knew you had this side to you.”

“……If you knew what that crazy bastard is thinking right now, you might not find it so funny.”

“Isn’t it obvious…? Just wondering how to devour me next? That’s all you think about, right?”

“……Ha!”

At Belita’s provocative words, Rian covered his eyes and chuckled. He was quite satisfied that the woman who used to tremble in fear now confidently revealed her thoughts without filtering them. Of course, it was probably due to the alcohol, but Rian was also enjoying this time so much that he couldn’t help but laugh.

“So?”

“What do you mean, ‘so’?”

“How would you like me to devour you?”

“Hmm……. Hotly.”

“……What?”

They say alcohol brings out courage that wasn’t there before, and Rian was considerably taken aback by Belita’s seductive words, which were unusually bold today.

“Are you okay?”

“What do you mean…?”

“You don’t seem to be in your right mind.”

“Isn’t getting out of your right mind the point of drinking…? I told you I was going to get drunk tonight. So don’t stop me.”

“You already seem quite drunk……”

For a moment, he was worried that Belita might completely pass out. He didn’t want to be like a dog rutting against an unconscious woman. Above all, he craved her body intensely tonight. Of course, he had taken her every night, but on days like today when he was mentally exhausted, she was his medicine. And today, she was particularly seductive.

As he briefly considered whether to take away her glass as she kept drinking, Belita giggled and cackled again. Her behavior, so contrary to her usual self, was fascinating, and somehow, he wanted to see more of it. He was secretly curious about the hidden duality within her, different from his own.

“Belita.”

“……Mm, yes.”

“Do you regret marrying me?”

“Hmm……. I did. Quite a lot.”

“Even now?”

“Hmm……. A little bit…?”

“Why?”

Instead of answering, she tilted her glass again and smirked. It was a very different smile from before. Rian stared at her intently, waiting for her answer. Finding the pause tedious, his hand was gradually caressing her thigh suggestively.

“It’s a secret.”

“Hmm?”

“You have plenty of secrets from me. So I should have at least one too.”

“Are you getting revenge?”

“Yes.”

After answering firmly, she habitually looked out the window. Belita’s eyes, watching the raindrops that had grown slightly larger than before, showed no emotion, unlike before. Partly because she was drunk, but also because the man who used to bring terror whenever it rained was now smiling tenderly beside her.

Rian’s hand, which had been stroking her thigh, became a bit more daring. Unable to wait any longer, Rian fondled her body. It wasn’t uncomfortable since it happened all the time, but the problem was that, perhaps because she was drunk, the sensations felt more intense than usual. Just as she was becoming increasingly intoxicated by his touch, the man suddenly stopped moving and growled fiercely.

“Damn it! He’s never any help.”

“What is it…?”

“Belita. Quickly, to your room!”

The man’s head, which had been trying to say something urgently, dropped down.

Thud!

“……Huh? What, are you drunk already?”

Belita frowned as Rian suddenly banged his head on the table. She was just starting to feel good, but her mood was dampened by her partner falling asleep. But soon, Rian raised his head again. Then he stared at her.

“What is it? I thought you were asleep.”

“……”

Rian’s eyes trembled slightly. He looked somewhat bewildered and confused. Unfortunately, the intoxicated Belita failed to notice the change in his eyes. To make matters worse, Belita’s body was now heated from his sticky touches. Misinterpreting Rian’s gaze, Belita seductively caressed his lips and whispered.

“You can’t pounce on me here again. Instead, just hold back like this until we finish drinking.”

“!”

Belita’s lips devoured Rian’s lips.

‘What on earth is happening!?’

Grand Duke Rian froze in shock at Belita’s outrageous action of suddenly biting and sucking on his lips. Her small tongue swirled chaotically inside his mouth, which had opened in surprise. At their first kiss, Rian froze, neither pulling Belita closer nor pushing her away.

However, he felt his mind growing distant as the kiss deepened. His lower body stiffened, and the s*xual desire he had been suppressing with self-discipline throbbed. But something was strange. He couldn’t remember at all why he was here with her like this now.

Did I drink too much…?

Rian drank alone every night. It had become a habit to drown his frustrations in alcohol. Perhaps because he had been drinking strong liquor for quite some time, there were occasions when he couldn’t remember the previous night. So he had thought these occasional memory lapses were just side effects of strong alcohol, never considering that his illness might have relapsed.

Even so, he had never forgotten this much. Why did it happen again?

“Hmm, Rian……”

“!”

Rian’s heart sank as Belita not only called his name with a yearning voice, but also looked at him with eyes desperately craving something. He had never seen this look in Belita’s eyes before. As she kissed him again and gradually rubbed her body against his, Rian frowned, not knowing what to do.

He never dreamed he would do what he hated most with Belita. Yet he could neither accept nor push her away. He found even the slightest touch of a woman’s skin repulsive, let alone kissing. At that moment, Rian came to his senses and raised his hand to push her away, but stopped.

‘Why don’t I hate this? Why isn’t it repulsive?’

Far from repulsive, it felt strange. His lower body, which had begun to stiffen earlier, was now painfully er*ect, and he was consumed by the urge to devour those lips that were sucking on his tongue.

Rian’s gaze grew increasingly intense.

As if Grand Duke Rian had merged with Crazy Rian, he looked down at Belita with sinister eyes. Then he slowly moved his stiffened tongue. Despite his momentary hesitation, Rian completely devoured her lips. Once he let go of his restraint, he gripped the back of her head and strongly sucked on her tongue.

Belita squirmed as if she couldn’t breathe while he mindlessly explored her lips. Only then did he release the tension in his body, and her lips separated from his.

“Haa, Rian….”

His name flowing from between her reddened, swollen lips sounded incredibly sensual. Her drooping, languid eyes seemed to desperately crave something.

Rian fell into contemplation again. Was it acceptable to cross this line? Was it right for her and him to do this?

“Rian, I think I drank too much. I feel dizzy……”

‘Is she asking to go to bed? So you can be seductive too? You?’

Belita’s unexpected behavior was both surprising and made him feel strange. Not only did he not hate touching her, but he found himself laughing hollowly at his own desire to cross the line with her. Yet somewhere in his heart, anger was slowly boiling up.

Rian’s deliberation didn’t last long.

“If that’s what you want, I have no reason to refuse. We are husband and wife, after all.”