Chapter 10.3

He gently kissed her trembling eyelashes and considered his next move. Should he tease her soft earlobe, lick her bruised nape, or swallow her lips and breath?

“Mm, how am I supposed to explain this to Delin…”

Looking closely, he saw a patch of white skin on her nape without his mark. He bit it, licked it, and sucked hard, repeating the process until a satisfying mark appeared.

“There’s no need to explain. They’ll just think we’ve become one.”

“But Delin… Delin is so clueless about things like this. She’ll be embarrassed, definitely.”

“Don’t worry about that. Focus on me, Liat.”

He puffed his cheeks and rubbed his forehead against her nape.

Then, with meaning not to look away, he dove for her again. As he thrust in, their joining grew wet, soaking the sheets.

Thud, thud, thud. The slow-moving shaft now persistently pressed into a heated spot on her inner walls. Whenever that happened, Liat forgot what she was thinking and called out to him. She clung to him like a wild creature, digging her nails into his back.

“Hah, ah, mm, hm.”

He moved his hips without rest. He placed a pillow under Liat’s head to prevent her from bumping it against the headboard.

Alvin sped up, wanting to reach the peak with her. With the repeated motion of filling up and pulling out, Liat and Alvin quickly reached the end.

“Ah, aaah…!”

“Huff!”

The contraceptive filled with hot s*men. The shaft inside was bathed in the warmth.

Alvin withdrew, longing for the day he could release inside her without worry.

‘If only I had the medicine, I could have left it inside.’

Her arms, which had been wrapped around his neck, fell away. Without time to wipe away sweat, Liat’s body went limp.

Perhaps the medicine was working, as her consciousness faded.

“You took your medicine, so sleep. When you wake up, you’ll feel better.”

“Mm… You have to stay with me.”

He gently bit her cheek so it wouldn’t hurt.

“How can you not have a single unlovable part?”

“Don’t say things like that outside…”

Liat soon surrendered to sleep. The remnants of the past were buried by drowsiness and mild fever, fading away.

“I shouldn’t sleep right now…”

“Your health comes first. Ruining your body because of that guy would be the stupidest thing.”

“Is that… so…”

Alvin took her to the bathroom and carefully washed her. Every time his hand brushed her soft skin, his body responded, but he kept his focus.

When he touched her wet lower parts, he had to clean himself again, but he was happy.

‘Next time, maybe doing it in front of the mirror wouldn’t be bad.’

He stroked her blushing cheek, imagining slightly naughty things.

He decided to wait for the day his imagination could become reality, finished bathing her, and laid her on the bed.

He hoped he could meet her even in dreams.

He lay beside her, pressing his body close, and wished.

* * *

“Mmm…”

The headache that had clouded her mind had faded. The heavy feeling on her eyelids, as if weighted with stones, lightened. Though sleep hadn’t fully left her, she forced her drowsy eyes open, knowing she had much to do.

“You’re awake?”

As the haze cleared and her vision sharpened, she saw Alvin, topless.

He brushed her bangs aside and placed his palm on her forehead. Realizing her fever had subsided, he smiled with relief.

“The fever’s gone. You’re still sleepy?”

Alvin smiled, finding her adorable as she rubbed her eyes, half in dreamland.

“Hey, you know…”

“Yeah, tell me.”

“If we get married, will I get to see this every morning?”

“Just hearing about marriage makes me happy. But can I ask what you mean?”

“Waking up and seeing you… Yeah, this scene right now.”

Her sleepy voice spoke of happiness, albeit clumsily.

“I’ll propose someday, so will you accept?”

Alvin’s eyes widened at the sudden proposal. Then, like a boy holding the world’s greatest treasure, he showed a rare sight—tears and laughter at the same time.

“You know, Liat. If we get through this, let’s go on a trip… mm.”

“Shh. In books, I’ve never seen a hero who says that and things turn out well.”

Liat quickly covered Alvin’s mouth and got up.

To live happily with him, she had to uproot the past. Even the time spent hesitating was passing by.

“It’s time to finish this.”

She wished for rainy days spent enjoying the atmosphere, for cheerful chats over tea with Alvin.

That’s how it would be, and that’s how she had to make it. There must be no masked boy in their future. The chain of ill fate had to be broken.

“Tell Delin to bring that girl.”

Alvin and Liat suspected the culprit who dragged them into the pit, but had no proof.

The maid who came from the Himbrid family. She’d come with a letter of recommendation and entered their mansion. He would leave evidence out in the open, enjoying their reactions. That man was capable of such things. He would dance on primal rage, treating resentment like a sweet melody.

“Miss, I’ve brought her.”

“Let her in.”

The maid looked anxious, surprised at being called so suddenly. She looked as disheveled as always, but the title of ‘former Himbrid servant’ made even her clumsiness seem like an act.

Liat steeled herself and spoke firmly.

“Do you know why I called you?”

“N-no… I’m not sure…”

The girl trembled in fear, even hiccuping, unable to see her mistress’s usual kindness. When Liat’s expression didn’t soften, tears welled up and she wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

How could one scold someone like that?

“…Are you feeling better?”

“Ah, um… If you mean my hand, yes, I’m okay.”

“That’s good. Will you swear to tell only the truth from now on?”

“Huh?”

“It’s really hard to suspect my own people. If you lie… I won’t be able to handle it myself.”

It was truly exhausting to suspect her own people. To think someone she held close might be aiming a knife at her was t*rture.

“Himbrid.”

The maid stiffened.

Alvin, not knowing about her, kept silent and watched, but recognized the name and quickly understood the situation. With his stern look, the air grew heavy and pressed down on the maid’s shoulders.

“S-so… It’s true I came here with a recommendation from Himbrid, but why are you asking…?”

She’d reacted the same way when Liat had touched her wrist before—breathing hard as if chased, eyes darting around looking for a place to hide, just like prey.

“Tell me what happened there. So I can trust you completely.”

“I-I don’t know what you mean, Miss. I just did my job as a maid, nothing special…”

The maid couldn’t even lift her head, staring only at her toes.

The master of Himbrid had ordered her to report on Liat’s daily life—what she did, who she spent time with. It was a simple command, but no noble would take lightly the idea of their private life being passed on to others.

Even if it was revealed she’d betrayed her mistress’s privacy, she’d die either way. If she kept quiet, she’d die too. If the end was the same, she’d choose the less painful route.

Only after joining the Marquisate did she experience a real human life—soft beds, warm meals, her own room, and everyone welcomed her without discrimination.

Though guilt rose to her chin, she couldn’t speak. The fear Himbrid instilled in her hadn’t disappeared.

The maid stroked her goosebump-covered wrist and pulled her sleeve down to hide it.

“…I’m sorry, Miss.”

“That’s not the answer I wanted.”

But from her reaction, Liat was sure the Himbrid they knew from the past was the same ‘boy’.

Drowning in the pit, unable to breathe, she looked just like they had in the past.

“Do you want to kill me?”

“No…! No, no! Not at all…”

She had survived by selling Liat’s privacy, but she had never hated or resented Liat. If anything, it was the opposite.

“Do you want me to go to him?”

“No, no! Never!”

The maid shook her head wildly, desperately denying it.

“Then that’s enough. You can go back to your room.”

“Liat!”

“You’ve already given me your answer. Having a guard around is unavoidable. Once it’s clear you’re safe, I’ll remove the guard. For now, take a break. Rest in your room. You may go.”

“…Huh?”

“Liat, I understand, but… I’ll handle it. Leave it to me.”

“No. Alvin, just in case, if you do anything behind my back, you won’t see me for a long time.”

“But Liat! You haven’t even heard a proper explanation…”

“No. She’s still my person, and she hasn’t lied.”

There were plenty of chances for her to kill Liat. Even with guards, inside the mansion, in her own space, it was easy to drop her guard.

She could have poisoned her food or aimed a weapon at her when no one was around. But in all that time, she never tried.

She simply followed Liat everywhere. That was all.