Chapter 4.1- The Road to Hometown

They set off on their journey in an awkward atmosphere, with no conversation exchanged. Julian rode his horse a couple of paces behind Vanessa. The horse carrying Vanessa seemed delighted by the rare outing, swaying its hips cheerfully as it walked. This caused Vanessa’s body to bounce up and down in the saddle, a provocative motion that made one imagine the sensual body hidden beneath the robe draped over her shoulders.

His life of abstinence had been far too long. While wandering aimlessly around the Earl’s domain after leaving the castle, there were a few women who recognized Julian first and tried to seduce him. However, Julian felt no interest in any woman. One woman, whose pride was hurt after being rejected, even spread the false rumor that Julian was impotent.

This body, impotent? Ridiculous.

He exerted all his willpower to not drag Vanessa into the bushes right then and there.

Vanessa turned around, sensing his intense gaze. Fortunately, no displeasure was apparent on her face.

“Do you have something to say, Sir Julian Plavant?”

The voice that flowed from her full lips sent shivers down his thighs. He suppressed the urge to approach and kiss her, maintaining a calm facade.

“I was just looking because you were in front of me. And what’s with the formal address? Just call me Julian like you usually do.”

“Alright, Julian.”

Vanessa averted her gaze first. Julian kept his eyes on Vanessa’s back, repeating to himself the title she used to call him. 

Sir Julian Plavant—it didn’t sound bad. 

Perhaps he shouldn’t have told her not to be formaL. Julian scratched the tip of his nose for no reason.

The last time they rode together, he had only watched Vanessa’s back as she cried sorrowfully. Much time had passed since that day, yet nothing had changed. Unable to approach first, he could only watch from afar.

He was curious about how Vanessa had fared through the winter, whether her anger had subsided, and if she had thought of him even a little. He wanted to take this opportunity to mend their relationship, but he worried that approaching too hastily might lead to another fight like before.

Vanessa was equally cautious about their conversation. She had been contemplating taking Julian as her husband but had yet to reach a definitive answer. Discussing this matter seemed premature. For now, she hoped they could reconcile before the journey ended.

Since they left the Earl’s castle late, the sun was setting before they reached the next village. They decided to camp outdoors rather than push on.

Though the weather had warmed considerably, the evening air was still chilly. A brisk wind made Vanessa sneeze.

“Achoo!”

Vanessa sat closer to the campfire, warming her cold hands by the fire. Watching her, Julian nonchalantly draped a blanket over her shoulders. Startled by the sudden contact, Vanessa turned to look at him.

“Don’t be so jumpy. I won’t lay a finger on you.”

Julian’s expression was slightly annoyed. It wasn’t that Vanessa found his touch unpleasant; she was simply surprised. He seemed to have misunderstood.

“I was just startled. Thank you for taking care of me.”

To clear up the misunderstanding, she met his eyes and expressed her gratitude. Julian’s eyebrow twitched slightly at her words.

“…If you need anything, just let me know.”

Julian mumbled awkwardly as he added more wood to the fire.

Crackle, pop.

The flames leaped up, brightly illuminating the surroundings. The veins stood out prominently on his forearms as he brushed wood chips from his palms. Unconsciously, Vanessa’s gaze followed his long arms up to his torso.

Fully recovered, Julian boasted a robust physique as intimidating as when they first met. His broad shoulders and thick chest were outlined with masculine lines extending to his neck and jawline. His deep-set eyes beneath a prominent brow gave him a somewhat fierce look. The scar on his eyebrow didn’t detract but rather added to his rugged charm. With his mouth shut and not spouting annoying words, Julian looked quite handsome.

Suddenly, her heart raced. It felt like she had witnessed something she shouldn’t have, and she quickly averted her gaze.

“I’ll go to sleep first.”

Vanessa hurriedly wrapped herself in the blanket and lay down. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to sleep, but Julian’s face kept swirling in her mind.

Julian hadn’t changed, so why did he suddenly seem handsome? Was it because I hadn’t seen him in a while? 

She couldn’t understand it.

Not long after, Julian also lay down to sleep, but his presence was acutely felt. She couldn’t fall asleep, disturbed by the sound of him tossing and turning and occasionally sighing.

Vanessa lay still, stretched out straight, as if she were asleep. She thought she would eventually fall asleep if she continued to breathe regularly.

After quite some time, her once restless heart gradually calmed. As her breathing became shallower and she drifted in and out of sleep, Julian rustled and got up. He then stealthily crept toward her. Vanessa pretended to be asleep, not opening her eyes.

Julian’s breath sounded close, as if he were watching her sleeping face. He didn’t move. Even after a long while, Julian showed no sign of leaving, so Vanessa feigned restlessness and turned to the opposite side, away from him. In doing so, the blanket slipped, leaving her half-exposed.

Julian’s hand, which had reached out to pick up the blanket and cover her again, hesitated in mid-air. After a moment’s hesitation, he carefully lay behind Vanessa and pulled the blanket over them both, wrapping his arm around her waist.

It seemed he intended to hold her as they slept, just like before. With him behind her, she felt she could sleep peacefully.

As she relaxed and tried to sleep again, something heavy pressed against her hip. Vanessa could easily guess what it was.

He really was a beast of a man.

Vanessa pretended to sleep, breathing softly. She thought that since he wouldn’t do anything to a sleeping person, things would calm down soon. However, instead of subsiding, it grew larger. His hand, which had been resting quietly on her waist, slowly moved upward to gently cup one of her br*asts. Despite his earlier vow not to touch her, his actions contradicted his words.

Julian cautiously fondled the br*ast that fit snugly in his large hand, gauging Vanessa’s reaction. Finding none, he grew bolder, teasing her n*pple through her clothes.

As he pressed and rubbed her n*pple with his fingertip, her lower body twitched. Her heart began to pound so loudly she worried he might hear it.

Julian’s behavior of indulging his desires while she slept was utterly absurd. Even more absurd was how her body responded to such light stimulation. She was torn between embarrassment and a growing desire for his touch. Enveloped in a strange sensation, she didn’t know what to do, but she tried her best to feign calmness. She feared that if her breathing became ragged, he might stop.

With no sign of Vanessa waking, Julian’s shameless caresses grew bolder. His hand, which had been on her br*ast, slid down to lift her skirt. His fingers crept up her inner thigh, as if trying to burrow into her underwear, eventually touching her most intimate place. A peculiar warmth spread from the moist, warm spot.

She was truly at her limit. She didn’t think she could endure any longer.

She was torn between stopping him and letting him have her body. Honestly, she wanted to be ravished by him, to moan and cry out in his arms.

Awooooo—

A wolf’s howl shattered the night’s silence. Julian stopped what he was doing and quickly withdrew his hand. His dazed mind snapped back to reality in an instant.

‘Like a rutting beast!’

If Vanessa found out what he had done, she would likely exclaim this and look at him with disgust. Blinded by lust, he had done something she would surely hate. Initially, he had only intended to hold her as they slept. But intoxicated by her sweet scent, he had lost his mind. He had nearly disgraced a noblewoman outdoors.

He couldn’t cross the line. If he did, she would hate him again.

Resolving to abandon the idea, Julian returned to his spot before the wolf’s howl could wake Vanessa. Until Julian fell into a deep sleep, Vanessa silently cursed the wolves for interrupting.