The Duke of Hotel Trouville

“That piece holds a special meaning to me. It must succeed.”

Serafina grew up in an orphanage under the patronage of the Marchioness. At the Marchioness’s request, she is sent in her place to attend a painting auction held in Trouville.

A resort city and city of art where the kingdom’s nobility gathers every summer. A coastline spread like velvet beneath dazzling sunlight, the endless sound of waves crashing against the shore. At the heart of it all stands the pink Hotel Trouville.

But there is little time to enjoy the glamour of the seaside city she had always dreamed of.

“Good heavens, did you come from the past?”

She is looked down on for her unfashionable clothes.

“There is no such name on the list.”

She nearly fails to check into the hotel.

“Is this what you were looking for?”

“Pardon? The person I was looking for, no, the book. Yes! Thank you so much!”

Before her appears a man more perfect than any fairy tale prince.

[How would you like to join me for brunch at the tea house? I shall wait until you arrive. – Cadimum]

He even sends a bouquet and a date invitation every morning.

The more time she spends with the Duke, the larger the waves grow inside her heart. Yet Serafina only fears the moment she will wake from this sweet dream.

“If there is no one who was deceived, then there is no one who deceived.”

Will Serafina’s magic, like in any fairy tale, eventually reach the moment it breaks?

* * *

“Your Grace……”

She could not believe it. So she called out to him softly. She, the little orphan of Dulwich House, had come to Trouville, gone on dates with the Duke, sailed on a yacht, and now rested in his arms. Those eyes, like the sea they had swum in together today, held only her.

“Yes, Serafina.”

Cadimum parted his lips and bit gently at one side of Serafina’s nape, careful not to hurt her. With his lips full against her skin, his warm tongue curled slowly from within, drawing in the soft flesh.

“Earlier, hng, like earlier. I liked that.”

“What do you mean……?”

He asked without stopping the kiss. His low, unhurried voice drifted around her thrumming chest.

“When you called me…… Sera.”

His laughter scattered across her body like ripples on still water.