1. Intimate Secret (Part 3)

Alexander was leaning against the desk in the study. The setting sun outside cast a glimmering light on his bright hair.

“Alexander. You asked for me?”

Alexander’s gaze slid over to the maid who had entered with Eirin. He slightly twisted his lips before speaking.

“I think it would be best if the maid leaves.”

Then it would be just the two of us.

Eirin spoke up.

“Then let’s call Victoria.”

“No, I think it’s better if it’s just the two of us.”

His deep, rich voice suggested that this was no ordinary conversation for a third-person to hear.

It was improper for an unmarried man and woman to be alone in a confined space, without a chaperone.

Should a maid not be present? Why? What is he planning to say?

A sense of unease made her heart pound. 

“But it’s really not appropriate for us to be alone…”

Eirin’s words trailed off as her gaze landed on a piece of paper in Alexander’s hand. She caught a glimpse of the scrawled writing on the white sheet—writing that looked all too familiar.

No way.

She raised her hand to cover her mouth, eyes widening in shock. Seeing her reaction, Alexander furrowed his brow.

“I think you understand now. Close the study door.”

At Alexander’s command, Eirin hastily waved the maid away and then shut the study door.

Thud.

The thick wooden door closed, leaving just the two of them in the study. Alexander lifted the paper. As it fluttered, Eirin instantly recognized it as part of the novel she had been working on for weeks.

Did it tear out? Did I drop it? How did this happen?

She bit her lip as she stared at the paper he held. This particular notebook had poor binding, and pages often came loose. But the critical issue wasn’t how it happened—it was that he had it. He held a page from her novel.

“Is this yours?”

Eirin couldn’t answer. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. He asked again.

“Eirin, this looks like your handwriting, doesn’t it?”

Faced with a question to which the answer was obvious, she couldn’t deny it. She had often written letters on her brother Stefan’s behalf when he injured his hand, and Alexander knew her handwriting well. Any lie would be futile.

Did he read it? He must have.

I’m ruined.

In that brief moment, Eirin’s mind raced with visions of her secret being exposed, her scandalous writing bringing shame to her family.

There were some erotic scenes in the novel, but there were also scenes that simply whispered love or talked about politics. He held a single page in his hand. Eirin could only hope it was not one of the more scandalous love scenes.

“Give it back.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

“But…”

Eirin hurriedly approached him and reached out her hand. However, Alexander just smiled and lifted his hand. As he, who was at least a head taller, raised his hand, there was no way for Eirin to snatch it.

“Come on, give it to me.”

Alexander chuckled at Eirin’s words.

She’s such an incomprehensible woman. 

Alexander had known her well even when she was so small that her head barely reached his waist. Had known her since she was a sickly young girl, and he had always found her to be remarkably intelligent, despite her frail appearance. 

Fortunately, she had grown into a healthy young woman, with porcelain skin, fiery red hair, and amber eyes. She wasn’t a typical beauty, but wherever Alexander went, he thought she stood out.

As Eirin grew up, she seemed to dislike men though she had never outright said so, but whenever someone spoke to her, she always had an unpleasant expression. She kept men who approached her with an impudent expression at bay.

Does she really want to keep men away?

Fortunately, perhaps due to their long-standing relationship, she never made such an expression to him, but rumors of her fear and dislike of men were widespread in social circles.

And yet, here she is, writing a novel about the relationship of a man and a woman. And such an erotic novel at that.

Interesting.

“Give it to me! Alexander, this has nothing to do with you.”

Her voluptuous chest heaved as she grew more agitated, but Alexander’s gaze was drawn to her, not on her br*asts but rather on her flushed cheeks, which he found endearingly cute.

“Did you write this?”

Eirin didn’t reply. At her stubborn glare, Alexander held the paper up high and read the words.

“The Count’s hand roughly spread Daria’s legs. Inside, her drenched body awaited him. But…”

Of all the pages, it had to be this one. Unbelievable.

The page Alexander was reading was even more erotic and detailed than usual, as it was the first time the Count had ever ravished the body of his maid, Daria. Eirin’s mind grew hazy as she listened to Alexander’s composed voice reciting the scandalous words.

As he calmly read through the text, her vision darkened with despair.

“Alexander!”

As Eirin shouted loudly, Alexander’s lips, which were reading through the text on the paper, stopped. Anger seemed to flash across her flushed cheeks, and her lips trembled.

The rest of the passage was too explicit for even Alexander to continue reading aloud. The vivid and sensual descriptions went beyond what he had already recited, and it was unfathomable that the inexperienced Eirin could have written such detailed depictions of intimate relations.

Inexperienced? No, that may have been an assumption on my part.

Alexander frowned as he looked at her flushed face. He had thought that if she was capable of writing such scandalous content, it must mean she had some experience with the physical aspects of love, despite her reputation of disliking men. From what was written here, it was clear that some vile creature had touched her, despite her brother Stefan’s efforts to protect her.

Who could have touched her? 

He looked at her with a furrowed brow.

Was it someone I knew? Lord Hokinson? Or perhaps, Campbell Jr.?

Those who had shown special interest in her at the recent ball flashed through his mind. Eirin was not betrothed, as far as Stefan had mentioned, so if someone had touched her without any engagement or promise of marriage, it was sure to enrage the protective brother.

Stefan was Alexander’s friend who didn’t care about anything in the world but cherished his sister terribly.

“Give it to me. If you’re going to embarrass me, Your Lordship, you’ve succeeded.”

There was annoyance in her voice as she referred to him as ‘Your Lordship’. At Eirin’s words, Alexander’s hand naturally dropped down.

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Is that so?”

“I just wanted to ask you something.”

“Then…”

Eirin’s throat choked up.

“Ask the question, and give me back the paper.”

“Did you write this?”

Eirin shot him a look, her gaze already carrying a sense of affirmation.

“Why did you write something like this?”

“It’s just a short story, nothing for Your Lordship to concern yourself with.”

“No, it seems like something I should concern myself with.”

Eirin typically only addressed Alexander as ‘Your Lordship’ in formal settings, so the fact that she was using that more formal t*tle now indicated she was clearly very upset with him. However, Alexander remained resolute.

As Stefan’s closest friend, Alexander couldn’t overlook Eirin’s scandalous behavior. But there was another reason as well, beyond simply looking out for his friend’s sister…