1. Intimate Secret (Part 5)

Eirin Hamilton was a hidden gem in the social circle. She had been fragile since she was young and hardly ever left the mansion until she became an adult, boasting translucent and fair skin. Her unique, fiery red hair, passed down through generations of the Hamilton family’s women, attracted attention with its undulating waves. But she was unusually shy and never spoke in public.

Her reserved nature made her seem stiff, and she was far from the most popular, being overshadowed by Sofia, the only daughter of Count Kent, a beautiful woman who had entered society at the same time. Still, with that defense down, she could marry anyone at any time. Of course, no one could easily succeed due to Stefan’s overprotectiveness of his sickly sister.

In any case, they did not know this side of Eirin. She was neither quiet nor docile.

When she was fourteen, she suffered from heart disease. Upon the doctor’s advice that she might die if she caught a cold wind, she couldn’t take a single step outside. But Eirin wanted to go out, so she jumped from the second-floor balcony without fear and ended up caught in the vines. Her thighs were caught in the vines and she was floating in the air when Alexander stumbled upon her and saved her.

And that was not all.

Inspired by a Nordic fairy tale book featuring a beautiful maiden with green hair, she appeared somewhere after applying a green liquid she had obtained, hoping to be as charming. Unfortunately, her strongly asserted red hair mixed with the green liquid turned into an unpleasant color for a while.

This quirky young lady was now writing a strange romance novel and thinking of seeking out a man to gain the necessary experience. If he had not known her well, Alexander would have found it highly amusing.

But someone had to intervene. Thinking about it and actually carrying it out were two different matters. If this were to be revealed, it would undoubtedly become a major scandal.

Since he had sworn not to tell her brother Stefan about this, he had no choice but to step in and talk her out of it.

“Anyway, it’s not right to seek out a man before marriage. If rumors start to spread, what will you do?”

“I know, I know. That’s why I wanted to hear stories from experienced people, but that’s also difficult.”

But she couldn’t say such things to her brother. Although Stefan was not lacking in experience, being renowned for his licentiousness, if he found out about this fact, Eirin would surely be stripped of all paper and pen and locked up.

At Eirin’s words that there was no one to ask, Alexander frowned. Deep wrinkles formed on his usually composed face.

“I’ll help you.”

The words naturally slipped from Alexander’s lips, without much thought.

“Huh?”

Eirin’s mouth, which had been half-open, spewing out words to save face, stopped. She wondered if she had heard correctly, considering the unexpected turn of events.

At this point, he would normally scold me and tell me to stop, but he’s offering to help?

“You said you needed a man’s help, right? You wanted to hear from someone with experience.”

He approached Eirin’s side. His sweet scent brushed against her nose. He swept away Eirin’s startled jawline with his touch. As his hand touched her, an indescribable sensation ran through her body.

“What is it that you want to know? Ask me.”

“Uh, no, you don’t have to tell me everything.”

“Or are you going to find another man?”

“No, um, I mean, not like that…”

“I have to step in to keep you from falling into the clutches of some scoundrel. You’re like a little sister I’ve known for a long time.”

Alexander’s words were firm. However, Eirin couldn’t agree with them.

Little sister?

Alexander and Stefan were very different. When talking to her brother Stefan, she felt nothing, but when talking to Alexander, it felt like standing on a shaky boat in rough waves, her heart pounding in her chest. Sometimes, Eirin felt overwhelmed by the surging emotions.

It was the same now.

“I have a duty to protect you.”

“But, Alexander, you’re…”

Eirin lowered her head, muttering the words.  Her flushed face struggled to find the right words to say to him. Alexander moved his finger to gently grip her earlobe. The soft earlobe crushed against his firm fingertips.

A subtle redness spread across her pale skin. At that moment, a sensation she’d never felt before flashed through her body.

How to describe it? It felt like burning? Like dipping her toes into molten lava. With trembling lips, Eirin spoke.

“What kind of conversation would we have? About the night? Would that be helpful?”

She had questions she wanted to ask the man, but she wanted to hear about sexual relationships in a more detached, academic manner. She disliked the idea of asking Alexander. Even with just her earlobe held, she couldn’t control herself. Her toes trembled at the unknown sensation.

It felt like her skin was burning.

“Why not?”

“Well…”

“Do I look inexperienced?”

At the playful lilt in his voice, her breathing quickened.

Alexander’s sharp gaze grazed her flushed skin, and Eirin shuddered involuntarily. It wasn’t his usual calm gaze. And in a low, deep voice she had never heard before, he murmured.

“Shall I tell you about my experiences? And leave it to your judgment whether it’s enough?”

Eirin swallowed hard at Alexander’s smiling but chilling words.

“Ah… Yes. Please, go ahead. I’ll judge.”

Her excited tone flowed out as she spoke. Startled by her own audacious words, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

To say I would judge it – how presumptuous.

Alexander’s eyes sparkled with interest at Eirin’s reaction, as if he had found an amusing toy. Eirin lowered her head.

“That’s not what I meant, Alexander.”

He grabbed Eirin’s delicate arm with his firm hand, hardened from activities in the field, contrasting starkly against her fair skin.

“Alright. Tonight, at midnight, meet me here.”

“Huh?”

He whispered into Eirin’s ear, his warm breath trailing down her earlobe.

“I’ll tell you everything you’re curious about.”

“But, Your Grace…”

“Drop the ‘Your Grace’ nonsense.”

His lips, usually curved in a smile, uttered the firm words. Rather than disliking his unusual demeanor, it strangely made her insides twist and tingle.

What does he want to tell me? What kind of intimacies will flow from Alexander’s firm lips tonight?

She wanted to know. She wanted to hear it.

But he was…

A duke, a gentleman. Wouldn’t it be improper?

“But Alexander, wouldn’t your reputation suffer if it became known that we met in the middle of the night?”

“No one has to know that we met. And…”

He trailed off, a slow smile forming on his face.

“I don’t care about reputations. What people who don’t know us think about me, about us, is their problem.”

Alexander’s gaze shifted to the note in Eirin’s hand.

“Since you don’t seem to care about reputation either, meet me in the study at midnight.”