6. Obsession (Part 4)

“What was that just now?”

Eirin looked up at Alexander with wide eyes.

She couldn’t believe what had happened. 

Stefan and Victoria, in such a relationship? 

Luckily, Alexander had shielded her gaze for part of it, but to witness such a thing…

I couldn’t believe it.

Her pale fingertips were trembling.

“I was so shocked. No, how could those two…”

She may have been too oblivious to notice.

How long had this been going on between them?

Muttering to herself, Eirin wondered aloud, 

“Do they intend to marry?”

“Who knows. With the disparity in their ranks, if they were truly a couple intending to marry, they wouldn’t be carrying on like that in secret.”

Alexander, standing over her, furrowed his brow slightly.

Victoria’s father was the third son of a fallen viscount, with little in the way of t*tle or wealth. She had no dowry, no social connections, and her father had passed away early, so Victoria came to work as a tutor in Eirin’s household as soon as she came of age, for the sake of her family’s livelihood.

Given this background, Victoria and the Duke of the Hamilton family, with his royal blood, were far too distant to even consider marriage.

“If they’re not even a couple, how could they do such a thing?”

“Well.”

“Do they not even have love between them?”

“…”

“To be intimate without love, I can’t even imagine it.”

As she muttered that, Eirin suddenly noticed Alexander’s eyes on her. He stared at her lips as she mumbled. 

I said something stupid.

Eirin raised her hand to cover the lips Alexander’s eyes were drawn to.

Even if they hadn’t fully consummated in their relationship, she and Alexander had engaged in many intimate acts in the study at night. The things they did were more intense and profound than what Stefan and Victoria had just done.

It was under the guise of him teaching her, but Eirin had undoubtedly been enjoying it. She had looked forward to the nights, waited for him.

Of course, she felt no guilt. It was because she had fallen in love with Alexander.

No, it was because she had realized she had loved him all along, and that was why being with him felt so good.

She knew Alexander disliked the idea of marriage. She wasn’t so foolish as to forget that. And whenever she did, her brother Stefan would remind her of it again and again.

Alexander’s probably just worried that I, like a sister to him, might fall down some dark path, and that’s why he continues this.

Eirin shook her head. 

No, it wasn’t just that.

The image of his hard, hot manhood wrapped in her hand flashed in her mind. It was clear that Alexander was ar*used as well. But she wasn’t so ignorant as to mistake that for love.

Men and women don’t necessarily have to be in love to be intimate.

And for me, who is already engaged in such a relationship, to speak as if marriage is necessary, is like pressuring him to marry. 

As Eirin was lost in these thoughts, she heard Alexander’s soft murmur.

“People have their reasons.”

His low voice reverberated in the room.

“If even I, as Stefan’s close friend, he hasn’t told, then perhaps he has some reason to keep it from you.” 

Probably. Just like us.

Eirin lowered her gaze. The body that had been filled with heat until just a moment ago had grown cold from standing on the terrace. Shivering, she gripped the edges of the robe draped over her.

“Shall I escort you to your room?”

Thinking Eirin was shaken by the sight of Stefan and Victoria, Alexander gently brushed her hair with his fingers. The disheveled strands neatly fell through his fingers.

Enough with the gloomy thoughts. This was a fact you already knew, why get gloomy about it now.

What’s important is that I can still be with him. 

Eirin shook her head firmly and spoke resolutely.

“No, let’s continue today’s lesson.”

Taken aback by her unexpected words, Alexander furrowed his brow.

“Can you continue?”

The heated mood from before had plummeted. Her body feels cold. She wanted to be close to him. Even if it’s just an illusion, being near him would make her feel better. She wanted to feel hot again.

Eirin nodded, but Alexander’s response was different.

“Eirin, you must be quite shaken as well. Let’s return to your room for today. No, actually…”

He sighed lightly before continuing.

“I think we should stop meeting like this. I was going to leave this mansion tomorrow anyway——.”

Before Alexander could finish, Eirin lifted her head.

“Stop?”

What on earth is he saying?

Eirin’s lips parted slightly. Alexander, his brow furrowed, brushed the stray hair that had fallen over his forehead.

“Aren’t you tired of these secret meetings?”

Suddenly, she didn’t know what to say.

It seemed unimaginable that she would ever grow tired of Alexander.

Wait, what did Alexander just say? Tired of it? Does that mean he’s grown tired of it?

Is he fed up? Or perhaps…

Suddenly, Eirin recalled the words she had spoken earlier.

‘If they’re not even a couple, how could they do such a thing?’

Could he have misunderstood that?

Eirin knew Alexander was averse to marriage. She had now realized, or rather, come to love him. But she had no intention of pressuring him into marriage. If he proposed, she would be overjoyed, but she had no desire to force an unwanted marriage.

She herself didn’t want to marry without love, so it would be absurd to ask him to do so.

She hadn’t meant to pressure him into marriage.

“It’s a misunderstanding, Alexander.”

Sitting on the bed, Eirin reached out and grabbed his wrist, pulling Alexander towards her.

But just as she was drawing him in, the firmly closed door suddenly burst open. Before she could even cry out in surprise, a man appeared. His eyes gleamed in the darkness.

“What the hell do you two think you’re doing?”

Stefan’s words thundered down.

*  *  *

It felt like she had been doused in ice-cold water. Of all people, to be caught late at night in the bedroom with Alexander.

Not only were they alone in the bedroom, but Eirin’s nightgown had slipped off one shoulder, exposing her pale skin.

It was unmistakably a scene of intimacy. Eirin was too stunned to even breathe. Seeing this, Stefan gritted his teeth.

“I asked what the hell you think you’re doing.”

Why had Stefan returned? There were no footsteps, so how did he suddenly appear here?

Seeing Eirin’s trembling lips, Stefan shouted. He seemed to have pieced together the entire situation.

“You bastard!”

Stefan clenched his fists and lunged at Alexander. He was standing in the doorway, so if Alexander had wanted to, he could have evaded. But he remained still, simply receiving Stefan’s punch. Stefan’s boxing-hardened fist struck Alexander’s cheek.

Bam!

“Alexander!”

The scream came from Eirin’s lips. From Stefan’s merciless punches, Alexander’s body was knocked back.

Stefan climbed on top of the fallen Alexander.

“How dare you touch Eirin?! My sister? I trusted you, Alexander!”

“No, stop it, brother!”

Eirin rushed at Stefan, but the frail girl’s strength was no match for the enraged adult man. Though she clung to his powerful arms, Stefan’s fists did not cease.

“How could you do this, Alexander? How could you, of all people!”

The booming voice echoed, and Stefan’s fist struck Alexander’s face again and again. From the intense blows, Alexander’s lip split open, blood spilling out. Despite the evident agony, Alexander did not try to evade.

Rather than avoiding it, he seemed to believe he deserved the punishment, simply enduring it. The red blood dripped down to the floor.

“Brother, stop, please.”

At this rate, it’ll end badly.

Clinging to Stefan’s arm, Eirin punched his shoulder. Seeing her face wet with tears, Stefan paused his movements with a grumble.

“Hah, haah…”

“Brother, stop. Please…”

Eirin’s anguished cries filled the silent room. Tears stre