Thanks to the ribbon shop owner who had tied up her previously braided hair, he seemed to think Florencia was a married woman. Even though she looked young, it wasn’t unreasonable to think so since many women married quite early.

Meanwhile, Ludwig calmly smiled and embraced her shoulders preciously as if she really were his wife.

“Perhaps because I’ve known her since she was very young, even though she’s grown into a lady, she still seems like a little girl, which makes me worry a lot.”

“You two look really good together. Haha.”

The male vendor laughed heartily with a pleased expression. Florencia felt a ticklish sensation somewhere in the corner of her heart and could only stand there, unable to say anything.

The two spent an enjoyable time touring the festival grounds until late at night when the fireworks were about to begin. Only when her legs started feeling tired from walking without rest did they sit on a bench on a deserted street. It was time to return now.

“Laura, did you enjoy today?”

“Everything was wonderful. I really had fun, Father.”

“……We’re back to ‘Father’ now.”

Ludwig, watching the fireworks bursting with scattered light in the distance, commented with a bitter tone.

“Ah……”

“I liked hearing you call me by my name.”

“……”

“Will you call me once more, for the last time? Ludwig.”

The moon hanging in the black night sky was unusually large and round. With that shining moon and the multicolored fireworks decorating the night sky behind him, his kind emerald eyes gazed at Florencia. Those gentle eyes she knew so well, so familiar yet today somehow like meeting a stranger for the first time…….

Florencia murmured his name as if in a dream.

“……Ludwig……”

His brightly smiling face was so dazzling that Florencia closed her eyes at the end of her words. A warm, large hand naturally gripped the back of her neck as soft sensations descended in turn on her closed eyelids, her round nose bridge, and her trembling lips.

In that moment, Florencia’s heart began to pound more wildly than ever before—even more than when he had kissed her for the first time or when he had touched her embarrassing place.

* * *

It was already quite late when they returned from the festival grounds.

Florencia’s eyes widened as the inn they were staying at turned out to be much more splendid than she had expected. She carefully touched and examined the luxurious furniture and decorations, all of which she had never seen before. The spacious bathroom attached to the room had warm bath water prepared to match their arrival time, allowing her to wash and soothe the fatigue of travel.

‘Today was such an incredibly joyful and happy day……’

As she put on a light, snow-white negligee over her pleasantly languid body warmed by the hot water, Florencia reflected on the dreamlike day.

‘I wonder if Father Ludwig…… has already gone to bed?’

Thinking of him in the adjacent room, her left chest began to beat rapidly. Placing her small hand firmly over it, Florencia wondered what this emotion could be.

Lately, she discovered herself becoming strange whenever she faced Ludwig. She would get excited over his trivial words or meaningless gestures, then at other times her mood would sink for no particular reason.

It was the same during her time alone. Especially when recalling the secret things that had taken place during her “education” with the priest. Sometimes fluttering with excitement, while at other times feeling painfully regretful and sorrowful…….

‘Could it be that I…… Father Ludwig……’

At an age when an ordinary noble lady would already know her first love and have experienced romance with young gentlemen of her age at social gatherings, Florencia, far removed from such things, was much more awkward with these kinds of emotions.

‘That’s impossible, it can’t be……’

The unfamiliar feeling that suddenly visited her one day confused the young girl and also frightened her. Normally, she would have confided all her worries to Ludwig, but she couldn’t consult with him about matters concerning himself, so this was something she had to resolve entirely on her own.

Kneeling on the bed for her bedtime prayer, Florencia realized she had been thinking about only one person all along and hurriedly clasped her hands again.

“Thank you for guiding my path today. Please be with me tomorrow as well and make it a peaceful day, and with Father Ludwig……”

Florencia, who had been praying aloud with her eyes closed, paused at one point.

“……with Father Ludwig……”

May Father and I…….

She suddenly stopped praying and opened her eyes.

What kind of prayer was I about to make?

Knock knock —

“Laura, are you asleep?”

“……!”

While sitting there confused, a familiar and pleasant voice came from outside the door.

“……J-just a moment!”

Florencia, who practically rolled off the bed, stood in front of the mirror and hurriedly arranged her still-damp hair.

Just as she was about to open the door, she took out a light robe from her luggage and put it on. The cute summer negligee with its round neckline, bell-shaped half sleeves, and small frills wasn’t revealing at all, but it was made of thin material, and she worried that her body’s silhouette might show through.

“Come in, Father.”

“I thought you might be sleeping already. But you’re still awake, Laura.”

Ludwig, who had also finished his preparations, entered wearing comfortable indoor shirt and pants. In his hands were two cups of tea with steam rising gently.

“I came to check if you might be uncomfortable sleeping in an unfamiliar place.”

“Thank you, Father. The bed is so soft, and the room is wonderful!”

“I’m glad. I brought you some tea that would help you sleep soundly. It will warm your body before you sleep, so try it.”

Ludwig, who had set the cups down on a low table, naturally sat on a long resting sofa nearby. Florencia hesitated briefly before taking a seat beside him. She became strangely conscious of his long legs next to her and his large hands lifting the teacup.

“Laura.”

“……Yes? Yes?!”

Florencia almost spilled her tea as his gaze suddenly turned toward her.

“Your hair still seems damp. If you sleep like this, you’ll catch a cold.”

Ludwig spoke gently as he brought a towel and dried her hair with skillful hands. The sensation of his fingertips brushing against her made her feel as if she could distinctly feel each strand of hair, making her extremely tense.

“……Your hair is always so pretty. The way it sparkles with a slight pink tint really suits you.”

“Th-thank you.”

She felt embarrassed receiving such praise from someone with much longer and more beautiful hair. A cool, refreshing scent came from him sitting right behind her. Each time he combed her hair, Florencia became increasingly tense and stiffened.

“But why are you so stiff? I had hot water prepared because I was worried you might be tired from the long carriage ride….. Are you in pain somewhere?”

“No, no! No…… I’m fine, really……”

Ludwig, having now made her hair fluffy and dry, pushed it to one side and began massaging her small shoulders. It would simply be an act of kindness to help her relax because he was worried about her fatigue, but Florencia felt upset with herself for trying to find other meanings in such kindness.

“Laura, have you said your bedtime prayers yet?”

“Yes…… I did earlier.”

“Oh dear, I was planning to pray together with you today. I was too late.”

I should have said I hadn’t done it yet!

Feeling regretful and disappointed, Florencia became a little downcast.

“What did you pray for today?”

“Well, that, that……”

“Yes?”

“……Fa-Father Ludwig!”

As he suddenly kissed below her nape while whispering softly, she squealed like a trapped rabbit and trembled violently.

“……A prayer about me?”

Ludwig leaned his face forward and stared at her intently. He raised his neat eyebrows as if wanting to ask Florencia something. As his sculptured face approached unexpectedly before her eyes, Florencia felt as if her heart momentarily stopped.

“Perhaps you were worried I might have nightmares in this changed sleeping place, so you prayed for me?”

Though he spoke somewhat teasingly, he looked very pleased.

“It’s the first time in my life I’ve met someone who prayed for a priest.”

How kind you are, Ludwig said as he gently stroked Florencia’s head and knelt on the floor. Watching him massage her tired legs after walking for so long with her skirt lifted, Florencia felt deep guilt.

I shouldn’t keep having these different feelings for Father…….

If you knew my true thoughts, you would be greatly disappointed in me…….

“Laura, are you feeling sleepy or very tired right now?”

“No……”

“Then shall we have some education before bed, Laura?”

As the robe she was wearing was gently removed by Ludwig, she momentarily forgot her earlier worries. An implicit expectation rose eagerly, bringing a slight heat to her cheeks.

Today it started with a rather intense kiss.

“……Haah, Father Ludwig……”

While Florencia caught her breath, dazed after the long kiss, he immediately found both peaks of her br*asts and took them into his mouth over her nightgown.

“Ah, hnngh……”

She felt the fabric, wet with his saliva, sticking to her small n*pples. As he wrapped his tongue around them, sucking and biting as if pulling, Florencia couldn’t help but let out strange, breathy sounds.