Throw her a few coins when she sniffles. Who cares if she gets hurt or resents it! Damn it!

Nigel turned Marienne’s shoulder, who was sleeping facing the wall, toward himself.

Exhausted from the carriage ride, she didn’t easily open her eyes.

Mysterious moonlight settled in the room without a single candle.

Her hair scattered on the pillow, downcast thick eyelashes, delicate features, and fair skin rising and falling with each breath bewitched his eyes.

Nigel leaned down, planting his arms on either side of her.

His eyebrows twitched involuntarily at her richly rising fragrance.

He slid his nose tip along her temple and cheek.

After hesitating over her plump lips, unsure if he could keep from waking her, he lowered his face to her ear.

He hoped she wouldn’t open her eyes. Yet he yearned for her to open them and look at him.

His breath, wavering from intoxication, seeped into her curling hair.

Capturing her in his hazy eyes, Nigel lowered his trousers.

He felt truly monstrous, being so hard it ached despite drinking so much.

His lust raged uncontrollably.

He felt crazy. Perhaps he already was.

Swallowing a groan that scraped his throat, he tightened his grip on himself.

Burying his face in her fragrant hair, he savagely released his desire.

His fingers gripped the sheets tightly, thick veins rising along his forearms.

He clenched his teeth, wanting to sink them into her skin, then bit his own lips hard as they nearly turned to suck her.

His head felt like it would explode.

He couldn’t hear anything, couldn’t think anything.

Only his desperate desire to possess this woman, his possessiveness not wanting to lose even a single strand of her hair, remained raw and vivid.

Nigel groaned while rubbing his face against her shoulder. It was a name that would become a curse as much as his damned fate.

Marienne. Marienne.

My Marienne.

“Hnngh! Ngh!”

He collapsed onto the bed as his tensed body relaxed. His rapid breathing settled emptily.

Nigel was confused about what name to give this act.

He was also at a loss about how to handle this unbridled impulse that acted separately from reason.

He had never experienced such uncontrollable, messy emotions.

A weary sense of helplessness spread languidly.

Nigel lifted his sticky hand. Though he wanted to shove it in her mouth, he laughed bitterly, thinking that would make him truly despicable.

After wiping his hand on the cloth thrown on the bedside table, he placed his arm on his forehead.

Tired of himself becoming increasingly muddled, Nigel simply closed his eyes.

* * *

The next morning, Marienne opened her eyes to the savory smell of baking bread.

Her body felt much lighter, perhaps because she had gone to bed early.

Stretching, Marienne looked out the window with her knees against the headboard.

In the yard where chickens played, the innkeeper was bustling about, excited by the wealthy guests who had filled the inn rooms for once.

Having eaten lightly yesterday due to a lack of appetite, she felt hungry as soon as she woke up.

Though reluctant to leave the warm bed, she needed to change clothes before the Duke woke up.

Marienne was about to leave the bed when she glanced sideways.

He was sleeping, breathing evenly. Between them was enough space for Luna to lie down.

It was contradictory.

Though she had slept clinging to the edge not wanting to show him her embarrassing clothes, she felt disappointed by the distance between them.

Though thinking she should get up now, Marienne couldn’t take her eyes off him.

She watched him with her cheek against her raised knee. Having always hungered for him, she feasted her eyes fully.

As the sunlight pouring in from the window grew stronger, his eyebrows twitched.

Nigel turned on his side facing her while shifting in his sleep.

Marienne made a small shadow with her hand. Though she wanted to kiss even his sleeping eyelids, she held back firmly.

But was he having an unpleasant dream?

Despite being in the inn’s best room with a soft bed, he furrowed his brow like an upset child.

Though there wouldn’t be such a large boy anywhere else.

Marienne gently rubbed her index finger against the wrinkle between his angry brows.

Sleep peacefully. I’ll take your worries onto my finger.

The creased wrinkle smoothed out as if by magic.

Marienne smiled at his now peaceful face. It felt like warm water was filling her chest.

Just as she was about to withdraw her finger, she gathered her courage and traced his eyebrows and prominent brow bone.

But then the eyelids she thought were sleeping began to lift.

Her hand that tried to escape was caught by him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Nigel, who had been gazing at her intently, pulled the hand he held.

“Ah!”

Marienne fell into his half-risen body. Their meeting gazes fell to each other’s lips as if by agreement.

Just as their breaths were about to meet, a knock sounded.

“Commander, please come down. We need to eat and leave quickly.”

Perhaps thinking their lord had passed out from last night’s drinking, they knocked harder this time.

“Commander!”

Marienne broke free from Nigel and ran behind the screen.

Nigel sighed at Marienne’s exposed back view.

Bang bang bang!

“Commander?”

“I heard you!”

“We’ll be waiting in the dining room.”

Behind the screen, Marienne removed her nightgown with trembling hands. Then she felt relieved that the knotted buttons of her outdoor dress were on the front of her chest, not the back.

The Baroness had been right about needing clothes that were easy to put on and take off alone while traveling.

She had almost had to turn her back to him and ask for help.

After dressing completely, Marienne took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the screen.

But there was the Duke, turned away and completely n*ked, apparently about to change clothes!

Marienne froze in place, clearly seeing his broad shoulders, smooth back with its groove, and b*ttocks that looked hard as stone.

And between them, something large and heavy……!

Marienne covered her mouth and went back behind the screen.

Her heart felt like it would jump out of her mouth. She held her breath until the rustling sounds of changing clothes disappeared.

“Not done yet?”

“I’m, I’m coming out.”

Nigel, who had meant to tell her about the schedule, furrowed his brow at Marienne’s bright red face as she emerged from behind the screen.

“Have you been crying?”

“What?”

“Your face is red.”

“Ah! This is……”

Covering her cheeks with both hands, Marienne quickly turned her back to him.

“It’s because I’m embarrassed. I haven’t washed my face yet.”

Nigel snorted and said dryly.

“Today will be harder. The road is rougher than yesterday. Tell me if it gets difficult. I’ll adjust and let you rest.”

Unable to look at him, Marienne spoke to the wall.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

He understood she was a woman with strange habits, but this went beyond bewildering to vexing.

Nigel pressed his forehead that throbbed with a hangover.

The woman with her back turned hesitantly opened her mouth.

“Duke, before we depart, would you allow me a moment of time?”

Nigel lowered his hand and raised the corner of his mouth arrogantly.

His eyes gleamed with expectation, seemingly forgetting his terrible hangover.

“Do it now.”

“……Do what?”

“Whatever it is.”

“Thank you. Then I’ll go see Sir Hector. I have something to ask him. You must be busier than me, so please wash up first.”

Nigel grabbed Marienne’s arm as she tried to leave with her flushed face.

“Duke?”

“What do you want to know? I’ll answer you.”

“It’s something trivial. Since you’re busy, I’ll ask Sir Hector……”

“Tell me.”

“But Duke, my arm hurts.”

Nigel immediately released his hand, as if he hadn’t realized himself.

“It’s nothing much, I just wanted to hear what Nucria flowers look like. Since Sir Hector said he knows, I was going to ask him to draw it for me.”

“What are you planning to do with that?”

Marienne closed her slightly opened lips.

“It’s a secret from you, Duke.”

“A secret?”

“There’s no reason I should tell you every little detail about my business. Well then, I’ll be going.”

Nigel grabbed Marienne’s hand. Making a great effort not to grip too tightly.

“That flower, I’ll show it to you myself before we reach Rockshield. So don’t bother Hector. He’s a knight without time to idle about chatting.”

“I don’t mind but……”

“Wash up.”

“You go first, Duke. I need to see Bell.”

“You’re fine showing your face to Hector or Bell, but not to me. And that secret of yours, Hector probably already knows it too, right? Why am I the only one……”

Nigel’s expression crumpled as he spoke without restraint.

He found himself not just disagreeable but detestable for acting like such a fool.

Overwhelmed by serious self-loathing, Nigel left without finishing his words.