Unable to make it to the bed, he laid Marienne on the sofa.

Thick history books, cushions, sewing basket, spools of thread, and fabric scraps fell noisily.

The dim dawn light sensuously seeped into every disheveled part of her.

Straddling her body, Nigel reached behind to remove his tunic. Then after caressing her lovely cheek, he pulled down the neckline of her nightgown and devoured her plump flesh.

He rolled his tongue around her n*pple before leaving bite marks with eager nips.

When Marienne shook her head and lifted it, Nigel pressed their lips together as if entranced.

His chest felt like it would burst from the moist friction and the electrifying sensation of wrapping around something slick trying to escape.

When he slipped his fingers between her legs under her skirt, Marienne dug in her nails with a sob.

Her opening was already wet as it ripened and spread. The deeper their kisses became, the more red marks appeared on her neck, the harder her luscious br*asts were sucked, the wetter she became.

He lowered his lips between her legs and sucked on the raised flesh of her mound, then unable to contain his excitement, gently bit it. A high-pitched cry burst forth.

While pressing and rubbing the inner walls that gripped his fingers, he licked her flowing fluids. It wasn’t enough. His thirst burned so much his vision was blurring.

He pulled out his fingers and thrust his tongue into her twitching hole. The fragrant, sweet taste made him dizzy. He couldn’t regain his senses.

She probably didn’t know.

How much her writhing hips’ curves drove him crazy, how extremely aroused he got from the sharpness of her nails scratching his skin.

Hah…… my pretty witch knows nothing.

This wasn’t the plan. He only meant to check if she was doing well.

If she was tossing and turning unable to sleep, if her cheeks had grown hollow from longing.

And though unlikely, whether some smooth bastard had caught her eye. Damn it.

Nigel raised his body and roughly thrust his massive c*ck into her. He savagely bucked his hips, forcing open the passage that had tightened in just that short moment.

“Ah! Heunh! Unh!”

The sofa began bouncing and shaking like a wild horse.

The slender leg on Nigel’s shoulder shook frantically.

Lewd sounds filled the room and Marienne’s moans mixed with her cries lewdly pierced Nigel’s ears.

The arch-shaped window frame pattern settled on the man’s sweat-glistening back.

The sounds of servants starting their early morning became busy. But the heat in the room didn’t diminish at all.

As Marienne slid up toward the creaking sofa corner, Nigel cupped the crown of her head with his palm.

Yet he drove into her even more roughly until finally Marienne drew red lines on his smooth back.

“Stop, stop, please, aah……! Unh!”

Marienne bit her lip hard as she threw back her bright red face, her toes curling.

But the man’s desire wouldn’t easily stop, and only when Marienne bit his shoulder did his long passion spill out.

“Haa, haa.”

They caught their rough breaths while holding each other.

Nigel pressed their lips together while moistly rubbing the residual heat of unsubsided excitement against her p*ssy.

He traced her pearl-like teeth with his tongue tip.

Then he pulled back his face and gazed down at her intently.

Marienne’s smile bloomed like a flower soaked full of water, flushed pink. Unlike his own heart that was being squeezed and crumpled.

“You’re beautiful.”

Marienne’s face reddened as she blinked, unable to believe what she heard.

Knock knock.

“Miss, are you awake? It’s Bell. May I come in?”

It was time to go, though regrettably.

Nigel kissed Marienne’s sweat-dampened forehead and raised his body.

As he picked up his fallen tunic to stand, Marienne rushed into his arms.

“Don’t go.”

Nigel held her tight.

He had to take a breath because of Marienne burrowing even harder against him. It felt like everything inside his chest would melt away.

“It’s almost over. I’ll return before the banquet.”

Nigel lowered his head to Marienne looking up at him and tenderly rubbed their noses together. Then he kissed her cheek.

“Be careful.”

As Marienne stepped back, Nigel pulled wildflowers from his crumpled pants pocket.

They were three small wilted flowers.

He gave an awkward smile and placed the flowers in Marienne’s palm.

“Can these flowers stand in for tonight?”

Marienne looked down at her palm and said nothing.

A moment later, the flowers fell to the floor one by one.

“I’m sorry but I cannot accept these. This violates our contract, Your Grace.”

Because of her cascading red hair, Nigel couldn’t see her expression.

But he didn’t bother lifting her chin to check.

Nigel’s stiffened mouth twisted at the abandoned flowers and Marienne’s lowered head.

Humiliation and crushed pride attacked his heart like a wolf, tearing it apart.

Unlike himself who was staggering, she was so consistent.

He should be grateful. For slapping sense into him.

For wisely withdrawing within proper bounds.

Even though his body still reeked of her scent, and his not-yet-dry lower parts were thoroughly soaked with her essence.

“Don’t think too deeply about it. It’s just practice as always. When I return, I’ll pay properly.”

He put his cracking face back together and pulled on his tunic.

The maid had been persistently knocking on the door for a while.

Nigel turned without hesitation.

When the door opened, Bell saw her master and backed away covering her mouth.

Nigel left like a fierce north wind.

The footsteps gradually faded away.

Only then did Marienne collapse with a tear-stained face.

Tears endlessly fell on each wilted flower.

* * *

“Miss, we’re almost there.”

Bell took Marienne, who had been shut in her room, to the hill lined with castle walls.

The wind was cool, so it wasn’t too hot despite it being midday.

“Bell, where are we going?”

“We’re nearly there.”

Bell climbed the sloped path first and waited for Marienne.

Since meeting the Duke at dawn yesterday, Marienne hadn’t left her bed, skipping meals saying she felt unwell.

Her pale, depressed face was completely different from her brave face when she went to the dining hall in her stained dress.

Bell held Marienne’s hand and climbed up to the steep cliff.

Thanks to the fortress built on the cliff, a natural defensive wall, the two could enjoy the open view.

The sprawling green grassland and grayish-white gorge refreshed their eyes.

“How is it, Miss? Perfect for lifting your spirits, right? I heard about this from Rockshield’s maids.”

“You’re right. Thank you, Bell.”

Bell held Marienne’s hand affectionately.

“The Duke likes you very much. I can tell just by his eyes. Though I don’t know everything between you two, don’t be upset. And please eat your meals properly.”

“Thank you for caring.”

Marienne and Bell sat on a gentle rock and chatted about various things.

“I heard from Lucy Manderf who works in the kitchen. About Miss Veronica Rampton who ruined your dress. Well, her mother……”

Bell lowered her voice while looking around though no one was there.

“She committed suicide by hanging after being caught having an affair with a servant. Poor Miss Rampton. Her father died of tuberculosis before she was born, and then her mother ended her life like that. The servant she had the affair with, well, he was an employee who had served Miss Rampton’s mother since she was young. He followed the married lady to the Marquis’s house. Society whispered that Veronica Rampton might not actually be the late Marquis’s daughter. The young lady couldn’t even have her debutante ball and became mute from shock. The Madam, who is a relative of the Marquis’s family, brought the young lady to Rockshield and she somewhat improved.”

“Oh my……”

“She seemed like such an immature young lady. I guess you can’t judge people by appearances.”

Marienne nodded with complicated feelings.

“Miss, why don’t we ask the Duchess about going into town tomorrow? The Nucria Flower Festival starts today. Let’s go together to lift your spirits!”

“But the Duke will be returning soon……”

“I didn’t think of that. Then I’ll look for another maid to go with.”

“No, Bell. Let’s go together.”

The two came down the hill as dusk fell.

Marienne held back her wind-blown hair and looked at the building in the distance.

The arcade with its lined statues caught her eye. As did the Nucria flowers growing thickly around the building.

“What’s that?”

“Beautiful, isn’t it? They say it’s a chapel. Though the family has a separate cemetery, the Madam created this place just for the children’s graves. I heard the Nucria flowers suddenly started blooming like that. After a few years, they even started the flower festival and Nucria banquet. Would you like to go?”

Marienne shook her head as she watched the Nucria flowers about to bloom, welcoming the setting sun.

“No. Let’s go back.”

“Miss, why are you going so fast? You’ll fall!”

Bell lifted her skirts and ran after Marienne, who was heading to the castle as if being chased.

* * *

After finishing dinner and leaving the dining hall, Marienne met the Duchess in the corridor.

“Madam, I have something to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I’d like your permission. May I go see the festival tomorrow with a maid? I’ll return before dinner.”

“The Duke will be coming soon. You’ve been waiting all this time, will that be alright?”

“I……”

As Marienne was about to answer, the Imperial Princess approached with her ladies-in-waiting.

As the Duchess showed proper courtesy, Marienne also stepped aside and bowed her head.

“Your Highness, did you enjoy your dinner?”

“It wasn’t bad.”

Following the Imperial Princess’s request to dine separately, a procession of luxurious plates had been going to her room each time.

The Imperial Princess raised her eyebrows as she looked down at Marienne.

“Duchess, do allow it. She seems to miss the commoners’ festivals.”

Though it would be better if she passed by, the Imperial Princess waiting for conversation made the Duchess uncomfortable.

The Duchess suggested to Marienne with what seemed like a sigh.

“Miss Rose, if you’re curious about the festival, why don’t you wait and go with the Duke?”

The Imperial Princess who had been listening interrupted.

“Duchess, should the Duke mingle with such lowly rabble? Noble guests will be arriving one by one, and as lord he should receive them.”

As the Duchess’s wrinkles deepened, Marienne spoke up.

“I’ll go with the maid. Madam, please don’t worry.”

“Duchess, the child says so.”

Though the Imperial Princess’s meddling was unpleasant, the Duchess tried not to show it.

“Then Miss Rose, I’ll assign you a guard knight to go with.”

Closing her fan, the Imperial Princess suddenly made an unexpected suggestion.

“No need for that, I’ll send an imperial knight. To also resolve any lingering feelings from last time. You’ll accept, won’t you, Miss Rose?”

Marienne couldn’t dare refuse and expressed her gratitude.

Looking pleased, the Imperial Princess casually took the Duchess’s arm.

“Duchess, I promised to help Veronica choose a dress for the banquet. You must help too. What will the Duke wear? I hope they’ll match well.”

The Imperial Princess left with her group, pulling along the bewildered Duchess.

The shrill laughter and voices faded away, leaving only Marienne behind.