After a brief pause, Sezlin asked.

“Practice?”

Physical contact. It was important. If they were a newly dating couple, there would be a fresh innocence to it. If they were already accustomed to each other, their physical contact would appear natural. Sezlin intuitively understood his intention.

People’s instincts are the most frightening. Especially when it comes to whether a relationship is good or bad—third parties often know better than those involved.

‘It was a bit awkward even when I took his arm.’

When she held Ludwig’s arm at the banquet, it was because linking arms was easier than holding hands. Sezlin had never held hands with a man except during escorts. Though she possessed beautiful features, they were overshadowed by her notorious reputation.

As a result, courtship letters usually went to April. Sezlin was always excluded. It meant she never even dreamed of relationships with men.

Rather than doing it for the first time in public, it might be better to practice first.

After all, even actors rehearse beforehand.

‘This is just like that.’

Sezlin quickly accepted the reality.

She raised her gaze that had been slightly averted. Ludwig, who had been waiting for her answer, was leisurely sitting with his legs crossed.

“Alright. The more we practice, the more natural it will be.”

A momentary change flashed across Ludwig’s face. His sharp eyes gently folded.

“Thank you for agreeing.”

“No, well, let’s try it occasionally from now on.”

Sezlin gestured toward the newspaper at the corner of the table.

<First Prince & Brioden Lady to Attend First Official Event.>

“It seems like quite a few people will be watching us.”

“…Not bad.”

Thick knuckles tapped the table. Ludwig readily accepted her proposal. Certainly, with regular practice, they would be able to touch each other without hesitation. They could also avoid unnecessary scandals and misunderstandings.

“Just in case, if you dislike it, tell me immediately. It doesn’t matter.”

“The same goes for me.”

Ludwig nodded willingly.

But what surprised him came next.

“Should our physical contact include kissing?”

The hand tapping the table slowed unbelievably. Ludwig belatedly realized that he was surprised. He wasn’t sure why, but he couldn’t deny that he was shaken.

After blinking his eyes for a moment, Ludwig said:

“I think we can skip kissing. How often would we be mixing tongues in front of others?”

“There’s the wedding ceremony.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t suddenly suggest kissing. If we must progress, it would just be a light peck.”

Seeing his subtly stiffened lips, Sezlin reassured him. She too didn’t want to go as far as kissing. Lightly touching lips was a greeting custom in other countries, after all. As long as it wasn’t more intimate physical contact than that, Sezlin was fine with it.

‘We’ll have to do it anyway.’

Putting emotions into it would be foolish. Although she lacked experience with men, Sezlin wasn’t innocent enough for her heart to flutter at a single touch. And it didn’t seem like Ludwig would force her either. If he disliked it, Sezlin had no intention of doing it either.

“Since we’re on the topic, shall we try holding hands first?”

“…You.”

“Yes?”

“Nothing.”

Ludwig, who had missed the timing, moved his lips pointlessly. The question pooled in his mouth dissipated futilely. It was instantaneous how quickly he forgot what he was going to ask.

Sezlin, who had emptied half her glass, stood up. Ludwig looked up with slightly surprised eyes as she quickly approached. Sezlin tilted her head.

“It’s more comfortable if I come closer, right?”

“…That’s true.”

Was it because he had been drinking? He felt a slight illusion of warmth. Ludwig turned only his upper body diagonally while keeping his waist straight. Sezlin, wearing only a thin slip, was right beside him. Just as he thought the distance was closer than expected, Ludwig lowered his gaze to look at the hand below him.

Unlike his, he saw slender, long fingers. The back of her hand, revealed through the thin fabric, was white and transparent.

‘It’s quite small.’

Ludwig extended his hand somewhat slowly. At the Duke’s mansion, there hadn’t been enough opportunity to look this closely. Strangely, it even felt somewhat unfamiliar.

Seeing Ludwig’s hand, Sezlin moved her fingers. Their palms interlocked in an instant.

The perfectly fitted skin was unusually hot. Unlike Sezlin, whose body was generally cold, Ludwig had a hot-natured constitution. As this gap became so evident, Sezlin quietly blinked.

“Do you have a fever?”

“?”

“Because you’re so hot.”

Perhaps it was also because he had been drinking. The touching skin felt burning hot. Only after hearing Sezlin’s words did Ludwig realize that his body temperature was higher than usual.

“Well, I did drink alcohol.”

“I thought a sword master wouldn’t be affected by alcohol.”

“It’s true that I don’t get drunk easily, but other effects remain.”

“That’s interesting.”

Perhaps it was because her body was cold. The contrasting temperatures were somewhat fascinating.

Sezlin unconsciously stroked the back of his hand. In response, she saw the large body twitch ever so slightly.

‘Is he flustered?’

Sezlin deliberately applied pressure with her thumb. Soft skin brushed over the rough back of his hand. Ludwig’s face stiffened terribly. The sudden sensation had bewildered him. Being close, Sezlin could see that change better than anyone.

‘Hmm.’

An inexplicable mischievousness arose.

“How is it?”

“…What do you mean?”

“I’m holding your hand like this.”

Sezlin deliberately applied pressure to the hand she was holding. The distance between his eyebrows narrowed sharply. But judging by the fact that he didn’t immediately push away or refuse, it seemed he wasn’t displeased.

‘That’s unexpected.’

It was somewhat amusing that he would react like this after suggesting it himself. Perhaps he wasn’t very immune to physical contact. Having spent his entire life on battlefields, she understood roughly. But seeing such a large figure respond to a single touch, she felt an uncharacteristic playfulness rising.

Sezlin, glancing at Ludwig, moved her fingers carefully. Soft skin brushed between the rigid joints. At some point, Ludwig, who had been staring at that action, inhaled sharply. Beyond the abruptly halted breath flowed tension.

“Sezlin.”

Finally, unable to endure, Ludwig called her. But it was a rather empty call.

“Yes?”

Long eyelashes fluttered with feigned innocence. The expression revealed on her clear skin was quite serious. Too serious to answer her question.

“…Haa.”

Ludwig exhaled a troubled breath. While she was so calm, he felt foolish for overreacting. What was the need to be so sensitive in the first place?

‘It’s just ticklish at most.’

Skin contact through physical touch was natural. It might be ticklish in the process. These were facts everyone understood.

But somehow.

A sensation that was difficult to express out loud was quite disturbing. It was questionable how to define it.

Ludwig considered these to be products of his inexperience.

‘Because I’m not used to it.’

No matter how he thought about it, there was no other answer. Everything is difficult and hard at the beginning. Moreover, he had hardly experienced contact with anyone throughout his life.

As they touched more and became accustomed to each other, even the ticklishness would subside. Sezlin was being so serious about it. This was something he needed to work on, even for her sake.

Ludwig scolded himself thus.

“We’ll need a lot of practice in the future.”

Ahem, clearing his throat, Ludwig gripped Sezlin’s hand more firmly.

Indeed.

“Alright, let’s do it. Practice.”

They needed a lot of practice.

* * *

The next day. Sezlin, who woke up early, headed to the window.

‘Practice, huh.’

A clear breeze blew through the wide-open door. Sezlin, brushing back her long platinum hair, stared at her own hand.

‘Really now.’

The warmth she had felt last night had long since disappeared. But Ludwig’s words and actions still remained in her afterimage.

‘Just from holding hands once.’

Was it fine the previous time because it was an urgent situation?

Or was the back of his hand particularly sensitive? At some point, while feeling the cool breeze, Sezlin smiled.

The more she thought about it, the more peculiar a person he was.

Roughly combing her disheveled hair with her hand, Sezlin turned around. Just then, Violet was pulling a trolley.

Stopping beside the bed, Violet smiled brightly.

“I’ve brought washing water, my lady.”

Sezlin glanced at the washing water that had arrived before her.

The dust-free water rippled gently.

‘Well.’

She should deal with this first.

“Thank you for your effort.”

Sezlin slowly approached the trolley and extended her hand. The cold water moistened her fingertips. Her elegantly raised lip corners gradually distorted awkwardly.

“But what should I do?”

Sezlin picked up the towel next to it.

She withdrew her wet hand and wiped off the moisture.

“It’s too cold.”

The towel, having served its purpose, was roughly thrown onto the trolley. Violet’s eyes shook violently. Sezlin tapped the water bowl.

“Bring it again.”

“Until it pleases me.”