Alice slept deeply without dreaming. She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept so well. Was it because of the soft bed instead of her usual hard, old one?

“…Where am I?”

It was the villa in Bonagar Forest.

Alice sat up abruptly and looked around. She spotted Khalid with his long legs sticking out from the sofa. His eyes were closed.

“…You didn’t sleep on the bed.”

Even though she was merely a slave, Khalid always showed consideration for her. Alice appreciated his thoughtfulness. This despite the fact that she was disguised as a man and didn’t even appear female.

She slowly approached Khalid and admired his sleeping face. She didn’t know when he had awakened, but now he was looking at her with sleepy eyes.

“Noel…”

Khalid stroked her hair and kissed her. He firmly held the back of her head so she couldn’t escape as he pressed his lips against hers. The kiss began with an urgency like someone trying to quench a desperate thirst.

“Mmph. Hnn…”

Alice became dazed from just the kiss, wanting to allow Khalid anything. She wished he would touch her all over.

Khalid’s hand lingered on Alice’s chest. Alice suddenly came to her senses and slightly backed away from him.

“…Shouldn’t we return to the mansion now? Everyone will become suspicious if we’re gone too long…”

“…What suspicion? They’ll just think I’m enjoying hunting.”

When Khalid approached Alice, she stepped back again. Khalid slightly frowned in displeasure, but then he sighed.

“Fine. Let’s go back to the mansion.”

“…Yes, Lord Khalid.”

“We can come here often anyway.”

Khalid cupped Alice’s face with both hands and started kissing her again. Alice closed her eyes and accepted him.

After that, the two visited the villa many times and spent time together. Although there was no physical contact beyond kissing, both Alice and Khalid felt comfortable there. 

Their time together lengthened, swimming in the lake in the morning and eating meals together while breathing in the quiet forest air.

But eventually, trouble arose.

That day too, Alice slept on the bed while Khalid fell asleep on the sofa.

The door suddenly burst open. There stood an angry Countess Vanessa.

“Khalid!”

Vanessa strode forward and grabbed Khalid by the collar. Khalid rubbed his eyes and frowned.

“Mother…?”

“I heard you were doing something bizarre. Don’t tell me you’re sleeping with a male slave at the villa?”

“…Sleeping? I was on the sofa.”

When Vanessa glared at Alice, she knelt on the floor.

Vanessa released Khalid’s collar and sat across from him.

“You let a slave sleep on the bed? While you slept on the sofa?”

“…What does it matter? Noel is a servant I care about.”

Vanessa glanced at Alice, who was kneeling with her head bowed.

“Khalid. I need to sell Noel.”

“…What?”

While Alice had already anticipated this, Khalid apparently hadn’t expected it at all. He clenched his fists, and blue fire seemed to rise in his eyes.

“What are you…”

“I know what rumors have been circulating about you. I thought they were just baseless gossip, but… seeing you here at the villa with a slave, it seems they weren’t completely unfounded.”

“…Mother.”

“Why a man of all people? There are plenty of female slaves. Your father won’t like this either, you know? Let’s just sell Noel.”

“Nothing happened between Noel and me.”

“…A maid claimed she witnessed you two kissing.”

“It was just a friendly kiss.”

Vanessa’s eyes filled with anger as she glared at her son.

“Stop being stubborn. You could lose your position as heir! Your father is completely infatuated with a slave right now. He wants to have a child with her.”

“…I don’t care. She’s still just a slave.”

There was no reasoning with Khalid.

Vanessa’s attention turned to Alice, who was kneeling. With slender shoulders and a small frame, he looked almost like a woman when still.

“You, come with me.”

Alice felt anxious. A male slave wouldn’t be sold to a brothel, but if she went somewhere other than here, she would never be able to repay her debt.

Alice followed the Countess. After entering a room on the second floor, Vanessa closed the door and said:

“…Khalid is stubborn, so you’ll have to take action.”

“Pardon?”

“You want to pay off your debt and become free, don’t you?”

“…”

“Break things off with Khalid. I’ll give you as much money as you need.”

“My lady…”

“I want to sell you to a slave trader right now. But that would strain my relationship with Khalid, and he would only pine for you. So think of a way to make Khalid give up on you. I’ll give you one week. First the Count, now Khalid, both foolishly giving their hearts to slaves. And not even to a woman but a man! This could become a serious problem! He could lose his position as heir.”

Alice was trembling. She should never have allowed this, even when Khalid had asked.

“I’m sorry. I’ll do as you say, my lady.”

It had been a momentary dream. Alice bowed her head with her hands clasped respectfully.

Alice used her few silver coins to hire someone.

[Although I asked you on a date, I’ll back off immediately if you get a lover or get married. The same goes for me too.]

Recalling Khalid’s words, Alice held a fake wedding with the Countess’s help. Everything at the church was fake, but it was enough to deceive Khalid.

The Countess wanted Alice to leave for somewhere far away in exchange for granting her freedom.

Not only had the villa maid tattled, but other servants and maids had occasionally witnessed Khalid and Alice kissing. People in the mansion had already started gossiping about the two, so the Countess must have known.

After saying goodbye to the Countess, Alice packed her small belongings.

Tom and Mariam also believed Alice’s wedding was real. Tom asked sarcastically:

“So where will you live with your wife?”

“…It’s not decided yet.”

Mariam looked disappointed.

“I’m glad you’ve become a commoner, but… I’m sad you’re leaving. …Is it because of those strange rumors? Those people spreading unconfirmed gossip are the real problem.”

“…I’ll contact you when I settle down somewhere.”