After arriving at Bonagar Forest, Vanessa claimed she was tired and returned to the castle by carriage.

Alice was left alone and shown to her room by a familiar-faced maid. This was the same maid who occasionally spied on Alice and Khalid when they were kissing.

The maid guided Alice coldly.

“I heard from the Countess. You’ll be attending to Lord Khalid starting tomorrow.”

“…”

“If you ever engage in any unnatural acts with him, I’ll report it to the Countess immediately. So don’t seduce the young master. Understand?”

“…”

Seeing Alice’s silence, the maid looked her over and sneered.

“Well, what luxury could you possibly enjoy being a man anyway.”

Alice grabbed the maid’s sleeve. The maid shook off her hand with disgust.

“What are you doing!”

“…Do you have any bandages?”

“Bandages?”

“Yes… I need them. I got a little… injured on the way here.”

Alice lightly touched her thigh. The maid was horrified.

“Oh, fine! I’ll give you bandages. Ugh, how disgusting!”

The maid immediately took bandages from the storage cabinet and gave them to Alice. Only then did Alice enter the small room she had been shown.

The narrow, old bed in the private room resembled the place where Alice had stayed at the mansion.

‘Not bad. …Now I need to keep wearing bandages.’

After closing the door, Alice took off her top. Her full br*asts bounced below her shoulders.

“Phew…”

She had been anxious the entire journey, fearing the Countess might discover her secret. Compressing her chest with bandages made it difficult to breathe.

“Haah…”

‘Lord Khalid is sick… I wonder if he’s okay?’

The maid who found her repulsive would likely be watching her as well.

[“Hmm. Yes. …Your job is to take care of Khalid at the villa. Understand? Just do what you used to do. When Khalid recovers, I’ll send you back to your hometown.”]

Though Alice had thought the Countess was heartless, she seemed to be a woman of her word. Since the Countess had saved her from being sold back into slavery, Alice felt she should work hard at the task she’d been given.

‘…For now, I’ll follow the Countess’s instructions.’

Alice decided that when she returned to her hometown, she would consider accepting Connor’s offer.

Morning came, and the maid woke Alice.

“Get up! You need to take care of Lord Khalid.”

“…Yes.”

Alice stretched and got up. Sunlight streamed through the small window, illuminating the tiny room.

The maid kept her distance from Alice. She seemed to think of Alice like some disgusting insect. Alice ignored this and walked toward Khalid’s room.

When she opened the door, the window was open, and Khalid was sitting on the bed, staring blankly at her.

“…Noel?”

Khalid’s blue eyes were submerged like the deep sea. He walked over with difficulty and gripped Alice’s shoulders tightly. He lowered his head to meet Alice’s eyes. His gaze was persistent, determined never to lose her again.

“…Is it really you, Noel?”

“Yes, it’s me, Lord Khalid. The Countess sent me to attend to you!”

The maid chattered beside them. Khalid pointed to the door with his hand and spoke to the maid with sunken eyes.

“Close the door and leave.”

“…Ah. That’s not possible. The Countess told me to watch carefully…!”

Khalid pushed the maid’s body out the door. The door slammed shut, and the maid fidgeted anxiously outside the closed door.

Alice was a little surprised.

‘Wasn’t he supposed to be sick…?’

Khalid had been sick enough to worry the Countess, yet he seemed strong enough to push away the maid.

Khalid brought his nose close to Alice’s face and began sniffing her scent. Alice flinched when his breath brushed past her ears and neck.

His gaze lingered on the silver ring on Alice’s left ring finger.

“How did you come here without your wife?”

“She… she went to her parents’ home. I… came here at the Countess’s request. How are you feeling, Lord Khalid?”

“…You’re asking how I feel?”

Khalid wore a crooked expression and ran his hand through his bangs. He clenched his fist and extended it toward Alice. Startled, Alice instinctively closed her eyes.

Crack. The wall behind Alice crumbled under his fist.

“…I told you I would be satisfied just having you by my side, even if you married a woman, didn’t I?”

A chilling aura surrounded Khalid’s body. Murderous intent? Hatred? Or perhaps anguish.

Alice struggled to open her eyes and swallowed hard. Eyes deep and frightening like an abyss looked down at her.

“…You disappeared from my side. For a whole year!”

“I, I had no choice. Besides, Lord Khalid, you said you would let me go if I got married, didn’t you?”

Khalid grabbed Alice by the collar and slowly pulled her toward his face.

“…I said I would let you go, not that I wouldn’t keep you by my side. …I thought I had to do that because you were a man.”

“…”

“But… you broke your promise to me. And now you have the audacity to show up?”

“The Countess came looking for me…”

“You took money, didn’t you?”

“…”

Hearing his accusations, Alice felt miserable.

She wasn’t nobility, she had been a slave. She had no choices. If she had disobeyed the Countess’s orders then, she could have been sold anywhere.

Alice took Khalid’s large hand and rubbed it against her face. Khalid’s hand, warmer than Alice’s, always gave her a sense of security.

“…Lord Khalid. I didn’t come here for money.”

“Then why?”

At his slightly softened tone, Alice smiled weakly.

“I was worried when I heard you were sick…”

“Ah. …So you showed up after a year?”

“…!”

Khalid’s thigh pressed firmly between Alice’s legs. Khalid grabbed Alice’s armpits as she staggered.

“Don’t lie. You don’t care whether I live or die, do you?”

“Khal…id.”

Khalid’s face came close and his lips crashed down on Alice’s.

“Mmph…!”

“Haah…. Noel.”

Following the kiss, Khalid’s lips licked Alice’s ear. He nibbled on her earlobe, then bit it lightly and sucked it roughly. Her ear quickly became wet.

“Ha… uh. …Stop.”

‘This shouldn’t be happening….’

She pushed against Khalid’s chest lightly, but no strength went into it. Khalid’s leg persistently pressed against her private parts.

‘Like he wants to enter inside….’

This shouldn’t happen. The Countess had said such things must not occur. Alice was anxious about what would happen if she disobeyed. Soon, Khalid’s lips bit Alice’s chest.

“Ah…!”

Her n*pple was bitten fiercely along with the bandage. Khalid’s mouth took her br*ast fully inside and twisted it.

“Hngh…!”

Her n*pple hurt but the sensation was strange. Between her legs felt incredibly itchy and tight…!

This time, Alice pushed Khalid away with all her strength.

“Stop it…!”

Khalid hesitated and stepped back at her words.

“…Your chest is still flat, I see…”

“…!”

Alice’s chest was not flat. If the bandages were removed, her br*asts would be so full they would be difficult to hide.

‘Ugh.’

Perhaps because her n*pple had been bitten so hard earlier, it stung whenever the bandage brushed against it. Still, she was relieved that Khalid seemed to be fooled.

Khalid still glared at Alice with hungry eyes. His eyes, clouded with l*st, clearly showed what he wanted.

His eyes fixed on Alice’s silver ring again.

“…Noel.”

“Yes.”

“I’m different from who I was a year ago. …Look carefully. Back then, I cherished and considered you, but you abandoned me and lived happily with your wife, didn’t you?”

“…”

“Now it’s my turn to be happy. I won’t consider you anymore.”

Khalid, who had somehow come close again, grabbed Alice by the collar and pulled her toward him. Alice’s lips were about to collide with Khalid’s.

“I’ll do whatever I want. Understand…?”

“…No, Lord Khalid.”

“…Everything I want…”

Khalid’s eyes grew hazy, and he collapsed to the floor. Alice was shocked.

‘Khalid, who seemed healthy until just now, collapsed…!’