The carriage traveled only through deserted areas. Alice had to look at densely wooded areas through the carriage window. Having never left the mansion, she was curious about populated areas and the city center, but there wasn’t a single person visible where they were heading.

“Bonagar Forest is our family’s hunting ground.”

“…Oh.”

Her question was quickly resolved. It made sense that there were no people in a noble’s hunting ground. Being private property, no one could enter without permission.

Khalid’s hand never left Alice’s delicate neck. His fingers slipped slightly inside her top and then out again. Each time, Alice’s heart pounded heavily.

His long, white fingers played with Alice’s ear.

“There’s a villa and a small lake there too.”

His fingers probed inside Alice’s ear. Alice’s shoulders twitched. Somehow, the area between her thighs felt incredibly itchy, making her rub her legs together.

“Need to urinate? There’s a bathroom at the villa when we arrive.”

“…Ah, yes.”

It felt similar to needing to urinate, yet strangely different.

Alice looked outside again. Though she could only see trees, she desperately wanted to go outside. Being alone with Khalid in the carriage made the air feel peculiarly unbearable.

‘It wasn’t like this when I was with Tom….’

Khalid played with the silver necklace on Alice’s neck. His other hand persistently caressed her ear.

“You can’t sell this.”

“…Pardon?”

“It belongs to the family, so you’d be imprisoned if you sold it. Noel.”

“…”

“Not that you could leave the mansion anyway.”

Khalid said with a sweet smile.

Alice blinked. What kind of warning was he trying to give? Why was he telling her she couldn’t sell the necklace?

“…Are you worried I might sell the necklace and leave the mansion?”

Though she could have remained silent, Alice wanted to understand Khalid’s thoughts.

Khalid continued to smile kindly.

“Would you leave?”

Alice was struck at her core and momentarily lost for words.

She had planned to live properly as a woman after paying off her price. But was it safe to tell Khalid that? 

Though all slaves could gain freedom by paying their price, she’d heard some nobles opposed that law. They used various methods to keep slaves subordinate.

‘Yes. For example, by framing them.’

They would claim the money slaves had saved was actually the noble’s money and take it all. There were other methods too. If a slave had a child, that child also became the master’s property. To be freed, they had to pay the child’s price too.

“…Leave? If I become a commoner, I’d need to find a house in the territory to stay. If I become a servant, my salary would increase a bit, right?”

She didn’t know Khalid’s thoughts. So rather than talking about leaving, she emphasized that she would continue working there even if she became a commoner.

Khalid chuckled and lightly kissed Alice’s lips.

“Of course. If you become a proper servant, I’ll pay you a lot more. Yes, I’ll find you a house to live in too.”

“…What? Really…?”

Alice’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

Khalid pressed his lips to Alice’s neck. When he inhaled, Alice’s fresh scent filled his senses.

“Haah… Of course.”

Where the kiss mark was about to fade, Khalid pressed his lips firmly again, sucking with smacking sounds. His eyes momentarily took on a dangerous gleam. A deep, warning voice sounded.

“As long as you don’t leave.”

“…Master Khalid.”

“Stay by my side always. Noel.”

Khalid’s words sounded like a confession, confusing Alice. Her heart raced again because of Khalid biting and licking her neck.

“I have nowhere else to go anyway. Master Khalid.”

No, she did have a home. Her father, mother, and younger brother. She was terribly curious about how they were living. If she went back to her hometown, she could be a woman again. She wanted to wear normal clothes instead of servant clothes and live freely again.

The carriage stopped, and the coachman knocked on the door.

“Master Khalid. We’ve arrived.”

“…Understood.”

Khalid reluctantly removed his lips from Alice’s neck. Seeing the saliva stretching like a thread from Khalid’s mouth, Alice’s face burned. Khalid got out first and extended his hand toward Alice.

“Take my hand.”

Judging that it might be difficult for the small-framed Alice to get out of the carriage, Khalid extended his hand like he would to a noble lady. Alice took his hand and safely descended.

The scent of trees and grass penetrated deep into her lungs. The unfamiliar smell different from the well-maintained garden of the Count’s mansion, the randomly overgrown grass and trees. 

And the sounds of birds flying around and chirping, along with the sounds of insects in the grass.

“…Do you like it?”

“Yes. …I love it.”

Alice closed her eyes. Standing in the dense undergrowth felt like showering in the scent of trees.

Hearing the sound of water, she perked up her ears. Alice’s heart raced again just at the thought of seeing the lake.

“You mentioned a lake…”

“This way.”

“Yes.”

The coachman released the horses in the villa’s stable and fed them. Khalid and Alice walked not to the villa but toward the lake. Khalid carried a rifle on his shoulder in case wild animals appeared.

When Alice looked at the gun with anxious eyes, Khalid shrugged.

“Well, since it’s morning, animals probably won’t come out. They hunt at night. They’re probably sleeping or hiding somewhere now.”

“…”

“Noel. I know it’s awkward meeting me after six years.”

“What?”

Khalid gripped Alice’s wrist tightly. In the shade of a large tree where birds could be heard, Khalid’s lips consumed Alice’s. The urgent kiss lasted long. When he finally pulled away, Alice gasped for breath.

“Haa. Haa.”

“Don’t be uncomfortable with me. We were close six years ago. Like friends. I’m always curious about you. What you’re thinking… Whether your ideal type is still Daisy.”

“Master Khalid…”

Friends don’t kiss each other. Khalid must know that, so why insist on being friends?

Khalid’s hand interlocked with Alice’s. His knuckles caught between her fingers.

“Let’s go. To the lake.”

“…Yes.”

Khalid walked slowly, seemingly considerate of Alice. When they reached the lake, Khalid began to undress.

“…!”

Alice turned away with an astonished expression. Khalid laughed.

“Take off your clothes, Noel. Swimming here feels good.”

‘Swimming…?’

She had seen wells before, but never a lake with such a subtle color. She had dipped her feet in streams but never submerged her body. The lake looked enormous, seemingly ready to swallow people. Alice felt both curiosity and fear.

Splash. When Khalid entered the lake, water splashed onto Alice standing nearby.

Alice was amazed watching Khalid move skillfully in the water with his arms spread wide.

“Come in too!”

Alice couldn’t take off her clothes. The moment she undressed, her chest bound with bandages would be discovered. Eventually, she entered the lake with her clothes on.

Not knowing how to swim, she waded in the shallow water. The water was cool and clean. In the deeper part, Khalid swam back and forth skillfully.

“…”

‘…Master Khalid is truly impressive. …Which lucky lady will become his wife? Whoever she is, I envy her.’

Being a slave, Alice couldn’t even think of being jealous of that lady. That was how it should be.

Khalid came to the shallow water where Alice was and embraced her directly. Her flat chest bound with bandages collided with Khalid’s chest. Khalid’s leg pressed tightly between Alice’s thighs.

“Ah…!”

Khalid’s lips covered Alice’s. His firm thigh kept pressing down below. Alice wrapped her arms around Khalid’s neck and actively accepted the kiss. In this place where they were alone, she felt she could handle whatever happened.

‘This must be happiness, having such a moment given to me.’

No lady would be able to play with Khalid in the lake like this. With a slight sense of superiority, she thought that someday she would have to give up Khalid.

* * *

Evening had fallen before they knew it. Carrying Alice whose clothes were completely soaked, Khalid headed to the villa. Several servants and the coachman were waiting at the villa.

Khalid instructed the maid:

“Prepare for a bath.”

“Yes, young master.”

Khalid entered his room and gently put down Alice who was in his arms. Alice shivered. She sat in front of the warm fireplace to warm herself.

“…Why didn’t you take off your clothes? You might catch a cold.”

Khalid embraced Alice from behind and kissed her neck. He sucked and licked with smacking sounds.

The maid who saw this dropped the towel in shock. Alice was wearing servant clothes, and Khalid was also a man.

“Ah…! I’m… I’m sorry!”

The only heir of the Walsh Count family liked men? The maid hid her surprise and bowed her head.

“…The bath is ready.”

“I understand. …Noel, shall we go together?”

Come to think of it, Khalid had never seen Alice n*ked. Of course, being a noble, he wouldn’t bathe with a slave. However, Alice, despite being soaking wet and feverish, didn’t take off her clothes.

‘What does this mean? Does it mean he doesn’t want to show me his n*ked body? Is he wary that I might do something to him?’

Khalid had decided from the beginning to respect Noel’s wishes. He had no intention of taking her forcibly just because she was a slave. He had liked Noel since childhood. 

He was a gentleman and wanted to possess not only Noel’s body but also her heart.

“I’ll… bathe alone.”

Alice said in a small voice. Khalid’s mood sank as he watched Alice leave his embrace.

He thought he had treated her well for a slave. But Alice was wary of him.

Khalid wanted to correct Alice’s misunderstanding. That he was definitely not a man who pursued women like his father.

“Noel.”

“…Yes?”

“I… won’t treat you carelessly.”

Alice blinked and then smiled slightly.

“I know.”

“Even if you marry a woman, I’ll be satisfied as long as you stay by my side.”

“…”

A troubled expression appeared on Alice’s face. Khalid thought Alice was misunderstanding.

“Of course, if you get married, I won’t touch you. Marriage vows are very sacred, aren’t they? I want to respect you.”

“…Yes.”

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

Alice’s expression darkened further. However, Alice couldn’t tell Khalid the truth. She had no choice but to smile.

“Thank you. Master Khalid.”

“Yeah.”

Khalid sent Alice to the bath alone. While Alice was bathing, Khalid thought about their time at the lake. Alice’s sun-tanned skin wet from the water. When he pressed firmly between her thin legs, the front of Khalid’s pants also hardened, threatening to protrude.

‘Will I really be able to let you go?’

For now, he wanted to gain Alice’s trust with his words, but he wasn’t confident he could watch her get married or find a lover.

“Noel…”

Khalid took off his pants and grabbed the red, hideous pillar. Cooper’s fluid trickled from the gl*ns. Closing his eyes and imagining Alice bathing, he slowly stroked the pillar.

Khalid couldn’t originally imagine doing it with a man. When he was in school, his rumors spread strangely, and men who engaged in homosexuality approached him. After beating them just short of k*lling them, he developed a disgust for such things.

“Haah…”

Khalid had never had lewd thoughts about men except for Noel. However, perhaps because he was imagining Noel, white fluid soon spurted from the gl*ns, wetting the floor.

“Kugh…!”

Was there always an exception? Or would his fantasy be shattered and return to reality once he saw Noel’s n*ked body?