“A woman who ultimately won’t give herself completely?”

Clara blinked in bewilderment.

“I didn’t mean to pressure you.”

Dylan added. Clara realized he had noticed her deliberate avoidance of answering about engagement.

“You can take your time with the results of the engagement interview.”

He gently stroked her nape as he met her gaze.

“Just as long as there are no new competitors besides Nyx.”

Clara smiled along with him.

“There’s only one interview candidate, since I agreed to interview someone who asked.”

She rested her cheek on his chest and relaxed her body. The friction of their skin, slick with sweat and bodily fluids, felt good. She liked the way he stroked her back and embraced her, and she liked his scent.

“It’s hot now, but when it gets cooler, would you like to go horseback riding with me sometime?”

Clara asked, keeping her body pressed against Dylan’s, only turning her head.

“I have a farm I own, and it’s quite charming……”

She trailed off as she noticed Dylan’s face had stiffened.

Ah, right. This man…… doesn’t give the most important thing. It felt like waking from a pleasant dream.

“You don’t want to go?”

“……No, that’s not it.”

Dylan loosened his tight lips and showed a faint smile. The shadow that had momentarily fallen over his face disappeared.

“Of course I want to go.”

Dylan rolled to the side while still embracing Clara. Their perspectives reversed.

“There’s just something else I want to do right now.”

Clara accepted Dylan’s approaching lips but felt uneasy. She had invited him to go horseback riding together several times, but strangely, he always postponed with various excuses. Or he would trail off like this……

At the riding grounds, time flew by as they secretly kissed or joined bodies. Even learning fencing was partly in hopes that sharing his hobby might make him willing to share horseback riding with her. She wanted to enjoy her hobbies together with him.

Yet despite fencing together three times, he never initiated by saying, “Next time, let’s go horseback riding together.” That made her feel somewhat hurt. And Dylan’s anxious expression earlier had seemed like he was hiding something.

Why, what exactly? When our bodies join, his face looks like he has the whole world, so why won’t he do what I want? Does he just want physical intimacy with me?

His lukewarm attitude created a wall of indescribable emotions. If anyone wasn’t giving themselves completely, it was Dylan.

The s*x was good, and horseback riding together would be fun—perfect conditions for giving approval, but somehow she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something.

That was why she couldn’t give a definitive answer whenever he subtly pressed about engagement.

“Ah, Clara……”

Dylan’s face as he moaned softly was excessively sensual and er*tic. s*x with him was so ecstatic that it kept pushing these concerns aside.

Clara wrapped her arms around Dylan’s neck and wrapped her legs around his waist.

“Hah, ah, hnn……”

Clara bit her lower lip at Dylan’s slow thrusting inside her body.

Can I trust you? What exactly are you hiding?

“It feels so good I really might die.”

Lingering kisses fell on her eyelids, cheeks, and lips. Clara parted her lips to receive his tongue.

In truth, I don’t want to know.

I just want to press our bodies together and talk without any thoughts or worries……

Clara continued to accept the pleasure Dylan gave her for some time afterward. It was an anxious yet fulfilling sensation, like something that might collapse at the slightest stimulus.

Yet what kept her from abandoning this relationship—knowing it was shallow and wouldn’t provide solid support—was surprisingly trivial.

“Ah, Clara……”

The face of the man moaning as he delved into her body, the slight smile he gave while making eye contact. Because she liked that shy smile, she kept getting swept away by him even though she couldn’t fully trust him.

⁕⁕⁕

Several days passed.

Clara went to the riding grounds and joined bodies with Dylan. It had become routine now. Of course, this time too, they only engaged in their animalistic relationship without actually riding horses.

“Miss, a visitor has arrived for you.”

Clara jerked her head up at the butler’s words. The visitor was obvious. It must be Dylan.

She had been selecting a dress to wear to the riding grounds tomorrow. Since it had been quite a while since she’d purchased dresses, she didn’t have many suitable options. She had already worn each of her dresses once when meeting Dylan, so it might be good to ask which one suited her best.

“Just a moment! Tell them I’ll be down shortly.”

Clara hurriedly checked her hair and clothes in the mirror. The dress she wore at home was baggy and not very flattering.

‘This won’t do. I need to change quickly and go down.’

Clara pulled out a green dress that appeared casually thrown on but subtly revealed her figure.

“Emily, could you brush my hair for me?”

With the maid’s help, Clara made herself presentable and practically ran across the hallway and down the stairs. She slowed her pace as she approached the reception room.

However, upon arriving, Clara was disappointed.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

Waiting there was not Dylan but George.

“Ah…… it has been a while.”

Clara quickly hid her disappointment, but there was no way to soothe the emptiness in her heart.

When did meeting Dylan become so natural to me? His unexpected visits should be surprising, but why do they feel so normal?

Had she given not just her body but her heart as well? Could she fall in love this quickly? She still didn’t know much about him…… Clara was confused by these unfamiliar feelings she was experiencing for the first time.

“Since you haven’t been attending gatherings lately, I took the liberty of visiting personally. Have you been well?”

George removed his black hat and greeted her respectfully.

“Yes, as you can see, I’ve been well. Have you been well too, Sir?”

Clara forced a bright voice and greeted him cheerfully. George’s gaze quickly scanned her curvaceous figure.

While Clara was considered older in the marriage market, considering her family background and appearance, she was still a good marriage prospect. Among the men in social gatherings, lewd comments about her figure sometimes circulated.

George, recalling the men in the gatherings who claimed she was difficult to approach, straightened his posture with satisfaction as he watched Clara pouring tea. As she leaned slightly forward, her deep cleavage was revealed.

“I’ve come to keep my promise about showing you that tea house.”

George finally tore his gaze from her cleavage and swallowed dryly as he continued.

“Ah, that promise.”

She had completely forgotten. It was just a polite remark she’d made, quite unlike her usual self. Clara glanced away as she brought the teacup to her lips.

“You forgot? I’m rather hurt.”

“No, no. I didn’t forget exactly……”

Clara carefully set down her teacup.

“I think I should tell you now to avoid any misunderstandings later.”

“What kind of misunderstanding?”

“Actually, I’ve been discussing engagement with someone recently. So…… I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep the promise I made at that gathering.”

In this situation, considering other prospects would be disrespectful to her current suitor. Clara bowed her head politely. It was better to avoid complications later.

“I should have sent word earlier…… I apologize for not contacting you in advance.”

George was speechless at Clara’s straightforward apology.

⁕⁕⁕

Was it right to reject him so bluntly while being ambiguous with Dylan, telling him they weren’t engaged yet? Clara wasn’t sure if she’d made the right choice. She felt confused.

She thought of someone she could discuss this with, but her friend Olivia was away on an anniversary trip with her husband.

Lost in thought, Clara decided to visit a dress shop for some fresh air while shopping for new dresses.

“……This isn’t helping my mood.”

Outside, heavy dewdrops filled the air. Now whenever it rained, she thought of Dylan.

Sharing suggestive kisses with him in the garden, running hand in hand, joining bodies with him in the greenhouse, his bright smile when she first called him by name.

Eventually, the carriage came to a stop. Clara looked outside. Through the pouring rain, she could see the brightly lit dress shop.

Clara took the umbrella from the coachman and entered the shop. She shook off the raindrops and arranged her wet dress hem and hair while looking around.

There were no customers, but the shop was extremely busy. Staff members were rushing around frantically. It seemed a big-spending customer had arrived.

“Oh, how may I help you?”

An employee who spotted Clara standing at the entrance gave her an apologetic look.

“I’m here to purchase a dress.”

“May I ask what occasion you’ll be wearing it for?”

Well, for a date……

Clara started to answer but hesitated. It felt too embarrassing to answer honestly.

“Just looking for some outerwear.”

“Would you like me to recommend some dresses?”

“No, thank you. I’ll just look around first.”

“Very well. Let me show you this way.”

Clara followed the employee while observing the interior. She’d thought there were no customers, but two noblewomen were in the back.

“Please call me if you need anything.”

The employee provided a towel and a simple drink before withdrawing. Clara dried her wet dress hem with the towel while unconsciously listening to the noblewomen’s whispers.

“Where have all the staff gone?”

“They’re from the Berkshire family. Since they’re wealthy, the staff are focusing on them.”

Berkshire? Clara’s ears perked up.