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chapter 17
A chill ran down Luviana’s spine.
Get a hold of yourself. I’m the heroine. Even if I have to rely on the villain’s help right now, there are still lines I must not cross.
After steadying her thoughts, Luviana slowly lifted the corners of her lips and spoke.
“Your Grace, I know I would die without your help… but kissing you every time is a little… embarrassing.”
“Holding hands for an hour is fine, then? Sorry to say, but I don’t have the luxury of time every day.”
“Ah…”
Luviana was at a loss for words.
A one-minute kiss versus holding hands for an hour.
Both were equally awkward, embarrassing, shameful, and mortifying.
Seeing her hesitation, Elion suggested lightly,
“Alright. Then let’s take turns deciding each day. That would be fair. What do you think?”
“…Yes, that sounds fine.”
As soon as Luviana nodded, Elion rose from his seat and sat beside her.
The sudden closeness made her gasp.
Nervous, she couldn’t even exhale as she looked up at him.
With one corner of his mouth raised in a relaxed smile, he asked,
“Shall I decide for today, then?”
Nod, nod.
Her lips, stiff with tension, refused to move, so she just gave a rough nod instead.
Not that she ever really had a choice.
Soon, Elion’s lips overlapped with hers.
Through the touching membranes, the parting lips, and the hand cupping her face, his mana began to flow into her.
She could vividly feel the immense energy wrapping around her entire body.
It was like quenching a thirst she hadn’t even realized was there.
Ah… so warm! It feels… so good!
If only time could stop.
If only this moment could last forever.
She was trembling as the mana seeped into her body when—
Something foreign pushed between her lips, snapping her back to her senses.
Mm… huh?
The intruding flesh swept across her neat teeth and soft mouth, exploring her breath.
It was a kiss on a completely different level from before, and Luviana grew even more tense.
She tried to pull her stiff body back, but Elion held her firmly by the waist, trapping her completely.
Overwhelmed again by the mana filling her mouth, she soon surrendered and accepted him.
From the beginning, her body had never been able to reject his mana.
From his lips, from the intertwining tongues, from the arms holding her tight—she drank and drank the mana pouring into her.
His lips giving her mana were impossibly smooth, his tongue gentle.
In the solid embrace that shared mana with her, she felt secure; against his broad frame, she felt at ease.
Who knew how much time had passed?
At last their lips parted, and Luviana opened her eyes, shuddering with regret that it had ended.
Elion’s face, flushed red, filled her vision.
His blue eyes, like the deep sea, were trembling uncontrollably.
He looked utterly flustered—
as if such a deep, intense kiss had never been his intention.
“F-forgive me, my lady. I didn’t mean… it just happened… unconsciously…”
The sight of the dark Grand Duke stammering with a crimson face was utterly unfamiliar.
Elion, who always maintained a chilling calmness, had completely broken down.
The business-like demeanor that had said kissing would be simpler than holding hands had vanished.
He looked like a man who had committed an unforgivable mistake.
Seeing his panic helped Luviana quickly regain her own composure.
Forcing a smile, she answered,
“…It’s alright. I felt… similar.”
“No. Even so, I shouldn’t have done that. It was my mistake. From now on, we’ll stick to holding hands.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Even with her reassurance, Elion couldn’t relax his expression.
Raking his jaw in agitation, he spoke heavily,
“I truly… am sorry.”
“…It’s fine.”
After straightening her clothes, Luviana bowed toward Elion, who was still sitting dazed.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Y-yes, go on.”
As soon as she left the reception room, Elion released the breath he’d been holding and buried his face in his hands.
A groan of anguish escaped.
“Damn it!”
He had been so consumed by transferring mana into her that he’d lost all reason.
The sensation of the boiling mana inside him subsiding at last was indescribably blissful.
And that made him greedy.
He wanted to release more mana, for longer.
He even wished time could stop forever in that moment.
“…Pathetic.”
He was appalled at his own weakness, unable to restrain a fleeting impulse.
“To push the young lady into a corner again… I’ve become pathetic trash.”
She, with her lack of mana, couldn’t possibly have resisted.
It was his responsibility to restrain and control himself—and he had failed.
At the window, Elion watched as Luviana boarded her carriage.
Her face looked calm as she exchanged words with the servants, and that was a relief.
But as the carriage slowly receded, his mind grew tangled with thoughts.
Had he used too much mana during today’s monster subjugation?
He’d thought he’d be fine, but maybe not.
I must restrain myself from now on.
Elion’s fingers brushed his lips.
They still burned with heat.
Luviana’s voice echoed in his ears:
Let’s… do well together.
Together? With me? Do well?
Such kind words from the mouth of a lady he’d only just learned the name and face of had utterly disarmed him.
Even now, remembering it, his heart thudded like a broken machine.
It was an ominous sign.
He had a bad feeling their symbiotic relationship of sharing mana was about to become very troublesome.
At Count Payson’s residence, in the drawing room.
After dinner, the whole family was enjoying a light tea time.
They were chatting warmly about the day’s events when a short-haired maid hurried over and handed a letter to Countess Virginia Payson.
“My lady, forgive me for interrupting. It’s urgent. The messenger says he must take back a reply and is waiting at the entrance.”
“Is that so? Let me see…”
Virginia immediately opened the envelope and scanned the contents.
Count Linden Payson glanced over and asked,
“What is it?”
“It’s from Connis Atelier. The dress I ordered for the party at the Duke of Burnet’s this weekend—the fabric for the sleeves needs to be changed.”
A crease briefly appeared on Virginia’s brow before vanishing.
“It can’t be helped. Tell them I agree, and that I trust Madame’s judgment.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The maid left as quickly as she had come.
Meticulously as always, Virginia reread the letter before lifting her head with a puzzled expression.
“Luviana?”
“Yes?”
“Didn’t you say you were going to Connis Atelier today? Yet this letter asks if you’ll be accompanying me tomorrow.”
“Ah…”
All eyes turned toward Luviana.
Her heart froze cold.
When she heard the letter was from Connis Atelier, she should have excused herself immediately—but it was too late.
She needed a plausible excuse fast.
But her mind wasn’t working.
The thought that she had disappointed the family who loved and trusted her hurt unbearably.
“…I’m sorry. The truth is…”
She lowered her flushed face.
Virginia’s gentle voice asked again,
“If you didn’t go to the atelier, where did you go? Out for some air?”
Should she just say yes?
Say she was bored of being at home and went for a short carriage ride?
Luviana hesitated.
But if I lie again and get caught… I’ll be like the boy who cried wolf.
Someone sharp-eyed might report that she had gone to the Grand Duke’s estate, and it could end up in the gossip papers again.
That was unacceptable. She hated the thought.
With her new family, she only wanted love.
She didn’t want to lose their trust.
She didn’t want to be hated.
“The truth is… I went to the Grand Duke of Klitzman’s estate.”
At the name “Klitzman,” everyone’s eyes went wide.
This time, Linden spoke.
“What business did you have at the Grand Duke’s estate? Did you meet him?”
“…Yes.”
But she couldn’t say she had received mana from him.
Their mutual exchange of mana had to remain a secret.
Luviana bit the inside of her cheek, blaming herself for being careless.
Then Justin asked in an excited voice,
“You went to thank him for saving you, didn’t you, sister?”
“Oh? Ah… yes, that’s right.”
Thank you, Justin!
Finally, her frozen brain began to move again.
“During the accident, I was so shocked I couldn’t even properly thank him. I thought it would be rude, so I went to express my gratitude in person.”
“…I see.”
The Count and Countess looked as though they were still somewhat shaken.
