Chapter 9 (Part 1)

The moment Herald's hand touched her tear-stained cheek, the tears that had been precariously clinging to her eyes fell onto his hand.

'What am I doing now.'

Herald, finally coming to his senses, lowered his hand with a soft scoff. He felt ashamed and perplexed for trying to touch a woman who was too drunk to think straight. Lily was the first woman to make him feel this way just by making eye contact.

'Is it because I've been abstinent for so long?'

It wasn't that he wanted to be abstinent, but circumstances had forced him to be. Herald wanted to end things after one night, but all the women he had been with wanted more than that.

He had thought about having a serious relationship, but there was no woman he liked that much. Also, he was planning to leave the capital soon for the distant and dangerous border region, so he couldn't be in a relationship.

It's not like he was particularly interested in women anyway.

So he thought it would be fine to live like this, but seeing how he reacted to such a small stimulus, it seems that was a misconception.

If I don't resolve this quickly, I might end up doing something foolish.

For that reason, thinking he shouldn't stay close to Lily, Herald tried to stand up, but Lily grabbed his arm.

And looking at Herald with those captivating, hazy eyes, she asked.

"Is it really... not my fault?"

It was a continuation of their earlier conversation. Herald nodded with a wry smile.

"It's not the lady's fault."

"Really? Is it really not my fault?"

Just how many times did he have to confirm it for her to believe?

That was annoying, but her continued use of informal speech also grated on him.

"Yes. It's not your fault."

Well, if she's speaking informally, I might as well do the same. It feels a bit unfair to be the only one using polite speech.

"I see. It's not my fault."

Lily finally smiled with relief, then mumbled while clasping her hands tightly.

"That's right. It's not my fault. Even if I did something wrong... it's not as bad as that man. It's all Fredic Benjamin's fault, that bastard."

Lily spoke while glaring at the empty air as if Fredic was right in front of her.

"You think you're so great?"

Words that could never be spoken in a sober state came out with the help of alcohol.

"Always staying out overnight to be someone else's kept man... And then you say you think of me as your wife? Don't make me laugh. You should at least come up with a more believable lie if you want me to pretend to believe you!"

Her voice, filled with anger, echoed loudly throughout the suite. She shouted so loudly that Herald's eardrums felt slightly muffled.

It must mean she had a lot pent up. Herald recalled the epithets attached to Lily in social circles and immediately understood why she was acting this way.

"If you're so upset, why don't you get a lover too?"

At the same time, feeling sorry for Lily, he offered a suitable solution. Lily laughed incredulously in response.

"Me, get a lover? How?"

Do I have to explain even that? This time, Herald laughed wryly.

"Someone like me... who would like me?"

"What's wrong with you? You're plenty attractive."

"...You're the first person to say that to me."

Herald laughed.

"Everyone else must be blind then."

It wasn't just flattery, but sincere. Herald truly thought Lily was attractive. It's just that she wasn't his type.

"..."

At his scathing yet honest assessment, Lily's eyes widened like a rabbit's before returning to their original size. After carefully examining Herald's handsome face, Lily reached out the hand she had neatly placed on her knee and grabbed Herald's arm.

"Then... will you be my lover?"

Asking him to be her lover.

Faced with this unexpected proposal, Herald looked at Lily with disbelief.

"..."

On the other hand, Lily's expression was serious. There wasn't a hint of playfulness to be found.

That meant she was that sincere, which made Herald even more dumbfounded. Until now, no one had ever spouted such nonsense as asking him to be their lover.

Of course, Lily didn't know that Herald was the second son of the Duke of Maximilian, so she could say such things, but it still didn't feel good.

...No, is it really not good?

With other women, just hearing a request for a single meeting would make his irritation soar, but not now. Even though he had heard an even more outrageous request, he wasn't particularly angry.

Just a little dumbfounded.

"I guess... you don't want to?"

When Herald remained silent without saying anything, Lily drooped her head dejectedly. Seeing her slumped shoulders made him want to hug her.

Before the thought could even finish, his arms moved. Belatedly realizing that he had embraced Lily, Herald startled and pushed her away.

"..."

Lily also looked surprised, but there was expectation in her gaze. Her sparkling, fresh green eyes captivated him in a different way.

As his desire, which had gradually grown enormous under repeated temptation, devoured his reason, his body moved on its own.

Herald inserted his hand into Lily's disheveled hair and kissed her. Seemingly startled by the sudden kiss, Lily flinched, but soon closed her eyes tightly as if giving permission and entrusted everything to him.

Lily's actions acted as a catalyst, fueling Herald's desire. Having been abstinent for so long, his unleashed desire grew endlessly once it burst forth.

The sound of saliva entangling wetly echoed widely in the dim hotel room. Herald's lips, which had been persistently exploring her lips as if to devour her whole, traced down her neck.

Just as his lips, glistening with saliva of unknown origin, touched her protruding collarbone, Lily's head bumped against Herald's shoulder.

"..."

Thanks to this, Herald, whose reason had momentarily returned, looked down at Lily's face. The fresh green eyes that had been there were now hidden behind her eyelids. Her chest rose and fell regularly, and the sound of gentle breathing spread evenly.

Don't tell me she's fallen asleep after shaking my heart like this.

Search "lover" on redcatty(.)com to read ahead up to chapter 70.