Chapter 66
The pond wasn’t deep, but a splash of water drenched Felice’s entire face, and the soaked dress clung tightly to her body, making her feel for a moment as if she couldn’t touch the bottom.
Panicking, she struggled, desperately trying to keep her head above the surface.
“Felice!”
Claude grabbed her hand.
Felice, still flailing, suddenly gasped for breath and instinctively clung to him.
“Are you okay? Easy, you can stand. It’s not deep.”
Claude, just as soaked as she was, gently held her and patted her back reassuringly. Only then did Felice realize her feet could actually touch the ground, and relief washed over her. The water only reached her chest—it wasn’t deep at all.
“I’m sorry, Felice. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Breathless from the panic, Felice slumped completely against Claude’s shoulder. Now that the tension had ebbed away, her whole body felt weak.
Claude waited patiently until she regained her composure, and once her breathing steadied, he helped her up out of the pond.
He followed her out a moment later, running a hand through his dripping hair. That’s when Felice’s anxious voice broke the silence.
“Ah… I’m so sorry, Claude. I— I suddenly went backward, I grabbed you… I’m really sorry.”
Her eyes, brimming with guilt, flickered up to Claude’s face and trembled with shame. As Felice stood up, clearly at a loss, she bit her lip to stifle the sob that threatened to escape, her trembling hands clutching and releasing the wet fabric of her dress.
Claude watched her for a moment, then quietly stepped closer.
“Felice.”
In a gentle, steady voice, he called her name and softly cupped her face in his hands, lifting her chin so their eyes would meet.
“It was my mistake. You were just startled by me, and it happened that the pond was right behind you. It’s okay. I’m sorry.”
His calm and tender words rang in Felice’s ears.
Panting, tears brimming in her eyes, she stared up into his blue gaze.
He smiled gently, once more apologizing.
Hearing his apology only made her tears well up more. Felice tried to say no, to insist it was her fault, but she bit her lower lip and struggled not to cry.
“Cl— …hic.”
But in the end, her tears slipped free despite her best efforts, running down her cheek and stopping on the back of Claude’s hand.
“Oh dear… Looks like it’s not just your dress that’s wet—your eyes are, too.”
With those words, Claude gently pulled Felice closer, letting her rest her face against his chest.
“It’s all right.”
Just as Felice had comforted him before, Claude now softly stroked her shoulders.
Felice closed her eyes for a moment.
He was so warm, so kind. And then—she felt something thick and hard shift at her waist.
Apparently Claude noticed it, too, because he abruptly pulled away from her. His hands, still holding her shoulders, trembled ever so slightly. When Felice looked up, Claude had turned his face aside, cheeks flushed red. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.
“Anyway, since you’re all wet… I’ll tell the maid. You should stay here—”
At the sound of his voice, Felice glanced down at herself. Because it was summer, the dress’s fabric was thin, and the light yellow color clung to her body, revealing every curve.
For some reason, her eyes dropped lower.
When she saw the noticeable bulge between his legs, Felice’s lips parted slightly.
“I’ll ask them to bring you a blanket…”
“When would you like our fifth lesson?”
She blurted, not even sure why.
Claude’s gaze slowly returned to Felice. Now, his breathing was a little ragged, too.
Felice didn’t look away, instead holding his blue eyes with her own.
Their eyes met, and the only things between them were their heavy breaths and the sound of water dripping onto the ground.
Then, as a bird flapped away somewhere nearby, Claude pressed his lips to Felice’s.
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