Chapter 15
An unidentified heat climbed up the back of her neck. The humid sensation pooled at the crown of her head. She was terrified that if she swallowed now, the sound would spread throughout the entire world. Fragments of dizzying stories she’d only encountered through Grandfather’s scoldings and books drifted about.
What frightened her most was the insolent curiosity bubbling from deep within. Hopper had sternly instructed her to never take an interest until she came of age.
Then, now that she was an adult?
As if all her blood were rushing out at once, Luirene swayed, unable to withstand the dizziness. An arm came from behind, gently wrapping around her waist to support her.
“Careful.”
When had his lips drawn so close to her ear? His breath was so hot she thought her entire ear had been licked. As Luirene curled her shoulders inward, the thing brushing against her hip pressed more explicitly. Now that it was properly touching, she couldn’t deny it. The young master’s e******n was pressing against her back.
“If you’re done, let’s return to the mansion.”
“…Yes.”
“Go wait in the carriage first.”
“First…?”
“I’ll smoke a cigar before coming.”
Luirene, who had boarded the carriage first, pressed firmly on her chest. The vibration was distinct against her palm. Her heart was pounding.
It had been this way ever since she’d clearly seen the front of his trousers stiffly bulging when he’d asked about the bookshop’s back door. It was said a man’s e******n was proof of desire. Did that mean the young master had been aroused by her? Why? Because of the forbidden book?
She kept feeling heat, as if the sparks from their bodies touching had jumped to her as well. Luirene rubbed her ear. It was damp and itchy, as if it had been licked even though no one had licked it. It felt like a strange sensation remained.
“Let’s go.”
A few minutes later, when Hitaon climbed into the carriage, he carried a bitter scent so strong it seemed deliberate. From the glance she stole as he entered, his trousers were in order. Luirene fixed her gaze out the window, like someone who’d seen something she shouldn’t have.
“What’s wrong?”
“Pardon?”
“You keep touching your ear.”
“Ah… I apologize if it bothered you.”
“I’m asking because I wondered if something was the matter.”
“It’s just… since earlier, the feeling is a bit…”
The carriage, which had been moving smoothly, stopped. She pushed aside the curtain and saw they’d been delayed by a crowd in the central square. Hitaon checked outside and made a suggestion in a leisurely tone.
“Shall I take a look for you?”
“The young master would?”
“If you want.”
“…….”
“Come here beside me.”
A strange curiosity beat dangerously inside her chest. Man. Male. Contact. Touch. Uncharted territory. The urge to explore the unknown. For her, who had learned about people and the world through books, it was something very distant and foreign.
Feeling her throat tighten, Luirene moved to the seat beside him. Hitaon, who had removed his gloves to smoke his cigar, pushed her hair back behind her ear with his bare fingers.
“Where?”
“My earlobe is…”
“It’s red. Probably from touching it so much.”
Even though she knew full well his fingers were about to touch her, she couldn’t hide her flinch when they actually brushed against her. Hitaon’s laughter rang out clearly. Her ear tingled, and as she twisted her waist, he followed.
“Don’t lower your head.”
Hitaon instructed, scraping her earlobe with his fingernail. Since earlier, she’d felt a strange ache, her breath growing short as if she were out of breath.
It was like dipping her toes into a lake that was very deep yet so transparent and clear it only appeared shallow. A sense of crisis washed over her—the impulse to immerse her feet even knowing she wouldn’t be able to pull them out came surging with frightening intensity.
Her hands, clutching her skirt, clenched and unclenched repeatedly. The moment she forced herself to swallow her tension with a deep breath, Hitaon roughly seized her hand.
“You saw it earlier, didn’t you?”
“……!”
“Were you frightened?”
Luirene lifted her wavering eyes. Gazing deeply into her glossy, wet purple irises, Hitaon asked, enunciating each word deliberately.
“Do you know what causes a man to become like that?”
“…I know.”
“Really? With those innocent, rabbit-like eyes?”
“Even I know that much.”
The young master had felt desire for her. And if he was a man, it was only natural he could feel such emotions. The question for Luirene was right here: she didn’t know whether he’d felt desire for her, or simply because she was a biological female.
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