Chapter 17
A chill ran down her spine.
‘Get a hold of yourself. I’m the heroine. Even if I have no choice but to borrow the hidden villain’s help right now, there are still lines I mustn’t cross.’
After collecting her thoughts, Rubiana slowly lifted the corners of her lips and spoke.
“Without Your Grace’s help, my life would be forfeit… but still, to exchange kisses with you every time feels rather… embarrassing.”
“Holding hands for an hour is fine though? Sorry to say this, but I don’t have much time to spare for long sessions.”
“Ah…”
Rubiana was at a loss for words.
A one-minute kiss versus an hour of holding hands.
Both felt equally overwhelming, embarrassing, shameful, and awkward.
Seeing her hesitate, Elion made a casual suggestion.
“Alright. Then we’ll take turns deciding each day. That would be fair. What do you say?”
“…Yes, that’s fine.”
When Rubiana nodded, Elion immediately stood and moved to sit beside her.
At the sudden closeness, Rubiana’s breath caught in her throat.
Tense, she couldn’t even exhale, her eyes lifting to meet Elion’s.
One corner of his lips curled in a lazy smile as he spoke.
“Then for today, may I decide?”
Nod, nod.
Her lips refused to move, stiff with tension, so she simply bobbed her head.
Not that it really felt like she had a choice anyway.
Soon, Elion’s lips pressed firmly against Rubiana’s.
Through the joined softness of their lips, through the parting gap between them, through the hand that cupped her cheek, his mana flowed into her.
The sensation of an immense tide of mana flooding her entire body all at once was strikingly vivid.
It was like quenching a thirst she hadn’t even realized she had.
‘Ah… so warm! It feels… so good!’
She wished time would stop.
She wished this moment would last forever.
She was shivering with pleasure as the mana seeped into her when suddenly, something unfamiliar forced its way past her lips, shocking her back to awareness.
‘Mmh… huh?’
The invading flesh swept along her neat teeth and delicate inner flesh, devouring her breath.
This was a kiss on an entirely different level from their previous ones, and Rubiana tensed even more.
She tried to pull back her rigid body, but Elion’s firm hand on her back held her inescapably close.
Her senses were stolen once again by the mana flowing into her mouth, and soon she surrendered, accepting him.
From the start, Rubiana’s body had no power to reject his mana.
Through the locked lips, the entwined tongues, the tight embrace, she drank and drank of his overflowing mana.
His lips that gave her mana were smooth beyond compare, his tongue soft and coaxing.
Rubiana felt safety in his strong arms and comfort in the broad chest pressed against her.
How much time had passed?
At last, his lips drew away, and Rubiana’s body trembled with reluctant disappointment as her eyes fluttered open.
Filling her vision was Elion’s flushed face.
His deep ocean-blue eyes were trembling violently.
He looked utterly shaken.
As though such a deep and passionate kiss hadn’t been his intention at all.
“F-forgive me, my lady. I didn’t mean… I must have done it unconsciously…”
The sight of the cold, calculating Grand Duke—usually composed to the point of chilliness—stammering with a red face was utterly unfamiliar.
His usual professional demeanor—saying kissing was simply more convenient—had vanished without a trace.
He looked like someone who had committed an unforgivable mistake.
Seeing him flustered, Rubiana actually calmed herself more quickly.
Forcing a small smile, she replied,
“…It’s alright. I… felt the same way.”
“No, it wasn’t right. I slipped. From now on, just holding hands would be better.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Even with Rubiana’s reassurance, Elion couldn’t relax his expression.
Running a hand irritably down his jaw, he spoke heavily.
“Truly… I’m sorry.”
“…It’s alright.”
After adjusting her clothes, Rubiana bowed politely to the still-dazed Elion.
“I’ll be going now.”
“…Y-yes. Go ahead.”
Once Rubiana left the parlor, Elion released the breath he had been holding, covering his face with both hands.
A painful groan escaped him.
“Damn it!”
He had been so absorbed in transferring his mana to her that he lost all rationality.
The blissful sensation of the boiling mana within him settling down as it flowed into her was indescribable.
And so he grew greedy.
He had wanted to release more, for longer.
He had wanted time itself to stop.
“…Pathetic.”
That he had been unable to restrain his impulses was appalling.
“To have cornered her again… I’ve become nothing but pathetic trash.”
She, lacking mana, would have been unable to resist.
It was his duty to control himself—but he had failed.
At the window, Elion watched Rubiana board the carriage.
Her face seemed calm as she greeted the servants, which was a small relief.
As the carriage slowly receded, his thoughts tangled in turmoil.
Had he used too much mana during today’s monster subjugation?
He thought it would be fine—but maybe it wasn’t.
‘I must restrain myself in the future.’
Elion brushed his fingertips against his lips.
They still burned with heat.
In his ears echoed Rubiana’s voice.
‘Let’s… try our best together.’
Together? With me? Try our best?
Such kind words, from a stranger he had only just learned the name and face of, had left him dumbfounded.
Even recalling it now, his heart thudded erratically, as though broken.
It could only be a bad omen.
He had a strong feeling that their mana-sharing symbiosis would become far more troublesome than expected.
The parlor of Count Payson’s mansion.
After dinner, the whole family gathered for a light tea time.
They were chatting pleasantly about the day when a short-haired maid hurried in and handed a letter to Virginia, the Countess of Payson.
“My lady, forgive the interruption, but this is urgent. The messenger says he must return with a reply and is waiting at the front entrance.”
“Is that so? Let me see…”
Virginia quickly broke the seal and skimmed the contents.
Count Linden Payson glanced at the letter and asked,
“What is it about?”
“It’s from the Cornice dress shop. They say the fabric of the sleeves must be changed for the dress I ordered for the party at Duke Burnet’s this weekend.”
Virginia frowned briefly, then smoothed her expression.
“Well, there’s no helping it. Send back word that I trust Madame’s judgment.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The maid left just as quickly as she had come.
Ever meticulous, Virginia scanned the letter once more, then lifted her head with a puzzled look.
“Rubiana?”
“Yes?”
“Didn’t you say you went to Cornice’s dress shop today? But this letter asks whether you’ll be coming tomorrow instead?”
“Ah…”
All eyes in the family turned to Rubiana.
Her heart froze cold.
Hearing that the letter was from Cornice’s, she regretted not excusing herself immediately—but it was already too late.
She had to think of a believable excuse quickly.
But her mind stalled.
She hated the thought of disappointing the family who loved and trusted her.
“…I’m sorry. The truth is…”
Rubiana bowed her head, her face flushed red.
Virginia asked again in a gentle voice,
“If you didn’t go to the dress shop, where did you go? Did you step out for some fresh air?”
Should she just say yes?
Say she had gotten restless and gone for a carriage ride?
Rubiana hesitated.
‘But if I lie again and get caught… I’ll end up like the boy who cried wolf.’
If someone with sharp eyes reported she had gone to the Grand Duke’s estate, it could appear in the gossip rags again.
That must not happen. She hated the thought.
She only wanted love from her new family.
She didn’t want to lose their trust.
She didn’t want their hatred.
“The truth is… I went to the Klitzman Grand Duke’s estate.”
At the name “Klitzman,” every family member’s eyes widened.
This time, Count Linden spoke.
“What business did you have at the Grand Duke’s estate? Did you meet him?”
“…Yes.”
She couldn’t tell them she had gone to receive mana.
That secret exchange of mana between them had to be kept hidden.
Blaming herself for her carelessness, Rubiana bit down on her inner cheek.
At that moment, Justin asked excitedly,
“You went to thank him for saving you, didn’t you, sister?”
“Huh? Oh… yes, that’s right.”
Thank you, Justin!
At last, her frozen brain began to move again.
“Back then I was too shocked to properly thank him. I felt it was discourteous, so I went to express my gratitude in person.”
“…I see.”
The Count and Countess looked momentarily shaken.
