Translator: Nox

Chapter 23

“Harder… more.”

In his memory, the distorted voice let out a thin gasp. In truth, most of what Vanessa had actually uttered while they were together were pleas to go slower, to please take a breath.

Nevertheless, the reconstructed phantom of the woman in his imagination was as vivid as if it were the absolute truth. Swept away by a desire that felt as though it would never be sated, she wheedled, begged, cried, and clung to him seductively… He let out a languid breath and closed his eyes.

“Ah, Theodore… please…”

The soft arms that had welcomed him so joyfully, her fragrant embrace, and those wicked lips that had the audacity to call his name. Theodore tilted his head back. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed slowly up and down. Before he knew it, the heavy swell of desire was pulling at him until it ached.

Following his impulse had been a deeply satisfying choice. He had a premonition that even after summer faded, he would think of this place and the moments spent with that woman for a long time to come. Like a scar etched into his skin or a fingerprint, it would remain a lifelong trace.

The feeling wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

---

As midsummer arrived, the days began to grow unbearably hot even in the early morning. The weather was often fickle; a perfectly clear sky would turn overcast by afternoon, dense fog would roll in at dawn, and a light drizzle would frequently escalate into a heavy downpour.

Much like the changing season, the plants in the garden competed to burst into bloom. The once-tiny peaches had grown significantly in size, and the heather bushes had shot up to waist-height overnight. Summer waterfowl from the river perched on the branches of the poplar trees, singing beautifully, and lilies of the valley, heavy with morning dew, bloomed daintily wherever one stepped. This was the time of year Vanessa loved Somerset most.

However, bothersome and hazardous changes came along as well. A week ago, the ceiling of the storehouse had started to leak, and two days prior, several poorly fitted planks had fallen through, leaving a gaping hole. River Ross ordered the necessary supplies for the repairs through a merchant, and Mr. Ross took it upon himself to teach his nephew how to cut and join the planks and how to hammer nails.

It was a rather amusing scene to watch from afar. The way River would occasionally slip into formal speech, his clumsy, uncertain hand movements, his awkward gaze… And whenever he felt someone watching, he would offer the usual excuse—that it was simply because they hadn’t seen each other since he was a child. Sometimes, it seemed Mr. Ross was closer to the young soldier staying in his house than he was to his own nephew.

Even though Gloucester Castle had become hectically busy with wedding preparations, Vanessa had found herself with an abundance of leisure lately. This was thanks to the fact that the bride’s wishes were being entirely excluded from the wedding process. Since she had no enthusiasm for the marriage to begin with, it actually suited her quite well.

It was a rare day where the sun remained pleasant well into the afternoon. Rosalyn and Blair had gone to visit a second cousin nearby and weren’t expected back until late at night, and Vanessa had finished her manuscript earlier than planned, leaving her free. As soon as she realized she had time to spare, she hurriedly tidied her papers and stood up.

“My Lady.”

No sooner had she packed a few belongings than Mary opened the door and walked in. Vanessa jumped as if she’d been caught doing something wrong, and Mary froze in turn, startled by the reaction.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“It’s nothing. What is it?”

“I came to tell you that dinner will be a little late. It seems the new kitchen maid confused the sugar for salt.”

Mary crossed the room and adjusted Vanessa’s disheveled clothes. As she did, Vanessa gazed at her quietly. She noted the sweat beginning to bead on Mary’s forehead and neck, her pale face, and the practiced way her fingers tied the ribbons.

It was a sight that felt as familiar as an old habit. It was likely the result of them adapting to one another—though Mary would probably deny it with a look of utter distaste.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?” Mary asked bluntly, sensing her gaze.

“Just because. I was thinking we’ve known each other for a very long time.”

“……”

“Don’t worry about dinner. I’ll just read a bit and go to bed early.”

“You’re going to skip it?”

“You were only going to bring me a bit of soup and vegetables anyway.”

“Everyone eats like that before their wedding.”

Vanessa gave a small laugh at the cheeky remark. To think she had to endure hunger for a wedding she didn’t even want. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to gain weight? Lord Roden would likely flee in absolute horror…

Mary, who had loosely braided Vanessa’s hair over her shoulder, tied a ribbon at the end. Vanessa touched the ribbon while looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks, heated by the summer warmth, were ridiculously flushed. Vanessa called out to the maid as she was about to leave the room.

“The kitchen assistant’s name was Lily, right? Don’t be too hard on her.”

Mary gave her a sidelong glance with her hollow eyes before withdrawing.

“Get some rest.”

Once the sound of the maid’s footsteps faded, Vanessa hurried to her feet. She poured out some oil from the lamp, leaving just enough to last for a few hours. Despite her haste, it was already past four in the afternoon. After carefully locking her door, Vanessa quickly headed down the stairs.

Entering the backyard, the heavy scent of earth from the previous night’s rain filled the air. Skillfully navigating the muddy ground, Vanessa pushed open the old iron gate. Only when she stepped onto the garden grass did she allow herself to catch her breath.

“River.”

Vanessa raised her voice as she looked around. The man who was always in the same spot was nowhere to be seen. She walked quickly to the front of the storehouse, gripped the handle, and peered inside.

“River Ross. Are you in there?”

The interior was dim. Although the windows and curtains were open, the incoming light was limited, and it seemed it would take a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. From deep within the storehouse came the sound of heavy movement. It seemed the ceiling repairs that had been going on for days weren’t finished yet.

In her haste, Vanessa failed to notice the table right in front of her and collided with it hard. As she groaned in pain, River Ross caught her slender wrist and helped her up.

“When did you get here?”

“Just… a moment ago.”

“Follow me. And be careful not to hit anything else.”

Items were piled high on both sides of the narrow passage. It seemed all the furniture and luggage had been moved to keep them from getting wet. The area he led her into was even darker.

“I can’t see a thing.”

As Vanessa grumbled, River Ross let out a short laugh in the dark.

“It would be a problem if there were light coming in. That would mean it’s still leaking.”

“So that’s why you were standing here.”

It was a statement of admiration rather than a question. Vanessa followed River Ross as they inspected the ceiling together. When she found a few spots where faint light was leaking through and pointed them out, he carefully reinforced them with planks and nails. After a thorough check of every corner, Vanessa turned around in the darkness.

“I don’t think there are any more.”

“We won’t know for sure until it rains, but for now.”

“Isn’t it dangerous? What if the whole thing collapses?”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Just move into the castle instead. You can stay in the servants’ quarters.”

“I don’t much like bumping into people.”

It was too dark to make out his expression, but his resolve not to change his mind was clear. Vanessa pursed her lips in worry before smoothing her expression. Though old, the building wasn’t at the point of immediate collapse. It had been neglected for years and had held up well enough until now.

“Can I open the window now?”

“Go ahead.”

When she pulled back the curtain and opened the window, a sultry breeze poured into the stifling room. Vanessa greedily gulped in the fresh air. Even though the sun had become much hotter, it was cooler than the air trapped and heated inside the storehouse. She was letting the wind dry her sweat-damped hair when she turned around.

“……”

Suddenly, a man’s bare chest appeared before her eyes. It hadn’t actually appeared out of nowhere, but encountering it unexpectedly made it feel that way. River Ross had stripped off his cumbersome shirt at some point, and his upper body was slick with sweat.

Her gaze was held captive, as if spellbound. Of course, there was nowhere else to look. The hallway was blocked with belongings, and the bedroom—which barely fit a bed—was so cramped that it would be full with two people inside. The space hadn’t been built for living in the first place, and they were simply too close…

At some point, her thoughts became more like excuses. The man’s well-muscled torso resembled the famous sculptures of Notos. Just looking at him made her throat feel dry.

“…Can I touch it?”

As she instinctively reached out toward his chest, he caught her wrist. His hand was large and firm. It struck her anew that he was a man.

“After I’ve washed.”

Though he raised an eyebrow as if incredulous, his answer was casual. As if it were no big deal.

“Now. Just like this.”

A faint heat settled in Vanessa’s voice as she insisted stubbornly. This was the first time she had seen a man’s body like this. The last time she had been in his arms, she had been too overwhelmed, and he hadn’t been fully undressed then anyway.