“I found myself envying the Grand Duke.”

The red and blue flames, etched against the black canvas of the sky and then disappearing, were a beautiful backdrop.

In those amethyst eyes, a vivid light that I had never seen before began to stir.

“For the first time, I’ve started to feel something akin to desire.”

On the way back, Cedric observed Rebecca as if studying her.

Rebecca was still leaning her head against the carriage window, staring outside.

Whether her attention was really on the scenery outside or on some other thought swirling in her mind, I couldn’t tell.

But frequently, sighs slipped from Rebecca’s lips.

Each time, Cedric had to hurriedly turn his head away.

Every time his gaze landed on her lips, he remembered their soft touch and the way her hands had enveloped him.

Surprisingly, the feeling brought not a hint of discomfort but rather an increasing longing.

‘I would have found it appalling before….’

He was astonished by his own change, time and again.

For instance, around two years into their marriage, Rebecca had tried to force a kiss on him.

Naturally, Cedric firmly resisted, and the mere thought of their lips almost touching caused him such displeasure that he couldn’t sleep.

Now, Cedric was certain he wouldn’t sleep tonight either.

However, the reason for his insomnia tonight was starkly different from back then.

“We’ve arrived, Rebecca.”

Before long, the carriage stopped in front of the dark garden.

Cedric softly called out to the still pensive Rebecca.

“Rebecca.”

Only then did Rebecca glance around and murmur to herself.

“Ah… we’ve arrived already.”

The late hour meant the mansion and its surroundings were shrouded in a silent darkness.

Considering there were no other sounds, it seemed the carriage carrying Bianca and Adrian hadn’t arrived yet.

Once Cedric saw that Rebecca had come to her senses, he got out of the carriage first.
Then, as Rebecca alighted from the carriage, I grasped her hand and asked,

“What are you thinking about? You’ve been unusually quiet the whole way.”

Rebecca set foot on the ground and gazed up at me intently.

The moment I felt her eyes lingering on my lips, I unconsciously flicked my tongue out to moisten my dry lips.

“……There’s something. You wouldn’t like it if you knew.”

Leaving these cryptic words behind, Rebecca started walking ahead.

Standing there, I mulled over her words and then began to follow her.

“Are you escorting me to the main gate?”

“A needless question.”

Rebecca chuckled softly at my straightforward response.

“It really doesn’t feel familiar. You never used to do this.”

“…….”

“You didn’t care whether I returned to the duchess’ residence or not.”

“Well, we were living in the same mansion then. Were you that upset?”

Instead of answering, Rebecca just let a faint smile slip.

Her face shone beautifully under the moonlight.

Watching her, I slowly parted my lips.

“I can still escort you to the duchess’ residence now.”

“…….”

“If you still want that.”

Just as we reached the main gate, Rebecca’s steps halted abruptly.

Confused, I stopped as well and looked at her.

There she was, looking up at me with enticing eyes.

Trying to hide my inner turmoil, I watched as Rebecca’s lips curled into a playful smile.

“Sedric, now you speak as if you’d do anything I want.”

I, Sedric, rarely got flustered, but lately, it seemed different in front of Rebecca.

Even now, I could only swallow dryly, unable to respond easily.

Rebecca, seemingly amused by my reaction, continued to laugh and gradually moved closer.

When we were close enough to feel each other’s breath, her red lips enticingly parted.

“If I ask you now to come to my bedroom… would you fulfill that request too?”

My adam’s apple bobbed noticeably.

Rebecca’s lips then formed a leisurely smile, apparently sensing a clear change in my reaction.

Meanwhile, I struggled internally to keep my composure.

‘No. I cannot be imprinted on Rebecca now that we’re divorced.’

Even if Rebecca decided to leave now, I couldn’t hold her back any longer.

There’s no justification to keep her by my side anymore.

‘If I get imprinted in this situation and Rebecca leaves after the divorce is announced… I’ll end up going mad with obsession over her.’

I was startled to realize that my reluctance to spend the night with her wasn’t due to disgust towards her.

I was even more astonished to find my mind and heart wavering like a reed in the wind.

In this tumultuous battlefield of reason and instinct, I felt utterly confused.

At that moment, her slender fingers began slowly tracing down my shirt buttons.

When her touch finally halted at the loud throbbing of my heart, Rebecca leisurely moved close to my ear.

“Sedric.”

Her enchanting voice and the playful breath tickling my earlobe shattered the last bit of reason I was clinging to.

“This might be your last chance.”