“What would you do in a hotel room on a day like this? Victoria reserved it for her cousin and me.”

Sidney asked indifferently while personally refilling his glass. As soon as it was full, Logan drank again.

“Miss Marien, knowing what kind of man he is… did you accept that key?”

Logan seemed to forget to drink to hear the answer. But since he appeared drunk, Sidney just gave the answer.

“Because I trust Victoria. Besides, since he’s her cousin… there’s no reason to refuse.”

“Miss Marien is a very wise woman. Certainly, if he’s Owello’s cousin… his family, looks, and wealth… aren’t bad. Marriage is reality after all.”

It was extremely rude, but not incorrect.

When Sidney first heard Victoria’s words, she too thought like Logan that she shouldn’t enter a hotel room with a man she just met.

But should Sidney accept his criticism? Sidney called out to Logan while tapping the table with her glass.

“Hey.”

“Or are you going to say that marriage doesn’t need any conditions?”

Whether due to the alcohol, Logan’s sharp tongue came alive. Sidney’s defiance grew just as much.

“The conditions you mentioned aren’t everything.”

“There needs to be love too?”

Love, really. Sidney fiddled with the key as if mocking Logan’s misconception.

“That would be nice. But more important than that… I need this key to confirm something else.”

Her eyes glanced over his body.

No man would fail to understand where that gaze was pointing. It was that blatant and colorful a provocation.

Unable to believe it, Logan checked the meaning again.

“If he can’t satisfy Miss Marien’s desires… the other conditions don’t matter? In that sense.”

“…?”

Logan stood up and approached Sidney’s side. Then he picked up her bag and key and held out his hand.

“Give me a chance tonight.”

He seemed ready to embrace her and head to the bed right away. But knowing he lacked that ability, Sidney remained relaxed.

“…Would you be able to?”

“Of course.”

Logan said firmly as he lifted Sidney to her feet.

By now, Sidney was truly worried for her superior. She wanted to save his pride even now.

But.

“You don’t need to force yourself.”

Her drunken concern only provoked Logan further. He wrapped his arm around Sidney’s waist. Then he put his lips to her ear as she startled and whispered.

“You won’t regret it. The marriage you want. I’ll… give it to you. Then you can become the Marchioness of Redford.”

Who said they wanted marriage?

And he’d give it to her, no less.

Above all, if the partner was that bastard ‘Logan Redford’, Sidney would gladly choose to remain single.

No, beyond that…

“Marry a commoner without a title? Ha! I didn’t know you were the type of man to seduce women with such absurd words.”

At her rapid-fire words, Logan smiled as if agreeing. Then he put his lips to her ear and whispered.

“The Redford family… would be happy just by the fact that I brought a woman. Whether commoner or not… that doesn’t matter.”

She tried to question what he meant. But as the elevator rattled and Logan tightly embraced her, she forgot what she was going to say.

Bang, boom, bang.

As bursting sounds rang out one after another, beautiful fireworks painted the night sky here and there.

For a brief moment, they bloomed gloriously just once and then vanished pitifully, only for more fireworks to bloom beside them, delighting the eyes of those watching.

“Do you like fireworks?”

Clink, Logan lightly tapped his glass against Sidney’s. Sidney’s red lips parted as she looked up at the sky, her breath fogging up the glass.

“I feel sorry for them.”

“Why?”

Her slender fingers tapped the fireworks visible through the glass. Matching that rhythmic movement, Sidney murmured as if whispering.

“They’re so beautiful, but no one remembers or misses them. There’s no time to, as more dazzling and pretty fireworks take their place… So… I feel sorry for them.”

Was it the alcohol? Or because today she could be a woman?

Sidney suppressed her throat to avoid making a rougher sound. So her husky voice sounded even softer.

“I’ll remember them.”

“…?”

Sidney looked up at Logan as he took away her glass.

Clunk, the sound of two glasses being placed next to the empty bottle on the table was heard.

On the sofa hung Logan’s coat and jacket, and his blue stone cravat neatly beside them.

Next to those were Sidney’s borrowed white fur coat from Victoria and her handbag.

Seeing that, Sidney’s tense face relaxed.

She was reminded of Logan staggering drunkenly yet still neatly arranging the clothing items.

No matter how charming and heart-fluttering his expression asking why she was smiling… the man before her was her insufferable superior, Logan Redford.

Sidney followed him as he took her hand and stepped backwards, asking:

“What are you going to remember?”

“A woman fearlessly following a man she just met into the bedroom.”

Well, that’s because she knew nothing would happen. And he wasn’t a stranger… that’s how it was.

A playful tone mixed into Sidney’s voice and her steps became lighter.

“What else…?”

The sound of fireworks faded into the distance. Only the brilliant lights caressed the two people standing face to face in the spacious bedroom before fading away.

Logan’s hand seemed to stroke her hair, then the golden hair that had been piled up flowed down like a waterfall, covering her shoulders and back.

“Making me drunk yet being so indifferent yourself…”

“Me?”

Along with Sidney’s question, silence fell. Perhaps because the fireworks had ended.

Logan’s touch lightly brushed her collarbone. The hair that had covered her chest fell over her shoulders, and her shoulders flinched.

“Being so careless… how can you know what a man might do to you.”

A loud warning alarm rang in Sidney’s mind. His fingertips moved below her collarbone, brushing her soft skin.

She should push him away.

Sidney wasn’t ignorant of what such touches meant.

Logan’s smoldering gaze and intimate touches were clearly saying so.

“I’m angry… at you for that.”

His contorted face spoke not of anger, but of frustration and despair.

Probably resenting his body for not following his desires. Sidney caressed his cheek and comforted him with a sympathetic heart.

“You’re a very attractive man.”

“Logan. Call me that.”

“…That’s.”

No matter what, how could she address her superior like that? As Sidney hesitated, Logan pressed his lips to the bridge of her nose and breathed out hotly.

“Marien.”

“…”

Thump.

Sidney’s heart leaped. But soon realizing it wasn’t her name, it calmed down.

“Yes, go on.”

“If you call my name…”

The smell of alcohol and his scent made her dizzy. Her lower abdomen tingled and her body felt hot.

To escape this unfamiliar sensation…

Sidney exhaled shallowly and complied with his request.

“…Lo… gan.”

His lips withdrew obediently. But why did she feel regretful? Sidney looked into his eyes, puzzled by the inexplicable emptiness.

“Honestly… I hate you.”

Why. As a question arose in Sidney’s eyes, Logan fiddled with the straps holding her dress in place.

Was he trying to undress her? Sidney’s startled gaze went to her chest. But she burst out laughing at his clumsy attempts.

Logan Redford who was good at everything.

To think he’d struggle so much with undoing a dress knot.

Intoxicated by a strange sense of victory, Sidney gently pushed his hand away and pulled the straps to undo the knot. Her smile deepened as she was freed from the pressure constricting her chest.

“You really.”

“Yes?”

Why was he making such an angry expression? Sidney stood there with a puzzled look, not even noticing her dress slipping down.

Not realizing that was fueling his anger even more.

“What bastard tamed you… to make you so insensitive to a man’s touch?”

“…What?”

“Or are such things… meaningless to you?”

What nonsense was this? Was he calling her a promiscuous woman now…? Her thoughts cut off there. Because his lips moved first as he stared into her eyes that were about to protest.

“Or… do you not see me as a man?”

“Ha, which do you think?”

Sidney tilted up her chin and clutched his shirt collar.

It should be said this was the last straw.

Otherwise, she would hate herself to death for pitying him.

“I hope it’s the last one. Because that’s something I can work on.”

“That’s rather low of you.”

Sidney skillfully unbuttoned his shirt. Then she reached for his pants.

“Miss Marien?”

As he called out to Sidney in surprise, she yanked his belt and raised one corner of her mouth.

“This is fair, isn’t it?”

“Then… you should take off my shirt too.”

Sidney removed his shirt without hesitation, as if dealing with a mischievous child. Then she threw the shirt to the floor without regret and snapped:

“And your question. That was quite offensive.”

“I apologize.”

“No, don’t.”

“…?”

Logan raised his eyebrows as he put his arm around Sidney’s waist. She slapped his broad shoulders and said decisively:

“First, there was no bastard bold enough to tame me. Second, I haven’t lived leisurely enough to attach meaning to such things.”

Logan approached one step at a time. Even as she retreated, Sidney’s face was as solemn as a warrior heading into battle. Logan’s eyes curved gently as he looked down at her.

“I believe you.”

Thump.

Sidney’s heart sank at his deep voice. Her eyelids fluttered rapidly following her pulse.

What’s this? Why am I… feeling flutters for Logan Redford?

Sidney pushed his shoulders with both hands and pouted.

“I don’t care whether you believe me or not. I’m saying it because I feel disgusted.”

Logan, who had been pushed back obediently, stepped forward. Then he grabbed her sulking chin and lifted it.

His blue eyes scanned every inch of her face. As if licking off every bit of jam smeared on bread.

“You really look alike…”

“With whom…?”

“There is. Someone who drives me crazy…”

Thud, Sidney’s body fell onto the bed, pushed by Logan.

Her, lying down unintentionally, and Logan, sprawled on top of her.

Not a single part of them was touching.

But the problem was that they happened to fall onto the bed.

Sidney was wearing a thin chemise that revealed her skin, while Logan was bare-chested wearing only pants.

“Um, Logan.”

“So… make me a man.”

Sidney sighed as she watched Logan’s hand smoothing her hair.

Blaming herself for getting Logan drunk.

“Ah, that’s… not something I can do.”

Logan’s long fingers traced her facial features. Each time, the firm muscles of his chest twitched subtly before Sidney’s eyes.

With such a robust body.

Such an attractive man.

Logan Redford, who had more than anyone else… how did he end up with such an affliction?

Can I help?

Even though Logan tormented Sidney, he was always by her side when she was struggling.

Without his whip, ‘Sidney Warden’ wouldn’t have survived the brutal battlefield.

But…

Comradeship and loyalty.

No matter what justification, even for Sidney who had given up living as a woman… that was a bit…

Just then, Logan lowered his face and whispered.

“Only you can do it. No woman has ever excited me like this.”

And he devoured her lips. As if he could no longer hold back.

When Sidney flinched at the sensation of him urgently parting her lips and entering, his laughter echoed between their lips.