Their breaths warmed the cold air.

As her tears kept flowing and her face grew cold, Terran cupped her cheeks with both hands.

“I did that so I wouldn’t forget you.”

Terran’s eyes were filled with guilt towards Lea.

“The moment I felt myself becoming addicted to the smoke, I was afraid I’d forget you. In the end, I did forget.”

His voice was infinitely sad.

Lea found it too painful to look at Terran’s face, which seemed on the verge of tears.

“It’s all alright. You came back alive, and that’s what matters.”

“But I did a terrible thing to you.”

Stabbing the woman he loved with a sword was a nightmare he would never forget.

The anguish would turn into regret and remain as an indelible residue of memory, tormenting him over and over.

Even if he wasn’t in his right mind, it was an unforgivable sin for Terran.

Terran bit his lip hard and turned his head. He didn’t have the courage to face her directly.

“Terran, don’t turn away from me.”

At her desperate plea, Terran turned his head back.

“When I saw you alive in the cabin, I thanked every god in existence. I can forget you stabbing me with a sword. But if you had died, I couldn’t have lived.”

Lea cried until her face turned red.

Terran didn’t know what he meant to her.

He had become the light of her dying life.

Though she couldn’t tell him honestly yet, he was the savior who had reached out his hand to help Lea Hamilton rise above her terrible ordeal.

“When I realized I had tried to kill you, I really wanted to die.”

“No, then you wouldn’t be able to sign the last grape.”

At Lea’s words, the serious Terran finally burst into laughter.

“Let’s not part from now on. Promise me you won’t go to the battlefield without me.”

“I promise.”

“I love you, Terran Courtois.”

“I love you, my Grace.”

Their lips met again. Now tears of joy flowed. As if shaking off all their past trials, they were grateful to be alive, fully feeling each other’s warmth.

“Let’s go, we need to get the signature on the last grape.”

After their long kiss ended, Terran said with a mischievous smile.

“I didn’t say I’d sign it though?”

Lea said primly on purpose, laughing through her tears.

“You will.”

Terran picked up Lea and carried her to the duke’s residence.

* * *

A party was held at the duke’s residence. It was a party for the people of the duke’s household only, from Terran, the master of the house, to the coachman who drove the carriage.

The largest ballroom was filled with food, and drinks and beverages were prepared.

Thanks to Terran’s consideration, musicians were also invited. He wanted everyone to have a peaceful time, just for today.

“I almost died trying to hold my breath.”

Sonya lamented how difficult it had been.

“Thank you all for enduring. You all did your jobs well and stayed composed.”

As Lea said with a smile, Terran looked at her intently and smiled.

“My lady, I think we need to bring in more sewing machines. We’re overwhelmed with orders for riding habits, and the two of us can’t handle it.”

Paul and Tom began to complain.

“At this rate, we might need to set up a clothing factory.”

Adolf chimed in, looking pleased.

“The riding habits will be sold under Sonya and Adolf’s names, so don’t complain too much about using sewing machines. Place a job advertisement in the newspaper first thing tomorrow. Is that alright, Adolf?”

At Lea’s words, Sonya and Adolf looked embarrassed.

At first, they had protested, calling it a ridiculous machine, but as the riding habits spread to various countries, their names became famous along with it.

Knowing they couldn’t have achieved such results with hand sewing, they could no longer dismiss the sewing machine.

“Your Grace, tonight we employees can drink, dance, and have fun too, right?”

Pauline kept glancing at Terran and asked cautiously.

“Of course.”

When Terran answered readily, James cleared his throat and spoke up.

“For the employees to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves comfortably, it would be polite for the superiors to leave early.”

James looked back and forth between Terran and Lea as he spoke, and Pauline, Mary, and even Sonya all looked at the two of them at once.

Though they said it like that, they knew it meant for the two to spend some intimate time alone.

“Grace, it seems we should leave?”

“Shall we?”

Just as Terran was about to leave the party hall holding Lea’s hand, Chainer came running after them, crying.

“Sister, don’t go.”

Perhaps because Luke wasn’t there, Chainer threw a tantrum, but Pauline immediately ran over and grabbed her by the scruff of her neck.

“This sister will introduce you to a man even better than Luke.”

“There’s no such man, is there?”

Chainer looked around at the employees and said seriously. Soon the party hall erupted in laughter.

Lea came to Terran’s bedroom. She applied lip rouge and then pressed her lips to the last remaining grape.

“Finally, it’s all filled.”

Terran looked at Grace with a satisfied expression. How could this be so moving?

His heart was overflowing.

“Promises are meant to be kept, so…”

Lea began to undress in front of Terran.

She felt grateful to Terran, who had kept his promise to the end, obsessing over a childish piece of paper.

“Grace, it’s too soon.”

Terran stopped her in alarm. Her side where she had been stabbed wouldn’t have healed completely yet.

“It’s alright. The stitches have been removed and the wound is healing.”

“Still.”

He didn’t seem very willing. But Lea didn’t stop.

At her bold actions, Terran swallowed hard, unable to control his pounding heart.

“Today, I want to seduce you.”

As her golden hair, which had been neatly tied up, came loose and flowed down to her waist, his patience crumbled.

Lea approached him in her undergarments, gently kissed him, and then whispered in his ear.

“Finally, we’re becoming one.”

Her breath tickled Terran’s ear sweetly.

Unable to contain the overwhelming feelings at those words, Terran hugged Lea tightly.

Lea burst into laughter at the warmth of his touch.

The two, who had been playfully tickling each other back and forth, soon found themselves settled on the bed.

Terran marveled at the sight of Grace lying on the white bed with her golden hair spread out.

She was perfect, like a divine creation.

“You’re beautiful, Grace.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say she was dazzlingly beautiful. He was a bit shy…

Looking at him with her enchanting figure, she was temptation itself.

No man in the world could resist Grace as she was now.

Of course, there would be no man beside her except himself. He wouldn’t allow it.

“I want to see your body too.”

Terran wouldn’t know, but it was the first time she had found a man’s body beautiful.

In fact, she had never seen another man’s body. Even so, she knew that Terran’s broad shoulders and perfect proportions were flawless.

As Terran took off his shirt, Lea’s awaited sturdy chest and shoulders were revealed. She unconsciously stroked his shoulders with her hand.

“Terran, your body is beautiful too.”

Had there ever been someone who looked at him with such love?

As her eyes, filled with all sorts of affection, gazed at him, Terran’s heart raced once again.

He wanted to rush to her immediately and whisper intense love.

But Terran’s eyes caught the sword wound on her side.

“Hah!”

He sighed as he saw the flaw he had made on her white skin. How could he have stabbed that tiny waist?

‘I’m a wretch.’

Terran felt like he would go crazy with pity for the wounded dove.

He didn’t know how to erase the sin he had committed. Instinctively, he brought his lips to her wound.

If only he could make it disappear, he wanted to ask for forgiveness even like this.

“Ah!”

As his lips touched her waist, a soft moan escaped her lips.

Terran’s action was probably meant to soothe the pitiful wound, but for Lea, it was like opening a door of sensation.

The gentle kiss made Lea’s heart flutter, and ultimately made her want him more.

Terran too, at Lea’s reaction, was seized with the desire to completely color her with himself.

“Love me, Terran.”

At her full permission, the reins of his tightly bound instincts came loose.

“I love you, Lea.”

That was just the beginning.

They say there are things you don’t know unless spoken, but Terran’s gaze and touch fully conveyed his deep feelings.

Terran admired Lea like a spring breeze.

From her luscious lips, past her long slender neck, to her round shoulders, he caught his breath.

Lea found it all breathtakingly exciting rather than frightening. That’s why she wanted to give him her all.

“Everything about you is lovely.”

Terran seemed to want to cover her with all sorts of sweet words.

Lea also wanted to whisper that she loved him. But she couldn’t gather her thoughts under his touch and words.

Her arms caressed his back, rippling with muscles.

At that small touch, Terran smiled as if pleased and leaned down for more.

Finding him adorable, Lea let out a small laugh.

Enchanted by that smile, Terran was overwhelmed with the desire to feel her from head to toe.

That thought turned into action in an instant.

At Terran’s action of trapping Lea completely in his arms, a low moan escaped Lea’s lips.

“Is it difficult?”

At his question, Lea shook her head. Rather, fearing Terran might pull away from her, she pressed her body closer.

“Hold me tighter.”

Terran smiled brightly, as if delighted by that request.

At last, the two became one and loved each other to their hearts’ content.