I walked along the vineyard with my hands behind my back, trying to hide my throbbing ankle.

I casually looked around at the clusters of grapes hanging abundantly. Unlike ordinary grapevines, these improved varieties towered well above a person’s height.

“You don’t seem like someone who would fall over just a bunch of grapes. How did you manage that?”

Edmond asked, following behind me.

Hmm. I raised my eyes, tapped my cheek with my fingertips, then turned my head and smiled.

“That’s a trade secret.”

“…”

“Oh my, you just thought I was being cunning, didn’t you?”

“Being quick-witted seems to be your business strength.”

“I won’t deny that.”

I smiled and turned my head forward, only to bump my forehead against a bunch of grapes hanging from a branch.

Ouch. As I rubbed my forehead and glanced sideways, I saw Edmond’s lips curled up like a slash. It was clearly a sneer. When our eyes met, he turned his head to the opposite side.

“The grapes seem to be telling you to be more careful. You should take note.”

He just had to say that. Where did the weighty demeanor from our first meeting go? His tone seems to be getting more and more spiteful.

‘They say kind words beget kind words. Is it my fault?’

I guess I’m paying the price for teasing him at the tailor shop.

I secretly glanced at Edmond and then looked up.

Nearby, the pale white-pink grapes were luscious and plump.

The round, dewdrop-like ends of the grapes looked the most delicious. Imagining how sweet and refreshing they would be, I found myself licking my lower lip.

Then Edmond, who was looking down at me from beside, suddenly wrinkled his face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t do that.”

“…?”

I blinked blankly, not understanding what he meant.

“You mean looking at the grapes?”

Edmond kept moving his lips with an uncomfortable expression, then abruptly turned his head away. It was a clear refusal to continue the conversation.

“…You’re not so quick-witted after all.”

I also heard him mutter quietly.

‘I mean, I need to know what exactly I shouldn’t do…’

As I was thinking that, something suddenly dawned on me, and I bit my lip.

Fortunately, I wasn’t particularly slow-witted, so I realized it before it was too late.

‘Why… why are you watching someone lick their lips.’

Feeling embarrassed, I roughly wiped my lips with the back of my hand. In the awkward atmosphere, I nervously touched the grapes.

“C-Can I taste these?”

Edmond, who had somehow regained his composure after flustering me, nodded indifferently towards the grapes.

“…Go ahead.”

I was about to pick them with my hand but then stood on my tiptoes. Just as I was about to bite them off like in a beautiful foreign film, my sprained ankle throbbed.

Before my lips could even touch the grapes, my body swayed greatly, and Edmond pulled my shoulder with a strong force. For a moment, I was dumbfounded with my face buried in his chest, then hastily stepped back.

I smiled awkwardly and gently rubbed my shoulder. The sensation of his large hand gripping it firmly still lingered.

“Thank you.”

“Did you really have to eat them with your mouth?”

“Are you saying I’m foolish? I get it, if I don’t want to be kicked out of the estate, I should listen to the lord well.”

Edmond gave me a disapproving, sideways glance, then effortlessly picked up a wooden ladder that had been leaning against a nearby tree.

He placed the ladder in front of me and, while I was off guard, grabbed my waist with both hands.

“Excuse me.”

…!

I was startled by the sudden elevation of my view, like a giant tree suddenly sprouting.

Gasp, I swallowed hard.

Being held by someone nearly 190cm tall, the view was much higher than I had expected.

Feeling dizzy from the height, I immediately hugged Edmond’s neck, the closest thing to me.

“What are you…!”

Edmond, his face buried in my chest, looked flustered and then hardened his expression when he saw my pale face.

“Lady Countess?”

“I-It’s too high.”

I squirmed, feeling my hands and feet go cold. Edmond put one arm under my thighs to hold me more securely.

“It’s dangerous if you move. Don’t worry, I won’t drop you.”

As he said, the arm supporting my body was as solid as stone, and the back I was clinging to was broad and sturdy.

Only then did I notice his hair tickling my cheek and his breath like a breeze brushing against my neck.

I lowered my gaze slightly. I could see Edmond’s flushed ears, but for some reason, I didn’t feel like teasing him as usual.

Probably because I was likely even redder than him.

Feeling embarrassed, I slowly lowered my hands from his arms.

“Hmm, is this how you usually see things?”

“If I startled you, I apologize.”

“…It’s okay, I was just a bit surprised. You were trying to put me on the ladder, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Well, then can I eat some grapes like this?”

I preferred this to the ladder. His body heat spreading through the thin fabric was uncomfortable yet stable. Perhaps it was because of his assurance that he wouldn’t drop me.

Edmond furrowed his brow, seemingly unsure about my condition.

“You were startled just a moment ago.”

“That was because it was too sudden earlier.”

After saying that, I bit into the luscious grape that had been tempting my vision. The cool juice burst, filling my mouth with a sweet and tangy flavor.

‘Mm, delicious!’

It was an eye-opening taste. I quickly plucked another grape and offered it to Edmond.

“Would you like some too, Lord Count?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“Ah, come to think of it, your hands are occupied. Shall I feed you?”

“Judging by your nonsense, it seems you’re feeling better.”

I suppressed a laugh at Edmond’s sharp retort, then saw something over his shoulder.

Oh my. I dropped the grape and slightly opened my mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

Before Edmond could turn his head, I covered his eyes. I felt his brow furrowing against my palm, which tickled.

“What are you doing?”

I hurriedly nodded to the man and woman emerging half-disheveled with flushed faces, gesturing for them to leave quickly. They fled swiftly like thieves.

This is a good time, a good time indeed.

“May I drop you now?”

Startled by the cold voice, I let go of my hands, and Edmond raised his eyebrows and glared at me with displeasure.

“I’m sorry. There were young men and women in their prime. I understand, but who knows how the lord would receive them? We don’t know how we might appear to them either.”

“How we might appear? We would look like we’re eating grapes.”

Edmond furrowed his brow, seemingly not understanding.

“Oh my, I mean there was a couple in the vineyard.”

“Were they stealing?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

For a moment, I was at a loss for how to explain, but after looking around, I whispered in his ear.

And at that moment,

Thud-!

‘Ugh, my bottom!’

Having fallen straight to the ground because he let go of his arms, I rubbed my throbbing bottom and looked up with resentful eyes.

‘You said you wouldn’t drop me!’

Edmond, not knowing what to do with his hands, squeezed his eyes shut as if trying to avoid my gaze when our eyes met.

Seemingly not immune to such words, he let out a groan and placed a hand on his waist. Though he half-covered his face with his hand, his uncovered skin was as red as a ripe grape.

“If the lady Countess hadn’t been talking nonsense, I wouldn’t have dropped you.”

“I was just speculating that we might have appeared that way to them as well.”

“They could have been farm workers too, couldn’t they?”

“When a man and woman come out of a vineyard with moist eyes and flushed faces, carrying their clothes, isn’t it obvious?”

What the…! Edmond lowered his hand and was about to burst out in anger but then gritted his teeth. I could see a thick vein protruding on his forehead.

“Don’t think by your own standards, lady Countess. What on earth is in that small head of yours?”

“Oh my, is my head small? Thank you.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

As I brightened up, Edmond’s face contorted even more. After a while, as if deciding to stop talking, he extended his hand and helped me up.

“Please stand up.”

“Thank you.”

While I was dusting off my dress, Edmond grabbed a grape stem. Soon, his thick forearm muscles twitched, and he cut off a bunch, handing it to me.

“Eat to your heart’s content.”

He plucked a grape and pushed it into my slightly parted lips. My lips were gently pressed by his fingertip. For some reason, this sensation made Edmond’s forehead wrinkle even more.

“Please keep that mouth occupied with grapes.”

Huff, Edmond sighed heavily and turned around, somewhat irritably loosening his tied-up hair.

Left alone, I narrowed my eyes and chewed on the grapes with a crunching sound.

“Why is he acting like that?”

Far from getting closer, it seems we’ve grown even more distant.

Whoosh-. The modest trees swayed gently in the early summer breeze, making rustling sounds.

Edmond quickly climbed the hill, stepping on the whispering shadows, and stood under a tree.

Edmond rubbed his heated face while letting out a deep sigh. The rising heat seemed to cool down in the lowered temperature.

Edmond suddenly stared at his own thumb. It was where he had touched Etricia’s lips. He swallowed a groan as he recalled the smooth and soft sensation that had touched his skin’s surface.

‘What is that woman…’

Usually, if she flattered him, he could just ignore it, but once in a while, she made him feel awkward like this.

For someone not immune to women, it was quite troublesome.

Ha, Edmond sighed with self-loathing and made a sharp expression. He glared at the tree trunk somewhat irritably.

“That’s enough, come out.”