As Odette drew near, the pain in Walter’s chest intensified.

Yet even that felt like ecstasy to Walter.

‘Temptation.’

Did this woman actually want to change her wedding dress design?

According to Emma’s report, the maid who visited today had been scolded for marks on her neck and shoulders. Perhaps that was not enough.

Walter was constantly tested at the limits of his patience every time he was alone with Odette or allowed physical contact with her.

Though he had never coveted anything and was accustomed to patience through his long knighthood, his patience always thinned when Odette was in sight.

If Odette knew what he thought when he looked at her, she would surely despise him.

‘Even now.’

Merely pulled into an embrace, yet Odette was tensed like an animal caught in a trap.

It was an expression of naïveté, unaccustomed to such acts.

Though this naiveté was endearing, his fiancée was excessively unguarded.

Even a rabbit would flee a predator, yet here she was tempting him.

Yet, even in her tense state, Odette did not avert her eyes from Walter.

“I can’t trust what you say.”

No, she was looking at Walter as if she wanted to.

“So prove it.”

Odette’s trembling fingertips touched Walter’s cheek.

What she was doing was not hard to understand.

“Ah. Are you mimicking me now?”

His hand stroked her cheek, grazed her ear, then caressed her neck as if stroking her hair.

There was no need for deep thought.

It was the very trajectory his hand always took.

“I’ve never tempted anyone before.”

“Learn cheating in Belfor, then.”

“I was never a model student, even then.”

“Liar.”

He had seen her always hanging around with that perennial valedictorian.

Walter swallowed his following words, his gaze focused on Odette’s white neck.

The elegant line extending from the neck to the shoulders.

Kissing her flat collarbone always resulted in a pleasantly warm scent tickling his nose.

Recalling those times he had violated her white flesh made his mouth dry.

Because of this, Walter had never ventured lower than the second shirt button.

He knew he would lose control if he crossed that line.

‘Damn it.’

In the end, Walter swallowed his curse, and released Odette from his embrace.

“I’ll grant your wishes after we’re married. Not today.”

Then a palpable disappointment rose on Odette’s face.

It was too deep a disappointment for just a failed temptation.

She knew why he had refused this temptation.

“You’re planning to go out, aren’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“I couldn’t sleep and went looking. Your bedroom was empty.”

With a sigh that seemed like recognition, Walter ruffled his hair as if refreshing himself.

“I had to step out for something. It’s nothing serious, didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily, didn’t think I’d get caught like this.”

“Can you tell me what it is if it’s not serious?”

“That will be difficult. It’s a personal matter. I’ll tell you when the opportunity arises.”

The precondition was ‘if the opportunity arises.’

What if the opportunity never came?

Odette swallowed the questions rising to her chin.

“I understand. I’ll go now.”

And she left Walter’s room without a backward glance.

Negative emotions bubbled up to her knees.

She really didn’t feel good.

“My Lord, you couldn’t sleep?”

“Yes… somehow.”

As Odette smiled faintly with a somewhat tired face, Anne-Sophie, who had been bustling around making noise, clapped her hands in delight.
“Comrades! I couldn’t sleep either. I was writing a report yesterday and got so sleepy that I went to get water. Just as I was about to sit down, I spilled water on the report I’d been working on. Haha, I bought waterproof ink, but it looks like I got scammed!”

In the eyes of Anne-Sophie, who laughed heartily at the idea of just making waterproof paper next time, there was no sparkle.

“Anne, are you okay?”

“If I’m not okay, I’d have to go home, right?”

Anne-Sophie was receiving a significant amount of tuition, research funds, and living expenses, all sponsored by the academy.

Not only did she possess a remarkable talent in magical studies, but she had also consistently been at the top of her class throughout her time at the academy.

And Belfor Academy had succeeded in tying down such an Anne-Sophie with money.

“I like what I’m doing, so I’m okay! But why couldn’t Your Highness sleep? You’re getting married soon.”

“Too many thoughts.”

“True, one does get overwhelmed by thoughts when marriage is looming.”

If only that was the reason.

Odette had spent the night wrestling with doubt.

She was torn between wanting to ask Walter right now what was going on, why he couldn’t talk to her, and sneaking out every night, and wanting to trust Walter.

‘Until I heard such talk from Count Clovis, I could trust Walter.’

Just as quickly as it happened, I found I couldn’t trust him. How fickle is the human heart.

If it were anyone else, she would have easily doubted them.