The frail body now trembled with a start.

Unlike someone who had just initiated such an audacious act.

Doesn’t this make me feel like a criminal?

“You started it.”

As I smiled faintly, a stronger vibration transmitted from the body to my hand.

If anyone saw, it would look as if I had truly initiated it.

Unlike the cheeky one who attempted a kiss.

If you were going to use feminine wiles, you should have done it properly.

Don’t you know what happens when you stop feeding a lion midway?

This innocent, or rather, pretending-to-be-innocent young master.

I was fully reflected in those uniquely glass-like transparent eyes beneath the long lashes. Satisfyingly so.

But now, as if regretting it, the girl’s lips were tightly sealed.

At last, a long breath escaped through the slightly parted lips.

Not realizing how much it heated up the space, no, me.

The lips that left only a rough sensation finally opened, unable to bear my gaze.

“I, I…”

Yuriel’s eyes, which had been fleeing as if to escape, were once again captured by Cassian.

Red hair flowed softly through his fingers.

In an instant, a hot sensation engulfed the lips.

A wave as big as a house rushed in, stirring and shaking me.

Saliva was applied like ointment over the sore and rough lips.

With each sweet breath that flowed in, a dizzying sensation spread, curling my toes.

When I decided to commit this outrageous act against the young master, I had staked my life.

I thought it didn’t matter what this arrogant young master did.

Yet instinctively, my body shrank back and retreated.

The strength that firmly controlled all of that never let me go.

The words that I had started it mixed with the sound of rain, shaking my mind.

The more the sweet breaths intermingled, the more dazed I felt, as if losing my senses.

The countless escapes and captures that tormented me, receding like the tide only to surge back, were secretive and dangerous.

And so, this dangerous and audacious act continued for a long time.

In this place where no one would dare even imagine.

Outside, the sound of restless footsteps of the guards could be heard.

If they were to open the door that separated us…

All of this dirty act would be discovered.

But I couldn’t push him away. I couldn’t, and I had no right to.

As he said, I had started it.

As the strength to resist disappeared, an even more vivid sensation dominated my entire body.

In this painfully ecstatic, terribly contradictory kiss, our touching hearts beat rapidly like the rain soaking the earth.

Only when saliva glistened on the lips did the long-lasting torture finally end.

Cassian’s hot breath spilled onto my shoulder as he stood not even a step away.

The sweet breath I had been receiving until just a moment ago was this close.

Remembering that fact, Yuriel wanted to lose consciousness.

He effortlessly supported the staggering body.

Anyone who saw would believe that I was the patient.

Barely regaining balance, his voice broke over my shoulder.

“Your mother won’t become a mistress.”

Only then did my senses slowly return.

I know that with one word from him, if not all creation, at least all the people of this Alphonse can be moved.

The lord who kept bowing in the banquet hall will never be able to disobey the young master’s words.

My legs trembled with the belated sense of relief.

What supported my body about to collapse wasn’t his arm, but his words sharp as a dagger.

“I wonder if this is enough to satisfy you.”

With those final words, the young master disappeared outside.

Satisfaction? Shame finally rushed in.

I couldn’t even remember what state of mind I was in when I clung to him just moments ago.

As if my memory had been cut off.

It was a memory I wanted to forget, yet felt I could never forget.

Despite my earlier resolve to do anything, that was now meaningless.

That mere kiss constricted me.

It felt as though I could never return to my former self again.

Though I wiped away the glistening saliva, the hot memory didn’t disappear.

After sitting blankly on the cold floor for some time, staring into space.

The guards and some unfamiliar people came to announce my release.

One of them, looking at my miserable state, explained the situation with an embarrassed face.

“We heard you were falsely accused, it’s a real shame. We’re just people following orders from above…”

Their apologies buzzed in my ears, but Yuriel heard nothing.

It felt as if someone was replaying only the incident with the young master in my head.

I wished I could be cursed with oblivion and forget everything.

That feeling was only broken when I returned to the mansion and found my mother.

Jane embraced Yuriel tightly as soon as she saw her.

The mother and daughter, hugging each other, shed tears for a long time.

Jane, looking sadly at Yuriel’s half-ruined face, took out some ointment.

Thankfully, Butler Ranod had sent it himself, saying it would be needed.

The soft ointment was applied to the chapped lips and bruises from being dragged to prison.

Jane looked sadly at Yuriel, who didn’t even flinch despite how it must have hurt.

It pained her to see her daughter, still at an age to rely on her parents, grow up too quickly.

At the same time, she felt miserable thinking it was because she hadn’t been a proper mother.

Unaware of these feelings, Yuriel smiled brightly, still pretending to be an adult.

“Mom, everything’s alright now.”

“…”

“I’ve been released, and you too…”

Yuriel swallowed the rest of her words, unable to finish saying that her mother wouldn’t have to become the lord’s mistress.

She didn’t want to bring up that shame, as her mother didn’t know she was aware of it.

In fact, Jane had just been anxiously waiting after hearing that her scheduled visit to the lord’s room had been canceled.

And now, for her daughter to be released like this.

Jane shed tears of gratitude to God.

“But how were you released, Yuriel?”

A look of bewilderment crossed Yuriel’s hesitating face.

Jane didn’t miss this strange sign.

Meeting her emerald eyes, she worriedly asked in a gentle voice.

“Nothing happened, right, Yuriel?”

“What could have happened? They found out it was a false accusation and released me.”

Yuriel, burying her face in her mother’s embrace like a child, felt relieved and grateful again that she was here.

If her mother had become the lord’s mistress because of her…

So this moment was blissfully happy, almost too much to bear.

Enough to make her disgusted with herself for frowning at the recurring memories of the young master.

“I don’t know how the false charges were cleared, but I’m so glad. Really glad.”

Jane gently stroked Yuriel’s hair as she held her.

In that comfortable embrace, Yuriel thought of the young master.

“I guess the young master spoke up for me.”

“The young master?”

“Yes. That’s what they said.”

Though speaking nonchalantly, Yuriel was using all her strength not to tremble.

Just the word ‘young master’ made her head spin, recalling that incident.

Only when she saw her mother nod did Yuriel change the subject, acting childish.

Light conversation continued, and daily life slowly returned.

As night deepened, Yuriel took her place beside her mother and snuggled into her embrace.

She wanted to stay like this a little longer tonight, as she would have to return to being the young master’s attendant from tomorrow.

Trying hard to erase those memories, Yuriel drifted off to sleep.

In the deep night, Yuriel dreamed of heading to the capital with her mother.

A beautiful, picturesque dream city unfolded before her eyes.

In it, mother and daughter created happy memories.

It seemed her mother’s dreamcatcher was working properly.

On the morning when a new sun soaked the earth.

Yuriel rose at the dazzling light entering through the window.

The kiss that still filled her mind continued to dominate her.

Trying to shake it off, Yuriel picked up the daily newspaper and stopped at the news of the theft incident at the Alphonse mansion.

The headline article detailed that it had all been Lady Catherine’s own scheme.

Could this be the young master’s work too?

He had done more than enough by just pulling her mother out of the mire, without even having to clear her innocence.

In the young master’s terms, the price of the kiss had been fully paid.

The words ‘anonymous informant’ in the corner confirmed her suspicions.

Cassian, it was certainly his doing.

This newspaper was known for often causing problems by not properly concealing the identities of ordinary informants.

The only people they would be cautious about were those of Cassian’s stature.

Yuriel stepped out on time and slowly made her way towards the young master’s room.

Complicated thoughts tangled with each step.

Why had the young master stood up for her?

Simply because he disliked Lady Catherine? Or did he pity her?

Perhaps he was just concerned about his own reputation and sided with the attendant by his side.

Whatever the intention, it was certainly something to be grateful for.

If not for him, she would have been mocked and called a thief every time she encountered the people of Alphonse.

The path to the floor was busier than usual.

She could see Mary leading the servants in the center, taking charge.

The banquet had just ended recently, so it couldn’t be another one.

Yuriel naturally approached Mary and asked quietly.

“Is something happening?”

“Yes. The Duchess Blanchet is coming soon.”