When I got off the carriage, I liked the scenery I first saw, but I liked it even more now. I never knew there was such a beautiful place near the capital. I walked along the lakeside for a long time, enjoying it so much that I regretted not knowing about it earlier.

Then, feeling an intense gaze, I turned my head. It was Herald.

He was still standing in the same spot as if nails were driven into his feet. Realizing that she had left Herald behind, Liliana approached him with an embarrassed face.

“I’m sorry. The lake was so beautiful that I got lost in it without realizing.”

“It’s alright. I’m rather glad that it seems to be to the lady’s liking.”

“I like it very much. It’s exactly the place I was thinking of.”

“A place where you can relax and let go of all your worries, where you don’t have to be mindful of others’ eyes, and where you can feel a sense of relief. That kind of place, right?”

Even though she had said it herself, hearing it from Herald’s mouth made Liliana feel somewhat embarrassed, causing her cheeks to flush slightly.

Herald pointed with his chin to the tree behind him.

“The view of the lake from up in that tree is quite beautiful too. It’s a shame the lady can’t see it.”

“Why can’t I see it?”

“Because you can’t climb a tree wearing a dress.”

“Ah.”

Liliana let out a short exclamation as she looked down at the clothes she was wearing. Indeed, climbing a tree in a flowing dress seemed difficult. Above all, Liliana didn’t know how to climb trees.

While thinking it was right to give up, Liliana still felt regretful and looked at the tree Herald had mentioned. The trunk was so thick that several strong men together couldn’t wrap their arms around it, and the branches extending from it were also thick. It seemed like it could easily support not only Liliana but Herald as well if they sat on it.

I wonder if there’s no way to climb up there somehow. Even though she knew it would be difficult, Liliana couldn’t let go of her lingering desire and kept looking up at the tree. Herald asked,

“Do you want to climb the tree?”

“Ah… no, it’s fine.”

Liliana hid her true feelings, knowing that if she said yes, Herald would try to find a way somehow. She was already grateful for him bringing her here and didn’t want to trouble him any further.

“It doesn’t seem like it.”

However, her true feelings were seen through once again. Herald looked around the upper part of the tree and pointed to a relatively lower branch.

“If you step on my shoulders, I think you could reach that far.”

Step on his shoulders! Liliana was startled and waved her hands dismissively.

“Really, it’s fine! You don’t have to do that.”

“But since we’ve come all this way, wouldn’t it be good to see it?”

“It’s okay. I can come back and see it another time.”

At Liliana’s words, the corners of Herald’s lips turned up slightly.

“That means you’ll come here with me again next time.”

Ah, is that how the conversation is going?

Having unintentionally promised a next meeting, Liliana looked back at the lake with an embarrassed expression. As she watched the dazzlingly sparkling lake receiving the warm sunlight with its entire body, a smile naturally spread across her face.

“Thank you.”

Liliana looked at Herald with her smiling face and expressed her gratitude.

“Both before and now… Thank you so much for helping me.”

“…”

Herald said nothing in response to her sincere thanks. He just looked down at her with mysterious eyes that made it impossible to know what he was thinking.

Feeling a little uncomfortable under his gaze, Liliana licked her dry lips and lowered her eyes slightly. That’s when she noticed a small scar, about the size of a pinky nail, just below his chin.

A scar on a nobleman’s face. It was an extremely rare sight. The higher the status, the less tolerated even the smallest scars were.

Did that mean Herald’s status wasn’t high?

No, that couldn’t be. After all, he was a man who stayed in a suite at the Prasis Hotel. He must be at least from a count’s family or higher.

Then what was that scar? Was the wound too deep to be resolved even with medical treatment?

But it seemed too small for that. Looking closely at its shape, it looked like it might have been caused by something like a sword. If he was a knight who used a sword, having a scar on his face would make a bit more sense.

“Are you just going to say thank you with words?”

The unnecessarily extending branch of curiosity was cut off. Liliana looked straight at Herald’s face again. The golden eyes she met sparkled innocently like a child’s.

“There must be other ways to express your gratitude.”

It meant he wanted compensation. Considering the kindness Herald had shown so far, it was a reasonable request, so Liliana accepted it without resistance.

“If there’s something you want as repayment, tell me.”

Herald tilted his head slightly.

“What if I ask for something strange?”

“Are you going to ask for something strange?”

“Well, it might be strange or not, depending on how you take it.”

“That sounds like a riddle.”

Herald’s thin, red lips curved up smoothly.

“Are you curious?”

Danger. A red alert went off in her head. Her mind screamed fiercely to say no, that she wasn’t curious, but her mouth uttered different words.

“Yes, I’m curious.”

As soon as Liliana’s answer ended, Herald closed the distance between them abruptly. Liliana flinched at the uncomfortably close proximity and stepped back, but it was futile.

Herald, who grabbed her shoulders faster than she could retreat, asked in a heavily sunk voice,

“Are you really curious?”

It meant this was her last chance to refuse whatever he was going to do. If he had just let Liliana run away, there would have been no need to ask so troublesomely, but doing this also meant he hoped she wouldn’t refuse.

And Liliana realized what Herald wanted. So she thought she should refuse, but once again her body didn’t listen to her mind’s screaming words.

“I’m curi-!”

This time, she couldn’t finish her sentence as her lips were wholly engulfed. Although it was expected, Herald kissed her so intensely that Liliana, startled, bit his lip.

Even though she bit hard enough to taste a tang on her tongue, Herald didn’t back away. Instead, as if trying to soothe her surprise, he licked her lips like candy.

Liliana, her surprised feelings calmed by his gentle consideration, grabbed his shoulders. Herald, somehow understanding this as a sign of permission, parted Liliana’s lips and invaded inside. Breathless gasps intertwined, and wet sounds were heard.

This was the second time Liliana had kissed Herald. However, since her memory of the first kiss was hazy due to being drunk, this was essentially like the first time. As it was her first time kissing a man and unfamiliar to her, she was swept along by Herald’s lead like a sailboat caught in rough waves.

As the kiss lengthened, her tongue began to sting and her breath became more labored. Her mind, now completely blank, was filled with a succession of brilliant fireworks. Unaccustomed to such intense stimulation, her legs trembled, making it difficult to stand properly.

Eventually, Liliana’s body lost its balance as her legs gave way. Fortunately, thanks to Herald holding her firmly, she didn’t fall, but instead ended up burying her face in his solid chest. The sound of a beating heart was palpably felt.

Is it mine?

No, this was this man’s.

It was natural for the heart to beat since he was alive, but it was beating too fast to be just that. As if he had been running for a long time or as if he was facing someone he liked.

“…”

As her thoughts reached that point, Liliana slowly raised her head. His face was languid like a predator who had caught its intended prey, but his golden eyes still showed unquenched desire.

“It’s smeared.”

As his thick, firm fingers touched her sensitized lips, her green eyes wavered. On the other hand, Herald continued with a satisfied smile.

“I’ve received sufficient repayment, my lady.”

The shared carriage they had ridden was waiting at the entrance of the forest. Herald had instructed the coachman to do so. The coachman was initially troubled, but when Herald pressed a gold coin into his hand, he immediately changed his attitude. It was a sum he could barely earn even if he drove the carriage for a whole week.

The coachman’s mouth split into a grin when Herald, emerging from the forest, pressed another gold coin into his hand. Of course, he didn’t give the gold coin without reason.

“You understand, don’t you?”

Of course he understood. It meant to keep silent about everything that happened here, who they met.

Like a veteran with over 20 years of experience as a coachman, he immediately understood what Herald wanted and bowed deeply in response, agreeing to do so.

The shared carriage carrying Liliana and Herald rode with the red sunset at its back. The shared carriage still had terrible ride quality, but it was no longer a problem for Liliana. All her attention was focused on the man sitting across from her.

Liliana was curious about his identity. They had spent a night together, had something like a date, and even kissed, but she knew nothing about this man.

‘I suppose it’s the same for him.’

She hadn’t introduced herself either. She might have said something while drunk, but given that he kept calling her ‘lady’, it was highly likely she hadn’t.

Then… does he not know that I’m married?

If so, this man might think this was a normal romance, not an affair or adultery. Liliana’s conscience pricked her, causing her to lower her gaze for a long time.

“You don’t look well. Are you feeling ill somewhere?”

“No. It’s just…”

I should properly introduce myself, right?

Having made up her mind, Liliana looked straight at Herald’s face and continued speaking.