The moment their fingers brushed against each other, Meiana stiffened like a statue, her lips tightly pressed together, and her eyelids twitched slightly.

Sediloi’s fingers moved slowly. Delicately, like touching tangled threads, his knotted words trembled slightly as if enduring something.

Meiana couldn’t look away from the sight of the button, which had come loose, finding its place again. Her mind went blank, and she felt disoriented.

The flickering light and the long, moving fingers, along with the scent emanating from his body and neck, were the only distinct things.

With the button securely fastened, Sediloi briefly held Meiana’s nape before stepping back with a light chuckle.

“Need me to pick up the basket?”

Only then did Meiana snap out of it, gathering the scattered sewing materials into the basket haphazardly. It was only then that she realized she had hardly breathed.

As she exhaled deeply, lips sealed tight, Sediloi spoke.

“Go on. Sleep well.”

Meiana blinked rapidly. It felt like the inside of her lips and throat were drying up. The fragrance she sensed when he approached to button her dress had already dissipated faintly. The sudden realization of this fact was painfully regrettable.

“I have something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

What? Meiana asked herself the same question Sediloi had posed, almost verbatim. What do I want to ask? What am I curious about? Shouldn’t I leave here right now? Before doing something foolish?

“Perfume…”

Sediloi furrowed his eyebrows slightly, seemingly unable to understand her words.

“Say that again.”

“What, if you use perfume.”

Damn it. Meiana muttered curses under her breath. It was the first time she felt so foolish in her entire life. Even considering her past life, it was unprecedented.

Sediloi continued to blink as if he still couldn’t understand her words, then eventually, he smiled with a hint of amusement. Instead of answering, he stepped closer to Meiana’s nose.

Fragrance. Before Meiana could even think, she felt him with her body first. The scent, which had become faintly distant, now wrapped around her more intensely and vividly.

“Why are you curious about that?”

She was rendered speechless. Meiana wished he had just pushed her out the door. If she didn’t distance herself from him right away, she felt she might commit the most foolish act of her two lifetimes.

“It’s nothing. Just go to sleep.”

“Wait.”

Sediloi lightly grasped her wrist. Although he quickly released it when Meiana turned around, the spot where his hand had touched felt as if it had been burned.

Silence lingered. Apart from their contrasting breaths, there was no other sound. If the sound of the wax dipping again didn’t produce the sizzling noise, Sediloi didn’t know what might have happened. At least, that’s what he thought.

Facing Meiana’s bewildered face, he felt the sudden sensation he had once experienced wash over him like a wave.

While gazing at her… he wanted to press his lips against her slender neck, exposed beyond the plain collar of her dress. He wanted to feel the faint pulsation beneath the skin, swallow it, return it, and…

Sediloi’s body retreated slightly.

The tension between the two, who stood facing each other, resonated with Meiana like a drumbeat. Sediloi’s impulse flew towards her like sparks from a campfire. When she clenched her hand from the tingling sensation, Sediloi spoke.

“Go now.”

He said, looking at Meiana.

“Okay, it’s better that way.”

Meiana’s clear eyes stared at Sediloi. His shoulders seemed to slump.

“You seem to be sighing.”
“I didn’t say that because I don’t know the reason.”

“Are you going to blame me for this?”

Stop. Meiana heard the danger signal ringing in her head. Stop and leave here. Turn your back and leave…

She thought of Luke. She recalled the day he had prematurely revealed his feelings. The moment she realized she couldn’t give him what he wanted.

Sediloi spoke.

“I can’t blame you. But it’s a feeling I wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for you. So, please leave.”

Meiana turned her body. The sound of the door closing echoed heavily against her back.

Ariante’s lessons began the next day.

While Ibi was changing Ariante’s clothes, Ash, holding several books at his side, suddenly appeared on the east side of the mansion. Then he called Meiana, Vainty, and Bridget, explaining the things they needed to watch out for in a meticulous manner.

“Don’t knock or barge in unless the mansion is on fire while I’m teaching. Prepare snacks in advance and leave them. It’s better to have something light to eat than something that will make your stomach dirty. Cold things are okay too. Eating something sweet will make your brain work faster.”

As he said this, he raised his fingers above his head and twirled them around.

“Make sure not to make noise outside so that you can concentrate during the lesson. If you want to chat, go outside.”

“Yes, Mr. Lauren.”