Olivia’s frozen breath became increasingly audible. Her innocent green eyes, unsure of what to do, trembled.

Enough is enough.

Edwin kindly smiled, stepped back, and, as if finishing an amusing story, raised his palm.

“…that was a joke. Of course, Olivia’s joke didn’t seem as amusing.”

It was dangerous.

Olivia, with wide-open eyes, looking at him, was incredibly beautiful, yet at the same time, provocatively seductive.

Edwin already knew how sweet the inside of her slender wrist was and how warm the red lips that touched her wrist’s pulse were.

“I like it, Edwin.”

Even the confession emitted a heat more dizzying than the warmth. Since that sweet day, Edwin’s patience had been gradually wearing thin. With each moment swallowing the bitter emotions, restlessness rustled.

He desperately hoped Olivia wouldn’t notice.

If Olivia wished, Edwin could easily assume the role of a kind gentleman.

However, Olivia, rather than playing along with awkward laughter and conspicuously changing the subject, kept her lips tightly sealed and stared at Edwin.

Maybe this is what anxiety feels like. Each time Edwin swallows the piercing dry emotions, restlessness rustles.

Edwin hesitated and removed his lips, as if unsure, from the sharp, keen senses that were being stimulated.

“Olivia, huh?”

At that moment, the smoothly rolling carriage suddenly shook. Without thinking, Edwin swiftly caught Olivia.

“Apologies. Miss, a stone rolled for a moment…”

It was a moment when the stableman’s voice could be heard from outside. In an instant, warm heat, like lightning, brushed the tip of Edwin’s right lip.

It was a cautious contact so delicate that even confirming if it truly happened was uncertain.

Amidst the scent disappearing at the tip of the nose, Edwin slowly blinked his eyes. Olivia, who raised her head proudly, looked at Edwin with a mischievous face.

“Oh, even though we haven’t officially married yet, we’re wearing matching rings.”

The red gemstone ring on their fingers was sufficient evidence of their relationship.

In my opinion, it was a quite bold move. However, the voice that was boldly uttered began to tremble. Olivia’s gaze went lower and lower.

From her exhausted, red eyes.

To her perfectly shaped nose.

And the reddened lips…

Olivia, unable to face the lips that I pressed against hers, looked at the sharp jawline without meeting the sharp lips.

The world in front of me turned white. I didn’t want to know or understand the meaning of the sharp gaze directed toward me, pale and focused on the sharp jawline.
As if on cue, a melodious stableman’s voice shouted loudly from outside.

“We’ve cleared the stones. We’ll pick up speed again!”

“Oh, that’s good.”

Awkwardly smiling, Olivia gently pushed Edwin’s shoulder.

She merely hoped to create some distance, but the shoulder she reached out to felt as immovable as a rock.

Her hand, surprised by his steadfastness, froze.

“Why are you so surprised?”

Edwin, as if gently enveloping the awkwardly halted hand in mid-air, grasped it. Olivia, flustered, stammered.

“No, it’s just, sit down. It’s dangerous. That’s what I was trying to do…”

“I know. So you don’t have to be so surprised. We’ve already touched more deeply.”

Startled, Olivia, with wide-open eyes, extended her other hand.

“May I?”

The pitch of her voice was unusually high.

It was evident that Olivia was conscious of him.

The end of her eyes, above a somewhat captivating face like a blossoming rose, twisted oddly.

“Oh, it’s too short, so I don’t remember well. It felt like it didn’t even touch.”

Edwin, extending his words, lightly touched the end of his lips with his empty hand. Then he subtly patted Olivia.

The tiny hand trapped in my hand was tense, forgetting to fidget.

Edwin’s round eyes, pretending to be foolish, flickered toward Olivia.

And the moment their eyes met.

The rosy cheek blushed. The eyes that ignited with embarrassment made Edwin’s head spin for a moment because they were so lovely.

“…By the way, I can’t see Carter Kelter anywhere. Neither Diane. They were definitely here earlier.”

I saw them busy with morning preparations.

Edwin sighed, pretending not to care about the nonsense. So, he nonchalantly revealed his true feelings.

“They must be somewhere. Anyway, I wanted to talk more about the situation a little while ago.”

“…Come to think of it, we probably need breakfast.”

“…Really. You know very well how to make me lose.”

Edwin groaned, tilting his head. Olivia grinned slyly.

At that moment.

Watching the carriage procession safely leaving the outskirts of Bikanthar, Winstor Kelter finally heaved a sigh of relief.

It was fortunate that the procession bidding farewell inside the ducal residence was long. He almost lured Jade Madelaine here, far from the gate, until the carriage came out.

“…I’ve been deceived. Saying Olivia was here.”

Fiercely brewed anger whirled around.

Yikes. Winstor shrugged, casually taking a step aside. Then he smirked. It was difficult to curse with his usual smiling face.