Even after returning to the imperial palace, the two did not separate.

Clea’s room was decorated darkly.

It was prepared to prevent others from seeing inside while allowing for romantic time within.

Clea and Admund were dumbfounded at how quickly the servants caught on, but before long their bewilderment turned to gratitude.

The atmosphere between the two changed for the better, matching the room’s ambiance.

The first thing that caught Clea’s eye was the luxurious alcohol prominently placed on the table.

She went to the table, picked up the bottle, and showed it to Admund.

Seeing this, Admund cleared his throat.

“Alcohol has been prepared.”

“We’ve already drunk plenty.”

“But if not today, when else would we drink this much?”

Clea smiled as she opened the bottle and poured it into glasses.

Admund, quietly watching the scene, swallowed.

Just watching her pour the drink with an enchanting smile made Admund feel intoxicated.

Admund thought.

That he shouldn’t drink any more here.

He didn’t want to drink to the point of blacking out.

Not only because he didn’t know what he might do in a blackout moment, but also because he wouldn’t remember it well later.

He had already blacked out a few times while drinking with her.

Of course, there were times when he lost his reason even without drinking.

Anyway, he intended to suggest they stop drinking.

But contrary to the thoughts his head was sending, he ended up accepting the glass as soon as Clea offered it.

Admund gave Clea a perplexed look.

Clea, not breaking eye contact with Admund, said,

“Isn’t it a night too good to stay sober?”

Those words, suggesting it was a night too good to stay sober, threatened the thread of reason.

In that precarious tightrope walk, she clinked her glass against the one in his hand.

As the cheerful sound tickled their ears, Clea emptied her wine in one gulp.

Seeing her like this, Admund was reminded of the previous Clea.

“Yes, it’s a night too good to stay sober.”

Admund repeated her words as he emptied his glass just like her.

As soon as he emptied his glass, Clea kissed him.

There was still unswallowed wine in their mouths.

It was a kiss that wasn’t particularly sweet, nor particularly bitter, but had a very nice aroma.

Admund always tried not to be led by her.

The desire to take the lead always boiled within him.

But he always ends up being overwhelmed by Clea’s pace in the end.

Seeing Admund’s cheeks turn red, Clea asked adorably,

“Surely you haven’t gotten drunk already? The night is still young.”

At Clea’s mention of the long night, Admund thought.

‘It had just healed, but it seems it will be marked again.’

He smiled, trying to think of a way to protect his neck somehow.

However, making such thoughts futile, Clea closed the distance with Admund in an instant and approached his neck area.

She hadn’t bitten yet.

Just quietly looking.

Seeing this, Admund whispered.

“I’m not sure who’s drunk here.”

At those words that seemed almost like a provocation, Clea bit his neck right then.

It was the beginning of a long, long night.

* * *

“Young master, you must return as early as possible.”

“Yes, I got it.”

Having finished all preparations, Lloyd was satisfied with his reflection in the mirror.

The butler thought it might be too much, as he looked like someone going to a banquet.

The butler wanted to hold Lloyd back as much as possible.

If by chance the Duke returned and found out that Lloyd had slipped out of the mansion with his help, it would be a disaster.

‘How have I endured this far.’

The butler’s family was one of the loyal vassal families that had served the Duke’s house faithfully.

The butler who inherited the family succeeded to the position of the loyal butler of the Percy Duke’s house, following the family’s mission.

But he was never satisfied with just being a butler.

Although he inherited a solid count’s family, he was still just a butler.

Of course, the Duke and Duchess gave appropriate rewards to the loyal vassal families, but the butler was not satisfied.

So he formed a grand plan through the very young Lloyd, who would grow up preciously protected.

The education of noble children was usually entrusted to butlers or other vassals, so he too had an opportunity.

He didn’t miss the chance.

He made Lloyd grow up to be completely incompetent and only interested in playing.

‘There’s only a little left now.’

The Duke and Duchess had expressed concern about Lloyd’s qualities and temperament several times, trying to change him somehow.

However, at such times, the butler moved secretly without others knowing.

He cut off all excellent teachers and friends of good character from Lloyd’s side.

‘If he inherits the Duke’s house like this, everything in the Duke’s house will be in my hands.’

When the butler urged him to return before the Duke came back, Lloyd answered halfheartedly but agreed.

Realizing that his plan to control the Duke’s house in place of Lloyd, who was busy indulging in extravagance, was within reach, he smiled as he watched Lloyd leave.

Thinking that Lloyd would continue to act stupidly and just play around, he set out to examine the internal situation.

Meanwhile, Lloyd got into the carriage without any suspicion.

“Indeed, only the butler moves for my sake.”

“Will you be alright? Going out like this, I mean.”

Seeing Lloyd climb up, the coachman asked with a worried expression.

It was a question of whether it was okay to move around like this when there were the Duke’s orders, but Lloyd didn’t even care.

Rather, he felt displeased that a mere coachman dared to speak to him.

However, more urgent to slip out of the Duke’s residence safely, he exercised patience for once and answered kindly.

“It’s not the first or second time you’ve been angry with me. It doesn’t matter, so let’s depart quickly.”

The time had already grown quite late.

The coachman tried to dissuade him, saying it was against etiquette to visit at this hour without an invitation, but Lloyd insisted on going all the way.

In the end, the coachman drove the horse according to Lloyd’s wishes.

‘It’s not even a baron’s or viscount’s house, but a duke’s house he’s visiting without notice.’

The coachman had a headache, as this had happened several times before.

Lloyd didn’t pay much attention when visiting the Hersher mansion, but the coachman had to endure intense scrutiny every time they visited.

The look that said, “You’ve come here again, unable to restrain your master?”

But Lloyd was not one to care about such things.

The only thing he cared about was seeing Aria’s beautiful face with his own eyes.

* * *

“I’ve come to see Aria.”

“I’ll inform those inside.”

Lloyd frowned at the gatekeeper who didn’t immediately open the door, but soon restrained himself.

He didn’t want any unpleasant words to reach Aria’s ears from causing a scene in front of her house.

So, uncharacteristically, he waited a little while.

“As it’s currently meal time, the Duke asks if you can wait until the meal is finished.”

“Then tell them I’ll wait in the reception room.”

“They say you cannot do so as there are currently guests in the reception room.”

“Are you telling me to wait here now?”

“If you don’t wish to wait, they ask that you come back another time.”

Lloyd was furious upon hearing the Duke’s words.

He was displeased with being treated this way despite being the Grand Duke’s heir.

But from the Duke’s perspective, no matter if Lloyd was to inherit the Grand Duke’s house, he was still just the heir for now.

He might reluctantly treat him better after he inherits the Grand Duke’s house, but before then, he was still just a youngster.

‘Who knows when we’ll meet like this again.’

Lloyd, his pride hurt, pondered.

His mind was screaming that it would be right to turn back here.

But he wanted to meet her. If he left now, he didn’t know when he’d see her again.

Lloyd, already thoroughly irritated because of Clea, felt he could only calm down if he met Aria here and now.

“Tell them I’ll wait.”

“Yes, understood.”

The gatekeeper clicked his tongue inwardly.

He had thought Lloyd would leave if he just relayed this, but unexpectedly, he didn’t go.

There was no one who didn’t know why Lloyd came to the Hersher mansion.

To meet Aria.

There was no other reason for him to visit at all.

They felt repulsed by how blatantly he showed his affection for Aria.

Everyone in the Hersher family wished for Aria to be with Admund.

This was Aria’s wish as well.

‘What’s his intention in coming here when he has Lady Clea as his fiancée? Surely he doesn’t mean to make our young lady his mistress?’

For those who hadn’t heard the rumors, or didn’t believe them, Lloyd’s behavior could only be uncomfortable.

He already had a fiancée whom everyone believed he would marry without doubt.

Everyone in the Hersher household was worried about malicious rumors spreading due to his constant hovering around Aria, even though they hadn’t broken off the engagement.

But Lloyd lived without caring about any of this.

It was his characteristic to be completely unaware of how others viewed him.

“Lloyd.”

After waiting for several dozen minutes, Lloyd finally saw the person he had so longed to see.

Aria, whose pink hair suited her so well, appeared before his eyes.

Lloyd looked at her with a bright smile, but Aria looked at Lloyd with a stern expression.

“Please don’t come to see me anymore.”

She opened her tightly closed lips and said.

To no longer visit this place.