The date course was ordinary. First, we went to a nice cafe and had tea. Then we had lunch at a popular seafood restaurant that Nathan must have reserved.

When other people were looking, Cain would come close to Jane and pretend to talk with her.

When Jane acted awkwardly, he advised her.

“The wedding is soon. If you don’t want strange rumors, act smart. There’s nothing good about being the subject of gossip.”

Cain put his hand on Jane’s hip. He was smiling.

This is a continuation of yesterday’s act.

Inwardly, she had been wavering due to his ingrained consideration throughout the date.

When people came, he would stand protectively in front of Jane, or pull out the chair instead of the waiter, or even hand her a napkin when food got on her mouth – even these small actions shook her.

But to think it was all calculated acting.

She had been unknowingly immersed in the date.

Jane chuckled with self-reflection. Soon after, thoughts of self-justification arose.

It may be nothing to Cain, but for Jane it was her first date. So she couldn’t help but be swept away.

‘But this is work. Not a date.’

Jane erased the harmful self-justification and put on a pretty smile.

“You should have told me in advance.”

Jane turned in his arms and fiddled with Cain’s shirt collar. Due to their close distance, it looked like they were embracing at a glance.

“What kind of rumors do you want? I’ll act smarter.”

Jane looked up from within Cain’s embrace.

Her stiff body softened, and her eyes that were sharply wary like a cat’s curved like crescent moons.

Jane pressed her ample bosom against Cain. And she stroked the handkerchief tucked in Cain’s jacket as if tidying it.

To Cain, her touch felt like seduction.

He lowered his head to look closely at what she was up to.

At that moment, Jane raised her head as if timed. Her crown barely brushed against his chin.

Jane and Cain gazed at each other, exploring one another.

Jane’s green eyes like a meadow and Cain’s blue eyes like the sky differed in the texture of their gazes as much as their colors.

Cain glared at Jane as if to devour her, while Jane’s gaze was strangely calm.

But though she looked calm on the outside, Jane’s heart was pounding.

If Cain lowered his head just a bit more, if Jane raised her toes just slightly, their lips would touch – that’s how close the two were.

Cain’s breathing gradually quickened and Jane’s eyelashes trembled.

A tense atmosphere hung between them.

He who seemed like he couldn’t get any closer came little by little, truly slowly enough to drive one mad with waiting. Just as Jane’s eyes were about to close in sync with his speed.

“How greedy.”

The warmth disappeared. It was because Cain had suddenly stepped back. Jane’s face flushed hot.

What just happened…

Jane quickly covered her cheeks.

It seemed she shouldn’t be alone with him in a small space.

Jane grabbed Cain’s collar as he was getting into the carriage.

“Is the date over?”

Cain looked at Jane with inscrutable eyes. She looked like someone being chased. She seemed anxious and frightened.

It was hard to believe she was the same person who had confidently seduced him just moments ago.

Which was the real Jane?

The desire to forcibly draw out her true self welled up.

If possible, today.

“No, we’re moving to the next location.”

Jane could be seen biting the inside of her mouth. Cain lifted one corner of his mouth.

“Why? Do you want to go to the last place quickly?”

“The last place? Aren’t we going home?”

Cain recalled Jane closing her eyes as if expecting a kiss.

She knew exactly the mood for kissing. As if she had done it before.

And now you’re acting innocent?

Cain let go of the carriage door and grabbed Jane’s shoulders instead. He brought his face close to her cheek as if to kiss and whispered.

“Why pretend, Jane, when you know. Where else would the end of a date be? A hotel.”

The implications of a hotel as a location were all too clear.

Jane took a deep breath. Jane, who had never been on a date before, was ignorant about physical relationships.

As she reflexively stepped back half a step, Cain wrapped his arm around her lower back and pulled her in.

He liked how she acted like a sensitive rabbit. Even if it was an act of pretending to be innocent.

“Let’s do well till the end.”

Cain opened the carriage door.

* * *

Cain quietly followed Jane as she walked along the path.

The two were walking in a small park owned by the Hastings. Spring flowers were in full bloom in the park centered around an artificial lake.

The reason they came to the park, canceling the performance Cain had reserved in advance, was entirely because of Jane.

〈I, I want to take a walk!〉

Jane made a sudden request while riding in the carriage.

〈You told me to think about date courses. A walk. I want to go to the park.〉

Cain recalled what he had said. Though he had said to think about it out of courtesy, it was right to at least pretend to consider it since he had said it.

Moreover, thinking about it briefly, it didn’t seem like a bad choice to walk since they had been eating and sitting all day.

Cain turned the carriage around.

And now, the two were walking along the path.

Not together, but separately.

Jane walked at least 2 meters away from Cain.

At first she seemed to walk beside him, but before he knew it she was far ahead.

Since there was no one watching, there was no need to walk side by side, so he just let her be.

Then Jane distanced herself as if she had been waiting for it. Cain consciously slowed his steps which unconsciously tried to keep up with her.

This distance was right.

Close enough to keep an eye on Jane, but far enough that she couldn’t shake him.

As she moved away, Cain’s nerves also relaxed. His steps gradually became more comfortable.

After walking like that for a while, the sky suddenly darkened.

“Jane, we should head back.”

Cain called out to Jane. She looked back with a handful of wildflowers in her hand.

‘So that’s why she was bending down here and there, to pick flowers.’

Come to think of it, Jane really liked flowers. But the vase in Jane’s room would be empty now. No, did she even have a vase in her room?

“Do you think it will rain?”

Jane looked up at the sky. The wind carried moisture.

Cain nodded curtly once and then headed back the way they came.

The amount and color of the clouds were ominous.

Jane had just recovered from a cold after getting caught in the rain. He couldn’t let her get rained on again. The wedding was not far off.

His steps gradually quickened.

Jane followed him hurriedly, almost running.

Because of that, she couldn’t watch the path well and didn’t notice a protruding stone.

In the end, Jane tripped over the stone and fell.

“Ugh.”

Wildflowers scattered around her as she sat on the ground. Her palms were scraped and her dress was a mess.

In that brief moment, Cain who had gone quite far ahead turned to look at her.

“You should have watched where you were going.”

He chided her but instantly came over and helped her up.

“Oww.”

Jane staggered, unable to stand straight. A look of dismay crossed her face. Sharp pain shot through her left ankle whenever she put weight on it.

“I think I twisted my ankle.”

Jane honestly reported her condition for quick problem-solving.

“It would be better to call someone, Cain. I’ll sit over there and wait.”

Jane pointed to a rock with a flat top.

“It’s better to go quickly.”

Cain picked Jane up in his arms.

“Cain, someone!”

“What if you catch a cold from the rain and can’t make it to the wedding?”

“…”

“I don’t want my schedule disrupted. Just hold on tight without a word.”

Jane hesitated before putting her arms around Cain’s neck, and he let out a long sigh.

Jane felt awkward and sorry, not knowing what to do with herself.

She regretted suggesting a walk. It was an impulsive request because she felt suffocated being in a small space with Cain, but it ended up being a burden to him.

It must be tiring even for someone as strong as him to carry an adult woman for a long time.

Even if his reason for carrying her was because of the wedding, she was still grateful.

‘I should thank him.’

Just as she made up her mind, a drop of water fell on Jane’s forehead.

One drop soon became two, then three, gradually increasing in volume until rain came pouring down, shaking the forest.

“Damn it.”

Cain, who seemed to hesitate for a moment, started walking towards the forest again. No, he started running.

“Cain, where, hup, where are we going?”

Every time she spoke, rainwater flowed into her mouth. Jane barely opened her eyes and looked up at Cain.

The rain soaked his hair thoroughly and flowed down his jawline.

“There’s a cabin. We’ll stay there until the rain stops.”

“A cabin? Does someone live there?”

“No. It’s empty.”

Jane said in bewilderment.

“Shouldn’t we go back to the carriage even now…”

“It doesn’t look like rain that will stop easily. By the way, can’t you stop asking questions? I’m not thirsty.”

Every time Cain answered Jane, rain rushed into his mouth.

Jane still had something she wanted to ask. It was the most important question.

‘Do we have to spend the night in that cabin, just the two of us?’

Would the hotel become a cabin?

Or…

Though she was being drenched in cold rain, Jane’s body heated up in contrast.

Jane stopped thinking further and buried her face in Cain’s chest.