Having rummaged through her memories, she dropped her eyes that had been momentarily raised.

‘What’s this? Why is he walking so fast?’

Unless Haribo Marquis runs, he will be too far away to catch up.

‘Perhaps he wants to send me off quickly and take a break.’

The man is undoubtedly in pain.

Having reached a conclusion, Lamein increased her walking speed.

The two of them stood facing each other in front of Lamein’s carriage.

“Please take care on your way back.”

“Marquis Haribo, may I ask you something?”

He slightly raised his eyebrows as if urging her to speak.

“Is it that the Marquis and Lady Haribo did not inherit healing abilities?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”
Marquis Haribo responded promptly.

“Ah, I see. I was curious about that.”

“It’s not a difficult question to answer.”

She thought it might be fortunate.

“Then please be careful on your way back.”

“Yes, I’ll wait for your contact. Since you’re not feeling well, go inside and rest quickly.”

Lamein urged, feeling concerned that someone unwell was seeing her off.

Instead of a reply, Marquis Haribo gestured towards the carriage with his hand.

Lamein got on the carriage, and soon it started moving.

As Marquis Haribo, watching the departing carriage, let out a short sigh.

‘More than anyone, you had a kind and warm heart.’

The gentle and warm voice that tickled the ears.

A smile that was so clear and bright that you couldn’t take your eyes off it.

Recalling that moment, Marquis Haribo clenched his chest with one hand.

The rapid heartbeat, beating independently of his will, could be felt in the palm of his hand.

As he silently stared at the disappearing carriage, a bitter smile settled on the man’s lips.

Always thinking of his mother, he also thought of her.

He had considered it as compassion for a little child who had overcome a harsh life.

But the moment she reappeared in front of him.

He was perplexed by an inexplicable attraction and a confusing desire to protect her.

“This is troublesome.”

Now breaking through the confusion, possessiveness lifted its head, beginning to disturb the world.

Exhaling a low breath, he removed his hand from above his chest.

“Madam, I don’t think I’m a good person after all.”

The man, who released a low voice, left his seat after a long time.

“Umm…”

Wrapped in the warmth that embraced her body, Lamein squirmed.

Even with her eyes closed, she could tell it was morning.

‘I have to get up.’

As she tried to wake up from her hazy mind.

“…”

Rather than the warmth felt in the usual cozy blanket, there was a slightly hotter and denser warmth enveloping her body.

“…!”

As she blinked her eyes.

“Did you not have any dreams last night?”

The voice, excessively affectionate, spread a smile involuntarily, digging gently into her ears.

“Cedric. When…!”

In the moment she turned her head, a force gently pulled her waist, drawing her into her husband’s arms.

Touch.

A pleasant kiss landed on her forehead.

“When I came back last night, you were sleeping.”

Lowering his head, the husband, whose eyes met hers, whispered softly.

“I’m sorry. I practiced horseback riding a lot yesterday, so I must have been tired.”

“I’m not sorry. Thanks to that, I got to see the sleeping face of my wife.”

Lamein widened her eyes.

“Cedric. Were you here all night?”

“Why? Is there a problem with that?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Are you worried that I touched the body of a sleeping person like my wife?”

Tuck. Without hurting, she gently punched her husband’s chest and turned her eyes away, not looking upset.

“I didn’t touch you!”
“So that’s regrettable. That’s what it means.”

Looking at her husband’s eyes full of laughter, she let out a wry smile.

“Aren’t you scared of riding horses now?”

“Yes! I’m really good at riding horses now. I might even be able to do aerial somersaults on horseback!”

…Darling, please, not that.

Cedric, who thought for a moment that it might be possible, laughed again at the self-loathing that came over him.

“In fact, I had something to say yesterday and was waiting for you. I fell asleep, though.”

As if asking what it was, Cedric looked deep into her eyes.

“I’m going to meet Lily today.”

“Ah…”

The reason she had been practicing horseback riding all along.

He didn’t want to stop her from knowing that. Just.

“Who are you going with?”

It couldn’t be helped to worry.

“I’m planning to go quietly with Jane. I thought I might be cautious around unfamiliar people.”

After hearing the answer, Cedric stared into silence with a quiet gaze.

…He’s worried.

There was no way not to know.

With a gentle smile like a spring breeze, she leaned her round cheek against her husband’s chest.

In the moment of a tingling sensation that dug into her ear, Cedric’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

“It’s warm.”

Whispering softly, she closed her eyes and nestled a bit deeper into his embrace.

The sound of her husband’s heartbeat resonated pleasantly in her ears.

“I hope you’ll be there when I open my eyes tomorrow morning.”

“…”

“To meet you, I must come back for sure.”

“…”

“Nothing will happen, so don’t worry.”

Huh. Cedric, who let out a short laugh, took a deep breath.

“If I’m like this, you can’t stop me, right?”

“You already know I’m a person you can’t stop.”

“That’s true.”

While listening to the laughter that tickled her chest, she gave a little more strength to the arms that confined her.

In a perplexing situation, she was like someone running away as if nothing was visible.

Despite turning her body upside down with blood spilled everywhere.

Even though she trembled all over like a midwinter pine tree.

Even though tears flowed so much that she couldn’t see ahead.

The slender girl who, even after shedding blood and collapsing, never left her side.

Looking at her, who might be stronger than himself, he thought.

He felt a mix of bitterness and pity, but he forced a smile on his lips.

“Don’t fall asleep first tonight.”

“It’s okay to wake me up if I’m sleeping.”

To herself standing on the threshold of death,

Her life, clasped by her, was.

“Is there any action I can take to wake you up?”

“…What? What are you going to do?”

Do whatever you want.

“Even if it’s rude, you can expect it.”

“What expectations are you talking about?!”

I will spend the rest of my life protecting you.

Tuck.

Holding hands with the hand hitting her chest, he lowered his head deeply.

The pleasantly entangled breaths swirled around her mouth.
The closely pressed bodies, swallowing the subtle gap as if they would never separate again, deeply entwined. The sunlight, escaping from the clouds, warmly bathed the room. The warmth of the two men and women on the bed intertwined passionately for a long time.

Romain and Jane, leaving the mansion on horseback. Cedric, who stood still in front of the window, watched the two move with his eyes. The two disappeared perfectly from his sight. ‘The elderly man from the woodworking shop has returned,’ he recalled Sylvia’s words from last night. “Roberto, prepare the horse.” Wearing a jacket held in his hand as if catching something, he moved forward.