Enrico rang the bell while speaking, calling for a servant. He ordered his wine and the grape juice Emilia often drinks, then continued in a low voice.

“You probably know the reason best. You were the first to suspect her.”

“Yes… But I didn’t think she’d actually do it. I didn’t know she was really the culprit.”

Emilia briefly recalled Christina’s envious glances that always seemed to follow her.

She had kept an eye on Christina, feeling uneasy about her more sinister aura compared to Eva, but never imagined things would escalate this far.

She knew Christina was competitive, but this was going too far. Disappointment rather than anger was more evident on her face.

“She bribed a theater cleaner. Someone who wouldn’t be suspected approaching the ceiling.”

“Hah… How did you find the cleaner? Did Christina confess first?”

“No, the opposite. The cleaner was caught by the staff you asked to check the ceiling. That was the decisive evidence. When they went to check at your request, they saw him tampering with something there.”

“Ah, but they didn’t notice anything wrong with the rope then?”

“When they discovered him touching it, the cleaner mentioned a small light was faulty. There wasn’t time to be suspicious then, and in the rush to replace just that, there was no chance to check anything else due to time constraints.”

Emilia nodded slowly. While the accident was unfortunate, in a way, it seemed fortunate it ended like this.

At least sending the staff allowed them to quickly track down the culprit. She had made the request partly to ease her own anxiety, but thankfully the situation turned out well and they could resolve the incident quickly.

“So did the cleaner implicate Christina?”

“Yes. There was no loyalty between them, so it wrapped up easily.”

“I see. I didn’t expect it to be solved in a day. So will those two go to prison? Without a separate trial?”

“Yes. They’ll likely never get out.”

Emilia’s eyes widened. Although it was a major incident, she hadn’t expected such a severe punishment when no one had died.

“Life imprisonment?”

“Yes. With hard labor.”

What? Labor? She covered her mouth in shock.

While slavery had been abolished for some time, its roots hadn’t been completely eradicated. The current hard labor sentences were known to be the harshest punishment, far more grueling than rotting in prison for life.

It seemed it might be even more agonizing than the death penalty.

Even if one was lucky enough to attempt escape, they would quickly be recaptured. It was said that those caught fleeing would spend the rest of their lives in hard labor under even stricter surveillance, unable to die.

‘It’s good they’re being punished, but isn’t this excessive?’

Surprised by the severity of the sentence, Emilia looked at him with an astonished expression.

Could he have pulled some strings? Otherwise, such a punishment seemed impossible. Emilia glanced at Enrico, then bit her lower lip and turned to look out the window.

‘No. I shouldn’t think like that.’

There was no need to assign unnecessary meaning. As they spoke, she heard a servant setting down two glasses on the table.

Since they often served grape juice in wine glasses, Emilia hastily grabbed a glass and gulped it down.

“Oh, young lady! That’s wine… actually.”

The servant was too startled to stop her in time. Their voice trailed off in shock.

Emilia’s eyes widened as she held the empty wine glass to her lips. The last bit of red wine left in her mouth slid down her throat.

“…Bring water.”

“Yes, right away!”

Emilia lowered her head and quickly covered her mouth with her other hand. The delayed burning sensation and bitter taste strongly lingered in her mouth. Enrico got up from his chair and knelt on one knee.

“Are you alright?”

She felt her ears growing hot. Emilia rubbed her lips with the back of her hand as if trying to erase any traces left behind. Enrico gently grasped her slender wrist.

“Don’t rub. It’ll swell.”

Her radiant blonde hair fell softly. He brushed it back behind her ear with his other hand and tilted his head slightly. He looked up at her from below as if trying to check her face.

‘This feels strange…’

Emilia squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them. Her head felt increasingly fuzzy as her face grew hot.

The lingering scent of alcohol at the tip of her nose made it harder to regain her senses. Even with Enrico right in front of her, she could only blink repeatedly.

The servant quickly brought water and carefully handed it to Enrico. He took the glass and gestured with his chin for them to leave. After the sound of the door closing faded, he slowly cupped her soft cheek.

“Emilia.”

As if answering his call, her eyelids slowly rose and fell.

She seemed weak to alcohol to begin with, and he usually drank dry wines with high alcohol content. Combined with how quickly she had drunk it, the effects seemed to hit her faster.

He gently pressed the glass to her lips.

“It’s water.”

At his low voice, she drank the water without protest. The sound of her swallowing was endearing.

Her delicate neck, flushed pink from the heat spreading inside her, received the water he poured little by little.

Thirst gradually showed in his expression. Her strangely submissive attitude made his eyes sink deeply as his lips dried like a parched man.

There was something oddly compelling about how she calmly accepted his hand and obediently drank the water he gave her, making his chest feel tight.

“Mmm…”

Though she had only taken a few sips, she let out a pained sound and pressed her lips tightly shut. The water that had already flowed trickled down the corner of her mouth.

He immediately set down the wine glass and wiped her chin and lips with his thumb. Her lips felt soft and hot beneath his slowly rubbing thumb. He stared intently at her plump lips.

‘…I should put her to bed soon.’

It seemed utterly impossible. His chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath. As if reluctant, he ran his thumb from the middle of her lips to the corner once more before slowly withdrawing his hand.

Just as he was about to lift her to carry her to bed, Emilia cupped his cheeks with both hands. He froze, forgetting his intended movement.

Emilia slowly moved one hand as if examining something fascinating. Her fingertips traced his sharp jawline, lingering briefly on his slightly downturned eyes.

His eyelashes fluttered as his eyelids closed. As if she had been waiting for this, she moved her hand from the corner of his eye to his eyelid, touching his eyes.

“…Why do you look so mischievous even with your eyes down?”

At her muttered words, his tense lips relaxed. Emilia seemed completely unaware of what she was doing. He gradually began to enjoy her touch, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting.

Her hand moved without hesitation. Her fingertips glided from his eyes down his nose, pausing at his lips to caress the soft skin.

Eventually, Emilia narrowed her eyes and brought her face close to his. The fragrant scent of wine mingled with her usual clean, jasmine-like floral scent at such proximity.

Her slightly unfocused, clear eyes gazed at him calmly before her lips parted.

“What?”

He couldn’t hear what she said. Just as Enrico leaned in closer and tried to turn his head, Emilia’s head drooped, pressing her lips against the corner of his mouth. Her warm breath tickled as the hand touching his lips fell away.

“I’m thirsty…”

She mumbled, her lips still touching his skin. His eyes, which had been staring blankly, regained focus as he cupped her cheeks.

As he twisted his head, her lips naturally slid from the corner of his mouth to his lips. With their lips barely touching, he lowered his eyes languidly and whispered in a husky voice.

“Then open your mouth.”

After staring at him for a moment, her lips parted. A fleeting light passed through her dazed eyes as their lips met. At first, he was careful.

Slowly moving his lips so as not to startle her, he tilted his head for a deeper kiss. She flinched, leaning back slightly, and reflexively lowered her hands from his cheeks to wrap around his neck.

The heat radiating from them warmed the room. The breeze flowing through the window gradually became tepid, mixing with their hot breaths.

“Ha…”

How much time had passed? A moist sound emerged as their held breath finally released in a great exhale.

Emilia’s closed eyes opened very slowly. At her languid gaze, he, who had already half-risen, fully straightened his legs and lifted her into his arms.

“Emilia, have you come to your senses?”

He asked decisively as he walked towards the bed. Her blank eyes trembled imperceptibly for an instant.

Though her face was still flushed pink, she seemed to grow pale as the color drained away. The arm around his neck suddenly went limp.

Enrico said nothing at this reaction. As if satisfied that she had regained consciousness, he carefully laid her on the bed.

If he hadn’t noticed her eyes briefly clearing just before the kiss, he wouldn’t have known. He raised one knee onto the bed, casting a shadow over her.

His dark eyes gleamed as he gazed at her lying there like a beautifully blooming flower.

“…Ah.”

As soon as she saw those eyes, Emilia reflexively reached out to push against his shoulder. It was the same look he had when watching her on stage.

That gaze that seemed covetous, but which she always wondered might actually be one of exhilaration as he examined his prized possession.

‘Don’t be fooled by those eyes.’