Good heavens. How long had he been like this?

Surely not since early evening when the rain started?

Melly felt dismayed at the thought that it might be so, given how warm his water-soaked body felt.

“Edric.”

Melly said, barely managing to separate from him.

“Let’s… go inside first.”

His rain-soaked body felt unusually heavy today.

As she approached the door, she took out the key from her bag slung over her shoulder. But there was no need, as the door was already open.

‘Of course. He wouldn’t just wait quietly in front of the door after coming all this way.’

Even so, seeing the lock hanging open made Melly feel somewhat deflated.

He had been letting me open it so easily all this time.

Melly sighed and pulled on the doorknob.

“Wait here a moment. I’ll bring out some clothes for you to change into.”

She said, taking off her rain-soaked bag and tossing it carelessly on the table. Edric followed her in, closing the door behind him, and replied.

“Don’t bother. You change instead.”

“Of course I’ll change too.”

Melly said rather curtly as she headed for the small room.

She entered the room without hesitation but suddenly paused.

Although nothing had changed except for the neatly folded apron, the room somehow looked different from four days ago.

Had he lain down for a while? Judging by the faint scent of cologne permeating the air, it seemed so.

But even so, to leave such a vivid imprint of his presence.

Melly thought it inexplicable as she went to the dresser.

There should be some work clothes left behind by a laborer who came for repairs once. The laborers in this village often worked shirtless.

“Found it!”

Melly was delighted to discover a stretched-out light brown box t-shirt in the corner of the dresser.

She took it and came out. Edric was leaning against the counter with one hand, his wet jacket draped over his other arm.

His white shirt, soaked with rain and clinging to his body, made him look even more sensual than if he were completely naked.

Melly kept her gaze fixed on his face, trying not to let her eyes wander to the taut contours of his upper body as she handed him the t-shirt.

“Put this on. Before you catch a cold.”

Edric took the shirt, unfolded it, and asked.

“Why do you have men’s clothes?”

“…”

To be curious about such a thing even in this heated moment.

Melly asked, feeling bewildered.

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t have them?”

His gaze, which had been softened by the heat, gradually sharpened like that of a fierce predator.

She felt that if she didn’t tell the truth, the men in this neighborhood might be in danger. Melly hastily explained.

“Well… an uncle who helped with shop repairs left it behind. He took it off because it was hot and just…”

“What kind of repairs?”

He asked.

“Ceiling leak work.”

“Is he married?”

“Probably… yes?”

“How old?”

“…Around fifty-six or so.”

Melly felt this situation of being interrogated was quite unfair, but seeing his expression gradually soften, her unpleasant feelings dissipated.

She pointed to the small room and said to him.

“Hurry and go in there to change and come out…”

But before she could finish her sentence, it happened.

Edric unbuttoned a few top buttons and swiftly pulled off his wet shirt over his head.

Startled by the suddenly exposed skin, Melly turned around with a shocked expression.

Edric then said in a nonchalant tone.

“Why turn away so suddenly?”

“…”

“After being intimate for over five years.”

Melly felt disgusted by his blatant and vulgar words. But at the same time, she couldn’t understand herself.

‘That’s right, why turn away? After seeing everything there is to see.’

…It wasn’t because she thought that, but because of the feeling that always made her heart flutter as if it were the first time, even after seeing his naked body for five years.

But she didn’t say that.

“You’re right. We were a married couple who shared a blanket for over five years.”

Melly said calmly as she turned around. Fortunately, Edric had already put on the shirt left behind by the laborer. But.

‘Good heavens. How can that shirt suit him so well?’

A box shirt that was faded, stained with oil here and there, and with a neckline so stretched it had become wavy.

Melly had seen the laborer wearing this shirt before. But Edric’s elegant figure looked so different that it made her wonder if they were really wearing the same shirt.

She found it harder to maintain her composure now than when she had faced his naked body.

“Well… then dry yourself off. I’ll go change my clothes too.”

Melly hurriedly turned and entered the small room.

Almost pushing the door closed with her back, she placed a hand on her chest. Her heart was fluttering like a fish inside her wet clothes.

To have such thoughts even in the midst of this sudden reunion and confusion.

Wondering if it was she who was feverish rather than him, she felt her forehead. It was cold.

Melly shook her head as she moved away from the door.

“…”

But just as she was about to unbutton her blouse, she suddenly realized that there was no lock on the small room. This started to make her slightly nervous.

Until now, she had never thought a lock would be necessary for the small room, but at this moment, Melly deeply regretted it.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have asked the locksmith to install one when he came last time.’

She undressed in a hurry, conscious of the doorknob.

It took quite some time just to remove the wet clothes from her body. Just when she thought she had managed to peel them off, another part would cling, forcing Melly to struggle with her own clothes.

It was when she had finally managed to take off her blouse and skirt.

“Melly.”

Gasp!

Melly covered her chest with both arms. Even though she only heard Edric’s voice, her heart sank.

“What… what is it?”

“Don’t you have any pants? Underwear?”

He asked. Melly was dumbfounded.

“No. Unless I’m out of my mind, how could I have left such things behind?”

“I see.”

There was a hint of amusement in Edric’s voice. It seemed he had asked just to confirm, even though he knew they weren’t there.

Relieved to know that he hadn’t been trying to open the door, Melly slowly removed her hands covering her chest. Then, just as she was about to unhook her wet underwear that had been worn for so long it was starting to dry,

“Melly.”

He called again. Melly grabbed the dangling underwear strap on her shoulder and took another breath.

He said,

“Then at least give me a towel. To wrap around.”

Haah-.

Her inflated lungs let out a sigh-like breath.

“Could you open the storage cabinet next to the door? There’s a large towel in there.”

Melly said in a slightly irritated voice.

Rustle-.

The sound of the cabinet cover opening was heard, followed by the sound of fabric being unfolded.

‘Surely he won’t call again now.’

Melly took off everything she was wearing. Then, wiping off the remaining moisture on her body with a towel hanging in the room, she put on a thin-strapped indoor dress.

“Melly.”

Edric’s voice was heard once more just as she had pulled out a navy blue bolero from the dresser.

‘What else could he possibly need?’

Melly slowly closed and opened her eyelids as she asked.

“What is it now?”

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

Melly’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

“I realized I hadn’t said this to you. The most important thing.”

His voice was sincere.

“You know, as you probably know better than anyone, I’m not used to apologizing. So rather than apologizing, I chose not to create such situations in the first place.”

“…”

“And on the rare occasions when I did something wrong, instead of apologizing, I justified my actions. I made others believe that it wasn’t me who was wrong, but the other person.”

He calmly reflected on himself.

“I thought that asking for forgiveness was something only fools did. That for someone like me, it would only damage my dignity and honor, bringing no benefit whatsoever.”

“…”

“But now I understand. That I was the foolish one. That apologizing for mistakes and asking for forgiveness is an act of courage, not at all a proof of weakness.”

Melly just fiddled with the bolero in her hands without saying anything.

She didn’t know what to say or how to say it at this moment.

His attitude was utterly transparent.

As if he had perfectly returned to that pure Edric Pelton from long ago, who had smiled brightly while jumping on the bed together…

‘No.’

But Melly soon shook her head and hardened her gaze.

The past four days.

The existence that seemed like it would brighten her eyes and help her make wise decisions only confused her by constantly making her think of him.

In the end, she thought she had no choice but to judge for herself. And that judgment was…

“What’s the use of saying such things now? It’s too late.”

Melly spoke of the conclusion she had reached after much deliberation, trying hard to steady her wavering heart. It was a conclusion reached by thinking purely rationally, excluding emotions. She had no confidence in him.

At her words that it was too late, Edric calmly replied as if he had expected it.

“Perhaps so.”

“…”

“To change your mind, that is. But it’s never too late to ask for forgiveness. As long as you’re alive.”

At his sincere final addition, Melly recalled Oz’s words from the past.

‘Your Grace, when you thought the Madam had passed away, you tried to take your own life.’

Whenever she recalled those words, she felt dizzy, just like now.

Melly suddenly couldn’t maintain her balance due to the oncoming dizziness. She carefully leaned her back against the door.

Strangely, she could feel Edric’s body heat.

“I love you, Melly.”

His body heat moved gently around Melly’s shoulders. And his desperate voice flowed into her along with the warm temperature.

“Don’t disappear without a word.”

“…”

“If you do, I’ll die.”