Chapter 165

He licked the hollow under her collarbone with his tongue. Then he bit the collarbone as if he was chewing a piece of fruit. It wasn’t painful, but it made her feel as if she was being devoured.

Looking at the remaining bite mark on her fair foot, a satisfied smile spread across his face.

As Reynard lifted Yurina’s foot a bit higher, the hem of her dress, which had been precariously perched on her knee, slid further down.

Reynard’s breathing momentarily stopped, then became uneven. His gaze followed the hem of her dress slowly moving down her fair leg.

The gaze was hot. The place where his gaze landed felt hotter than where his hand touched her ankle.

Was it because it had been a while? For some reason, it felt awkward. To avoid his gaze, Yurina turned her head away, clutching the bedsheet.

“You said you have something to show me.”

“Huu…”

“Did you want to show me this room?”

After scanning the room visible between the shaking canopy, she seemed to understand why he had hurried her to this room. She didn’t notice earlier, but all the things in the room, including the white dressing table, were similar to the ones in the Carthia mansion.

While they weren’t exactly the same, the tea table, wardrobe, bed, mirrors, and such… Apart from the room being larger, it felt like she was in the Carthia mansion.

However, there was a difference: everything was similar to what she had used before, but each item had been slightly modified to suit her taste more.

The gilded frame of the mirror, which she had found somewhat childish, was gone and replaced with a subtle flower drawing. The tea table was square instead of round, and the dressing table had fewer drawers and a high chair placed next to it.

These changes, one by one, wouldn’t have been possible without careful attention and affection.

However, there was no time to feel touched or to express gratitude.

“I’ll show you more later.”

It was because Reynard was rushing a bit.

* * *

‘So later.’

Yurina sighed quietly and carefully massaged her sore waist. Not only her waist but various parts of her body ached. It was the result of being tormented by Reynard from the sunny afternoon until deep into the night.

‘What am I going to tell Betsy?’

Since they arrived at the mansion, they hadn’t really looked around but stayed in their room. They were a couple who couldn’t face their employees.

Fortunately, Betsy, who was quick-witted, seemed to have figured out the situation and controlled access, so no one came in, but that was another worry.

Considering she didn’t even mention dinner, what was Betsy thinking? Yurina was too embarrassed to face Betsy, who had treated her like a sister, like a family.

Yurina glanced at Reynard, who was sleeping, holding her tightly, and rustled in his arms to get out. The faint light coming in through the thick curtain told her that she had slept longer than she thought.

‘I should get ready quickly and look around at the employees.’

But no matter how much she moved…

She couldn’t free herself from Reynard’s arm tightly wrapped around her waist.

“…Why? Do you need something?”

As she tried to remove his arm, Reynard, who seemed to sense her movement, asked in a sleepy voice without even fully opening his eyes.

“I think I should get up.”

“Why?”

“Because. Since we didn’t properly see the employees yesterday, today we should…”

He interrupted her with a chuckle, pulling her even closer.

“I said it can wait. By the way, how’s your body feeling?”

He was quick to change the subject. However, Yurina pretended to be fooled and slightly nodded her head.

“It’s a bit sore. I guess I have muscle pain.”

“Oh? Where? Here?”

His warm fingertips caressed Yurina’s bare waist. Every time his fingers traced over her spine, the pain disappeared as if a balm was applied, accompanied by a cool sensation.

Starting with the waist, as if massaging the shoulders, arms, and legs, he carefully caressed her. He covered Yurina with a blanket and closed his eyes.

“Let’s sleep more. We haven’t slept together for this long, have we?”

It was true. He always left before sunrise.

“So let’s stay a little longer.”

She couldn’t refuse his request. Betsy and the other employees would understand.

Yurina rationalized it in this way and buried her face in his chest and closed her eyes.

* * *

Since coming to the territory, Yurina and Reynard have been quite busy. They familiarized themselves with the faces and names of the employees, had conversations, and went around the mansion checking what was needed.

In between, they also found time to walk by the sea or leisurely drink tea on the terrace, spending time together. A week went by just like that.

When they were about to take a breather after busily working, a letter arrived from the brothers in the capital, as if they knew just when. It was a letter filled with many stories, asking how they were doing, if Reynard was taking care of her well, if she missed her brothers.

Yurina immediately wrote a reply. That she is doing well, that she likes the new territory by the sea, that the people are nice and she will be able to adapt soon.

‘I wonder if they will be upset.’

The twin brothers who received this letter might say, ‘How can you live so well without us!’ She could imagine them pouting without even seeing them.

“What are you laughing at?”

Reynard entered as she was about to seal the letter with a wax stamp. Yurina hurriedly stamped it and went to Reynard.

“What’s with the basket?”

There was a picnic basket in his left hand.

“Let’s go to the village today.”

“Village?”

“Yes. There’s a lot to see in the bustling areas too. Let’s see how people live there.”

“Okay. Can you wait a moment? I’ll get ready.”

“Okay.”

After he left, Yurina hurriedly got ready with the help of Betsy. She wore a humble dress that Betsy usually wore, instead of the usual outing dress, so she could blend in with the people without feeling out of place.

As she went out to the front yard with the wide-brimmed hat that Betsy put on her to avoid sunburn, Reynard held out his hand to Yurina with a face full of excitement.

“Let’s go quickly.”

On the other arm was a lunch basket prepared by Betsy.

Yurina didn’t immediately take his hand, but looked at his bright face for a moment. Then he grinned mischievously. His smile, lifting one corner of his mouth as he used to do when he was a child, looked somewhat arrogant.

“Why are you staring like that? Do you like me that much?”

He was a bratty kid who knew he was good looking from a young age, but after getting married, he seemed to have gained more confidence.

“Stop talking nonsense and let’s go.”

Instead of taking his hand, Yurina chuckled and started walking. Reynard followed hurriedly and grabbed her hand tightly. His impatience and panic were obvious as he interlaced his fingers with hers.

The butler asked if he should get the carriage ready, but it wasn’t necessary. With a flick of Reynard’s finger, the two of them could move to a deserted alley.

They could hear the noisy voices of people from afar. Reynard, who peeped outside the alley, took Yurina’s hand and started walking.

“We should get used to this place too.”

There was a sense of gravity in his mumbled words, as if he was speaking to himself. It felt like he was feeling a sense of responsibility. Yurina gripped his hand tightly as if to say that he’s not alone.

The bustling area of the Felius territory was much smaller compared to that of the capital or the Carthia territory, but it was well organized. Yurina took in every bit of the scenery as she listened to Reynard’s explanations.

‘I need to get used to this quickly.’

She was watching girls of her age leisurely enjoying afternoon tea at a neat-looking café in the distance. Suddenly, she felt her arm being pulled and barely managed to keep her balance.

“Rey?”

She turned her head in surprise, and Reynard, who had been walking ahead, had stopped a step behind and was looking at something. His expression was odd, it was hard to tell whether he was angry or sad.

No matter how much Yurina waved and called him, he didn’t blink as if he couldn’t hear her.

‘What is he looking at…’

Following his gaze, Yurina let out a small gasp at the sight he was watching.

In the middle of the bustling road, a girl and a boy in shabby clothes were selling flowers to people. The girl looked to be about eight years old, and the boy looked to be no more than three or four. He was so young that the word ‘baby’ suited him more than ‘child’.

The heads of the two children were both greasy and dirty, as if they hadn’t washed properly. Their faces, arms, and legs were smeared with so much dirt that it was hard to tell the color of their skin.

They were even more scruffy than when Yurina first saw Reynard.

More than anything, their bodies, visible through their ragged clothes, looked thinner than Tom’s in the past. It wouldn’t have been surprising if they collapsed from malnutrition right then and there.

Did Reynard see his past self in these children? Yurina silently examined Reynard’s face. His jaw was tight as if he was grinding his teeth.

“Rey, why don’t we go…”

She was about to suggest buying flowers or something from the children when Reynard’s eyes widened. He shook off Yurina’s hand and started to run. Yurina, who was staring blankly at his retreating figure, saw a man push a little girl to the ground.

“Hey, how unlucky. Why do you keep sticking to me?”

The man, who was suspected of pushing the child, scowled as if he was looking at filth as he watched the child groaning on the ground. He dusted off his clothes and left without helping the girl up.

The boy, who had been holding hands with the girl, also fell and started to cry. But his energy seemed drained, and his cries were faint as if they might die out at any moment.

Yurina quickly ran over to the girl, taking her hand and helping her up while Reynard was consoling the boy. The girl had a dirty face due to improper washing, but her clear green eyes were remarkable despite the grime.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, I’m fine…”

The girl who had been nodding suddenly gasped when she saw Yurina’s attire. Even though Yurina and Reynard were dressed in casual clothes that wouldn’t attract attention outside, they still looked like nobility.