Valhail came to the bedroom just before I washed up and went to bed.
I was sitting in bed while Fiona massaged my calves. The moment Fiona was turning around to check the lights that brightened the room which suddenly blew off.
âOh, I think thereâs a beggar in my stomach. I canât believe I am hungry at this time of nightâ¦â¦ I guess Iâll go eat some potatoes.â
Fiona, who was telling me about what had happened when I wasnât in the castle, suddenly packed her outwear, saying that she would eat a late-night snack.
âMay I go to the kitchen, My Lady?â
âAt this time? Would you like beef jerky? I think Penny has saved some in her drawer.â
âNo, I really want to eat steamed potatoes right now.â
Then she glanced at the balcony, so I turned my eyes and the curtains were fluttering.
âAh, Valhail is here.â
It seemed that Penny had advised her what to do in this situation.
âAn hour to steam the potatoes, and an hour to eat! So, itâll take about two hours! Because I need to sleep, too!â
I laughed lightly at Fionaâs words as she folded her fingers cheerfully and held back Fiona.
âYou can stay here.â
âNo, Iâm truly hungry, My Lady. I couldnât eat dinner because I was waiting for you.â
Oh, well, then I canât help it.
Eventually, I sent Fiona down to the kitchen and headed for the balcony.
As I crept away and sat down with my hips on the table, Valhail noticed my presence but didnât turn around.
The appearance of his back staring out there was no different from usual, but I didnât like it today.
âYou know youâre quite naive, right?â
He turned to me when I started to quarrel like a scoundrel.
âAre you afraid Iâll take my outfits inside and go out naked?â
Valhail leaned on the railing and then smiled at the sight of me as I sat on the table and dangled his legs.
He looked at me leisurely with his arms crossed. And that appearance was truly a wonderful appearance of an adult man.
âHe turned the banquet hall upside down with that face only.â
My stomach was twisted for no reason.
When I heard that he just stood like an air-purifying plant and went out, I had a low desire to monopolize him by myself.
âWhat should I do? Should I meet your expectations next timeâ¦â¦â
As I languidly blurted out the words and tilted my head, his gaze came to the nape of my neck at once.
I know what youâre looking at so persistently.
The red congestion, brilliantly embroidered around my collarbone and neck, really stood out, to the point that Fiona was frightened.
It was because of my white skin.
The faint smile that had fallen on his handsome face had disappeared without a trace before I knew it.
As if reminiscing about the night we were alone in the dark, there was an unspeakable feeling of nervousness at the corners of his hardened lips.
âItâs an artwork by you.â
ââ¦â¦â
âDo you like it?â
The moonlight was blocked by clouds and cast a deep shadow on Valhailâs face.
Nevertheless, his eyes, which looked at me as if they were eating me, seemed to shine blue.
âItâs violent andâ¦â¦ It is an unhealthy impulse.â
Under the face disguised as indifference, Valhailâs low voice when he confessed his inner desire suddenly came to mind.
Eventually, the man who had been standing still in front of me let out a shallow sigh and leaned back against the railing.
âHmm, well thatâs serious.â
ââ¦â¦â
I could only laugh at his effortless nonchalant gesture, pretending to be calm.
âThatâs right. All I left on your body were tiny marks like mosquito bites.â
It didnât even last long.
But the mark he made by chewing on my neck seemed likely to last for at least a fortnight.
âHow do you feel when you see this?â
His thick, long fingers tapped against the railing.
ââ¦â¦honestly?â
âYeah, honestly.â
âItâs not bad. Itâs like I wrote my name on your bodyâ¦â¦â
âItâs not bad?â
âWell, I like it very much.â
I was satisfied to hear his thoughts through my ears.
âI hope it stays on your body.â
When I stopped talking, Valhail continued to talk to me as if it were interesting to talk about this topic.
âI shouldnât have restrained myself.â
Uhm, you restrained yourself?
âExcuse me.â