With that in mind, the fancy meal continued peacefully.
「Rashid thought her chattering was like a bird talking.」
A sentence rose like smoke.
‘This is…what Rashid is thinking.’
I blinked again and again. As Rashid is in front of me, it is right that the description of him continues, but when I actually checked it, I was surprised.
“Madam?” (This is Rashid speaking to Alyssa formally)
“Yes? Yes! Good!”
Rashid’s voice caught me, who was dazed by the sentence. I answered hastily with astonishment.
‘By the way…is it noisy?’
It’s like a bird is talking, so is talking the point? Are you saying not to talk a lot when eating? I didn’t like the quiet atmosphere, so I tried to talk deliberately, but I wouldn’t. I glanced at Rashid.
「When was the last time I faced such a table? Rashid was silent with the memories of a long time ago.」
The last time I faced a table like this…
After reading the following sentence, I recalled Alyssa’s memories.
She rarely ate with Rashid, and rarely had any significant conversations in the few places they met.
‘Don’t tell me, do I compare myself to the old Alyssa by contrasting my memories?’
Maybe I acted too strange. No matter how hard it is to talk and act like Alyssa, if it’s suddenly too different, it’ll seem strange. I don’t mean to live like her, but…I should be a little more careful.
Silence will help me. I decided to focus on food, not words.
Instead of talking in the dining room, the sound of spoons and dishes clattering followed.
When I shut up, Rashid didn’t speak any more.
After the meal, refreshments came in. The snacks were colorful and the tea was fragrant. Rashid and I emptied the teacups, exchanging a few more superficial stories.
It was already deep into the night when I barely got back to the bedroom.
“Phew.”
As I tried to sit in the familiar place, a long sigh burst out without realizing it. I felt as if my whole body was melting because my body was so nervous.
“Madam, I’ll prepare you a bath.”
Louise skillfully led me to the next schedule. I tucked myself into my bathtub full of warm water. As I gestured lightly to the surface, the floating petals scattered along the waves.
How much longer do we have to spend like this? It’s good to make some decisions. While repeatedly thinking about the unanswered concerns, my white skin burned red with the heat.
The maids clung to my washed body and wiped the water off. I’ve been through it several times already, but I was still embarrassed.
When I changed into a light chemise dress, I found white wine and fruit on the table in the bedroom. As I tried to pour a glass of wine, Louise turned off the other light and lit the scented candle on the table.
“Isn’t it a little dark?”
“Because today’s the day… Well, I’ll take my leave.”
After Louise left the room, the bedroom was quiet. Gradually, I began to familiarize myself with the darkness.
I stared hard at the candle on the table. The raging fire was burning red, burning the wick. Whether the wax was poured with fragrant oil, the subtle scent of flowers made me feel at ease.
I have to sleep. In this world, nothing can be done late at night. Besides, I’m a little tired today, so it’s a good time to fall asleep early. I put a blanket on, extinguished the flame, and lay down in bed.
Rattle—
My eyes awakened at the sound. Did the wind knock on the window? But it was quiet outside without any fuss.
I went back to sleep, suppressing my nervousness.
Sneak.
Then, I heard the sound of the door opening. At the same time, my body bounced reflexively.
“Who is it? Louise?”
It wasn’t until I spoke that I realized my voice was shaking.
As if to respond to me, the opponent who came into the room lifted the lamp to his face.
“Alyssa.”
It was Rashid.
Only then did I let out a sigh of relief.
Come to think of it, there wouldn’t be an uneasy guest in the Duke of Fenvernon’s mansion, but a reflexive fear arose and goosebumps rose on my back.
He approached the bed.
“But…”
The voice that was trying to ask the purpose of the visit was cut off. Rashid’s hard bare body was seen inside the long neckline of the gown. I turned my head in surprise at the unexpected appearance.
“Wh-what’s the matter?”
“Well.”
Rashid sat down on the bed. The mattress tilted by his weight, and I consciously moved my body against him.
“What do you think is going to happen?”
At that moment, I remembered Louise’s remark from earlier. Now I know. It was once a month, the promised day. It was the couple union day.
When I remembered Alyssa’s memory of him, my face was burning. In any case, Rashid and Alyssa were married, and Rashid had no plans to expel Alyssa, so it was natural to have a relationship as a couple.
When I came to my senses, Rashid was pressing my lower lip with his thumb. I felt a strange warmth in his fingers, which I felt at the tip of my chin. It was the body temperature of someone else, not me.
“Ah…”
A sigh followed. At the same time, he opened my lips slightly. His fingers touch my lips moistened with saliva. At the same time, I got goosebumps on the back of my neck.
Rashid bent his thumb and swept lightly over my lower teeth. My breath scattered over the back of his hand.
Like a hawk for food, the gaze of a predator was following me. I twisted my head like an ostrich, hiding my head under a pile of straw, avoiding any predators. It doesn’t mean he disappears, but instincts surpass my reason in fear.