As she sat on the window sill for a long time, Cherryl recoiled her head languidly as the dawn rose. She leaned her back against the window and accepted Cade’s lips. She was in a daze. Her mind was empty. Her breathing was ragged. Cade became even more daring when he noticed her not shying away from his touch like usual. Before kissing her, he brushed her lips with his fingertips to see her reaction. Since she didn’t reject him, he decided to use his tongue. As the moans tangling with their hot breaths leaked out between kisses, Cade squeezed Cherryl’s knee. Even as she twisted her upper body and wriggled her legs, Cade seemed unwilling to quit. Fortunately, the heavy rain filled the silence even though her mind was blurred. If it weren’t for that, her pleasured moans would have echoed in the room. Cherryl lowered her gaze at an angle and saw his pitch-black hair. She grabbed the short, silky strands with trembling hands and Cade kissed her deeper. Was this alright? She felt like she had skipped the last step and ignored propriety altogether. When Cherryl raised her chin again, a cream-colored ceiling came into her blurred vision. She willed her gaze to concentrate on the embroidered patterns on the ceiling. However, the butterflies in her stomach were now driven into a frenzy that her brows furrowed in a panic. Breathless, Cherryl pushed his shoulders back.

“Cade.”

He raised his head and looked at her. Cherryl stared at his wet lips.

“Shall we stop?” He asked while rubbing her lips with a thumb. Cherryl clenched her fist and gently punched him on the shoulder.

“Y-You said it w-would only take a moment.”

She recalled what Cade had told her before entering the bedroom. She said it out of spite but her pronunciation was a mess. Her tongue had never been this twisted before even when she was drunk… or was it because she was sleepy? Was it because of a kiss? Even her tone sounded coy and she almost couldn’t recognize it in herself. Finally, Cade straightened up.

“Are you tired?”

Closing her eyes, Cherryl murmured. “I’m so sleepy.”

How could she endure this drowsiness when a handful of her energy had been taken away from lack of sleep? Cherryl wrapped her arms around Cade’s neck and rested her cheek to his chest. His warm, masculine fragrance gave off a strong musk as she heard the regular beating of his heart. She thought she could fall asleep quickly by doing this. Cade patted Cherryl on the back while his free hand adjusted the hem of her rumpled clothes. Then, he hugged her, who was limp as a wet cotton, laid her on a soft bed, and covered her with a blanket before turning around. Cherryl couldn’t afford to ask him where he was going, so she only followed his back with her gaze. He tossed some chopped wood into the fireplace. The kindling, which had already cooled, burned with a crackle. Never intending to leave her bedroom, Cade sat at the bedside and looked down at Cherryl.

“Cherryl.”She felt him touch her head gently. The pleasant sensation spreading through her scalp as he caressed her hair made her sleepier. “I don’t want much from you.” Cade’s voice sounded like it came from a dream. As her hair fell behind her earlobe, giving slight goosebumps around her neck, Cherryl closed her eyes. “It’s too early for me to be greedy——” Cade kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear. “Please don’t make me nervous.”

She couldn’t hear the rest because she had already fallen asleep. His gentle caresses didn’t leave for a long time.

***

At the breakfast room in District 2 far away from the castle, dozens of men dressed in black were having a late breakfast so it was quite loud in there. Their plates were full of meat dishes too heavy to eat for breakfast, and a couple of calf-sized wolves were roaming around. Familiar with the scene, the servants in the breakfast room concentrated on their tasks. Some even greeted the Balkan man who was talking to them.

“Nothing can be done.” Axel, who was chewing wheat bread with his feet on the table, grumbled. “I’ve been waiting for today’s event. I ate at least 20 lamb kebabs and smoked sausage on the last winter festival. I was also looking forward to winning matching dolls from shooting crossbows.”Axel slammed the wooden table with his clenched fist. “I’m disappointed!” The corner of the table snapped off with a loud noise and the men nearby glanced at Axel. However, since it wasn’t a temper tantrum that was seen for a day or two, their collective gazes quickly disappeared. Axel crumpled the wheat bread in his hand like a sheet of paper, as if he hadn’t been satisfied by breaking the table.