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Either his walking speed was very fast, or she was half running.

Edwin looked ahead and walked swiftly with his long legs, and Herietta, who was holding his hand, tried with all her might to keep pace with him. She called him several times and asked him to slow down, but he didn’t even listen.

When she got out of the ballroom and out of the mansion, her breath was up to the tip of her chin. Herietta was now almost dragged along by Edwin.

What the hell happened now? Blood drained from her face as she chewed through her mind what had happened in the ballroom.

Herietta forcibly pulled her hand out of his.

“Stop.. Stop it, Edwin!”

Herietta exclaimed sharply.

“Are you crazy? Have you become crazy because you wanted to die?”

A slave physically oppressed the nobility and threatened them in a public place such as a ballroom.

“I was wearing a mask, so it was a good thing! If people knew who you were..!”

“If people knew?”

Edwin asked. The energy surrounding him burned fiercely. He roughly ripped off the mask that was covering his face. Then, under the bright moonlight, his beautiful face was revealed.

“If they knew, what would you do?”

His dazzling blue eyes were cold. It was obvious that he was angry without even mentioning it. Herietta turned pale. She then looked around, making sure there were no prying eyes and she tried to cover his face with both of her hands.

“What are you doing now? What are you going to do when people see you?”

“Tell them to look. It doesn’t matter.”

Edwin took her hand and said coldly.

“Did he harm you?”

He growled like a beast and asked in a low voice.

“He didn’t touch Miss Herietta before I came, did he?”

Impatient that she might have been hit, he grabbed her chin and turned her face toward him. His eyes scanned her body from head to toe.

“Let go! That’s not the problem now!”

Herrietta shook off Edwin’s hand which held her chin.

“Edwin! Why did you intervene? What the hell were you thinking! It would have been better if you hadn’t intervened! No! Even if it were someone else, you of all people shouldn’t have intervened!”

“Why did I intervene? Are you asking because you really don’t know that?”

Edwin had a shocked expression on his face.

“You almost got hit by him! Are you saying that I should stay still and watch it happen?”

“What’s wrong with getting hit? Just one or two hits doesn’t kill you! But Edwin, in your case..!”

“What are you saying now!”

Edwin raised his voice. The anger he had been holding back forcibly exploded. Herietta’s momentum was crushed by his fierce temper that her mouth shut on its own.

“Getting hit once or twice won’t kill you, I can’t believe you said that! Is your body made of iron? Even if it’s true, is it okay to be that kind of person who doesn’t know that getting hit hurts!?”

Edwin’s breathing was rough as he poured out his anger.

“Why! Why the hell are you..!”

Unable to bear the surge of emotions any longer, Edwin stopped talking immediately.

As he looked at Herietta with eyes full of emotions, he raised one of his hands and covered both of his eyes. He began to breathe slowly and deeply. With each breath, his shoulders and chest roughly moved up and down.

Edwin usually doesn’t show his emotions well. It was an exception in front of her, but even she had never seen him lose his composure and become so angry.

He was so emotional and passionate that she wondered if this man standing in front of her was really the Edwin she knew.

Herrietta didn’t know what to say to him.

“No, I didn’t mean it was okay to get hit.”

Herietta stuttered and said.

“But your identity could have been revealed. If that happened, something really big would have happened. Do you think they’ll just skip it even if they know about it? Not at all! You might even be severely punished. You could have been whipped, or your limbs could have been severed. You could have even lost your life.”

“It doesn’t matter whatever they do.”

Edwin replied and lowered the hands that were covering his eyes.

“He should be grateful that he hasn’t touched you. If he did, I would have twisted his neck.”

“Edwin!”

Herietta jumped at the sight of Edwin saying something strange while having a strange look in his eyes. He was proudly declaring the murder of a nobleman. Fearing that more terrifying words would come out, she covered his mouth with her hand.

“I know! I got it! I’ll be more careful in the future, so stop! I’m afraid someone will hear you.”

Herietta cried and whispered urgently. Edwin still looked like he didn’t like the situation. Fortunately, he felt her earnestness and did not shake her hand off.

There was a sudden silence between the two who seemed to be in the middle of a raging storm. It was a quiet night with no wind blowing. Only the whispering of the other person’s breathing could be heard in the other’s ears.

“..”

“..”

The two remained silent. Neither of them opened their mouths. Their gazes were entangled as they faced each other from a distance.

Edwin didn’t take his eyes off Herietta. His eyes, which were frozen in anger and threatening energy, began to melt little by little as he stayed in front of her. His body, which had been rigid as if he would jump into the mansion at any moment, also gradually relaxed. Herietta, who felt his change, also slowly released the tension in her body.

Edwin, who was taller than Herietta, naturally lowered his gaze to her and made eye contact with her. His long eyelashes shone strangely, and a smooth nose stretched between his eyes.

Although his mouth was covered, Edwin’s figure was still attractive. Every time he exhaled, she felt a warm breath on the palm of her hand.

It was nothing special, but why is her face burning so hot? Herietta gulped nervously without realizing it.

When she thought about it, she was amazed. When she saw him for the first time, he looked so cold that even if he was poked by a needle he looked like he wouldn’t bleed out. Then he burned hot like fire.

Nothing else seemed to faze him. Nothing except when it involved Herietta.

When she realized that, Herrietta suddenly thought she was more madly in love with Edwin. From the depths of her heart, she wanted to be closer to him than she already was.

Why? Edwin just stood still. Still, she felt like he was seducing her. Just as a bee visits a flower, she too was drawn to him by an inexplicable power.

‘Just once. It’s okay if it’s just once.’

Herietta lowered her hand which was covering Edwin’s mouth as if she were possessed. Then she saw his soft lips. She thought it would feel very good to put her lips on it.

‘Edwin.’

Herietta unconsciously tiptoed to reach Edwin. Edwin’s eyes widened a little as he looked down at her as if he knew what she was trying to do. But even so, he didn’t push her away or step back from her.

Herietta put her hand around Edwin’s neck. No one told her, but she instinctively seemed to know what to do. Her lips parted slightly. And at about the same time his lips that were clenched opened a little.

Crunch. Breaking the silence that seemed to last forever, they heard the sound of the grass moving behind them. It was a very small sound, but it was enough to catch their attention. Startled, Herietta pulled away from Edwin and hurriedly backed away.

After a while, an unknown bird fluttered and flew from among the round bushes.

‘What was I just about to do earlier?’

Herietta rolled her eyes as she stared at the flying bird in the distance with a dazed face.

‘Just now I.. Was I going to kiss Edwin?’

It was as if cold water had been splashed on her face as realization dawned on her and she came to her senses. Herietta’s face turned bright red in an instant. It was so hot that her cheeks hurt.

How could she be so bold? No. She’s never kissed anyone before, and she doesn’t know how!

“Miss Herietta.”

Edwin looked at Herietta who was very embarrassed and opened his mouth. His voice was hoarse as if his neck was tightening.

“Miss Herietta. Just now..”

“There you are!”

A man suddenly entered their private space. They were so engrossed in each other that they didn’t even know that someone was approaching, so they looked at the new uninvited guest in surprise. It was the same man who had come to find them on Vivianne’s orders when they first arrived at the mansion.

“What, what’s going on?”

Herrietta struggled and asked the man while pretending to be calm. The man bowed his head politely towards them.

“Lady Vivianne has ordered me to find the two of you in a hurry and deliver a message.”

“A message?”

“She said her advice for both of you was to return home as soon as possible. In particular, she added that there was a small commotion in the ballroom, so you should never step in there.”

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