Chapter 46

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Evely’s face was exceptionally bright as she dismounted from the carriage. Alec’s servant, who had been waiting for her, approached as Evely walked as if she was running.

 

“Where is the Count?”

 

“He’s in the Lady’s room.”

 

Evely’s steps became faster and faster. She had been warned many times in her etiquette classes that she should never walk frivolously or be impatient, but she couldn’t think much at this moment. She just climbed the stairs diligently and quickly arrived at her room. And the servant opened the door as soon as she arrived.

 

 

“…Count?”

 

Evely called in a small voice. But no answer was heard. Then Evely slowly stepped inside, observing. Then, looking in all directions, she suddenly noticed that someone was sitting on a bed covered by a canopy. As she approached closer, she noticed a familiar silhouette through the thin curtains.

 

Evely moved forward, step by step, wistfully, as if reuniting with a long lost lover. Then, at a certain moment, she just stood there, her breathing seemed to stop. Soon a low, low voice sounded in her ear.

 

“You’re late.”

 

She saw the peculiar smile that huffed up the tip of his mouth. The smile was somewhat gentle.

 

Immediately, Evely looked at his complexion. Alec looked somewhat tired, but still as undisturbed and perfect as ever. She was glad and relieved that he came back unharmed.

 

 

“Who was it that came late?”

 

“Am I late?”

 

Evely had a complicated expression on her face, worry and resentment, relief and joy, all intertwined.

 

Funny enough, Alec liked the look on her face. She looked like she had been waiting for his return.

 

He looked into Evely’s eyes.

 

Both eyes, tinged with gold, were as bright and beautiful as stars. Whatever the scale of the war, the bloody place was cruel and lonely. It was crowded with soldiers, but in the end, the only thing that kept him alive was her.

 

The night was especially deep in such a place, and the stars shone brighter because of the late night. As he looked at the stars outside, he remembered what Evely’s words.

 

“The noble ones become the sun, and the trivial ones like us become a handful of stars scattered across the night sky. So every moment that is as dark and far away as the night, I become a star and always watch over you…….”

 

Evely’s face reminded him of a moment as far away as the night, and her words were quite comforting.

 

“…Why did you go there?”

 

Evely spoke in a resentful, whimpering voice.

 

“What?”

 

“Why did you do that because of me? You didn’t have to go to war…”

 

“Why is it your fault? I did it because I wanted to.”

 

Evely shook her head.

 

“I’m not going to play with words like that! What if you were hurt?”

 

“The worried look on your face makes it all worth it.”

 

His words were soft, as if he was trying to reassure her.

 

“Evely.”

 

Alec called her name. Even though he called it plainly, his voice felt deep and serious. He looked carefully at her hand. Hidden by the ruffles of the voluminous dress, her hands were not properly visible.

 

“When I return from the battlefield, if I wear the ring I gave you, I understand you will want to marry me.”

 

Feeling the gaze on her hand, Evely slowly raised her left hand toward him. Oh her fourth finger, there was a ring.

 

“Look! I’m wearing the ring.”

 

It was a voice that hid the crying with playfulness. But Alec didn’t respond. He was just indifferent all the time, like the sky on a cloudy day. Then Evely spoke again in a clear voice.

 

“I’m wearing it.”

 

She waved her ringed left hand slightly, but Alec’s expression was as blunt as ever. Then he suddenly got out of his seat and strode toward Evely. Evely glanced at him and continued talking.

 

“I don’t want to wear the ring anymore…”

 

“Ah!”

 

Alec grabbed Evely and kissed her. Evely’s eyes widened by the sudden kiss. It was a familiar yet unfamiliar feeling. Realizing that she missed this sensation so much, Evely slowly closed her eyes and accepted him.

 

It was a rough and urgent kiss, as if to fill the void of the past. On the other hand, it was long and wistful. The kisses that they exchanged with each other lasted for a long time.

 

After a while, Evely let out a small gasp. The air was quiet and subdued, and somehow his and her breaths were all that remained. Alec stroked Evely’s cheek. Even though the kiss was heavy and long, it still didn’t seem enough.

 

She could see it. His eyes, deeply filled with lust, wanted the woman in front of him so badly.

 

He laid Evely on the bed. As soon as her small body fell onto the soft bedding, her eyes quickly widened. It was because she didn’t expect him to embrace her as soon as he came back.

 

“You just got home, you must be tired.”

 

“…… I’m tired from the long war and I need something to release my fatigue. So I will embrace you.”

 

Evely let out a small laugh at his words.

 

His words sounded familiar. The first time she spent the night with him, Alec said the same thing.

 

“I haven’t heard that in a long time.”

 

“It’s been a while since I hugged you. Don’t you think so?”

 

Immediately he hurriedly kissed her neck like a man searching for water in the desert.

 

“Do you remember what I said before about not wanting a family name, property, or honor?”

 

“Yes, I remember.”

 

“Well, now I remember what I want. All I want is …..”

 

Remembering a moment in the past, Evely let the words sink in. Then she spoke with an endearing smile on her face.

 

“All I want is you, Alec.”

 

“It’s been a long time since I gave you myself, but you didn’t even know it.”

 

And as soon as he finished speaking, he lowered his lips again. His lips, which had been meticulously kissing her neck, lowered to her collarbone, and came down just above her chest at one point.

 

He tore at the front of her dress. With a rip, he roughly tore off her thin undergarment, revealing a white, soft mass of flesh that he sucked into his mouth. Evely’s body flinched the moment Alec had her breast in his mouth. Alec chuckled as he teased her when he felt the depth of her breath.

 

“Your body seems to remember my touch, even after all this time.”

 

Evely immediately turned red. At that moment, Alec put his hand deep into the hem of her dress.

 

“Ah, Count!”

 

“You should have put me on my toes a bit by now.”

 

His hand groping her thighs was much more urgent than usual. But there was no time to think.

 

“You have no idea how many times I have torn this dress in my imagination.”

 

His voice sounded low and deep, like his breath.

 

“You weep beneath me, moaning, pleading with me to go in…….”

 

At the same time as he said that, he sucked Evely’s breast again. This was far from enough, considering how depressed he had been during the days when he could do nothing with Evely by his side.

 

He wanted to swallow her whole if he could. He just wanted her to lay beneath him so that she could do nothing, go nowhere. He wanted to make her plead with him to take as much of her fragile body as he could.

 

“Um, me too.”

 

Evely stammered.

 

“……I’ve always wanted to be with you. I had that thought every day.”

 

The words followed with embarrassment, but they were enough to excite Alec to overflowing. Evely looked at him with sparkling eyes as he devoured her lips again.

 

“It reminds me of that time. The first time we…”

 

Holding her against his chest like this reminded her of the day she spent her first night with him.

 

He had rudely visited the servant girl at night, and then slowly seeped out into her daytime. And from now on, they would always be together, day and night.

 

“…I love you.”

 

Startled by the sudden words she heard, Evely immediately smiled quietly.

 

“…How much?”

 

“Infinitely…”

 

There was a moment when she thought she’d still be happy if she just stayed by his side, but now she knew it was not the case. She deeply hoped that he would continue to stay with her, and she would always be in his heart.

 

“…… I love you, too.”

 

Alec stared at Evely. Then he reached out and brushed her cheek. Her breath hitched as did the incessant kissing, and her heart beat faster.

 

When his hand stirred inside her dress again, Evely spoke shyly.

 

“It’s not night yet…”

 

“No. It’s just the beginning.”

 

Evely burst into laughter at the answer she heard. Then, she could see the sun going down over the window.

 

The sun could not hide its tail, turning the sky a sunset color, and the night had not yet drawn its deep curtain.

 

Feeling the distant light, Evely wrapped her arms around his neck softly.

 

True to his word, the night had only just begun.