It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 50
Would that be a good thing for him? A bad thing?
I couldn’t tell now.
But surely, it was better than forcing himself to go through the motions of love without actually feeling it.
At the very least, it would make me feel less guilty.
“I will.”
Lionel smiled faintly and arranged the files.
“We’ll have it notarized after your secularization process is complete.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Until then, you’ll remain as my guest. I’ll inform Vivian, so you no longer need to answer her summons.”
I silently nodded.
After submitting my secularization request with Lionel tomorrow, I planned to stay confined to the annex for a while.
I had to ensure that everything proceeded exactly as planned—without any unexpected variables.
Now that I understood how much this marriage would determine—not just my future, but my family’s survival as well—there was no room for error.
“Well then…”
Everything that needed to be said and done had been taken care of.
I rose to return to my chambers in the annex, but as I did, Lionel stood as well and spoke.
“Would you like to stay here for the night?”
“…Excuse me?”
“It’s already late. It might be better for you to sleep here and return to the annex in the early morning.”
How was he interpreting my expression? Lionel added:
“There’s no need to worry. I’ll be sleeping here on the sofa, not in the bed.”
Did he think I was hesitating because I was afraid he might pounce on me?
I was contemplating something entirely different.
“…Alright. I’ll stay.”
Accepting his offer, I went to the bathroom to freshen up quickly and prepare for bed.
By the time I returned, Lionel had also finished whatever tasks he had left.
“This is the lock mechanism. You should make a habit of locking it whenever you sleep alone. You never know what might happen.”
I stared at him as he held the bedroom door open for me.
I wonder where he had gone to wash up.
His damp hair was darker than usual, and his long lashes hung low, weighed down with moisture.
For a fleeting moment, my gaze dropped to his lips—slightly parted as he spoke, glistening faintly under the dim light. Then I looked him in the eyes and asked.
“Your Grace, may I kiss you again?”
His crimson eyes widened at my sudden request.
His lips, left slightly ajar in surprise, remained frozen as he stared at me.
“This is my first time with anything like this. I thought it might be good to practice a little in advance, for the future.”
I rattled off a string of excuses.
I wanted to feel it again—longer this time. I wanted to understand why my heart had been hammering nonstop since earlier.
“…Priestess.”
A low creak echoed through the room. The door Lionel had been gripping made a strange, splintering noise.
Neither of us paid it any mind.
He reached for me, his fingers grazing my cheek before he leaned down.
The space between us disappeared in an instant, the warmth of his scent wrapping around me like a heavy embrace.
Lifting onto my toes, I carefully pressed my lips to his.
That same soft, lingering warmth. A bit more damp this time, softer than before.
But…
This was dangerous.
Why didn’t I want to pull away?
I slowly opened my eyes. His were already on me—lids lowered, brows drawn tight in an almost fierce expression.
Would it be too much to stay like this?
I let my heels sink back to the floor, and the pressure between us eased, our lips parting naturally.
Just as I exhaled the breath I had been holding—
Closing the distance between us in one fell swoop, he kissed me.
His large hands framed my face, drawing me deeper, his heat mingling into mine.
The familiar scent of him—one I had come to find comfort in—was laced with something new, something that sent a shiver down my spine.
It was just a kiss. Yet I felt as though I were being consumed. The sensation coursed through me, tingling at my fingertips, unraveling down to my toes. What was this dizzying, exhilarating feeling that made my entire body tremble?
