"But I wasn't intentionally trying to seduce you."
"You walked into a man's bedroom in the middle of the night in a lewd sleep gown and kissed him, but it wasn't a seduction, la. . . . . that's a convenient excuse."
"Oh, no, I was really just trying to kiss you once. Seriously."
Although she explained it hard, Killian laughed and shook his head. Well, from his point of view, that's was temptation. . . . It might have looked like that. And I thought I could see clearly what he thought of me. A woman seducing with her body to hide her lies! Wow...…I never thought I'd get such a great title in my past life.
"I think I know how it works now. Since Killian Ludwig is a fish that you have caught, and now you are trying to focus on other prey?"
"What? haha, Killian! what in the world are you imagining? Other prey? so, is there any prey here that I can catch?"
When I laughed at his ridiculous assumptions, Killian gritted his teeth and leaned closer to me. It was only then that I realized his breathing was quite ragged.
"I've heard rumors that you're a good hunter. And you make good use of your strengths."
"Strength?"
His lips suddenly touched the nape of my neck.
"Where do you think I heard that Edith Rigelhoff's insides were so smooth and fragrant?"
"Ah!"
He brushed his lips over the nape of my neck, then nipped at my shoulder.
"In a club where young men gather, you were quite a hot topic. do you know?"
The place where he opened didn't hurt, but she was out of breath because she felt close where he was.
"Even I don't want to hear it, there's always story about you. How seductive you are, how many men have fallen for you . . . . "
That was a little unfair. No matter how much I searched Edith's memory, she never crossed the line with a man. Of course, there were times when she was gently seduced, and she pretended not to know the hand that was secretly rubbing, but she never allowed anything more. It was also the guide of the Count of Riegelhoff. I don't know where to sell it, but it was because the price would fall unless it was a virgin. so anybody who said her name and told a story about her was probably bluffing. But who's going to listen to me?
"So. . . . . how easy would it have been to seduce a man?"
"Oh, no, no. . . . !"
"You may know that the more you do this, the more he loses his temper."
He pulled my sleep gown on me rushed. Even though I heard his insulting words, I was filled with strange expectations. I couldn't actively stop him. But Killian, who thought he was going to run wildly right away, stopped.
"Kil, Killian. . . . ?"
His gaze was fixed over my shoulder.
'What is it? What, did I do something to break the mood?'
It's probably because I was in a state of excitement that I thought about it. but Killian looked frozen, as if the excitement he'd felt earlier had vanished in an instant. he hastily climbed off my bed, turned on a nearby lamp, and began to look over my shoulder again. and then I realized what he was looking at.
"This is. . . . . this is definitely not an accidental bump."
He looked down at the bruises Sophia had created.
"Killian, this, this is, I mean. . . . ."
I opened my mouth to make an excuse, but the truth is, I didn't know what to say. When he made me lie down and pulled down my sleep gown more further, the words Sophia had said rang in my head.
"If you know you're a hand thrown away by the Count Riegelhoff, all you have left is to be thrown away here too. . . ."
It was dizzying. I believed in the big flow of the original work, but when this situation came up, my anxiety rose. In the original story, Edith was not beaten by Sophia, and no evidence of being persecuted was revealed. But how does the story change when Killian finds out that all the bruises that must have been made countless times on my body were Sophia's work, how does the story turn? Killian looked at my back and was silent for a long time. No, he didn't even move.
"Killian. . . . . "
I tried to get myself up again, but he pushed me back down, pulled my hair out of my face, and lowered my sleep gown further to examine all over my body. I didn't get to see what my back looked like, but seeing Killian so serious, it looked pretty bad. I gave up everything and relaxed my body, and Killian calmly dressed me again.
'The atmosphere was good earlier. Damn it.'
I was disappointed a little. It was ecstatic to overlap with Killian's body, but in fact, for now, it's just. . . . . His body temperature was desperately needed. If he hugged me, I thought the embers of courage that were all gone could survive a little. . . .
"I apologize for losing my temper."
"Oh, no! We're a married couple. I know that it's my wife's duty. . . . "
As I know my wife's duties, Killian wanted me to fulfill some of her husband's duties, but in the current atmosphere, it was impossible.
"A married couple. . . . "
There was no heat in Killian's voice anymore. I felt like I had regained my coolness. It was clear that questions would soon be asked that I would not be able to answer.
"Yeah, well, we're couple anyway. So let me ask you. Who did this to you?"
Unsurprisingly, he asked immediately. There was no way I could answer that. Because of those damn constraints, my tongue was tied before I could bring up Sophia's name. When I said nothing and avoided eye contact, Killian swept my hair back behind my ear. It was definitely a softer touch than before.
"Thank you, answer."
I said nothing, but he heard the answer in my silence. Then he went down from the bed, determined to do something. I didn't feel the slightest hint of disappointment in myself. It made me feel impatient, as if he didn't even feel a physical need for me.
"Killian. . . . . that. . . . .i know it's inappropriate in this situation, but I just. . . . .can't you give me a hug?"
"Is that to distract my attention?"
"No, it's not like that, it's. . . . . just. . . . . just because. Just, because i want to. . . . ?"
You kissed me just because you wanted to. Can't I?. . . . . I can't, right?
"I'm not a beast enough to hug a person covered in bruises. Just sleep soundly tonight."
Oh, as expected. . . . . Killian went out, looking even angrier than he did when he came in. I was left alone in a room filled with silence.
'Does it look like the steam is leaking?'
I guess this kind of body doesn't even make Lizzy's band. It's so cold. Maybe it's because Killian put on my sleep gown but didn't cover me with a blanket.
'Oh, it's cold. . . . .'
It's summer but it's so cold. Every time I look at Killian, I see that his heart is not for me, and yet I feel lonely because I'm getting greedy. I have no hope but Killian, though I was sad because I was close to despair for him. I felt sad that he didn't even give me a warm hug.
'I'd rather it was the first time you ignored me. You seem to care a little bit these days, so I'm getting my hopes up.'
I tried to sigh, but the moisture in the corners of my eyes quickly dripped away. I hastily wiped my tears with my sleeve.
'Oh, my gosh, you're so embarrassing, don't be weak, no one here cares about you but yourself. so. . . . .can't you be weak?'
I bit my molar tightly and endured it, but the tears quickly wet my eyelashes and cheeks.
'Oh, you idiot. . . . .Stupid, stupid, stupid!'
I put my head on the pillow and closed my eyes. I wish I could wake up in my cheap room tomorrow morning. Killian was a brilliant light that was exciting just to see, but I'd rather live in ignorance life without knowing the light than to suffer be like this. Maybe it's because my heart is empty, or maybe it's because I had a fever because I was crying, I thought. I couldn't think straight and fell asleep as it was.
***
Killian decided to let go of the idea that he knew the person named Edith. Edith was not who he thought she was. I'm telling you, not even the fingertips!
"But in a situation where everyone is suspicious of me because of the peach pie incident, do you think I'm going to do something like that?"
I was surprised to see Edith looking at me in disbelief. Maybe it was because, as she had vaguely noticed, everyone in the Ludwig family was ignoring her. I actually thought she'd be stupid enough to do it again, even under suspicion. She proudly insisted on her innocence and even asked for a watcher if she was so suspected. She even gave a sharp warning not to easily drive herself as a culprit without making that leash effort.
'Edith is right. We were suspicious of her whenever something happened without putting in the least bit of effort.'
When he realized it, Killian felt puzzlement before shame or embarrassment.
'Why did you do that?'
When I realized it, I couldn't understand it. The Ludwigs have never used such sloppy tactics anywhere, whether on the battlefield or in politics.
'Why didn't I feel anything strange until Edith pointed this out?'
I felt like I was possessed by a ghost. However, he did not seem to have dulled his senses, as evidenced by his suspicious reaction to the maid from the Riegelhoff house when Edith asked for more maids. Anyway, the surprises kept coming for Edith.