IWS CHAPTER 14, EPI 65

At my question, Ares was silent for a moment. But soon, he tightened his grip on my hand and answered.
“It’s a difficult question to answer clearly. But what I can say for sure is that from the beginning, I never imagined anyone other than you by my side.”
After a brief pause, he added,
“The question of ‘why’ doesn’t have much meaning. It’s just always been that way from the start.”
It was truly strange. Although I, too, was captivated by Ares in an instant, I never dared to imagine that he would stand beside me.
“We weren’t always close, even when we made our debut in society. Even then, did you think I would stay by your side for a long time?”
“I always dreamed of it. There wasn’t a single moment when I didn’t. I constantly reminded myself, ‘Someday, someday.’ In reality, I didn’t even have the courage to properly speak to you. Haha.”
Ares laughed awkwardly.
“As I’ve told you before, I’m not as upright a person as you think I am. The image I present outwardly can be trained and packaged however I want. But that’s not my true nature.”
Ares confessed in a calm voice. I nodded as I listened to his words.
“I know very well that your standards are extremely high, so I tried hard. Your approval wouldn’t be swayed by my status or background.”
“Hehe, even so, as someone from a ducal family, your background is something I find very appealing.”
But I can be certain. Even if Ares didn’t have such a high status as the heir of a ducal family, I would have loved him. Because that is the fate given to me in this novel.
“Ares. You are the only one for me. You were before, and you will be in the future.”
And perhaps forever. Even though it might be a love that only I will hold onto for eternity, I am still grateful.
I hope that when he leaves me, he won’t be tormented by the confessions he made to me now. I hope he won’t feel ashamed of having loved me with all his heart, to the point where he couldn’t think of anyone else. I hope that when he starts a new love, he won’t be hurt by the traces of me that remain within him.
I never told Ares the truth that I, too, fell in love with him at first sight. It was because of my pride, wanting to appear unwavering, always graceful, and composed. And I wanted Ares to remember me as that strong image until the end.
I absolutely refused to show any tears or weakness in the face of the impending separation. If Ares were to leave me before I die, I want to stand firm without shedding a single tear. Of course, I wish that Ares wouldn’t leave me at least until I die.
After leisurely walking to the coastal cliffs and returning to the villa, the sky had already turned a deep crimson over the sea. I let out a small exclamation and stepped out onto the terrace.
Ares was sitting on the sofa in my room, sipping tea while admiring the sunset. Suddenly, he spoke.
“I wish I could paint well.”
“Why did you suddenly think of that?”
“Because the scene I’m looking at right now is so beautiful.”
I turned around to look at Ares. From his position, he could see the red sky over the sea beyond the terrace.
“I’ll paint it for you.”
Since I had drawn pictures for Ares before, I readily agreed and pulled out the art supplies I had brought along. I set up the easel that was placed in the corner of the room, put up the canvas, and quickly started sketching. Ares quietly watched me as I worked.
As I was drawing the terrace, he suddenly interrupted.
“Can you include yourself standing here?”
Ares pointed to the spot where I had been standing on the terrace a moment ago. It was then that I realized the scene Ares wanted me to paint wasn’t just a sunset landscape.
“…Alright. I understand.”
A small ache tugged at my heart.
As he requested, I imagined myself leaning against the railing and added my figure to the spot he indicated. This was the first time I had ever drawn myself for Ares. My hand hesitated slightly as I continued to paint.
“I think I’ll just do the sketch for today. I’ll try coloring it tomorrow.”
I spoke to Ares in a casual tone, trying to sound unaffected. He thanked me by gently kissing my hand.
The chef, who had been praised earlier in the day, outdid himself again, and we enjoyed a splendid dinner without a single flaw. Afterward, I asked the caretaker to bring some wine to my room.
Back in my room, I slipped my tired body into the bathtub. Unfortunately, Miranda, who would usually give me a massage, wasn’t here, so I half-heartedly tried to knead my sore legs on my own.
When I finished my bath and came out, the wine that the caretaker had brought was already set out. I opened the terrace door, took a deep breath of the fresh sea breeze, and sipped the wine, feeling like I had not a care in the world.
“Bianca.”
I heard a voice calling me from outside the terrace. I tightened the robe over my pajamas and answered while still sitting on the sofa.
“Yes, Ares. I’m here.”
“…May I come in?”
It was a question that came after a brief hesitation. I answered lightly.
“Of course, you may.”
Soon, the door opened silently. In the dimly lit room, illuminated only by the bluish moonlight, a familiar shadow entered.
I held up a glass of wine to Ares.
“How about coming over here and having a drink with me?”
Instead of answering, he quietly came over and sat next to me. After taking a sip of the wine I poured for him, a gentle smile curved his lips.
“It’s excellent.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
Like mine, Ares’s hair was still damp. I slowly reached out to touch his slightly wet, tousled hair. The pleasant coolness wrapped around my fingers.
Ares remained still, watching me as I touched his hair. For some reason, I felt a bit embarrassed.
“It’s… quite comforting.”
I blushed slightly as I mumbled an excuse. Despite that, Ares continued to gaze at me without saying a word. Feeling a bit awkward, I quickly tried to change the subject.
“It would have been nice if Miranda were here. Between the carriage ride and the walk, my legs are quite tired, but there’s no one to give me a massage.”
“Is that so…?”
Only then did Ares speak. He quietly placed the glass he was holding on the table.
“I might not be as good as your personal maid, but if you don’t mind, I could try.”
Ares bent down slightly and lifted my legs. I shifted my body to face him, making it easier for him to massage my legs.
“…Then, please do.”
“It’ll be more comfortable if you lie down.”
“Alright.”
As Ares suggested, I leaned back against the sofa and lay down comfortably. I could feel him gently lifting the hem of my nightgown and pressing down on my calves.
“Ah…”
As the tight muscles relaxed, a pleased sigh escaped from between my lips. His large, warm hands kneading my legs felt different from Miranda’s touch.
After finishing the massage on one leg, he lifted the other. With my eyes slowly closing, I relished the feeling of his attentive hands wrapping around my calf, firm yet gentle.
The cool air in the room gradually began to warm up. The heat from Ares’s hands, holding my leg, started to spread.
It happened in an instant—his massaging touch became more suggestive. The room, once filled with the cool, piercing blue moonlight, was now being overtaken by a rising warmth.
My small foot, smaller than most, was enveloped in one of Ares’s hands. His lips pressed softly against the top of my foot. It was a sensation I had rarely felt before, and my entire body involuntarily shuddered.
His lips moved from my foot to my ankle, then gently up my calf. The places that had never allowed anyone’s kiss were slowly being claimed by Ares, one by one.
While his lips captured one leg, his hand remained on the other. After softly encircling and caressing my ankle, his large, warm hand traveled up my shin, parting the fabric of my nightgown and moving beneath it.
When his burning hot palm touched my thigh, I couldn’t help but let out a small gasp. Instinctively, my eyes flew open.
At that moment, Ares’s voice, rough and strained, rumbled low.
“It seems I won’t be able to keep my promise…”
“?”
I propped myself up on my elbows and sat up. Ares’s face, partially shadowed by the moonlight, displayed a somewhat troubled smile.
“The Count told me to treat you just like I would any other woman. But I don’t think I can do that.”
“What?”
“So, what I’m saying is, from now on, I might lose my manners a bit.”
“!”
As soon as his not-quite-warning ended, Ares lunged at me with overwhelming force. The effort I made to sit up was easily overpowered, and I fell back onto the sofa.
At the same time, Ares’s lips fiercely claimed mine.
The weight pressing down on my chest and abdomen left me breathless. Instinctively, my lips parted wider, but Ares’s mouth had already completely covered them. Harsh breaths, indistinguishable from one another, mingled chaotically in my ears.
Two hot and soft things intertwined beyond our lips. The tangy taste of wine carried by his tongue was intoxicatingly fragrant.
As my head started to tilt backward, Ares cupped my face with both hands. There was no retreat left. Held firmly in place, I received every raw bit of desire he poured out without any filter.
“Mm! Mmph!”
As the kiss dragged on, it became genuinely hard to breathe. I pushed against Ares’s body with all my strength, trying to turn my trapped head from side to side.
It was only when I began to struggle that Ares finally pulled his lips away.
“Haah, haah… I can’t breathe, Ares…”
I pleaded with all the desperation I could muster. Ares gently brushed his fingertips over my lips.
“Ah, sorry.”
But despite his words, his eyes were curved in a smile.
Ares lifted his body off mine. As the heavy weight lifted, a slight chill set in, leaving me feeling oddly empty.
I was still panting heavily when Ares slipped one arm under my knees. With his other arm supporting my back, he lifted me into his arms.
Startled, I cried out.
“A-Ares! Your arm…”
“It’s fine. It’s all healed.”
Ares responded briefly and carried me toward the bed. His steps were confident, but the way he laid me down was incredibly gentle.
I gazed into his eyes for a moment. Though the darkness concealed much, I could tell he was feeling tense at that moment.
“Ares.”
“…”
I reached out to him. Without a word, he took my hand and brought it to his face, rubbing it against his cheek.
“Are you really okay with this…?”
Ares’s voice trembled slightly as he asked, but I felt surprisingly calm.
“I have no regrets. I’m happy that you’re my first.”
“…The same goes for me.”
Ares’s voice was choked with emotion. I asked in a tone of disbelief.
“Are you saying you’re also…?”