Chapter 16
She had wanted to say that she was just startled, and that she didn’t know what else to call him. But Yulia couldn’t get a single word out.
“O-Opp—”
It was because Cayente’s lips had come so close that just a sheet of paper could have fit between them.
—Looks like Cayente must’ve done something wrong to you, huh?
From Cayente’s actions, Yulia could tell once again that her mother’s claims had been absurd. There was no way Cayente would feel guilty toward her.
—Or maybe he just doesn’t know how to handle a similar situation once it’s already happened?
If he had even a shred of guilt, Cayente would never have acted this way, especially not in front of so many people.
“If I kissed you here, no one would find it strange. It seems we look a lot closer than we thought, at least to others.”
Yulia, thinking he was teasing her again, grew angry. But at the same time, something inexplicable stirred inside her as she looked into Cayente’s ash-gray eyes, which held a strange heat.
Did he really intend to kiss her this time? He was so unpredictable.
If she closed her eyes, their lips would surely meet—so Yulia just lowered her gaze and stood frozen. But even then, Cayente’s lips brushed against her eyelids.
From a distance, it would have looked like a tender kiss. Surprised, Yulia stiffened, but Cayente still didn’t release his hold on her.
Didn’t he feel embarrassed being so affectionate in front of everyone? As Yulia alone fidgeted nervously, feeling Cayente’s body heat through their clothes again, she couldn’t help but let out a small sigh and asked,
“You don’t feel even a little sorry, do you?”
“Sorry? Me? Why?”
“Then why did you send the jewelry?”
“Jewelry?”
“You sent me a necklace and earrings made of pink diamonds. They didn’t seem like something you’d send just for the fun of it.”
Facing his predictably indifferent reaction, Yulia still harbored a small sliver of hope that the jewelry might have held some meaning.
“Ah, that?”
Cayente, as always, shattered even that faint hope. Smiling casually, as if he barely remembered, he flatly stated that the jewelry meant nothing.
“I got it as a wedding gift. What was I supposed to do with it? Even if I got it from someone I despise, I couldn’t exactly sell it.”
So that’s how it was. He hadn’t even bought it—he just offhandedly gave her something someone else had given him. She must have really let her guard down to have believed her mother’s words, even for a second.
Now, she felt too pathetic to even cry. For a moment, feeling a strange sense of resignation, Yulia realized she was the only one anxiously caring about their relationship. And she felt genuinely angry at herself.
Maybe Cayente kept teasing her because she kept reacting like this. With that thought, Yulia boldly wrapped her arms around Cayente’s neck.
“What are you—!”
Before Cayente could ask what she was doing, Yulia pressed her lips against his so forcefully that a loud smacking sound echoed. She hadn’t meant to go that far, but when Cayente’s lips parted in surprise, their mouths ground together more than just touching—and her tongue slipped inside, intertwining with his.
Startled for a moment, she almost pulled away—but she didn’t.
Through their joined lips, she could feel Cayente’s shock. But Yulia deepened the kiss for a while before finally pulling away. Cayente shouted loudly.
“What the hell are you doing!”
“You asked if I was ready, didn’t you? I’m just showing you my resolve.”
Though it stung to see Cayente wiping his lips, as if disgusted by the kiss, Yulia stood tall and met his gaze proudly. For the first time, it felt satisfying to see Cayente genuinely flustered because of her.
“At least now you won’t be able to joke about kissing me so easily anymore.”
“What?”
“After trying it, I realize it’s no big deal. Sorry for slapping you last time. If only you hadn’t mentioned my upbringing… But why are you so shocked?”
Pretending to be nonchalant, Yulia tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and continued.
“It’s not even the first time, is it? You’re surprisingly skilled with your tongue. Anyway, you said we didn’t need a family dinner, right? I understand. I’ll be going now.”
As soon as she turned around, regret hit her faster and harder than before. But still—her heart felt lighter.
This regret was better than lamenting over ruining her first kiss. At least this time, she had acted on her own will. That was enough.
* * *
Cayente remained standing in a daze long after Yulia had left the factory.
“Miss Yulia is… quite the bold one,” Henry said with an amused chuckle.
Cayente should have felt disgusted by the unexpected kiss. Instead, a hollow laugh escaped his lips, just like before.
He suddenly remembered—that was who Yulia had always been. Yes, she had always been like that. She looked gentle on the outside, but she sometimes did daring things no one could predict.
“Still… In public spaces, she’ll have to be more careful. She’s going to be a countess, after all.”
Nothing had changed. Absolutely nothing had changed. He should have been angrier at that thought—but ultimately, it all boiled down to his own weakness.
His lack of immunity to women.
He hadn’t pushed her away immediately because his mind had gone blank the moment their lips touched. He should have been repulsed—but instead, Yulia’s lips against his had felt… not bad.
As Yulia had pointed out, it wasn’t a mouth opened in shock. His lips had parted instinctively—driven by a primal desire to feel her even more deeply.
—It’s not even your first time? You’re surprisingly good with your tongue.
Not the first time? Who else, if not him, could she be referring to?
The moment their lips touched, the way her soft body pressed against his made him break out into a cold sweat, and his body instinctively responded. If this wasn’t his first time feeling that way, whose was it?
“Henry.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“Arrange a dinner meeting with the people from Baron Luper’s household.”
“I’ll check the schedule right away.”
Did she really think he would just let her run away after pulling such a stunt?
* * *
Yulia didn’t know why she had accepted the dinner invitation after saying there was no need to be grateful.
After that impulsive kiss and returning home, Cayente’s messenger had arrived even before she did.
“Where did I put the silverware?”
The baroness immediately began polishing the silverware she had stored away neatly in the cabinet, and the commotion lasted until evening.
“Where are the flower arrangements? And don’t use those wine glasses—use the gold-rimmed ones!”
“Should I add more herbs, ma’am?”
“Pile them on! Use everything we have! Think of it as going a week without food!”
Thanks to the baroness bustling around frantically, the dining table was transformed into something truly splendid within hours. The gleaming silverware, the rare oranges used for decoration—everything looked no different from the table of a wealthy count.
“Welcome, Count Clue. My husband couldn’t make it because of work, so I’ll greet you instead. Since you’ve inherited the title now, I shouldn’t call you by your old name, right?”
“Yes.”
In truth, although it was clear they had once shared a close relationship…
