“Episode 21”
I couldn’t bear to meet his eyes, so I subtly averted my gaze. His pale fingers firmly gripped my chin.
“Isabella.”
“…Yes.”
“I’m getting cold. Can I share some of your warmth?”
What did he mean? Instead of replying, I looked up at him, my lips quivering in their icy blue state.
“Shh, don’t worry. I won’t rush…”
His lips slowly approached in the pouring rain. His hot breath startled me, lifting my frozen upper lip slightly. It was my first time. The dormant senses awakened to the warmth of another’s lips.
His hot flesh invaded my mouth. His movements were very cautious. As his tongue gently caressed the delicate mucous membrane, a faint moan escaped my lips.
“Ah, um…”
His erect tongue brushed my palate softly, like soothing a wound. It was more of a comforting gesture than one driven by desire.
When I opened my previously closed eyes, his lips, which had been tenderly touching mine, were already far away.
“Shall we return to the carriage now?”
His flushed lips, full of blood, glistened with rain. I belatedly realized the overflowing emotions in my chest.
Ah, yes. This feeling was regret. I wanted him to desperately explore my soul through our parted lips. I longed for him to quench my desires by sucking on the tingling spots until they were sated.
Suppressing the overwhelming, almost sinful emotions, I spoke.
“…Yes, let’s go back.”
I picked up the coat lying on the ground and headed towards the carriage. Somehow, my steps felt heavy.
Though the bone-chilling rainwater seeped through, I could never say that I would be happy to stand here for hours with him alone.
### 6. Fever
“My goodness, you’re burning up.”
“…I’m fine.”
Contrary to his words, Ethan’s face was flushed. A reddish heat rash spread under his ribs.
“I told you it would be better if we had bathed together last night.”
Last night, we were soaked in the torrential rain. Unlike me, who soaked in hot water as soon as we returned to the mansion, he only hastily dried his wet hair and prepared dinner.
As a result, he fell ill with a severe fever.
“I’m sorry, Isabella. I need to prepare breakfast…”
Even speaking seemed exhausting for him, yet he insisted on preparing breakfast in that condition.
Grabbing his shoulder to stop him from sitting up, I gently laid him back on the bed.
“Just lie down quietly. I’ll prepare breakfast.”
“My job is to cook delicious meals for you every day.”
He was truly an odd parrot lover. Even in that state, his dedication to feeding his parrot was remarkable.
“What’s important right now is your health. Wait here, I’ll bring a wet cloth.”
I filled a bowl with cold water, soaked a handkerchief, and wrung it out thoroughly. After carefully wiping the sweat from his forehead, I neatly folded the wet cloth and placed it on his forehead.
“Ethan, is there any fever medicine in the mansion?”
His lips remained motionless. It seemed he had already fallen asleep from the fever. Hot breaths escaped through his slightly parted lips.
“Mmm…”
I fell into a reverie as I gazed at his flushed lips.
“Get a grip, Isabella.”
As I hurriedly averted my gaze, I noticed his chest, peeking from under his shirt collar, was also red-hot.
“You’re burning up.”
As he lay limp, gasping, I pondered what to do. My deliberation didn’t last long.
With careful hands, I began unbuttoning his shirt. The tactile sensation on my fingertips heightened in the strange tension.
As I gripped the shirt’s hem, my eyes were drawn to his smooth, sculpted chest.
“Shameless Isabella, what are you thinking with a sick person in front of you?”
Closing my eyes tightly, I pulled the shirt off with all my strength. The sweat-stained shirt came off stiffly.
His flawless body was like a pristine canvas untouched by human hands. But under his smooth neckline, a reddish burn mark spread.
After a brief admiration, I carefully wiped his body with the cool cloth.
“Haa…”
Surprised by the cool sensation spreading over his body, he opened his eyes with a dazed look.
“…Isabella?”
His emerald eyes, glowing from the fever, looked down at his half-naked body.
Was it fate’s trick? My hand holding the wet cloth happened to be pressing down the center of his broad chest. I could feel the delicate bumps on his smooth skin.
“I’m sorry! I swear I didn’t mean to touch you on purpose.”
Did that sound too much like an excuse? Should I have just said nothing and feigned ignorance?
As I fumbled with the wet cloth, he looked up at me weakly with half-closed eyes.
“…Is it your preference to pounce on someone while they’re asleep?”
Pounce? Who? Me? On you? Looking down at him with a bewildered expression, his cheeks flushed like a ripe peach.
I quickly soaked the cloth again and wiped around his cheek. I couldn’t tell if his face was flushed from the severe fever or from the strange misunderstanding.
“…Isabella, I didn’t expect you to be so aggressive.”
“Don’t misunderstand. I was just wiping your body because of your high fever.”
“…Since it’s my first time, please be gentle.”
Such an outrageous remark. He must have been delirious from the fever, spouting nonsense.
“No, it’s not like that. Ethan? Are you going back to sleep?”
After saying what he wanted, he closed his eyes again. It would have been better if he didn’t wake up for a while. Sighing briefly, I continued wiping his body.
His body was so hot that the wet cloth became lukewarm after just a few touches.
“You’ll feel better after a good sleep.”
I brushed back his sweat-stained hair. His exposed forehead had a perfect line without a single flaw.
I carefully placed a kiss on his forehead and whispered.
“I’ll go make some food. Rest well until then.”
Though I’m not skilled in cooking, I felt I could manage to make a simple soup that would go down easily.
