If you don’t love me, I will die.

“It’s all right.”

Music could be heard outside when I finished treating Ania’s wounds.
The lively and cheerful rhythm announcing the beginning of the ball flowed along with the brass band’s performance, and the sounds of people dancing, laughing, and chatting echoed.

“Shall we go?”
“No, not yet.”

Although my wounds were treated, Ania still probed my body.
Feeling the slow touch strangely stimulating my senses, I gently grabbed Ania’s wrist.

“Oh my.”
“Stop probing. It’s getting a bit painful.”
“It’s just small wounds.”
“Still, it hurts.”
“Alright, I’ll be gentler.”

However, Ania lightly slipped out of my grip and probed my arms.
Due to her persistently sweeping over my body, it was incredibly difficult to hide my expression.

“Your body is in good condition, My Lord.”
“Men’s bodies are naturally like this.”
“Is that so?”

What does she mean?

Ania, who receives the attention of numerous men, would undoubtedly know what a man’s body is like.
If anything, she probably knows it too well.

I deliberately ignored Ania’s hand and immersed myself in my thoughts.

Why did Johann Radner go for Ania?

Was it all to become the Earl?

***

“He’s handsome…”

Edward’s body was beautiful, reminiscent of a magnificent sculpture.

Ania took note of the firm muscles revealed beneath his shirt, the distinct dorsal muscles exposed when he removed his shirt, and the towering shoulder muscles, all while he was not looking at her.

So, without forgetting, Ania slowly licked her lips from behind as Edward treated his wounds, his back facing her.
As she did so, desire blossomed in her heart.

‘I want him.’

She wanted this man.
She wanted to make his beautiful body, his rough heart, and his soft voice all hers.
So, even though she decided to restrain herself, even though she vowed not to give him her heart until he sought love from her, she slowly caressed his body.

His body, so different from hers, seemed to stimulate Ania’s entire being.

“Now, does it still hurt?”

At first, Edward, who used to flinch and reject her hand because of the pain, now seemed accustomed.

His expressionless profile didn’t reveal any sign of the emotion called affection.
However, it set Ania’s heart ablaze.

“It still stings.”
“Shall we rest a bit more then?”

Now, Ania thought, it doesn’t matter what happens with the dance.
This brief time of tending to each other’s wounds felt like a dream.

Did Edward also feel his heart flutter like mine did?
Did he feel the same as me while wrapping the bandage around my ankle?

Even if not, Ania would be satisfied as long as a ripple formed in the pond of his heart, no matter how small.

After all, Ania was a beauty.
To any man, she was someone they would want to embrace to the point of madness, someone they would desire to obtain even if it meant sacrificing their lives.

Therefore, Edward would slowly seek her.
Ania wanted to embrace Edward immediately, but she knew the consequences of being too greedy.

She knew that giving her heart too soon could make a person miserable.

***

As the pain slowly faded with the healing of the wounds, the music inside the mansion changed.

The brass band began to play classical rhythms.

“Shall we?”

It was the perfect opportunity for me, who had thought about escaping from this oppressive touch, no matter what excuse I had to devise.
It might be difficult if the dance was fast-paced, but with a slow dance, I could manage, even if my ankles hurt.

“It’s not polite to avoid showing your face for too long.”
“Yes…”

As I stood up, Ania’s hand fell off my arm. I grabbed her hand and helped her up.
As we stepped outside, a maid who had been waiting rushed over.

“Is your body better now?”
“Thanks to you. I appreciate it.”
“I just did what needed to be done.”

The maid lightly bowed her head and led us to the ballroom.

The atmosphere in the ballroom was already vibrant.
Countless people held hands and danced slowly, their movements resembling swaying wildflowers in the wind.

“Lord Edward.”

As we descended the stairs toward the ballroom, the maid called us.

“What is it?”
“Countess Roland would like to meet Lord Edward and Lady Brontë personally. Would you mind meeting her first if it’s convenient for you?”
“That’s fine.”

It was intriguing. We had only come to attend the ball, yet we arrived in such a battered state.

However, something was odd.
Why did Countess Roland want to see us and not Count Roland himself?

Even though she might have enough social standing to step into the social scene, Count Roland was the true head of the family.

Typically, when nobles requested a private meeting, important matters were discussed. It could involve social gossip or business matters.
However, as far as I knew, Countess Roland was not a businesswoman with enough standing to discuss such matters.

Her position was not that significant. She could have easily approached us at the ball to inquire about our well-being.

With faint suspicion lingering, I followed the maid and entered the central room on the second floor.

Countess Roland greeted us with wide-open eyes.

“Oh! Lord Edward and Lady Brontë!”
“I heard you wanted to meet us.”
“Yes, indeed. When you arrived in such a state, I was worried if something had happened.”
“It’s nothing serious.”

As I cut off the conversation, Countess Roland’s expression subtly stiffened.
Although she didn’t show it, I could tell from the twitching corner of her mouth.

“That’s truly fortunate.”
“Did you invite us to inquire about our well-being?”
“Yes… I thought Lord Edward might want to announce it personally rather than letting others gossip about it.”

At that moment, Ania suddenly interjected into the conversation, pulled my hand, and stood up.

“I see. If the conversation is over, we’ll take my leave.”

We exited the room.
I looked at Ania bewilderedly.

“My Lady, what is the meaning of this?”
“We have no more business there.”
“Regardless, this is a behavior that goes against etiquette.”
“It doesn’t matter. I am not one to worry about etiquette.”
“My Lady!”

I raised my voice, and Ania, who was taken aback, exclaimed.

“This is typical behavior of a woman.”
“What?”

Ania composed her expression, but her brows furrowed slightly, and her lips twitched as if she were suppressing her anger.

“What a cunning woman.”

Ania smoothed her expression, but her jawline tensed.

“Countess Roland was the one who staged the attack.”
“But, we heard the confession, right? The one known as the ‘Drug King of the back alley’ was the culprit.”
“No. That person lied.”
“On what basis?”
“That woman hates me. She fears that I will take away her husband.”
“… Is that so?”

It was incomprehensible.
Even though it was suspicious that the Countess personally requested a private meeting, it couldn’t be the basis for such an accusation.

In my eyes, it seemed like Ania’s stubbornness.

“My Lady, no matter how much I trust you, this is a bit exaggerated.”
“Exaggerated, you say?”

Ania bit her lower lip.

“Have you seen the way that woman looks at me?”
“Suspecting someone without solid evidence…”
“Edward!”

Ania asked, trembling, clenching her fist as if feeling wronged.

“How could you say such a thing?”
“But… My Lady.”
“Enough.”

Ania pushed my hand away.
Tears were rolling down like pearls from her eyes.

“I want to go back.”
“Ania!”

After calling out to Ania, who was briskly walking away, I followed her.

Though I tried to hold her wrist, she shook me off.
Inevitably, I embraced her from behind, pulling her into my chest.

“Trust me. I will find out and make her confess her mistake.”
“We’re done.”
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
“I will find a way to prove it and make her admit her fault.”

Only then did Ania relax her arms.

“Really?”
“I swear it on my honor.”
“You don’t have to do that.”

With her eyes turning red, Ania subtly lifted the corners of her mouth and ran briskly towards the stairs.

“Let’s go, My Lord.”

Watching her like this, I let out a bewildered sigh.

How could a self-willed, stubborn, and excessively confident woman receive forgiveness by simply smiling?

I bit my lower lip lightly, blaming my foolishness, and watched Ania’s retreating figure gracefully descend to the ballroom.