The kiss was nothing like the novels Rubiella had read for "research." It made her feel heady. Like her head was full of clouds and her mouth was being consumed by heat.

She did not move at first. She couldn't. She was shocked that Hansel was actually kissing her. Then she stopped thinking altogether and closed her eyes, and started to tentatively move her lips against his.

Like this, right?

She just had to copy him.

She kissed his lips. They were so soft.

She was starting to get the hang of it when Hansel suddenly licked her lips.

Her mouth opened in surprise.

He inserted his tongue and it blew her mind. He was tasting her now and she could taste him back.

He had drawn her body closer to his. Rubiella could feel his hard chest. She looped her arms around his neck. She was starting to feel weak.

Air.

She needed air.

She cut off the kiss and inhaled a big gulp of air.

She had forgotten to breathe.

She heard him chuckle.

"My lady, I dare say we need more practice. I would feel terribly guilty if you were to faint from lack of air," Hansel said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Rubiella rolled her eyes. "How cheeky of you."

"Perhaps I should have kissed you in other areas instead," Hansel murmured, his emerald green eyes glinting like a cat.

He took her hand and kissed the back of it. Rubiella arched an eyebrow.

"I don't wish for that now," Rubiella said, feigning that she was unaffected by his kisses.

"Here perhaps, my lady?" Hansel leaned closer to her and placed a kiss on her cheek.

Rubiella thought it felt nice but she didn't show it.

"No, not there," Rubiella said.

Hansel dipped his head lower and stopped at her neck. His lips grazed her neck. Rubiella's breath hitched. He kissed her neck, planting small quick kisses on her neck. Then he stopped and with his lips still on her neck, he opened his mouth, and began to lick her neck slowly. She could feel his tongue, tasting that small part of the side of her neck.

Rubiella closed her eyes.

Then he began to suck on her neck. She couldn't understand why but she felt something warm building inside her.

His teeth grazed her neck.

"Ah!" Rubiella gasped.

Then he stopped.

Hansel pulled back, concern etched on his face. "I apologize, my lady. I might have left a mark on you. Did that hurt?"

Rubiella shook her head. To hell with marks. She can probably find a ruffled choker somewhere in her closet anyway.

"I'm absolutely fine. You may continue," Rubiella said.

Hansel smiled and pulled her into his arms. He stroked the top of her head. Rubiella's pounding heart began to relax.

"I have taken much liberty with you, my lady. Are you sure you are fine with me?" Hansel asked.

"You should take responsibility then. You can't just kiss a lady and go about with your day as if nothing has happened," Rubiella said.

Hansel placed a kiss on top of her head. "I'm having difficulty in restraining myself but I will only allow myself up to this for now."

"Hansel, did you hear me? I said you should take responsibility! If anyone knows of this, I will no longer be marriageable! No one would wish to marry a lady who has already been kissed!" Rubiella said.

"My lady, not to worry. I would be very willing to save my lady from such scandal," Hansel said.

Was she forcing it too much? Did that mean he was willing to take responsibility for their kiss? Was he hers now? Were they official?

"I think they've come back now, my lady," Hansel said.

Tsk. Bad timing. They should have arrived much later. Rubiella could also hear the sound of an approaching carriage.

"Hansel, are we . . .?"

What should she ask? Were they lovers now? Was he serious with her? Was he hers exclusively?

"My lady, I hope I am not rushing you into this. Are you willing to accept me as your lover?" Hansel asked.

Rubiella blushed. "Y-yes, of course! I mean, as long as you don't have anyone else."

"My lady is the only one for me. Please allow me some time so I may properly court you in public," Hansel said and placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

Rubiella nodded. She didn't really care that Hansel was a butler. If he asked, she would gladly run away but with him but it seemed Hansel had some sort of plan.

*

*

*

Rubiella and Hans went out of the garden then in front of the burned mansion where Euphemia and Lucien were waiting.

"Euphee, how was it? Did everything go well?" Rubiella asked.

"Yes, I think the Queen and the prince will not bother us for now. They said they'll provide us with a mansion where we can move to but it's not yet prepared. We would have to stay in an inn for a week perhaps," Euphemia said.

"Hans, we would need to recruit new servants. I think I have frightened off our old servants when I set the mansion on fire," Lucien said.

"As you wish, Your Grace," Hansel said.

"Ruby, did an insect bite you? Your neck looks really red. Come here, let me heal you," Euphemia said, looking concerned.

Rubiella reddened. "N-no, you don't need to! I'm perfectly fine! This is nothing!"

"Nothing?" Hansel repeated with a raised eyebrow.

Rubiella panicked even more. "No, it's not nothing! I mean, Euphee, you don't need to use your healing powers for this."

"Are you sure? It might have been a big insect. It's really red," Euphemia said.

It was really red. Like something big sucked on her neck.

"Yes, I'm sure. No need to trouble yourself with this. Let us depart now. I can have you dropped off at an inn first before I go home," Rubiella said in a rush and dragged Euphemia towards the carriage.

*

*

*

They dropped off Rubiella first in her residence and then they started to look for an inn to stay at.

It was already night time and they still haven't found an inn with vacant rooms. The inns were fully-booked with people who were taking a vacation in Aderlan. It was still spring in Aderlan and the flowers were in full bloom everywhere which is why a lot of people had traveled to Aderlan.

They found a simple-looking inn and decided to try their luck there. It didn't look fancy at all. No chandeliers or servants but it wasn't dirty. It was made of wood and decorated with colored lanterns. It had a homey feeling to it.

The innkeeper was a middle-aged woman with a friendly aura. She smiled at the three warmly.

"Your Grace, I'm not mistaken, am I?" The innkeeper asked Lucien.

"Yes, have we met before, Ma'am?" Lucien asked.

"I have seen you and the Holy Saintess when I was visiting my son. He was one of the craftsmen you have employed when you were creating the play," the innkeeper said.

"How is he? I haven't been able to make another play because of certain issues that we had," Euphemia said.

"Oh, he's mighty fine. The pay that he got from working for you helped him in setting up a little store in town. I do offer my gracious thanks to you, Your Grace and Holy Saintess," the innkeeper said.

"That's good news. You're welcome but you may call me just Lady Euphemia if you wish. Ma'am, do you have three rooms available here?" Euphemia asked.

She was feeling exhausted already and she hoped this would be the last inn they would ask for a vacancy for the night.

"We only have two rooms available and they're kind of small," the innkeeper said.

"Is it all right with you for us to share, Euphee?" Lucien asked.

"I suppose so," Euphemia said. She was too tired already and she didn't want to look for another inn. It was fine, right? The two of them had slept together on the same bed in the past anyway.

"I will have warm water prepared for you. Would you like dinner to be sent to your room?" the innkeeper asked.

"No need to prepare dinner for me, Ma'am," Hansel said.

Lucien eyed Hansel suspiciously.

"I have dinner plans with . . . my lady, Your Grace," Hansel said.

Lucien nodded. "Just be back in the morning."

*

*

*

The room looked cramped. There was one single bed for Lucien and Euphemia to share. They did sleep on a same bed before but the bed in the Ashburn Residence was bigger. Two basins with warm water were delivered to them.

"Do you wish to wash up first, Euphee? I can stand guard outside the room," Lucien said.

Euphemia nodded.

Lucien went out and Euphemia was left alone to herself. She took off her dress and began wiping down her body. Her skin was flushed from the heat but also from the thought of spending the night with Lucien in a cramped room in an inn.

There was a knock on the door.

"Euphee, Hans was able to buy a nightgown for you from the inn's store. It's not that good but we can buy better ones tomorrow," Lucien said.

Euphemia opened the door a bit to get the nightdown. "Thank you."

She changed into the nightgown. It was a very simple dress in beige and it was really sheer.

"Oh no," Euphemia muttered.

"Euphee, are you done changing?" Lucien asked.

"No! Don't go in!"

"Is there something wrong, Euphee?" Lucien asked.

Euphemia quickly went under tbe covers and raised the blanket up to her shoulders.

"You can go in now," Euphemia said.

Lucien went in the room and looked at her curiously.

"I'm going to wash up now, Euphee. Should I go to Hansel's room instead?" Lucien asked.

Euphemia realized that she would not be able to get out with the nightgown she was wearing.

"Yes, please. I'm sorry. I'm just really tired now," Euphemia said.

"It's all right. Just get some rest," Lucien said and went out of the room with his basin of warm water.

A few minutes later, Lucien came back wearing a dark maroon robe, carrying a tray with two meals.

Why did men get to wear a dark robe and wonen had to wear a nightgown that looked almost transparent?!

"Oh! Chicken! That looks delicious!" Euphemia exclaimed, getting up from the bed.

Lucien looked surprised too but he wasn't looking at the chicken. Euphemia looked at where his eyes were staring and her cheeks reddened. The blanket had fallen down on the floor and her sheer nightgown was showing what she was trying to hide.