“Your name?”

“…Vivian.”

“Let’s get along well then, Vivian.”

This time, she accepted his outstretched hand. Vivian wanted to shake off that hand as quickly as possible. But, while she was barely smiling, she still turned to face the physician for the final time.

“If anything were to happen, don’t hesitate to give me a call—at any time.”

He apparently looked quite neat despite being a commoner, himself. Perhaps it might be due to him having been in charge of the Grand Duke, as the chief physician to boot. Even from a single glance, one could see how those evidently high-quality attire had enhanced the physician’s immaculate look. Vivian eventually imagined how good it would be to know the thoughts behind those dark green eyes of his.

“What’s your name?”

The abrupt question from Vivian had made the physician’s smile grow even deeper.

“My name is Cedric. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Lady Alexia.”

***

“You’re here?”

His voice was heard as soon as she stepped into his room, which had already become a part of her routine.

It looked like the physician really meant it when he said that he’ll be keeping her secret faithfully. Hearing that voice of his, which was no different than usual, had made Vivian relax a little.

“How’s your body?”

“Thanks to the Grand… I mean, Knox—I’ve become much better now.”

Vivian’s lips, which had been naturally addressing him as the Grand Duke, had quickly altered to his name that eventually drew a smile on his lips.

“Really? I’m glad to hear that.”

“What were you doing just now?”

When Vivian moved even closer, he showed her a wet towel.

“Ah! I was just wiping off my sweat.”

“…Were you in lots of pain once again?”

“This is nothing, really.”

It would be relatively believable only if there were no beads of sweat adorning on his forehead. Vivian heaved a sigh before putting her hand on top of his.

“Should I do it for you?”

Vivian’s words had made Knox’s body become visibly stiff. He blinked his eyes while trying to search for the words to say before relieving such a long breath.

“Do you know that you’re quite bold in such a strange manner?”

“Then, should I not?”

“Never!”

He quickly passed the towel into Vivian’s hand, which then made a smile bloom on Vivian’s face.

Vivian had already put away that burdensome hat on the bedside table, before she slowly began to wipe down his face with the towel in hand.

Vivian’s body had gradually grown closer to the bed as she started to wipe from his forehead, which his sweat was still trickling down. As she was wiping his face with the utmost care, her body then proceeded to naturally incline forward that made her face become closer to Knox himself.

Her hand that was already tracing down his neckline began to slide to his chest. Knox’s body immediately fluttered when she placed her hand in between the laces of his nightshirt, which was being tied loosely that made it much easier to be taken off.

Is she tempting me or just purely wanting to help? Vivian’s intent was definitely crystal clear. Her touch, however, had naturally made Knox’s lower body burn with such heat.

As soon as the towel had brushed against his chest, he could endure it no longer.

“Knox?”

Vivian called out to him as she got surprised by the sudden strong grip, which had held her hand. Still, Knox only dragged her to the bed in the end.

Vivian finally realized the situation, albeit late before she quickly tried to squirm her way out. But of course, Knox was already pinning her limbs down—one after the other.

“No, please don’t!”

Her hand quickly moved to cover up her face while stuttering away had made the Grand Duke lick his lips instead. He found her little defiance to be quite endearing as he simply slid his hands below that supple waist of hers.

“Eunghh…!”

“What’s wrong? You know exactly that it’d come to this as well.”

Even though he was saying such things menacingly, his touch was incredibly full of warmth.

Just as though his temporary blindness was a sham, his hands began to seek and attack her weaknesses successively.

Vivian couldn’t stop her moan whenever his sensual touches had brushed against her.