Chapter 36

Wouldn’t it fall down like this? It was the first time I felt both nervous and confused.

His skin had a subtle scent of bath oil like mine.

The dim lights that adorned the bedroom and the scent emanating from both our bodies were strange.

‘I have to come to my senses.’

If I let go of my senses, it seemed that I would be swept away by that sharp-eyed man who was torn by desire.

‘Can I handle him?’

“…A gift.”

I barely broke the tension and moistened my red lips.

“Show me your gift, Rixus.”

A gift of less than 500 ferring on the first night of the engagement.

Rixus looked at me without a word.

Then, with a large hand, he took off his thin robe.

Under the light, his naked body was dazzlingly revealed.

Broad shoulders and chest perfectly positioned like a detailed sculpture.

Thick forearms with blue tendons extending like streams of water, and a stomach that looked strong like a beast’s.

His pants were barely draped over his hip bones, which were set in a thick diagonal line.

“……”

Just looking at his body made my lower abdomen warm.

His body was strong and menacing, but at the same time, it was erotic and sensual.

Rixus took my hand and slowly brought it to his stomach. I could clearly feel the flexion of the hot muscles.

I realized the meaning of this action immediately and looked up at him, holding my breath.

‘Rixus’ first night present is… Is he saying he has a pure body?’

I thought he had been in love at least a few times.

“…Lies.”

My eyes shook.

Then, at that moment, a strong arm wrapped around my waist and firmly pulled me into his arms.

Because of my thin gown, I felt like I was almost naked.

The skin on my lower back became hot as if it would burn.

“……”

Without realizing it, I averted my gaze and lowered my eyelashes.

“It’s difficult if you’re already shy.”

His large hand gently rubbed my back and tickled me.

I was so flustered that my heart was about to burn. 

“I’m going to do all the shameful things all night long.”

……Those words made me 100 times more embarrassed.

‘No. I can’t be pushed like this!’

‘Calm down, Berylia. Are you just pretending to be strong, and now acting like a fool? How funny will that look?’

I suddenly came to my senses and looked up at him, pretending to be aloof.

As if I had touched hundreds more men in the harem.

I snorted softly and lightly lifted his chin with a finger. Then I looked directly at his face.

“You must be shy as it’s your first time.”

My white thighs were pushed deep between Rixus’ legs.

At this moment, I could see Rixus’s eyes widening.

I stroked his hot skin, touching him with just my fingers, as if teasing him.

“A man who lacks experience…”

As I brushed against the raised bone on his forearm, I could feel it vibrating up and down. I raised an eyebrow and whispered,

“Can you please me?”

At this, strength was applied to the arm that was wrapped around my waist, and my vision shook.

While I was caught off guard, I felt my head touching the bed, hair scattered. 

With flexible movements, he climbed on top of me. His always cool eyes looked at me as if he could see through my entirety.

Looking up from below, Rixus was so captivating that it made my heart explode.

I could feel just how much he could entertain me from this motion alone.

‘Ah… I think this will be fun.’

My hands and feet roused and my heart was fluttering as if it would melt.

At the same time, I was really ashamed and embarrassed, so much so that I might just die.

“…….”

He smiled with his eyes gazing down at me.

It was a smile that looked as fresh and harmless as a boy’s.

I felt like I had been punched in the chest. It was so cute that my heart thundered.

With his muscular and heavy body, he pressed me down so dangerously… 

I was about to be disarmed as it was, but my mind suddenly flashed.

‘Wait, like this… Am I going to sleep with Rixus?’

How dare he bewitch me with a smiling face and lay me on the bed.

I came to my senses and slapped him on the shoulder as if warning him.

“Wait for me.”

“……”

“You haven’t seen my present yet, Rixus.”

I was inwardly relieved as I slightly escaped through the created gap.

‘Crazy, I was almost swayed. I have to be alert.’

Rixus let me go and slowly sat down on the bed. Though his slender body was disheveled, he did not lose his composure.

‘Why does that man look naughty even when he’s just sitting there……?’

He really seemed like a man specialized in distracting me.

Even the off-white fabric that wrapped around his lower body was sheer thin.

I deliberately looked away.

“The gift is too small, but please know that I put a lot of thought into choosing it.”

Compared to the unconventional gift that Rixus had prepared, my gift felt very shabby.

Nevertheless, expectations were raised in his eyes.

I said out the ‘insurance’ right away.

“…There wasn’t much that I could buy for under 500 ferring, so don’t look forward to it.”

“Whatever you give me, I’ll like it.”

Even when I went to the shops for commoners, there were not many items under 500 ferring.

If there was no limit on the amount, I would have bought cufflinks or a good sword… 

The limited amount was only a small sum of money.

So, I had no choice but to buy this from a cute little noble child who attended the celebration banquet.

I proudly stretched out my hand.

“This is it.”

As soon as Rixus saw the gift in the palm of my hand, he lowered his head and bit his lower lip.

It was a small pink packet of candy.

“…Don’t laugh… It was the best I could do.”

Despite my words, he eventually burst out laughing.

With a flushed face, I gently lowered my eyes and issued a warning.

“If you laugh more, I’ll just throw it away.”

“Feed me, yourself.”

His moderately plump red lips were wide open.

“……”

I sat on the bed and carefully removed the candy wrapper.

As the pink wrapper was peeled off, a pretty candy the color of a peach appeared.

When I held the candy out, he bowed his head obediently and ate it.

For a moment, I remembered the boy who once ate his first candy with curious eyes. The candy that even me, who lived without parents in a swamp, ate… He said it was the first time he ate something like that.

When I thought of that time, one side of my heart rang. It felt like I had met that boy again.

He looked at me and whispered in a languid low tone.

“It’s sweet, Candy.”

What I felt at that time was compassion, sympathy, or both?

That was a time when emotions fluctuated greatly inside me.

Similar to Rixus, who said that this sweet taste was imprinted on him and he came to like me, I often felt heartbroken when I thought of that time, thinking of a boy who had nowhere to go and whose life was in constant jeopardy.

So maybe this candy connected us… It was a gift prepared with that in mind.

Like the boy I was heartbroken over, he whispered openly.

“It’s sweet.”

Rixus’ eyelashes lowered and he buried his face in my arms. Without realizing it, I stroked his thick black hair.

‘Like a puppy… A very big puppy.’

He was like a big puppy ​​dog that didn’t know his own size, still thinking he was a baby, being held in his owner’s arms.

I unknowingly felt at ease.

He fell away slowly and naturally held out a glass of champagne, as if trying to help me unwind and make me more comfortable.

“Thanks.”

Before I knew it, it didn’t feel awkward to say thank you to him.

When did we get so close?

“Just one drink. How about it?”

Rixus spoke as if there was a time limit. After that, let’s not hesitate any longer… It felt like he was saying that.

“……Great.”

Just like how golden sand flowed down from an hourglass, our champagne glasses were filled with golden liquid.

The champagne that touched Rixus’ lips fizzled slightly and passed.

As the level of liquid in the glass decreased, I became more nervous. If I finished drinking all of that, I really couldn’t put it off.

It was the end.

Whether he knew my heart or not… Rixus’ low pitched voice rang out.

“Champagne originated in Aktoum. People called it ‘the drink of the devil’.”

“A drink with the devil…?”

How could a devil dwell in alcohol?

“Why was it called that?”

I asked him with a curious gaze.

Rixus gazed at me languidly through the golden champagne glass and said,

“In regions where the temperature is low, wine aging stops in winter, but when spring comes and the temperature rises, bubbles in the wine boil and the barrel explodes. They didn’t know the cause of the explosion at that time.”

“That…”

“That’s why everyone was afraid. Calling it the devil’s drink.”

I was quite focused on his story.

“But one day a courageous man drank the bubbly fizzling devil’s drink.”

Champagne tasted too good to be the devil’s drink. I took a sip and waited for the story to continue.

“That’s when it was discovered. This wonderful, flavorful champagne.”

“It’s amazing.”

“Finally, the stigma has been lifted.”

His wrist gently rolled the golden light.

A sweet and stimulanting scent spread out and crushed at the tip of the tongue.

“Now everyone loves this champagne.”

Rixus’ eyes were on me before I knew it.

“You’re like this champagne. You too.”

Suddenly, a long finger brushed the skin of my calf. Then, he gently massaged the tense muscles to relieve my tension.

“You’re notorious right now, but someday, everyone will know.”

Suddenly, the candy crumbled between his white teeth.

The sound sharply scratched my nerves.

His eyes that were calmly looking at me felt quite tenacious.

“Your true value.”

Sticking out his wet tongue, Rixus sweetly licked the candy powder from his lower lip.

And all of a sudden, while I fell in love with his story… 

“Did you drink it all?”

A voice as low and cold as the morning air settled in my ear.

“!”

When I found my glass empty, I was startled and dropped it.

A sharp bursting sound was heard as the glass shattered.

“Ah!”

Rixus grabbed my ankle with a big hand and brought it back.

I thought my vision shook for a second, but then his thick arms rubbed against my back and laid me down in an instant.

Rixus’ eyes that looked down at me, who was locked, were cooler than ever.

Gradually, those eyes darkened with the color of desire.

Thump, thump. My pulse began to beat mercilessly on the bare skin that it touched.

“……”

I stopped breathing.

Ame: Part 2 of mass updates, end! See y’all in a few days’ time!