Coincidentally, he now felt the same desire as that night. 

 

The imagination of pushing a woman down, sucking each of her fingers, leaving bite marks, then greedily moving up to savor the tender flesh of her wrists and the inside of her arms, pulling her clothes down past her shoulders to reveal the hidden white breasts beneath. 

 

Spreading her legs while looking at her tearful face and going between them….

 

“Sir Noah….”

 

A small voice, trembling like a leaf, snapped him out of it. 

 

His eyes flew open, his lips still pressed against the back of his hand, and he saw a slightly flustered Cordelia looking down at him with confusion and embarrassment. 

 

The sensitive skin his lips had been rubbing against was sweet and strangely alluring. 

 

‘Ha, how was I supposed to resist this?’ 

 

His Adam’s apple bobbed roughly. He moved his hand nonchalantly, putting her injured finger lightly into his mouth and sucking on it. 

 

‘Ah!’ Cordelia flustered, not knowing what to do.

 

Naturally, what he really wanted to suck on wasn’t just a mere finger.

 

As his hot tongue probed the wound, the corners of Noah’s mouth lifted when he witnessed her thin legs twisting together beneath her skirt.

 

‘Hahaha. What a lewd little girl.’

 

He would have bet a million bucks that the hidden space between her thighs was thoroughly soaked.

 

“Um, Sir Noah. It’s fine now, so….”

 

‘Ah, fuck’, he couldn’t just strip her to check right now. He wanted to fill his hand with her, rub her, feel that sweet, damp liquid, and taste it. 

 

It would be moist like dew-soaked moss, like magnolia petals. 

 

This innocent lady would just be bewildered, not even knowing what it was.

 

Cordelia instinctively felt that something was strange, but didn’t know what it was, so she could only silently watch her guardian administering first aid.

 

The reason she failed to notice his vulgar impulse was due to the trust they had built over time and her understanding of his usual demeanor. 

 

Moreover, Noah Tudor’s face appeared sufficiently composed and expressionless to seem calm, even though his eyes were somewhat peculiar. Her heart beat uncomfortably fast.

 

The surroundings were quiet, yet it felt as if something was about to happen.

 

When Noah slowly parted his lips, a transparent white saliva stretched thinly like a spider’s thread until it disappeared as he rubbed her reddened, shrunken fingers with a handkerchief. 

 

The meticulousness of his hand-cleaning was gentlemanly and delicate. 

 

Cordelia gradually regained her sense of relief at his neat movements.

 

Even after returning her now-clean hand, Noah remained still in his position with one knee on the floor, looking down at her hesitant form with a piercing gaze. 

 

As always, his stare was intensely direct.

 

“Why don’t you want to get married?”

 

The change of subject was sudden. 

 

Cordelia was left momentarily dazed. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.

 

“You were the one who said you wanted a child someday. So why were you worried about the proposal?”

 

“Ah, well…”

 

Cordelia hesitated before answering.

 

“It’s just… anyone can say they want to be rich without really thinking it through. It’s the process of actually getting there that’s daunting. I’m the same way.”

 

“So you think marriage itself is a good thing?”

 

“…I suppose good marriages exist. Somewhere out there.”

 

Just not in my reality.

 

Cordelia didn’t say more, but her meaning was clearly understood. 

 

Hmm… Noah paused, then gently stroked her round knee where her pale, bare hands rested demurely, as if soothing her. 

 

Staring intently at his thoughtful face, Cordelia idly admired how pretty he was, all over again. She felt no aversion—not to the strange atmosphere from moments before, nor to him touching her so naturally like this.

 

It was as if they had both forgotten that the very situation itself—a grown man and woman sitting close together alone in a room, engaged in sustained contact, conscious only of each other as they shared private thoughts—was in any way unusual.

 

More precisely, the difference was this—while she intuitively sensed something peculiar was happening, but couldn’t grasp its nature, he was aware of it and simply let it be.

 

Then Noah spoke, “Our Miss Cordelia is so timid.”

 

If you’re timid, you tend to run away well easily…

 

The corners of his soft mouth curved gently, like a mermaid’s tail. As usual, Cordelia didn’t understand what he meant.

She was merely captivated by his beautiful smile.

 

🫧

 

“Did I not ask for a room with a view of the white rose garden? Does it meet your satisfaction?”

 

Lord Isaac Tudor, the Marquis of Tudor, was a more considerate and kind man than expected. 

 

After a brief exchange of glances, he quietly savored his wine. 

 

Much like his cousin, Count Philip Dufort of the Tudor brothers, there was a sense of generosity and consideration that contrasted with his noble appearance.

 

Then again, even Noah had his twisted sides, but he was fundamentally affectionate. Though the brothers’ appearances and personalities varied, there was an inexplicable common thread among them.

 

“Ah, you’ve seen it? Isn’t it truly beautiful? I find Tudor’s white rose garden even more lovely than the imperial garden.”

 

Wayne, still bright and cheerful, had a pleasant personality as well. 

 

Was this their family’s nature, or was it the result of growing up with ample love and financial support?

 

Perhaps both. Cordelia nodded slightly after finishing a small piece of steak and dabbing her mouth with a napkin.

 

“Yes. It was truly beautiful.”

 

“You should take a stroll in the rear garden after the meal. The white roses are even more beautiful in the evening, as their fragrance deepens.”

 

“What a wonderful idea. My brother will be happy to guide you. Isn’t that right?”

 

As Isaac tapped the table and glanced over, Noah shrugged. Then, Count Dufort, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

 

“Now this is a rare sight. You’re actually building a rapport with the lady.”

 

“She’s my guest.”

 

“Funny, none of your family members here can recall you ever being this kind to a guest.”

 

As the scent of wine wafted through the air, the Count spoke casually. 

 

Noah let out a short sigh while staring into space, then glanced at his cousin. 

 

Even under the obvious, irritating gaze, the cousin remained unperturbed, smiling calmly before suddenly addressing Cordelia.

 

Cordelia, who had been subtly gauging the hidden nuances in their conversation, shrugged her shoulders and reflexively returned the smile.

 

“Miss Cordelia, have you by any chance ridden in this fellow’s convertible? The Louise Céroïde, I mean.”

 

Ah, that pretty car with the folding roof? Though she didn’t understand the context, she nodded.

 

“Yes. Uh, it was truly splendid.”

 

“Is that so? How fortunate. Though it was taken from me, if it’s being used ‘like this,’ I have no regrets at all.”

 

As if he had expected this, Count Dufort replied with a grin and glanced at Noah, who fell silent with layered meaning. 

 

Isaac, on the other hand, looked utterly shocked.

 

“But that’s the car you cherish so much! When I said I wanted to ride in it, you threw such a fit—I mean, you caused such a huge scene!”

 

“Bro, I got hit just for touching it. You hit me so hard on the head that the back of my skull is still flat, you know.”

 

Despite Isaac’s seemingly genuine, sulky outburst and Wayne’s grumbling complaints, Noah scratched his ear as if annoyed. 

 

Was that car really such a big deal? 

 

Cordelia was the only one who didn’t understand, looking back and forth between them. 

 

Only Count Dufort smiled warmly and explained.

 

“That fellow took one of the cars from my collection without a second thought, just because it was his birthday. I waited years to get that car, so I was quite taken aback, but what could I do? No one in our family can win against him.”

 

The Count refilled Noah’s glass with freshly poured wine and murmured,

 

“It’s the love of a parent for their child—the one who loves more ends up losing.”

 

“Did you give birth to me? Yeah, right.”

 

Noah acted annoyed as if it were excessive, but even if he found it bothersome, he didn’t seem to dislike this special treatment and affection. 

 

Rather, he accepted it all as if it were only natural. That audacity was just like him.

 

The self-centered mindset of taking his cousin’s things without permission and sneering, “What are they going to do if I don’t return the favor?” 

 

He seemed to know exactly how to selectively absorb the affection directed his way and appeared quite satisfied with it. 

 

And yet, it wasn’t unpleasant to watch.

 

Like a big cat… In a way, wasn’t that an enviable personality?

 

Everyone chuckled wryly but accepted it as normal, continuing the conversation without any hesitation.