---
I immediately jumped up and hugged the Grand Duke's neck.
"My God, Lord!
How is that possible?
In fact, I was holding myself back for fear of being impudent to your ladyship.
Isn't that so, my dear?"
I gritted my teeth, and my voice was full of coquetry.
I did not forget to give a loving look, or rather, an unspoken pressure, to the Archduke.
“...!”
I looked at the Archduke violently as I hugged his neck.
He seemed to sense that something had gone wrong and that I was going to fix it.
The Lord finally seemed a little excited.
“Dear, say oh, try it.”
Following my instructions, I mechanically shoved the crimson macaron into the Archduke's mouth, which gaped open.
“It's delicious, isn't it?”
The Archduke nodded quickly twice, struggling to chew and swallow the dry macarons.
I picked up the hot cup and, with an exaggerated motion, blew on it, pretending to cool it.
Then I brought the cold cup to the Archduke's lips.
"Honey, try this too.
It smells amazing."
He drank the tea I offered him again without resistance.
At the same time, I quickly rolled my eyes, contemplating the expression on the Lord's face.
I felt like something was still missing.
Finally, I decided to give our fan a more exciting offer.
With a serious expression, I picked up a silver fork studded with rubies.
I cut a small piece of the delicious cake from the plate and put it in my mouth.
“Mmm, this cake is really delicious.
It's refreshing and sweet at the same time, and the flavor is really amazing.”
“I-I see.”
The Archduke, who had regained his composure, looked a little exhausted.
I thought it necessary to silence his mouth, so I stuck the fork I had in my mouth into the remaining piece of cake.
I immediately placed the fork near the Archduke's beautiful lips.
“Would you like to taste it?”
My eyes lit up, hoping he would quickly put the cake, including the fork, into his mouth.
I did not forget to hold his thigh firmly with my other hand, fearing that he would recoil in disgust.
This was a true love story, a love affair between life and death.
“….”
A slight resistance crept into the Archduke's face.
He seemed embarrassed by my excessive public display of affection.
But I waved the fork with a look full of intent, no, but love, and urged him to continue.
We have come this far, so we share a common destiny.
Finally, he accepted his fate with a complex look, closed his eyes tightly, and swallowed the cake I offered him.
“Mr.
Odilo, the moisturizers you prepared are very delicious.
They melt softly in the mouth and have that sweet and sour taste?
Just like my dear…?”
I spoke in a loud voice, like a reporter introducing a famous restaurant.
It was to distract Mr. and Mrs.
Odilo's attention from him.
If the quick-witted lord saw the Archduke's tired face and started doubting us, it would have been a disaster.
I looked at the Archduke, who was sipping his tea as if to dilute the sweetness of the sweets he had been unwillingly eating.
“Ha-ha-ha.
I’m glad you like it.”
“Of course, I was curious to know what ingredients make it so delicious.”
I picked up another crimson cream cake and praised the Lord.
It must have resonated, for the Lord laughed heartily.
"They're all made with black raspberries, which is a special Odillo variety.
It's a very powerful aphrodisiac."
The Lord winked at us mischievously.
“Hyuk!”
Tea spurted from the Archduke's mouth.
I also stopped biting into whipped cream.
Black Raspberries… In short, all of these desserts are made from Bokbunga, a fruit known for its stamina-boosting properties.
“Don't worry!
Your guest room is one of the most soundproofed rooms in the castle.”
“Hohoho.
We ate that candy and we were blessed with four princes and princesses.”
I listened to the sly laughter of the Lord and Lady, then quietly placed the whipped cream I was about to take another bite of on my plate.
Of course, neither of us touched any more sweets until tea time was over.
∗ ∗ ∗
The next day.
I opened my eyes to a bed as soft as whipped cream.
Lord Odilo was also serious about my and the Archduke's guest room.
I sighed softly, looking at the soft blanket that seemed to melt into my skin.
“If I were a little more shameless, I would ask if I could take the blanket to the Archduke’s house.”
I tried desperately to avoid my face and the Archduke's embroidered on the blanket, and I felt remorse.
A quick glance at the sofa revealed it to be empty.
The Archduke seemed to have gotten up and left.
“I could have slept on the couch...”
I muttered, glancing at the marks on the couch he'd been sleeping on.
Fortunately, the luxurious and embarrassing guest room, furnished to the lord's taste, contained a sofa the size of a bed.
Last night, thanks to the Archduke's firm statement that he would not do the horrific act of covering himself with a blanket emblazoned with his face, I slept on the bed, and he slept on the sofa.
“The king said he had prepared something for me today...”
I didn't know what to prepare, but now I was terrified.
I put the doll that looked like me, which was decorating my bed, under my pillow, and then got up tiredly.
tic-
Then the door opened, and I looked up.
It was the Archduke.
As soon as our eyes met, he turned and looked away from me.
“A-Are you awake?”
"Did you sleep well?
Where were you...?"
I looked at him and then fell silent.
He was drenched in sweat, as if he had been exercising since the morning.
It was a strange and disturbing sight.
His wet hair was shining strangely in the bright morning sun, and beads of sweat stuck to his straight nose and jaw, threatening to fall at any moment, creating an atmosphere of tension.
Moreover, his plump chest muscles stood out even more under his tight, wet white shirt.
When I looked at his exposed body, I swallowed hard.
“I'll use the bathroom first.”
He hurried to the bathroom attached to the room, clearly avoiding looking in my direction.
Then I soon heard the sound of water splashing from the bathroom.
I stood there stunned, and suddenly slapped my cheeks with both hands.
I was listening intently, distracted by the sounds in the bathroom.
“It's all because of those damn raspberries...”
I blamed it on the candy I ate yesterday.
It turns out that the black raspberries we tasted at Odilo were a world-famous aphrodisiac.
I shook my head left and right, trying to get rid of the image of the Archduke's thick chest that had been seared into my mind for some reason.
Then, suddenly, I stopped in front of the long golden mirror in the room.
“...!”
My mouth hung open as I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
I barely kept a sharp scream from escaping my throat
'This is crazy!'
Last night I slept under the lamp, so I didn't notice.
But now, the white muslin nightgown that Mrs.
Odilo had given me was completely exposed in the bright sun.
I didn't even realize it, and I faced the Archduke in this uniform.
Finally, I realized why he had suddenly looked away moments ago.
I felt extremely ashamed.
If there was a hole in front of me, I would have immediately hid in it.
'I really don't like this place!'
I ran to the dressing room with a red face.
* * * *
On our second day at Odilo, Lord Lee and the Archduke prepared a tour of Odilo – a date, in other words.
“His Eminence ordered me to serve you with the utmost care, and to ensure that you enjoy everything.”
“His Excellency...won’t he come together?”
“Yes, His Eminence would like you two to spend some quality time alone.”
Lord Odilo's loyal servant bowed politely.
'What a special time for us...'
The Lord had many motives.
In the name of ensuring our comfort and the safety of our tour, the Lord appointed at least ten guards and escorts.
It seems that a court painter was among them, to clearly depict our appearance.
This meant we had to pretend to be a 'in love' couple throughout the day's tour.
Our every move will be reported to the Lord without fail.
Finally, without any escape, we went out into the street, arm in arm, in affection.
A view of the city emerged, a view I couldn't see clearly yesterday because of the stress.
"Your Excellency!
Look at this!"
I exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the magnificent golden statues adorning the ancient buildings.
Under the sun, Odilo was a beautiful country.
The coastal city overlooking the sea exuded a picturesque atmosphere.
At first, I thought it was just a fan service show date, and I just expected a wave of fake admiration.
But unexpectedly, Odilo's view was stunning, and my behavior quickly became more natural and spontaneous.
It was something I had never experienced before, after a lifetime of hard struggle.
My steps towards the arena felt light and smooth.
Finally, when I reached the white marble fountain, whose water was flowing powerfully, I suddenly noticed a red carriage on the horizon.
This was the moment for serious fan service.
I glanced at the courtiers who were following me, and whispered in the Archduke's ear.
“Archduke, it's time to share a kiss.”