6. Traven

Olivier tilted her chin up, parting her lips slightly to accept Kylie's kiss. Amid the hazy intoxication of sangria, the kiss felt sweet. A soft, warm sensation spread languidly through her body, moistening the inside of her lips as Kylie's tongue slipped in, gently wrapping around Olivier's and drawing it in. She was at the center of a dizzying symphony of sensations that felt like it could suck her very soul away.

In the midst of that hot, tender kiss, Kylie's long fingers moved slowly to cup Olivier's cheek. Finally, the smooth tongue that had warmly bound her mouth withdrew, leaving a lingering press of lips.

"Olivier," came Kylie's soft, melodic voice, calling her name like a dream.

Olivier gazed up at her with dreamy eyes. Kylie's upright stare, standing before her, pierced straight into her pupils. The hazy sensation on Olivier's face ignited some inexplicable heat, craving something in the depths of an unknown hunger. Olivier floundered slowly amid the chaotic sensations.

Gazing at Kylie's red lips that had just touched hers, Olivier unconsciously licked the inside of her own lips, teasing them. The aftertaste of the kiss vividly revived, sending a sharp tingle down to the tip of her spine.

Watching her, Kylie leaned down again for another kiss.

"Ah, mm..."

The second kiss was deeper, more intense. Trapped in the thick gaze shooting from Kylie's brown eyes, Olivier couldn't move a muscle. She parted her lips to welcome Kylie's tongue. The hands cupping her cheeks pulled her face closer, and their lips clashed passionately, tongues entwining as a sweet bodily scent brushed her nose.

Kylie's sugary fragrance seemed to seep into Olivier's body along her tongue. The warm, moist tongue enveloped her softly, sweetly, sensually. At the same time, Kylie's hand gently caressed over Olivier's breast.

"Ah......"

A prickling tremor spread wherever her touch landed. When Kylie's soft hand reached the cleavage gathered at the front of her dress, Olivier's back stiffened with tension, but the sweet sensation on her lips made her feel like she might lose her mind. She couldn't escape the hand delving between her breasts.

"Mmngh.."

A low moan of pleasure escaped her lips. Olivier arched her back, thrusting her chest forward. She wanted to feel more of Kylie's sensual touch. She craved the thrilling sensation of those fingertips on her bare skin.

As if reading her mind, Kylie gently pulled away from the kiss and lowered her head toward Olivier's breast. At that moment—

Knock knock.

The study door thudded dully. The two sprang apart in an instant. Olivier hurriedly straightened her clothes, while Kylie wiped the saliva from her lips with her sleeve.

After a brief pause, the study door opened. The two exchanged awkward smiles, as if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nothing had happened.

"Meredis?"

When Kylie called the name of the middle-aged housekeeper standing at the door, Olivier turned to look as well. She was the stern woman in charge of all the Traven count family’s affairs.

Catching Olivier's gaze, Meredis glanced at her once before speaking to Kylie in a dry tone.

"The dinner has ended, and the wine auction is just starting in the banquet hall. You must attend, mustn't you?"

Kylie gave Olivier a slightly troubled smile. It meant she had to go, so Olivier rose from the sofa.

"Lady Belpharos. I'm sorry, but I must excuse myself."

Olivier nodded quickly in agreement.

"Of course. Lady Traven must hold her place as hostess."

"...Thank you for understanding. Then."

Kylie gazed at Olivier with soft eyes as she passed the sofa and headed to the door. Meredis eyed Olivier, who stood awkwardly behind the approaching Kylie. She seemed to be the new lover entangled with the young lady this time. In that moment, an intriguing seed of imagination sprouted in Meredis's mind. And it quickly began to bud.

Following Kylie toward the banquet hall with quiet steps, Meredis watched the budding seed of her imagination with delight. She resolved to mention it to Miss Kylie soon.

*

Olivier arrived at her room on the third floor and stood before the door, gently touching her lips with her fingertips. No matter how much she touched them herself, no sensation stirred. Even pressing her hand quickly to her breast yielded the same result.

Olivier recalled the dizzying sensation Kylie had given her. It vividly revived—the sweet, tender kiss like something out of a romance novel, and the delicate caress of her touch.

Unconsciously, her tailbone twitched, and Olivier opened the room door.

"Miss. Did you have a good talk with Lady Traven? You look brighter."

Emily greeted her warmly. Olivier nodded.

"Yeah. Tonight... I don't think I'll ever forget it."

As she spoke with eyes slightly alight with longing, Emily smiled.

"You seem to like Lady Traven."

"Of course. She's amazing. Her looks, family, education, career, personality—everything."

Olivier thought of her mother, whom she'd met at the study entrance.

"She might visit our house this summer. I heard Mom inviting her."

"That would be wonderful. She could spend time with you and build a friendship. If Lady Traven visits Belpharos barony this summer, you won't have time to get bored like last summer."

"But," Olivier continued, wrinkling her nose, "Siras summers are so hot. Lady Traven might snap from the heat. I heard Leisha, where she lives, has mild weather year-round."

"From what I've heard, Lady Traven stays at the Astar estate during breaks or vacations. Astar gets as hot as Exangciras in summer, so she might be used to it."

"You're right."

Olivier nodded, walking lightly to the window. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her face full of excitement. Emily tried to guess what had caused her mistress's sudden mood shift but couldn't think of anything ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠specific.

Gazing at the dark sky outside with dreamy, longing eyes, Olivier smiled faintly, as if recalling a fond memory. Emily, who had been packing diligently for their departure from the Traven count family the next morning, resumed her interrupted task and headed to the dressing room.

*

The next day, the nobles who had visited the Traven count family hurried to prepare and return to their homes early in the morning. The Belpharos barony party set off at dawn as well.

Sitting in the carriage heading to Exangciras, the baroness fanned herself with a silk fan, scrutinizing Olivier's complexion across from her. Olivier seemed in high spirits, humming softly as she stared out the window at the distant scenery.

The baroness glanced at the baron, sprawled beside her. After the wine auction ended the previous night, the male nobles had gathered for cards and heavy drinking, staying up almost all night. Rushed into leaving early, Baron Belpharos looked exhausted, snoring loudly beside her.

The baroness lifted the corner of her mouth slightly and addressed Olivier.

"Has your shock settled now, Olivier?"

At her mother's words, Olivier pulled her gaze from the window and nodded.

"Yes, Mom. We almost had a disaster."

"I'm just glad you're safe. When that vicious beast charged toward where you stood, I thought I'd faint from the shock."

Recalling yesterday's incident, Olivier thought of one person who shone brightly amid it all. Kylie's heroic figure filled her mind, and her lips curved up involuntarily.

Seeing her daughter's smile, the baroness brought up what she'd been meaning to say.

"At the banquet hall yesterday."

"Yes?"

Olivier hadn't watched the wine auction and had returned to her room early to rest, so this was news to her. As her daughter watched curiously, the baroness continued cautiously.

"Lord Literben approached me."

A slight frown creased Olivier's face.

"He came and said he holds you in his heart, wants to court you seriously, and promises a future together."

Serious courtship meant he wanted to get engaged.

"As you know, he's a bit late to marry, so if there's a match, he wants to hurry. He wants to produce an heir quickly and fulfill his noble duties, so he hinted as much to me."

"...No."

Olivier said firmly. The baroness nodded, as if expecting it.

"Yes, I figured ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you'd say that, so I told him I'd think it over. But listen."

The baroness lowered her tone, staring at Olivier. When her mother wore that expression, it was best to stay silent. Olivier didn't like the current situation or topic, but after fifteen years, she knew well that provoking her mother now would end badly. She waited quietly for her to continue.

"He proposed no dowry from us—instead, he'd pay a bride price. A whopping two thousand gold."

Olivier's eyes widened in shock at her mother's words.

What? What did she say? A bride price. It was as good as saying he'd pay money to buy Olivier.

The baroness smiled languidly.

"So I told him I'd think it over during this summer and give an answer."

".....Mom."

Watching her daughter stare at her with a hardened face, the baroness said ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠softly,

"So you think it over carefully this summer too. As positively as possible."

The baroness's final words were thunderous horror, words Olivier wished could deafen her from the psychological shock she'd just received.