Chapter 67

As time passed, Blair gradually grew accustomed to the tavern’s atmosphere. The patrons’ raucous shouts faded into background noise, and she slowly became numb to the unfamiliar smells clinging to the air. With her tension eased, she could now focus entirely on the man sitting beside her.

“Edmund.”

Blair leaned slightly toward him and raised her voice. It was because of the noise around them.

“I’ve never sat in a place this loud in my life. But it’s more comfortable than I expected.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s strange. Sitting in all this chaos, my mind actually feels calm.”

“That’s probably because there are no watching eyes. I’m glad you like it.”

“Have you ever brought another woman here?”

The question came abruptly. Edmund, who had been lifting his glass to his lips, stopped mid motion. His eyes, fixed on Blair, made it hard to read what he was thinking.

There was a reason she’d asked. Just moments earlier, a free spirited man and woman drinking at a nearby table had caught each other’s eyes, called for a server, and headed upstairs together. She’d learned that the second floor of this tavern also functioned as an inn.

Of course it bothered her. If this was a place he frequented, it was only natural to be curious about who he’d come with.

“Does it matter to you who I brought here before?”

“Well… I guess it does. I can’t help it.”

Edmund took a couple of casual sips of whiskey before answering, “I’ve never brought a woman here.”

“….”

“Today is the first time.”

“I see… I was just curious. I hope it didn’t sound strange.”

“Not at all. It feels like my wife is jealous. I’m enjoying it.”

“…I wasn’t jealous.”

“Your eyes aren’t being very honest.”

“Since you’ve caught me, I’ll ask more. When you came alone, weren’t there women who approached you?”

Edmund burst into laughter. The corners of his mouth curved easily upward, and for a moment his smiling face looked almost boyish, drawing her eye. But Blair remained serious. Even if he hadn’t brought anyone, there was no way women would have left alone a man as striking as him. Edmund could have entangled himself with women here as much as he liked.

“There were.”

As expected. Without realizing it, Blair tightly grabbed his wrist.

“Were there a lot of women who asked you to go up to the inn on the second floor?”

“I lost count.”

“My goodness. Then did you ever go up?”

“What do you think?”

The way he asked back was gentle, like posing a riddle to a child. Blair blinked, then voiced her own wish as her answer.

“I hope you didn’t.”

“I’m glad I can live up to your expectations. I wasn’t tempted by that kind of offer.”

“That’s impressive restraint. Like a monk.”

A trace of amusement flickered in his eyes as he looked at Blair. Edmund lowered his gaze and took another sip of whiskey.

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just because I exercised restraint doesn’t mean I was indifferent.”

At the calm reply, Blair only tilted her head in confusion. She had no way of knowing what he meant. That he’d refused not because he lacked desire, but because when he wanted something, he could become relentlessly persistent.

Just then, the music filling the tavern grew noticeably livelier. A woman passing by grabbed Blair’s hand with a flushed face.

“Come on! Get out here! You have to dance!”

“Uh… me?”

“It’s the Lois Waltz women dance when they’re courting! How are you supposed to pick up a man tonight like this?”

“Th this is a waltz? I’ve never heard of it before. And I already have a husband….”

As if she couldn’t be bothered to listen to a long explanation, the commoner woman dragged Blair along. When Blair looked back, Edmund met her gaze, gave a brief, amused nod as if to say he’d be watching, and smiled. Before she knew it, Blair was pulled into the center of the noisy tavern, crowded with women.

She’d truly never heard a waltz like this before. The women danced freely, shaking their skirts with no rules at all, their heels clacking loudly. Not knowing what to do, Blair hesitated, then eventually blended into the crowd, moving her body to the flowing music.

Along with the unfamiliar yet lively melody, skirts swayed, and her body moved with them. When the women on either side linked arms with her, clapped their hands, and spun around, Blair followed, stepping lightly. Laughter kept spilling out of her like that of a child.

Just as she grew used to the melody she’d thought was a mess, the music shifted into a steadier rhythm. Looking around in confusion, she saw the dancing women begin pairing off one by one with nearby men. Blair cast her gaze toward the table where Edmund had been sitting. He wasn’t there. As she turned her head this way and that, someone gently clasped her hand.

“Where are you going?”

Blair turned back with a bright expression, then froze. The one holding her hand wasn’t Edmund, but a stranger.

“I was really taken by your dancing. Would you like to dance one more song with me?”

“No….”

“You danced the Lois Waltz just now, didn’t you? Weren’t you looking for a man?”

“No. I’m….”

At that moment, a large hand reached from behind and wrapped around her waist. Blair was pulled into a broad chest, surrounded by a familiar scent. As she twisted her head up, their lips met.

Whether Blair widened her eyes in shock or not, Edmund pushed into her relentlessly. He held her neck with one hand and thrust his tongue deep inside. Without realizing it, Blair clutched his clothes and squeezed her eyes shut.

The man who’d suddenly witnessed the display of affection fumbled, then quietly slipped away. Even then, Edmund didn’t readily pull his lips back. He held Blair’s weakening waist firmly and swept through her mouth. Wet flesh tangled, saliva mingling as the sound continued without pause. Even as they shared such an intense kiss in the middle of the dancing crowd, no one looked at them strangely.

Only when her jaw began to ache from kissing with her back pressed to Edmund’s chest did Blair finally manage to push him away. The man who’d lunged at her like someone starved pulled back without resistance. Her swollen lips parted as ragged breaths spilled out. In contrast, Edmund, whose breathing wasn’t even disturbed, looked down at her quietly and muttered.

“Why did you push me away?”

“Hah… it’s enough now. He’s gone.”

“You think I kissed you just to chase off some pathetic man?”

“Then why? Was there another reason?”

No answer came. His broad chest rose and fell slowly. Still catching her breath, Blair turned and faced Edmund.

“Edmund, why did you kiss me?”

When she rubbed her flushed lips with the back of her hand, his gaze dropped briefly, then lifted to meet her eyes again. Looking up at the man who still hadn’t spoken, she continued impulsively.

“You said that in a place like this, where no one imposes standards, you can finally be yourself. You told me that just for today, I should be honest about my desires and do whatever I want.”

The eyes fixed on Blair wavered slightly. She didn’t miss that moment.

“But you’re the one who isn’t being honest about your feelings.”

Here, it felt like anything might be permitted. Even if it was only a fragile emotion, she wanted Edmund to show her his sincerity too. Even if it was just for tonight. She wanted to see the man standing before her desire her.

“I want to know. Do you want me too?”

Her heart pounded as if it might burst. Edmund remained still, meeting her gaze. It wasn’t the dry, emotionless expression she was used to seeing, nor the playful one he sometimes wore. In the eyes facing her, she could clearly read the surging desire.

“How would you like me to prove it?”

After a long silence, he asked softly. Blair parted her lips. Her breath was still shallow, her chest rising and falling.

He feels the same way. She wanted to know the shape of that feeling.

“Will you go up with me?”

There was no way he wouldn’t understand what she meant. Still, driven by desire, she added an explanation.

“To the second floor.”

“Blair.”

His voice dropped low, almost a warning. But Blair didn’t avert her eyes.

“Do you know what you’re asking right now?”

“I do.”

“Won’t you regret it?”

Strangely, it sounded like a question he was asking himself. She answered firmly, though her voice trembled.

“I won’t regret it. It’s entirely my choice.”

She slowly lifted her hands and wrapped them around his neck.

“Tonight, I want to spend the night I want. Not someone else’s will.”

Their gazes tangled in the air for a long moment. It was impossible to tell how much time passed. The man’s head tilted slowly, and their lips met again, breath mingling. This time, she didn’t flinch. The instant their damp breaths joined, a shiver ran down her spine.