The villa they arrived at, just as Lucian had said, was deep in the mountains. It was almost hidden among the trees like a secret haven.

“Have you arrived, Duke?”

The caretaker of the villa came out and greeted.

“Are you hungry? We’ve prepared some food in advance. Shall we serve it now?”

The caretakers were a very kind-looking elderly couple. Instead of answering, Lucian looked to Rachel instead.

“…Well, it’s gotten late. We should probably eat first.”

He quickly instructed the couple after getting permission.

“Please set it up in the dining room. We’ll just change our clothes and come down.”

“Understood, Duke.”

The reason Lucian chose the dining room over a more casual setting in the room was to show Rachel the view from there. Though it was his first time at this villa as well, he had looked up information about it beforehand. He thought that dining while viewing the autumn-leaved scenery would be nice.

The two people who were dressed casually cut into a steak sprinkled with a sauce made from cream and mushrooms freshly foraged from the mountains.

“Mmm, it’s very rich.”

Every time Rachel commented, Lucian couldn’t be happier.

“Yes, it really is.”

“It’s great that the dining room has large windows. It feels like we’re eating in the middle of the forest.”

“Really?”

“Yes, yes.”

Rachel was amazed by the view outside the window. The trees and the building felt so close, a different scene from what she was used to. It reminded her of a private resort in a holiday spot back in Korea.

“It would have been even more beautiful in winter. Imagine the snow piling up outside.”

“Then, let’s come back in the winter too.”

“Should we?”

They enjoyed the view while having cheesecake topped with raspberry jam and warm tea. Even the red light of the sunset seemed warm.

Lucian thought about the schedule prepared with the help of his aide as he sipped his tea.

“…Honey.”

“Yes?”

“There’s an outdoor hot spring here, too. Want to check it out?”

“An outdoor hot spring?”

“Of course, and there won’t be anyone else around.”

At his suggestion, Rachel blushed, pressing her cheek with the back of her hand. He might have mentioned it without much thinking, though she felt like she was getting ahead on her own.

“Yes, it’ll be good to unwind.”

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes.”

As they got up, the elderly couple came forward with a basket.

“We’ve prepared everything you might need.”

“Thank you.”

“If you need us, just ring the bell inside the basket.”

“Alright.”

The couple left the villa, following a small path.

“It feels chillier here because of the mountains, doesn’t it? It wasn’t this cold back at the mansion, was it?”

“That’s true.”

Holding hands, they chatted as they walked toward the open-air hot spring.

“Wow…”

Rachel exclaimed in amazement as she saw the hot spring surrounded by trees. The steam rose invitingly from the opaque emerald waters.

“The color is so beautiful.”

“It’s just like the color of your hair.”

At Lucian’s words, she blushed and simply smiled. They took off their robes and hung them on a branch. Since they had only light clothing underneath, they stepped into the hot spring.

“Haa…”

The water felt pleasantly hot. Their body, which had been fatigued, felt relaxed.

“Hoo…”

Lucian, too, dipped relaxedly. The two sat side by side and admired the stars and moon visible in the sky above.

“The sky is full of stars. We couldn’t see this many from home…”

“It’s beautiful.”

While admiring the night sky, Rachel subtly turned her gaze. Like her, Lucian was looking up, yet his eyes seemed to sparkle even more than the stars.

“…Yes, beautiful.”

Watching his eyes, which were as bright as the moon, pride filled her heart.

‘Yes, this man is mine.’

Just as he was crazy about her, she was equally crazy about him, a fact known to both and perhaps to others as well. The brightness of his eyes, added by the light of the stars in the sky, enchanted the viewers.

Drip, drip.

Only the sound of water droplets falling from a rock into the hot spring and the wind rustling through the trees filled the space.

The two spent a while in comfortable silence, simply enjoying the leisurely time.

“…Why do you keep staring at me?”

Lucian asked in embarrassment, with the warmth rising to his cheeks.

“People naturally tend to look at the most beautiful things, Luci.”

His laughter burst out at her brazen response. Even the corners of his lips curled up.

“How can you be so handsome? Luci, you do know you’re good-looking, right?”

“My eyes are only on Ray…”

“…Hm, really?”

She responded playfully, a bit shyly. Rachel turned her gaze away from him momentarily before facing forward again as she felt embarrassed for no reason.

Splash—

Just then, the calm water rippled significantly.

Before she knew it, Lucian had moved closer and placed his hand on her shoulder. Though they were only wearing thin clothes, they felt as if they weren’t wearing any due to the water. The warmth of skin against skin made her ears burn.

The atmosphere seemed charged. Rachel absentmindedly wiggled her toes and kept her eyes fixed on the sky.

“Oh, a shooting star!”

It was definitely a shooting star that left a trace briefly across the sky.

“What?”

After that, another star followed, tracing a golden path across the night. Rachel grabbed Lucian’s sturdy forearm excitedly.

“Luci, make a wish!”

“What?”

“Quick, make one.”

Rachel clasped her hands tightly and closed her eyes. It was customary to make a wish when you see a shooting star. Her wish was simple. Just to be happy with Lucian. Not for grand fortunes but for everyday small happiness.

After concentrating and making her wish, she opened her eyes to find the full moon hanging right in front of her eyes.

No, eyes shining like a full moon…

Lucian’s eyes were fixed on her as if waiting for her to open her eyes. His flushed face and red lips stood out vividly, and the droplets falling along his strong neck caught her gaze.

“Why…”

…Before she could ask, their lips met.

Each breath seemed to steal hers away as their lips pressed deeply and then parted repeatedly. She seemed to be able to feel the texture of his lips in the slow kisses. With heightened senses, she took in his lips and breathed with her whole body.

“Haa… open wider, honey.”

The direct request followed by the title ‘honey’ left Rachel’s head spinning. She obediently opened her mouth wider, and then his finger entered.

“Ah?”

She tried to speak, but her words were muffled by confusion.

Lucian peered into her bright red mouth. He often felt an irresistible urge. He wanted to know every part of her….

To look inside every corner without missing anything.

His long finger spread her small mouth wider. Stiff from embarrassment, her tongue timidly brushed against his fingertip.

“…Luci?”

She managed to say as her tongue wrapped around his finger. It left a lingering sensation as it withdrew.

“You should call me ‘honey,’ Ray.”

As he corrected her, who was still awkward with using the term ‘honey,’ he slowly lifted the corners of his mouth. His deep blue eyes widened in the darkness like the night sky.

Looking down at her, he smiled broadly.

“See, Ray. This is how you pronounce it.”

He slid his tongue into the gap of her slightly parted mouth and moved it.

“Honey, honey, honey…”

He entwined his tongue with hers. Deliberately rolling his tongue to say ‘honey.’ However, the pronunciation wasn’t quite right, turning into a muddled mumble as he kept repeating it.

“Honey, honey… Ray.”

With her cheeks flushed red, Rachel found herself unable to speak. Instead, she sensitively felt the touch moving slowly inside her mouth. Her tongue felt firm as he pressed it, slowly brushing against her flesh, which made her involuntarily clench her thighs.

It felt familiar, so her fingers couldn’t stay still. She wriggled her fingers and toes, feeling the traces he left as she closed her eyes.

Ripple, ripple—

Every slight movement between them sent ripples spreading outward through the water.

“Now you can call me ‘honey,’ right?”

He asked after their lips separated for a while. Rachel gasped for air and barely nodded.

“Really?”

Lucian asked back.

“Uung…”

“Are you sure?”

“Ung, ung…”

Ripple—

Lucian hugged her close and whispered into her ear as he gently pressed his lips against hers again.

“Then teach me, too. Show me how it’s done…”

He opened his mouth wide. Rachel was breathless as he suggested that she did what he had just demonstrated.

“Hah.”

Overwhelmed, Rachel covered her face with her hands and protested in a faint voice.

“Okay, I get it.”

She removed her hands and turned her head slightly, continuing.

“I’ll call you that from now on, honey…”

Lucian stared intently at her, his smile broadening as he heard the title ‘honey’ in her trembling voice.

Splash!

With a loud splash, he cupped her head and kissed her passionately. Rachel was pulled helplessly into his arms with a force that was much different than before.

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