What Remains in the Damaged Place - Side Story 2 (2)

Valderion’s indifferent response was in stark contrast to Lirette’s serious contemplation. His nonchalant attitude was a testament to how strong and stable their family’s power was. There was no pressure from him to attend any of the numerous national events held each year. Even though such gatherings could be overwhelming, especially for a married woman attending alone, Valderion never once pressured her to go.

She appreciated that about him.

His desire to relieve her of any burden, to expect nothing more than for her to simply be by his side, touched her deeply. It felt like finding a fresh, blue oasis in the middle of a desert where she had once felt she had no one to rely on.

As Valderion finished undressing and climbed into bed, Lirette followed suit, reaching for her pillow as usual. Her hand brushed against something unexpected.

“Huh?”

It felt like a string.

When she pulled it out from under the pillow, the lamp’s soft light revealed what it was: an apron.

“What’s this doing here?”

It didn’t take long for her to figure out who was responsible.

“Evant must’ve hidden it here again. He’s incorrigible.”

Lately, Evant had developed a habit of sneaking off with other people’s things and hiding them in random places. Yesterday, it was Valderion’s cufflinks; today, it was an apron. Who knows which maid he’d taken it from this time.

“It’s been a while,” Valderion said, watching her with a smirk as he leaned back against the cushions.

“You and the apron.”

He was referring to the time when she used to wear a maid’s uniform around him.

Though it hadn’t been that long ago, it felt like a distant memory now. Feeling awkward holding onto the apron, Lirette started to put it down, but Valderion was quicker, taking it from her.

“Put it on.”

“What?”

Was he joking? But he wasn’t. He gently tugged her closer, trying to slip the negligee off her shoulders.

“Why would I wear this!” she protested.

“You used to wear it just fine before.”

“Well, back then I had no choice… W-wait.”

Their bodies collided in a playful tussle, rolling together on the bed. When it came to Valderion’s stubbornness, there was often no winning.

What could she do? Every attempt to push him away or kick her legs was met with him effortlessly restraining her.

In the end, Lirette found herself naked, with only an apron covering her. The white fabric contrasted with her even paler skin, and Valderion’s gaze, filled with a simmering heat, roamed over her body. His desire and lust were blatantly obvious, swelling within him.

Her exposed shoulders and knees peeked out from the apron, making her feel flushed. She quickly tried to take it off, but once again, he stopped her.

“Call me ‘young master.’”

“W-what?”

Her voice rose in disbelief, but Valderion only smirked as he pulled her closer.

“A cheeky maid sneaks into the young lord’s bedroom, trying to seduce him with her body.”

In just that short moment, he had concocted an entire scenario.

“Stop it, let go. What kind of nonsense is this…” Lirette tried to get away, but Valderion, clearly engrossed in his playful fantasy, lifted the apron and gripped her flesh firmly. His eyes gleamed with a predatory glint, dark like when they were entangled in passion.

“You think you can outsmart me with such pathetic skills?” he mocked, his voice thick with amusement and lust. As Lirette stared at him in disbelief, he arched his brow, flashing an irresistibly charming smile.

“If you want something, you need to put in some effort. Move your hips, use your hands.”

The hand that had been cupping her bottom slid up her back, and despite herself, Lirette could feel her body reacting. Even with just their skin brushing, she could feel the damp heat pooling between her thighs. She leaned her forehead against his shoulder, letting out a soft moan.

“That’s a sound I like to hear.”

“Rion… please, stop…”

“You shouldn’t call your master’s name so casually. If you weren’t so pretty, you’d have been thrown out naked and whipped for such insolence.”

His teasing tone, far more mischievous than usual, sent a shiver down her spine. At the same time, the hard length that had been pressing against her thigh began to push its way inside her.

“Hngh…”

She gripped his shoulders tighter as her body started to move in sync with his, each thrust sending a familiar wave of pleasure washing over her.

Valderion finally pulled away, satisfied after taking everything he wanted from her.

Lirette collapsed onto the bed, gasping for breath, her body still trembling. Her head throbbed with a mixture of exhaustion and embarrassment. She had actually given in and called him “young master” to calm his wild urges, and now the regret was sinking in.

Valderion, having quenched his thirst with a drink of water, cast an appreciative look over her disheveled form. The apron’s strings had come loose, leaving it hanging messily, some parts damp from the fluids their bodies had exchanged. The sight was enough to stir his desire all over again.

“Ah…”

He leaned over and licked his name off her back, a habit he had developed recently in their intimate moments.

“Honestly… what kind of behavior is this? Aren’t you even a little embarrassed, considering the children?” she muttered breathlessly.

“They’re not here.”

His short, confident reply left her momentarily speechless.

“Do you think you can move?”

“No… it’s impossible…”

Lirette couldn’t muster any strength, and even the thought of getting out of bed felt like an unreachable task. When she admitted this, Valderion effortlessly rose from the bed and headed to the bathroom.

A few moments later, he returned with a warm, damp towel. His large hands gently wiped away the traces of their intimate act from her lower abdomen and between her thighs, carefully cleaning the remnants left behind.

Lirette lay on her back, gazing absentmindedly at his handsome face as he tended to her. As she watched him, her thoughts found voice.

“I think I’ll accept the invitation.”

Valderion paused for a moment, his hand mid-motion as he cleaned her inner thighs, and looked up at her.

“I don’t think I’ve been hiding away, but to others, it might seem like that.”

“…”

“They might think I’m avoiding the world as if I’ve done something wrong, even though I haven’t.”

There are times when one must gather courage. This was a lesson Lirette had learned from the once-dreaded Dylan, and now that lesson shone brightly within her heart. Valderion kissed her slim leg, right on the spot where Dylan’s whip had once left a scar.

“Go. Be at ease.”

“…”

“No one will dare treat you poorly.”

***

The Imperial Palace’s aquatic garden looked like something out of a dream.

There was a crystal-clear artificial lake, so transparent that the bottom was visible, supported by white pillars. Around the lake, fragrant rose vines curled, filling the air with their sweet scent. Decorative, light-tinted glass panels reflected an iridescent array of colors, casting a magical glow over the surroundings.

The afternoon tea party took place at the center of this serene water scene, under a white pergola. Hosted by Empress Isabella, the atmosphere was calm and smooth, with everything running flawlessly. Lirette, too, blended seamlessly into the gathering.

Valderion’s words from the previous night echoed in her mind: No one will dare treat you poorly.

True to his prediction, everyone behaved impeccably, going out of their way to forge friendly relations with her. Many even tried to solidify their bonds with her, eager to get closer.

Most of the conversation revolved around the usual gossip circulating within the aristocracy—who had made a faux pas at the last tea party, which young nobleman had recently proposed to which noblewoman, and so on.

Lirette, unfamiliar with much of the talk, chose to listen quietly without engaging much. It was during this time that one woman caught her eye.

While the other ladies excitedly exchanged gossip, fanning themselves as they spoke, one woman sat silently, much like Lirette. Though she responded here and there, she wasn’t actively participating or adding to the conversation. Instead, she seemed out of place, like an isolated island amid the buzzing social sea.

Her detached demeanor resonated with Lirette, creating a strange sense of kinship. As the tea party went on, Lirette learned only one thing about her—that she was Lady Ezra.

Even when the party ended and they waited for their carriages, Lady Ezra maintained her distant, solitary demeanor. The other guests paid her little attention, not out of malice but more because her presence was so faint, it was easily overlooked.

In a way, it made sense. The gathering had been composed of those connected to the Empress’s social circle, and not everyone would have deep relationships with each other. Lirette herself had no prior connections with most of the attendees.

Still, she found herself concerned.

She didn’t fully understand why this woman occupied her thoughts so much until she returned home.

“Mommy, Mommy!”

“Yes, sweetie.”

Roselean, who had thrown a massive fit while Lirette was away, crying so much that the nanny had been left utterly exhausted, finally calmed down once her mother returned. As Lirette listened to the tale and stroked her baby’s swollen eyes, she realized something.

Lady Ezra’s timid, withdrawn nature had reminded her of Roselean.

“The ground’s going to cave in with all those sighs.”

Valderion, who was reviewing documents while holding Roselean in his lap, glanced at Lirette as she let out another deep sigh.

“Didn’t like the tea party?”

“No, it wasn’t that… but do you know anything about Lady Ezra?”

“Ezra? You mean Countess Ezra?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I don’t know much about her.”

Valderion’s gaze shifted thoughtfully.

“As far as I know, she was practically sold off into marriage with Count Ezra. Her family, the Viscounty of Frant, went bankrupt, leaving them with an enormous amount of debt.”

“…”

“Why? Did something happen between you and her?”

Lirette quickly shook her head.

“Do you think she’s being bullied?”

“Hmm.”

Lirette couldn’t say for sure if it was outright bullying, but when she thought about it, that kind of exclusion might very well be a hardship for Lady Ezra.

The social world had its own unspoken rules. Among the higher aristocracy, expressing one’s desires too openly was often seen as distasteful. Everything had to be done subtly, ensuring that one’s true intentions remained hidden.

It reminded Lirette of the time she had been bullied. Instead of directly spilling food on her or forcing her to eat leftovers, the aristocrats had pushed her to the edge with cold indifference and mockery, shunning her while pretending to do nothing wrong. That was the noble world Lirette had experienced in her youth.

“Do you feel some kind of kinship with her?”

Valderion’s sharp observation hit the mark, and Lirette feigned ignorance, asking in return, “What do you mean, kinship?”

“You’ve been through something similar, after all.”

Lirette’s eyes widened in slight surprise, clearly understanding what he was referring to. She quickly composed herself, narrowing her eyes as she looked at him.

“That’s true. And you used that situation to your advantage.”

“When I offered you help, you refused. I even asked you directly if you needed it.”

Valderion placed the documents he’d been reviewing aside, his brow furrowing slightly.

“And who was it that turned me down so quickly, saying no?”

“I didn’t refuse. I just couldn’t accept help because I had nothing to offer in return.”

“And when you drew that line, what was I supposed to do? Push further?”

“…You make it sound like it was all my fault…”

Valderion stood up from his wing chair and approached her. As he lifted Roselean, who had been tapping his arm, onto his lap, he continued.

“Now that I think about it, maybe that’s why I was so stubborn back then.”

“…”

“I wanted things to go my way, and when they didn’t, I got frustrated. So I pushed harder.”

Lirette stayed quiet, knowing that she, too, had been stubborn at the time. Perhaps the feelings they thought hadn’t reached each other had, in fact, been more aligned than they realized.

“But that’s what made you who you are.”