Ethan felt a shiver run through him. "My Lady... what are you doing? This isn’t proper."
"I know," she murmured, her voice low. "So what?" Her arms wrapped around him from behind, pulling him close.
Before he could push her away, a soft sob reached his ears. "Ethan... I am already twenty-two. Do you know why I haven’t married?"
"Why?" he asked, his throat tightening, Adam’s apple bobbing.
"It’s because of you."
"What did I do?" Ethan blurted, twisting free of her hold. Sophie looked at him with eyes full of longing and pain.
She stepped toward him, forcing him to take a step back. Only then did he notice that she was taller than him.
The people of this world, especially nobles, were quite tall.
His 6 feet worth fart.
The realization stung, a strange blow to his pride.
Sophie’s gaze never wavered. "Ever since I saw your face, my heart has had no room for anyone else. Even when Father tried to find me a husband, I compared them all to you." Her voice trembled. "You have taken over my thoughts, Ethan."
He backed away until his shoulders pressed against the door. In terms of appearance,there might be many more handsome noblemen than him but what makes him different from them was due to his different race.
He was a mixed Korean American which brought a certain novelty in the world that Asians.
"Your presence has defiled me."
’What is this nonsense?’ he thought with a snap.
Sophie caught his hands, pressing her head against his chest. A sweet fragrance filled the air.It was warm and intoxicating. Her soft hair brushed his chin, and when he looked down, he saw her delicate features up close, skin like porcelain, lips flushed and inviting, and eyes that shimmered with a mix of sadness and desire.
"You need to take responsibility for this," she whispered.
"Miss... calm down. Please. I think you’re just... heartbroken from the Baron’s death."
Her head tilted up, her eyes locking onto his. "Look into my eyes. Do they look like the eyes of someone playing with you?"
Ethan’s breath caught. The sincerity in them made it impossible to hold her gaze for long.
’’Is this a trap?Did I do something wrong?"
He had occasionally heard servants executed for harbouring thoughts about nobles.The nobles were quite crafty so he couldn’t take a risk.
What if this was bait to remove him.
He pushed away her gently and turned around trying to flee.
’Is this a trap? Did I do something wrong?’
Ethan’s mind raced. He had heard stories of servants being executed just for having feelings toward nobles. The nobles were cunning, and he could not take the risk.
What if this was just bait to get rid of him?
He gently pushed Sophia away and turned to leave.
But she stepped closer, wrapping her arms firmly around his waist.
Her arms felt soft and warm, yet there was a quiet strength in them that stopped him from moving.
Then, he heard it. A trembling, tear-filled voice.
"Ethan... I really love you..."
"I have loved you since the moment I saw you walk into our estate."
"So please... don’t leave me alone. You are the only one I have left."
Her words sank into him. He almost said, "You still have your faithful servant," but the words died on his lips when he felt drops of water fall onto his hands.
He had been avoiding her gaze, but now he looked down. Sophia’s beautiful face was streaked with tears.
For a moment, Ethan froze. Then he lifted his head and saw nothing but sincerity in her eyes.
’Does she truly want to marry me?’
"My Lady, you are not playing tricks on me, are you? I am just a servant... a commoner. Weak and powerless."
Sophia’s expression softened. She raised a hand and gently caressed his cheek.
"I really want to marry you."
"You don’t know how many nights I dreamed of making you mine. Of holding you close, snuggling with you, building a happy family together."
Her voice trembled as she went on.
"I finally gathered the courage to confess... but please, don’t reject me."
Ethan’s chest tightened. Seeing her so broken, so vulnerable, was harder than he expected. A single tear from her felt heavy enough to crush his resistance.
He couldn’t deny that he cared for her, that he liked her. But the situation was against them.
If he was selfish and accepted her love, it would not only bring trouble to him — it could drag her into danger too.
His breathing grew heavier as he looked into the eyes of the grieving woman who had just lost her father. She was holding on to him as if she was holding on to the last warmth in her life.
Slowly, he reached out and held her hand. Sophia’s eyes widened slightly, and a faint blush rose on her cheeks as she met his gaze.
"I..."
[The host has come in contact with the opposite gender.]
[Condition for activation has been met.]
[The host is advised to complete the intimate session for the system to awaken.]
’A system?’ Ethan thought, startled.
’What if I refuse?’ he asked inwardly.
[You can refuse. But in that case... you will lose your balls.]
’This... this is outright bullying...’ Ethan cursed silently, his mind torn between fear and disbelief.
Still, deep inside, he knew his earlier reason for refusing her was because he was weak. But with a system, that weakness might be gone.
Taking a long breath, he met her eyes.
"Alright... I accept."
Sophia’s eyes widened. Then, before Ethan could even react, she stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
Her warm, trembling hands cupped his face. A heartbeat later, her soft lips pressed against his, stealing his breath.
The kiss deepened quickly. Sophia’s sadness poured into it, her lips moving with desperate longing, as if she wanted to keep him there forever. She held him firmly in her arms, dominating the moment, pulling him into her warmth until the rest of the world faded away.
Sophia wanted to kiss more and savour Ethan longer but they were interrupted.
KNOCK!KNOCKK!