Rowena.

Rowena swallowed a bitter laugh at the way he naturally called her name.

The man in front of her was the only person who was allowed to call her name in the duke’s castle. Despite the fact that even he had only stopped calling her something else just a while ago.

Miss Philone.

A voice that politely called her by her last name, not only on official occasions but also when it was just the two of them.

But since her decision to behave as docile as a kitten, Killian stopped calling her that way.

At one point, it was the name she had wanted to be called so badly.

“And then….”

Rowena hesitated before she could finish her words and went ahead with pushing his broad shoulders.

“Where to put the vases, and how to arrange the movement of the waiters…”

The banquet the night before had been absolutely perfect. Killian remembered what even his seasoned butler had said with admiration.

―”It was almost as good as Marchioness Essix, if not better. Starting with deciding on the theme for the eve, making the invitation list, table positions, arranging the chefs and the orchestra, even the tips on decorating with fresh flowers. If I had trusted her five years ago instead of ignoring her just because she was a young woman… Then I would have known what she was capable of…”

The butler, who was speechless, bit his lip together in disappointment. It was the look of realizing that the shabby stone was actually a gem.

It was then that Rowena began to show her abilities as she flapped her wings in castle management. She leaped from being a woman who was merely a pretty, smiling doll, to the servants to a woman who was now the hostess of this castle; someone to be trusted with taking charge of its internal affairs and housekeeping.

She was extraordinary and beautiful.

“If you want.”

Killian tucked her messy blonde hair behind her ear and brushed her lower lip with his thumb. With a tingling sensation, Rowena pushed his shoulder silently.

The man who didn’t move an inch suggested quietly.

“You may have the butler give you the key to the basement wine cellar.”

“…….”

The heat in the air was lifted, and Rowena’s eyes widened at the unexpected words. Handing over the keys of the wine cellar to her meant becoming the hostess who’s fully in charge of managing the castle and its affairs.

“This…”

Her voice trembled as she spoke. All of what she had dreamed five years ago was slowly becoming a reality.

It wasn’t until later that she realized that the reality was an illusion that was no worse than a dream.

“I don’t think I’m ready for this yet.”

“…Why?”

“Because I have so much to learn. It’s also a little… scary.”

She was disappointed, all of it, with everything.

Killian raised an eyebrow at the unexpected rejection. At the same time, Rowena rose on her tiptoes, hugging his neck as if she had been waiting for him, and went for his lips.

And, of course, he didn’t refuse her kisses. His tongue entangled with hers, and Rowena surrendered to the hands that held her waist tightly. His tongue teased the roof of her mouth, touching every line of her teeth and every soft spot. The familiar kiss raised a burning feeling from the inside of her stomach as if it was a matter of habit.

Just before she lost her breath, their lips parted.