She was a strange woman—her face was cold as ice, yet her eyes burned with a fire that could melt everything.
Kallion couldn't help but stare at Yuliana, as if bewitched.
Their lips met again, pulled together like magnets. Their hands wandered restlessly over each other, urgent and impatient.
Yuliana closed her eyes in his arms, letting him hold her so tightly it felt like he might crush her.
Maybe it was just to avoid answering his questions.
Maybe it was because she feared one night alone wouldn't be enough to conceive Denian.
She didn't want to admit it might also be because last night's heat still lingered in her body.
But she reminded herself: this was only for her goal.
As long as she achieved it, she didn't care about place or mood.
Yet, the hotter Kallion's touch grew, the harder it became to think. No, she didn't want to think anymore.
Using the rhythm of the shaking carriage, Yuliana began to move on top of him.
The sensation made Kallion groan, clutching her waist desperately.
"Ugh…"
His reason burned away. One of his large hands slid under her skirts, searching out the tender spots he had explored over and over last night.
His other hand pressed against her breast, trapped under her dress.
It wasn't a gentle lover's embrace—it was a fierce clash, both trying to consume the other.
Yuliana's hand slipped under his shirt, tracing down his waist.
The carriage jolted suddenly, slamming their bodies closer together.
Kallion caught her hand, gritting his teeth.
Not here.
He hadn't even been gentle last night, when it had been her first time.
He didn't want to take her so roughly again, especially in such an uncomfortable place.
"…I don't want to take you like this. Not here."
His voice was ragged. Yuliana froze and frowned at him, displeased.
"Liar."
She stared straight into his desire-darkened eyes and whispered,
"You're very good at telling polite lies."
With a sly smile, she teased him again.
"But your body says otherwise."
Her soft, taunting voice, her deliberate movements—it pushed him to the edge. His jaw tightened, veins standing out on his neck.
"Yuliana," he groaned, as if in pain.
She only leaned closer, unbuckling his belt with her own hands.
"If it's hard for you, I'll do it."
"What…?"
Could this really be the same woman who had just lost her virginity the night before?
But he had no time to think. Yuliana pressed down on him, holding his shoulders so he couldn't pull away.
"Ah—!"
Kallion couldn't resist anymore. His mind went white as he clutched her desperately.
Yuliana stared down at him as he clung to her, a strange sense of power and release filling her chest.
Like she was the one in control, punishing him.
She moved slowly, deliberately, making him groan and crush her tighter against him.
Even pinned beneath her, he started moving himself, unable to stay still.
After that, she couldn't remember clearly—only that the carriage rocked, and the whole world seemed to shake with it…
***
While staying at the villa, they slept together countless times—
in the bedroom, on the terrace, even in the dining room.
The arrangement of scheduled "nights together" became meaningless—they only had to meet eyes, and they were already on each other.
Yes, it was all just a means to get closer to conceiving Denian.
Perhaps she was more lenient because this timing coincided with when Denian had been conceived previously.
She kept reminding herself: there was no real emotion.
It was only physical.
She admitted, though, that they matched well in this aspect. She had learned that in her first life, too.
But she also knew better than anyone how empty and meaningless pleasure could be when there was no real bond.
So, no matter how many times they were together, she never wrapped her arms around him willingly, never called his name.
At first, he had seemed frustrated by this—but eventually he accepted it as just her way.
Besides, he was already so obsessed with her that even a small gesture from her could drive him wild. That, too, she already knew from her past life.
But this would end soon.
When they left this villa, she would forget all of it.
Even if these two burning weeks didn't give her a child, she would never give herself to him so completely again.
Maybe it was this place—the waves of Dallot, the sea breeze carrying echoes of a child's laughter, the magical sunsets on his face—that made her weaker than she should be.
Thinking that, she looked out over the glowing beach at sunset.
"Yuliana."
She turned to see Kallion, smiling softly as he draped a shawl over her shoulders.
She wasn't used to that warmth.
Why was he showing her kindness and smiles he had never shown in her past life?
Did it no longer matter that she was the daughter of the Haisters—the family he hated, the ones who killed his mother?
Or was it simply because they had shared a bed?
She didn't like his smile. She didn't understand it.
And she knew it was time to wake from this dream.
Gently, she pushed his hand away.
"I'm fine."
His face hardened. But before he could speak, a carriage approached the villa gates.
It was the Highland lord's.
Kallion frowned, watching as it arrived.
"Looks like we have guests," I said calmly.
With a reluctant sigh, he nodded.
"Wait here. I'll be back soon."
As he strode quickly toward the entrance, clearly planning to spend the night with her again afterward, Yuliana clutched the shawl he'd left behind.
***
In the reception room
Kallion found not only Lord Felix of Highland waiting for him, but also another man—William, lord of Sorrento and father of Layla.
Sorrento was a vassal house from the central region.
Why was he here?
Seeing Kallion's wary eyes, Felix laughed lightly.
"Lord Sorrento insisted on meeting you urgently, so I brought him here myself, even though you were resting."
If it were just business, William could have requested a meeting at Valdormer.
Suspicion sharpened Kallion's gaze.
"Please, sit."
The three men sat facing each other. William spoke first, carefully.
"I know my daughter offended you gravely. I came to apologize in person."
He bowed deeply.
Felix quickly added,
"As I've said before, the vassals' distrust toward you has been growing."
Kallion's face darkened dangerously, but Felix pressed on.
"Sorrento is one of the old houses. And despite her mistake, his daughter, Layla, served faithfully by your side for ten years. She is loyal."
Kallion's brows furrowed deeper, sensing where this was going.
Felix met his eyes firmly and concluded,
"To regain the trust of the vassal houses, I believe it would be wise to bring Sorrento's daughter back to your side."