APTB | Ch 09

“You’re going to be my wife?”
Vincente smirked as he pulled a towel from the side of the water and casually draped it around her neck. The large towel hung down like a scarf, naturally covering her chest.
“It’s too late. I’m already taken. But… if you really need it, I can recommend a position that might help your family.”
He didn’t bother looking for a towel to cover himself. It seemed he wasn’t bothered by being naked, even though his cheeks were a little red.
“I’ll help your family?”
Tia looked up at his handsome face, thinking carefully.
Why hasn’t he gotten married yet? Maybe there was no one in his family to arrange the marriage for him? Was it hard for a man like him, even if he’s a lord, to choose a wife for himself?
“Can you dance Pavanne or Flamenco?”
He cleared his throat and spoke in a serious tone, as if he were a different person.
“Recently, our dance instructor has been looking for someone to teach court dances to the noblewomen of Karayan. If you can’t dance, I can have you learn from the instructor. It’s a respectable job with a good salary. What do you think?”
His smile remained gentle, but his cheeks turned redder.
Maybe he’d been in the hot water for too long?
Or maybe… he felt some special attraction to her?
They were going to be a married couple, so it would be important to build trust and get along.
“Do you need someone who can dance court dances?”
Tia watched his charming smile and tried to mimic it, but quickly gave up as it didn’t work for her.
“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think I can be your student. If it’s court dancing, I’d actually be the one teaching your lord’s dance instructor,” she said, adding that a lady like the wife of a lord couldn’t just teach dance to subordinates.
“Really?”
Vincente raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“If you’re that confident, I suppose I can’t expect to see your skills… not right now anyway.”
He glanced at her briefly, his gaze taking in her bare body covered only by the towel. Then he hesitated, as if deciding whether to say something.
“Do you want to see my dance?”
He must like her, right?
Tia thought he was being unnecessarily shy. It was good that he was careful with outside women, but they were going to get married.
“If the lord wants to see it, I’ll show you,” she said confidently, feeling a good vibe about the situation.
Her mother’s choice was proving to be the right one.
“With that outfit?”
Vincente half-covered his face with his fingers and looked her body up and down.
Tia also glanced down at her body, hands clasped in front of her chest, and thought about how the dance wouldn’t be hindered by her lack of clothes.
“I don’t think being naked is a problem for dancing, but with this kind of floor, even the best dancer wouldn’t be able to perform. Are you a novice when it comes to dancing, lord?”
Her sharp words made Vincente freeze for a second.
Tia softened her tone, adding, “But court dancing isn’t too hard. I’m sure you could learn quickly. I’ll teach you properly.”
After all, he wasn’t a subordinate. He was going to be her husband, living by her side.
“You’ll teach me?”
Vincente’s lips formed a perfect smile.
It felt like the clouds parted and the sun shone in his eyes, and Tia squinted, watching his expression closely.
“Are you sure about that? I’m known for not listening to my teachers,” he said, his voice teasing.
Tia almost held her breath.
She’d seen Osvaldo and even Duke Devan smile, but Vincente’s smile was different—it seemed to shine just from his face.
“I haven’t taught many people, but I’ve never had someone who didn’t listen to me,” Vincente said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Tia tilted her chin proudly and answered, “I’m confident I can teach you.”
His smile grew even wider, and his golden eyes glittered like a predator.
“Curious… I wonder how you’ll punish me for not listening. I really want to find out.”
His pupils flickered like a nocturnal animal, glowing golden.
Tia suddenly felt a strange, animal-like scent surrounding her, similar to the strong musky fragrance that noblemen used when meeting her.
“Are you saying you don’t plan to teach seriously? Sounds like you want me to punish you,” she replied, narrowing her nose.
His arm coiled around her waist like a snake, pulling her closer.
“I’m serious about everything I do,” he said softly, tightening his grip on her.
“I just don’t follow the traditional ways of teachers.”
He leaned down, his lips almost touching her ear.
Tia felt her body tense as the sensation of his breath against her ear made her shiver.
“Still, you’ll have to do as I say from now on. You can’t dance court dances well without practicing properly.”
“Want to try?”
His lips brushed her ear, and his deep voice vibrated through her body, sending shivers down her spine.
“I can do everything with my body. How long do you think it will take me to satisfy you?”
A trembling sigh escaped Tia’s lips.
The warm, moist air of his breath tickled her ear, making her shoulders shrink.
The ripples of sensation spread through her body like a stone thrown into a pond.
‘The hot spring feels too hot,’ she thought, realizing she was clinging to his arm as if she might collapse. She straightened up.
“I noticed… the floor of the Great Hall was uneven. If we’re going to dance, it needs to be repaired.”
She spoke with a steady voice, trying not to let her nerves show.
Her heartbeat echoed in her ears, and Vincente’s heartbeat was so close, she could feel it as if it was her own.
But for some reason, she didn’t want to order him to back off.
“You saw the Great Hall?” Vincente suddenly looked serious.
“Of course. Isn’t that the main entrance?”
Tia answered confidently, and Vincente’s expression shifted as if he had just woken up from a dream.
His warm, strong body slowly pulled away from her, leaving her feeling the absence.
“The emperor’s letter just arrived… what is Diaz thinking?”
Vincente’s gaze hardened, the sweetness fading from his eyes.
“Did she bring you here?”
Vincente ran his hand through his hair roughly.
“Yes, Lady Diaz guided me to the hot springs. But if the emperor sent a letter, then it’s likely about…”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
He suddenly grabbed her wrist tightly, pulling her away from the hot spring.
The skin where they touched felt like it was burning, and Tia was shocked by his rough handling, her eyes wide in surprise.
“Let go.”
“Go back now,” he ordered, ignoring her plea.
He dragged her out of the water.
“Let me go, Vincente,” Tia said, her voice firm.
High above, in the sky, an unseen beast cried out.
The sound of birds flapping their wings echoed as they flew away from the nearby forest.
“What are you doing?”
Tia scolded him for the rudeness, but he ignored her and looked around, heading for the exit of the enclosure.