When his breath brushed against her lips, she remembered what he had said.
To kiss, you had to open your mouth.
Following what he had taught her, Clemati obediently parted her lips.
Her jaw was stiff with awkward tension.
“Mm—”
Soon, a soft sensation settled over her lips.
Without realizing it, Clemati squeezed her eyes shut.
Her head tilted on its own.
Through her parted lips, his breath slipped inside.
Something warm invaded the damp interior.
It seemed to explore here and there, and a strange, intimate sound lingered in her mouth.
Clemati’s body gradually leaned backward.
Prox reached out and firmly grasped the back of her neck.
Holding her so she couldn’t escape, their breaths and warmth mixed more deeply.
“Mmh…”
At the unfamiliar thrill, a soft moan escaped her.
She hadn’t meant to, and even her own voice sounded strange to her.
Startled, Clemati pushed against Prox’s shoulder and covered her lips with her hand.
“Ah…!”
Prox frowned, looking down at her for breaking the flow on her own.
Her eyes were filled with confusion.
“I didn’t mean to… it just came out…”
As Clemati stammered her excuse, Prox once again caught the back of her neck and pulled her closer.
This time—
his lips touched her forehead.
Clemati’s eyes widened.
A man placing a romantic kiss on a woman’s forehead.
It was something she had only ever seen in romance novels she used to read for fun at the academy.
And now, it was happening in her own life.
With Prox Hermann, the man she had loved for so long.
It didn’t feel real.
As she blinked in bewilderment, Prox gently cupped her cheek.
“There’s no need to be surprised. It’s natural.”
His low voice slipped sweetly into her ears.
As if he understood her awkwardness.
As if telling her everything was fine, and she only needed a little courage.
He had always been like this with her.
Even after her confession, when she had expected coldness, he was still just as gentle as before.
For a moment, it made her feel as if they truly were lovers.
Her chest tickled faintly.
As if entranced, Clemati slowly lowered her eyelids.
It was him, after all.
Prox Hermann.
For his sake, she wouldn’t regret giving even her body.
Prox tilted his head toward Clemati, who waited with her eyes closed.
Their lips met again.
This time, she was able to follow his movements more naturally.
The strange sensations on her tongue began to feel familiar, and even the way he lightly touched her soft skin and filled her with warm breath didn’t feel unpleasant.
Just as she was starting to grow accustomed to the kiss, his hand slowly moved downward and slipped inside her clothes.
“Mmh…”
Another soft sound almost escaped her.
But her voice was swallowed past their joined lips.
The cold touch against her bare skin made her body shiver.
Prox did not push roughly.
The structured uniform Clemati wore left little room for easy access.
Gently pulling his lips away, his gaze dropped downward.
Wherever his eyes lingered, she felt as though her skin burned.
Letting out a heavy breath, he withdrew his hand and leaned back slightly.
Perhaps he was going easy on her because it was her first time.
Or maybe he had only intended to scare her and not push all the way through.
Contrary to his harsh words about shattering her illusions, everything they had shared so far felt tender and sweet.
“Take it off.”
But her fragile hope shattered instantly.
It seemed she had misunderstood the slight furrow of his brow.
He hadn’t meant to stop there—he had simply found her clothing bothersome.
“…What?”
Though she had heard him clearly, she asked again, desperately hoping she had misunderstood.
“Your clothes. Take them off yourself.”
“….”
“Or should I do it for you?”
Prox left her no escape.
She suddenly felt like an inconvenience.
As if even removing the clothes of the woman he intended to take into his arms was too much to ask.
He felt nothing for her.
Comparing them as equals had been her mistake.
“No. I’ll do it.”
Clemati stepped back slightly.
First, she removed her jacket and placed it on the floor.
Next, she loosened the tie around her neck and let it fall.
Now it was time to unbutton her shirt.
But her hands trembled.
The first two buttons came undone easily, but the third wouldn’t cooperate.
Frustrated by the awkward delay, Prox reached out.
Grabbing the front of her shirt with both hands, he pulled it apart forcefully.
The remaining buttons snapped loose with a sharp sound and scattered.
At once, her upper body was exposed before him.
Without hesitation, Prox buried his face against her pale, slender neck.
“Ha… ah…”
It was the same movement as when he kissed her.
His tongue traced along the delicate skin of her neck.
Like he was tasting her, slow and deliberate.
Sometimes he bit down, sending a sharp sting.
Other times, the brush of his lips sent tingling shivers throughout her body.
Before she knew it, Clemati was half-collapsed into his arms.
If she let go completely, it felt like she would be devoured whole.
She had never experienced anything so raw, so instinctive.
Her body lifted slightly before being laid down on the bed.
When she opened her eyes, Prox was above her, loosening the tie of his robe.
Through the parted fabric, firm muscles were revealed.
Her heart began to pound wildly.
She had imagined it before—what kind of body lay beneath his neat attire.
He was a man who had gone to war and returned victorious.
Even in daily life, he trained his body like a knight to endure countless responsibilities.
She had known he would be strong just by looking at him clothed.
But seeing it now, it surpassed her imagination.
Soon, the smooth silk robe slipped from his shoulders.
At the sight of a man’s bare body for the first time, her breath caught.
“W-wait…”
Seeing the predatory look in his eyes as if he would pounce at any moment, fear gripped her.
Prox, who had been about to move, paused at her attempt to interrupt.
He ran a rough hand through his hair, restraining himself.
Clemati looked up at him, lips trembling.
She wanted to ask him to slow down.
But no words came.
Swallowing dryly, she shut her eyes and shook her head.
“It’s nothing.”
She couldn’t forget his purpose.
He hadn’t proposed this to give her love.
Even if she begged, he wouldn’t listen.
If she were rejected and then taken anyway, it would only make her feel more miserable.
To lessen that feeling, she decided not to ask for anything.
“…Ha.”
Prox let out a dry laugh, watching her turn her head away.
It was obvious she had something to say but was forcing it down.
Did she not realize that such tearful restraint only stirred a man’s desire to conquer?
Seeing no further resistance, Prox leaned over her again.
His lips moved from her neck to her collarbone and shoulder.
When his hand grasped her soft flesh, Clemati turned her head away again.
As an overwhelming sensation rose within her, she bit her lower lip to suppress a cry.
His lips traveled lower, past the curves of her body, to her waist and abdomen.
After circling her navel teasingly, he moved further down.
“N-no… not there.”
Clemati quickly grabbed his head.
“It’s… it’s dirty…”
Tears had already gathered at the corners of her eyes.
Why?
She had always been someone who smiled gently in front of him.
And now she looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
“That’s right.”
Unaware of how much that reaction provoked him—
“This kind of thing is dirty by nature.”
Love was a dirty emotion.
And what they were doing was something equally filthy.
That was what his darkened gaze seemed to say.
