Deceived 67

Chapter 67

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As time passed, Blair gradually grew accustomed to the tavern's atmosphere. The customers' boisterous shouts became background noise, and she slowly grew numb to the unfamiliar smells lingering in the air. Now relaxed, she could fully focus on the man seated beside her.

"Edmund."

Blair leaned slightly toward him and raised her voice. The surroundings were noisy.

"I've never sat in such a loud place in my life. But it's more comfortable than I expected."

"Really?"

"Yes. It's strange how sitting amidst all this commotion actually calms my mind."

"Probably because there are no prying eyes. I'm glad you like it."

"Have you ever brought another woman here?"

The question came abruptly. Edmund paused, his hand still raised to his lips with a glass. His eyes fixed on Blair, his thoughts difficult to read.

She had her reasons for asking. Just moments ago, she’d seen a free-spirited couple drinking at a nearby table. Perhaps their eyes had met, because they called for a server and headed upstairs. It turned out the second floor of this tavern was operating as an inn.

How could she not be curious? If this was a place he frequented, it was only natural to wonder who he’d brought here before.

"Does it matter to you who I brought here before?"

"Well, that... I suppose it's just on my mind."

Edmund took a couple light sips of his whiskey before answering.

"I've never brought a woman here."

"......"

"Today is the first time."

"I see... I just asked out of curiosity. I hope it didn't sound strange."

"Not at all. It makes me feel like my wife is jealous, and I rather enjoy that."

"...I wasn't jealous."

"Your denial doesn't look very honest."

"Since you caught me, I'll ask more. When you came alone, did any women approach you?"

Edmund burst out laughing. The corners of his mouth turned up in a refreshing smile, his face briefly appearing boyish and captivating. But Blair was serious. Even if he hadn't brought a woman, women couldn't have ignored this outstanding man who drew attention wherever he went. Edmund could easily have gotten involved with women here.

"There were."

Just as expected. Blair found herself gripping her wrist tightly without realizing it.

"Were there many women who wanted to go upstairs to the inn?"

"Too many to count."

"Good heavens. So did you ever go up?"

"What do you think?"

His counterquestion was as soft as a riddle posed to a child. Blair blinked, then voiced her wish as her answer.

"I hope you didn't."

"I'm glad I could meet your expectations. I wasn't tempted by such allure."

"Remarkable self-control. Almost monk-like."

A flicker of amusement touched the eyes that studied Blair. Edmund lowered his gaze and took another sip of whiskey.

"Well, not exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"Self-control doesn't mean indifference."

Blair tilted her head at his calm reply. She couldn't have known the man's meaning—that he'd refused because he didn't feel like it, but when he wanted something, he could become obsessively persistent, even to the point of being uncontrollable.

Just then, the music filling the tavern grew noticeably livelier. A woman passing by grabbed Blair's hand with a flushed face.

"Come on out! We have to dance!"

"Uh... uh... me?"

"It's the Royce Waltz, the one women dance when courting! How else are you going to snag a man tonight?"

"A waltz? I've never heard of it. Besides, I already have a husband..."

As if unwilling to hear a drawn-out answer, the commoner woman pulled Blair along. Turning to Edmund, he gave a wry smile and nodded, his eyes saying he’d be watching. Before she knew it, Blair was being pulled into the center of the noisy tavern, packed with women.

She’d never heard a waltz like this in her life. The dancing women swayed their skirts wildly, their heels clicking without any discernible rhythm. Not knowing what to do, Blair floundered about until she finally blended into the crowd, moving to the music flowing around her.

Her skirt swayed to the strange yet exhilarating music, and her body swayed along with it. Women linking arms on either side clapped and spun her around once, and Blair followed them, lightly tapping her feet. Like a child, laughter kept bursting out of her.

Just as she was getting used to the melody she'd thought was chaotic, the music shifted into something quite solemn. Looking around in bewilderment, she saw the women who had been dancing pairing off one by one with nearby men. Blair glanced toward the table where Edmund had been sitting. He wasn't there. As she turned her head this way and that, someone gently took her hand.

"Where did you go?"

Blair turned around, her face lighting up, then froze. The one holding her hand wasn't Edmund, but a stranger.

"I was very impressed by your dancing. Would you dance one more song with me?"

"No..."

"You just danced the Royce Waltz, didn't you? Weren't you looking for a partner?"

"No. I was..."

At that very moment, a large hand reached around from behind and wrapped around her waist. Blair was drawn into a broad embrace, enveloped by a familiar scent. She tilted her head back, and their lips met instantly.

Whether Blair’s eyes widened in surprise or not, Edmund pressed into her with relentless intensity. Holding her flinching neck with one hand, he thrust his tongue deep inside her mouth. Unconsciously, Blair clutched the hem of his coat and closed her eyes tightly.

The man who unexpectedly witnessed this display of affection looked flustered before quietly slipping away. Even then, Edmund didn't readily pull away. He held Blair's waist tightly as her legs went weak, swirling his tongue inside her mouth. The sound of wet flesh wrapping around and saliva mingling continued without pause. Even in the midst of a crowd of dancing couples, sharing such an intense kiss, no one looked at them strangely.

Blair, pressed against Edmund's chest while kissing him, only managed to push him away when her jaw ached from the attack. The man who had pounced on her like a starving man stepped back coolly. Her lips, now swollen and red, gasped for breath. Meanwhile, Edmund, whose breath remained perfectly steady, looked down at Blair quietly and murmured.

"Why did you push me away?"

"Haa... It's fine now. He's gone."

"You think I kissed you just to chase away some worthless man?"

"Then why? Was there another reason?"

No answer came. His broad chest rose and fell. Blair, still panting, turned to face Edmund.

"Edmund, why did you kiss me?"

As she rubbed her flushed lips with the back of her hand, his gaze dropped, then met hers again. Looking up at the man who still offered no words, she impulsively continued.

"You said that only here, where no one imposes standards, could I finally be myself. So you said that for today at least, I should be honest with my desires and try anything."

His eyes, filled with Blair, fluttered slightly. She didn't miss the opening.

"But you, of all people, aren't being honest with your own feelings."

Here, it felt like anything could be permitted. Even if it was just a flicker of emotion, she wanted Edmund to show it if he truly felt it. Even just for tonight was fine. She wanted to see the man standing before her desire her.

"I'm curious. Do you want me too... I want to know."

Her heart pounded as if it would burst. Edmund remained utterly still, meeting her gaze. It wasn't the usual expressionless face she knew, nor a playful one. Yet, she could read the surging desire in the eyes locked with hers.

"How can I prove it?"

After a long silence, he murmured the question back. Blair trembled her lips. Her breath still came in gasps, her chest rising and falling.

He felt the same way. She wanted to know the color of that feeling.

"Will you come up with me?"

The man couldn't possibly miss the meaning. Yet she added, greedily, an explanation.

"Up those stairs to the second floor."

"Blair."

His voice was low, almost a warning. Yet Blair didn't look away from his eyes.

"Do you know what you're saying?"

"I do."

"You won't regret it?"

Strangely, it felt like a question directed at himself. She answered in a firm yet trembling voice.

"I won't regret it. Because it's entirely my choice."

She slowly reached out both hands and wrapped them around his neck.

"Tonight, I want to spend the night doing what I want, not what someone else wants."

Their gazes locked in the air for an eternity. Truthfully, she couldn't tell how much time had passed. The man's chin tilted slowly as he drew near, and their lips touched again, their breath mingling. This time, she didn't flinch either. The moment their damp breaths combined, a shiver spread down her spine.