A Sound Proposal

However, Keith somehow was stunned when she broke free with ease from his sudden clasp and raised her hand. Still, he continued to anchor not to bury her further.

Subconsciously, her palm reached out his chest and had her skin seared from his living hearth.

When her finger accidentally swept through his pink nipple, he hissed from the moment he got touched by her; such graze would make him tense as ever.

'This…'

His muscles would flinch even her slightest touch.

Like the very first time.

Even after all what happened, Keith was still so sensitive whenever his erogenous zones were exploited.

For a few seconds, she could feel the weight that pressed her, the ones down that she couldn't help but react as well.

Nathalie widened her eyes when her shin was right on his crotch, feeling the girth from every throb of it.

"Your Grace…" Keith went up close, just right next to her ear, and let out a low tone, almost inaudible. "I—"

Nathalie snapped out of her trance and mustered some strength to push him.

More than anything, Keith looked at her quizzically. At this point, he got confused as to why Nathalie would do that all this time. Meanwhile, the latter clutched her chest as she panted hard.

'Keith, stripping… Could it be—?'

Trying to get on her feet, she wrote, [Is it today?]

"Ahh!" His lips parted for a while, then gave a curt nod. "My apologies, Your Grace, if that made you uncomfortable."

His clothes now peeled, exposing his taut body, and grabbed by his hands before it could swoop down the floor,

Nathalie took a hard gulp as she turned around. [Go get yourself dressed. I have something to talk to you about.]

"...As you wish."

Her ears started to perk up from the sudden rustling sounds. She began to muse while Keith donned back his inner sleeves.

[I see some scars; they're not scary at all. It's so thin and rather negligible at first glance—but there had been a couple on your torso, let alone your arm…] Nathalie shifted her head, trying not to look at him. [Don't you want that to get it treated?]

"I would rather decline, Your Grace." Keith gave a lopsided grin. "These scars symbolize the knight's valor, of thousand battles I have fought alongside His Grand Ducal Highness. This is a mere privilege; not anyone could attain."

[Like a tattoo, that is?]

"...Pardon?"

[Living proof, is what I meant, Keith.]

"...Indeed."

[However…] pivoting her heel, and watched how his chest somehow peeked from his tucked buttoned tunic and had his coat perched atop his shoulders. [... I don't seem to like a partner with such scars.]

Hearing her blunt words staggered him with his face bereft of life and vigor. After which, he had drooped his head along with his ears.

It was a pang that hit her heart.

'Girl! I'm not ready for this; it's not... that I don't like it either, but…' she bit her lower lip.

[I—]

"Forgive me for my insolence, Your Grace." Keith began to grovel in front of her. "I would do anything to satisfy you. There's no more and better opportunity I would go to prove my worth in the Grand Duchy of Blackwell."

Keith was in his most vulnerable state.

In turn, it broke Nathalie's heart. She knew and like this character, in particular, and that was more than admiration. Right from the start, she was appalled to hear how he was stripped off from his former title only to serve her. His predicament caused a sensation within the household, but he never said a word and ate all the shame.

His fealty to the Blackwell Household stoned for life, of good and bad, he remained and hopeful for the best.

He couldn't possibly stomach to take another blow. It will leave him to either wander like a vagabond or fall from the grace of his position.

[Please, raise and have a seat.] Nathalie said calmly, and when he did, she started to write again, [I believe I have a proposition for you to take. Would you like to hear it?]

He raised his head, raising his eyebrows, but Nathalie gestured to take a seat just straight across from her stead.

Once both of them were seated, she crossed her ankles. [If I tell you to go back and take the position as the 'Commander of Arctic Order' from now on, would you like that?]

A moment of silence lingered around them; he couldn't help but clenched his jaws and fist from hearing it.

... This is Sire's orders I shall abide, Your Grace. Nothing is more important than receiving his orders and completing his commands."

'He's still not believing me… This is hard…' She kept up a straight face but in her mind begged to differ.

It was despicable, but this is the only thing she could redeem for both of them.

Nathalie kneaded her temples. [Keith, please know I mean well. I only need you... When it starts to kick in...]

"Your… Grace…" Keith was all in an arched neck, gritting his teeth and wanting to plead his case.

[You don't believe me? Shall we make a bet?]

This time, his eyebrows, like a wingspan of an eagle, connected into one line as he stared.

"Only if Your Grace successfully achieved a feat; if so, I will never forget this kindness and generosity."

[That seals the deal.]

Soon as she stood, her heart skipped a beat, and nausea invaded her body. Before she knew it, her body slumped on the floor.

"Keith! Go—Away!"

For the first time, a voice revealed. So seductive that Keith almost lost his rationality. He gritted his teeth as he staggered, watching her so helplessly.

It was the first time she had this occurrence, yet she tried to fight the sudden urges.

Or so at least she tried.

Her body began to heat up in no way she could understand the strange feeling that surged within her. It made her breathing erratic and her eyes seared, obscuring her now already trippy vision.

'I wanna take this off, it's suddenly hot for me to take it!' Like magical wonders, her hands moved swiftly on her dress, unbuttoning and unzipping them for release.

She bit her lower lip from the gruesome pain below her stomach. 'What is this feeling? Down there is also tingling—Huh? Keith?'

Keith wasted no time and drew close. Keith's touches were like flames she had to flinch away, out of reflexes, which was always the case.

'I'm fucked…'