“If you went on about our physical bodies in the contract, then you should have obediently left your body in my care.” Vivian requested of him shamelessly. Who would reject an offer from a decadent handsome man to teach them with a heavenly kiss and his body? Though, she did find the statement on Bluebeard a little frightening.

“It was my misjudgement to overlook the fact that Vivian wasn’t ordinary.”

“…….”

Vivian suddenly became nervous about what kind of image of herself had taken place inside of Aidan.

“Since promises are promises, I have arranged a room for you to write in this estate. You can use it as you wish. And if you ever need anything, please let me know.”

As he finished speaking in a very calm voice, Vivian’s face paled. “Wait. Could it be the reason you brought me to the estate is……..”

“You should first write as the contract states, dear author.”

Vivian lamented. She did not  imagine even in her dreams that he had called her out to imprison her and make her only write. However, if she thought back on his preferences, this was rather predictable.

For it to be neither ‘I’ll hold your hand and sleep’ nor ‘Bluebeard’ but ‘Writing Slave’!

(T/N: Why does this remind me of Rumpelstilskin?)

Clearly, she should have long realized that something odd was going on, but the fact she was distracted by a kiss was a matter of eternal regret.

“My goal in the end is to make Vivian into the best of authors, so won’t you write your works at my estate?”

“B, but I’m a librarian? If I do this, I’ll be absent from my job without leave…….”

“Who do you take me for?”

Well, that would be your Highness, the Grand Duke. Vivian listened to Aidan explain he’d take care of it from his position with a soulless face.

For those vacation days, which she’d always begged and wished, but only received the bare minimum such that she wouldn’t die from overwork, to be obtained so easily. At that, it was a long-term vacation.

This was the taste of authority!

…… Ah, that’s not right.

“…… Where in the world is a lover like this?!”

“There’s one right here.”

“Are you thinking of me as a writing slave?”

At those words, Aidan let out a puff of laughter and responded. “You’re allowed to leave whenever you wish. I’m merely providing you with a location.”

Vivian, who had needlessly gotten fearful, let out a sigh of relief. Ever since she’d started writing, she’d developed a phobia for deadlines. Ever since then, she had thought he was trying to imprison her so she’d meet her deadlines.

However, the cat-like Aidan told her he had provided her with a location as though he told her that she could use it as she wished. It sounded as if he wouldn’t interfere with her work.

“Then what will my lover be doing while I’m writing? Will you be advising me?”

“I’m not sure. A novel is an area which I can interfere with.”

When Vivian made a disappointed face, Aidan’s lips curved upwards and he laughed as if to seduce her. “If you’re truly unsure about something, come ask me directly. I’ll teach you personally.”

To teach me directly, is what she was thinking of, right? That he’d teach her using his body, right? Vivian’s expression changed as quickly and drastically as flipping a coin. With a face filled with the desire to work hard, she tightly gripped her fists.

Then, she could ask the teacher that she didn’t know from one to ten: that she’d already long forgotten the kiss from before. Her face brightened with laughter.

Giggle.

And that was how Vivian’s life on the estate started.

***

Aidan, whom she had thought would relieve her of all her curiosities, was unexpectedly ambivalent. He grabbed the hand that roamed across his body rashly and asked “What are you doing?” His astoundment was so intense that it could be seen by the naked eye.

“Investigation for my intellectual curiosity?”

“It appears you were rather curious as to how my body felt.”

Although she could confirm her hypothesis with certainty, if she could just slip her hand inside of his clothes…

“That’s correct. As expected, Ray is solid.” Vivian spoke with a suggestive tone, but Aidan ignored her words altogether. She muttered quietly and wrote notes on what she’d just felt.

Firm. Very Firm