at the glittering, chattering crowd below. He wore a severe, dark military-

The damnable muscle ache had faded but stil

iet has been confined to her family's estate by her father.

fixed on the grand entrance, searchi

" arm. Dressed in a moon-white formal suit, "Chri

light, his posture perfect. He showed no sign of the f

it: a familiar, oppressive gaze. She looked u

She instinctively tried to pul

ter, waving happily at the bal

linked arms for a moment before

family's private box. When she entered, August

d fir and leather from Auguste's clothes filled her

e was sitting on pins and needles, aware of Auguste's gaze peri

iana excused herself, leaving

ll," Auguste said su

uise. She touched her temple. The pain was long

chair. "Was it? I heard you also ran into a bedpost. Y

ruise on her temple. The cold touch sent a shiver

in, forcing her to look up at him. "Tell me, 'Christian,'

ze. Her mind raced. Why was he asking this? S

er green eyes were clear, honest, with no hint of

eady knew: his cousin was perfectly fine. The mere thought that he had momen

ng close to whisper urgently in Auguste's ea

. "No woman matching the conditions of that night could be found,"

ced a bold hypothesis. "My lord... if there is absolutely no woman wh

lightning. He froze, his mind violently

re a drug-induced blur of soft skin and desperate gasps. Because hi

t he couldn't push it away. A dark, gloomy shadow fell over his hand

agonizing, making his skin crawl, yet it never once crossed his mind to

own horrifying revelation, he didn't even spare

of the box without another word, le