Don't Trample on Innocent Love - Chapter 29

Robern swept her flowing skirt aside in an act of seduction. The sudden flow of air on her exposed skin made Ophelia scream and stumble back. As she was about to fall, Robern pulled her up by the waist, as he let out an amused chuckle.

With eyes wide open, Ophelia pushed against Robern’s shoulder to get away, but he slid his lips to her ear.

“Those whispers—”

His voice was lower than before.

“I laughed because we were talking about you.”

“…About me?”

“Miss Philon said you keep staring at me. Like a stalker.”

Lies…

You were laughing because of me?

As Ophelia stood there in shock, Robern pulled her upright. Even though he had stepped back, she felt as if her whole body was still caught by him, feverish and unable to move, as if her whole body was clinging to him.

Really because of me?

Ophelia felt her resentment she’d been harboring toward him melting away. She turned away quickly to rein in her unraveling mind. Her lips, unaware of the topic, kept twitching. No. she can’t give him any leeway.

This is a trap.

As she focused on the sensation on her back, Ophelia took a deep breath.

Robern’s hand was touching her.

“Gah…!”

“Shh. I won’t do anything.”

Robern tugged at the straps of her dress while looking at her bare back, while Ophelia held her breath, feeling her chest tighten in response.

Swish, swish. The fabric was tucked beneath and pulled taut again. Ophelia swallowed repeatedly, anxious that her dress might come undone at any moment, and feeling tense as if she had entrusted herself entirely to the man behind her.

Who knew tying a single ribbon would take this long…

“Father wants to bind me to that woman. What should I do?”

“…Why are you asking me that?”

Ophelia swallowed hard and answered with a feigned indifference. All her nerves were turned towards the man behind her, yet she pretended otherwise.

Robern silently laughed as he observed her stiffened back. He was deliberately tying the ribbon slowly. No, more precisely, he was fumbling because he didn’t know how to tie it. Still, it was somewhat nice that she was so composed.

“I told you. Just one word from you, and I’ll do as you say.”

“…”

“Then perhaps you’ll try to understand how I feel.”

Ophelia clenched her fists tightly. No one could remain unaffected by such words from someone they longed for, even if they were lies or mere teasing. Her heart felt like it was pounding its way out of her chest.

“Go ahead, do as you wish.”

She spoke more harshly, trying not to reveal her feelings.

“I won’t care what you choose to do anymore. I won’t care. I have Hugo now.”

“That despicable guy you sent to the dress shop alone?”

“Don’t speak ill of Hugo. It’s just that he was busy…”

At that moment, the string was pulled tightly from behind, tightening around her waist. Ugh… As Ophelia struggled to breathe, her words faltered, and she felt the tension ease. It seemed deliberate, yet he remained focused on tying the ribbon in silence, making it hard to confront him.

Finally, the knot was secured. As Robern stepped back, she exhaled, but suddenly he reached out his arm.

“What are you—”

“Just stay still.”

Robern embraced Ophelia from behind, capturing her wrist in his grasp. It was a delicate hold. As he clasped the bracelet around her slender wrist, she realized it was the one she had left at the villa the other day.

“Why did you leave this behind? If it wasn’t to make me come after you, then why?”

“That’s…”

“Are you pouting to protest or something?”

Losing the bracelet at the villa had been a mistake. Someone had grabbed Ophelia as she hurried out, thinking it was Robern at first, only to find it was a drunken stranger.

“I got into a bit of a scuffle that day.”

“A scuffle?”

Ophelia didn’t elaborate further. Yet, Robern already knew what had happened.

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