It's been a week since the last date and the captain has been absent ever since. They said he fell badly ill because of the rain. It was unusual for him to get sick so the knights were also worried sick about him. They wanted to visit him to wish him well but he sent a letter oozing with black aura (as the knights say) stating they should not worry about him and go on with their training. However, this is how the knights interpreted it: if you skip practice and your duties, you're dead. Maybe he's healthy afterall. Jenny laughed with their reaction but she can't help feeling worried. At first she felt relieved not seeing him the next day because she feels awkward and she didn't want to talk about the recent fiasco as much as possible. She thought what excuses to make or how to dodge his questions, change topics and avoid him. But strangely, he hasn't show up. So she set aside her anxiousness and snuck up to his mansion. She's the vice captain so she had a copy of the personnel's files (which may or may not be confidential) and that's how she learned of his address. Most of the knights live in the dorms, but since he's a marquess, of course he lives on his mansion. Rarely though, because he also has a room in the dorms. They always work overtime and he doesn't have the leisure to go back and forth by carriage or horse late at night or early dawn or sunrise. Eugene only goes home twice or thrice a month to check on his estate and territory. Going back, she successfully snuck up by pretending to be a maid and jokingly told herself how weak the security is to a marquess estate. She chatted with the other servants to determine the location of his room and waited for an opportunity to enter. It was a dark and peaceful night and most of the servants are resting. When she entered his bedchamber, she was surprised to see him drinking alcohol in his receving area. He had his hair down which made him look young. He's wearing a half buttoned shirt that you can almost see his chest. It was so thin and wet from his sweat that the shirt was clinging to his upper body you can see his how toned his abs are like a painting which made Jenny turn red. She only wanted to see his condition while he was sleeping but since he was awake and she already went out of her way to see him, there's no turning back. She had no choice but to approach him and talk. But as she decided to take a step forward, he disappreared from the sofa. As she scan through the room, she felt a presence from her back and before she could react, he was holding her like a hostage. She once again thought that maybe the security was tight afterall. His arms were crossed above her shoulders below her chin. Strangely, the somewhat headlock was a bit loose so she reached his arm and slowly turned her head to him. She called his name sweetly and introduced herself revealing that it was her. As the moon lit the glass windows, her beautiful face glowed and she also saw his handsome face. When she looked at him, she saw a painful expression like he was about to cry. He was not threatening an intruder as a self defense but he was back hugging her. She realized while looking at his face that he knew it was her all along. It made her face flushed. And she quickly turned her face away in front while griping his arm that was hugging her like she want to bury her face there because of embarasment. She realized that Eugene is a man taller and larger than her. While she initially thought they both haven't changed that much, he felt like a mature grown adult she didn't knew this side of him. Or maybe she didn't noticed or chose not to become aware of it at all since she's too young, naive, and innocent for this. She flinched as she felt his arms go down to hug her waist and rested his head on her right shoulder. He turned his face to her and asked what she was doing in his room. His voice was low and hoarse and she can feel his breath blowing in her ears and neck his he spoke like a whisper. It was so quiet that she felt like his voice was echoing the silence. As his arms settled it's embrace on her waist, the tension became really quite dangerous. What was she thinking going into a man's bedroom like it was nothing. She realized that she just willingly volunteered to let herself into the lion's den. She felt her heart beating but she can also feel his heartbeat from her back so she didn't know whose was beating loudly. It was so unexpected that she didn't know what to do and was speechless. So she quickly answered with a forced fake laugh that she visited on behalf of the knightage without missing a bit. But it was so obvious to anyone that she's lying. She also realized it and her expression soured as she did. Eugene chuckled and tightened the hug because he found it so lovable. Jenny stiffened up once again but he paid it no mind and stayed in that position as he interrogated her more. As they continued talking, she loosened up and became more comfortable in his arms. She's just shy but she loved his flirting. She even hugged his arms around her. Makes me wonder why you two are still not dating. They both knew how the other person feels now. Jenny thought before that he was only treating her as a friend but friends do not act like this. Or do they? Regardless, the two of them were too scared to confirm and make it official. Maybe there's a perfect timing for this and it was just not yet the time and they both know it. This slowburn passion is kinda tiring. But sometimes, you just got to grow up and mature first. There are a lot of things to see besides love that people takes for granted because they were blinded. Jenny caressed his hair with her right hand as she found him endearing snuggling his face in her neck like a dog. Then she decided to break free from his embrace and held his right hand up to compare the sizes and interlock their fingers. They were holding hands as she pulled and guided him to the bed. She told him to lay down since he is a patient. He shouldn't drink but rest. He obidiently did what she asked but did not let go of her hand so she sat on his bed and urged him to sleep. Like a gentleman, he kissed the back of her hand to bid her goodnight. When he closed his eyes and fell into slumber, she hurriedly went out the mansion feeling giddy. She was holding her face with both of her hands to cover the big grin she was wearing. She was smiling from ear to ear with butterflies in her stomach. Now there's another reason for her to avoid him when he comes back.