Summer Is For Falling In Love
14. Bound

"... My father once took me to the region, the air was so fresh and cold."

Every melody that passed through his hearing, became a silence. The only thing Holland heard was a faint voice from the woman, but his mind had a hard time processing all the words.

".... The lland? Holland!"

Holland was slightly jumped when he felt his arm being shaken. Holland lowered his head slightly to meet with a pair of beads that had the radiance of a golden lantern.

When the blood red bead collided with the gold that felt holy, Holland was immediately mobbed with feelings of guilt, his chest even heavy. How could he break a promise with an angel who had lowered his degree to be embraced by an ordinary man like that man? What does he have to say when the charming angel begins to know the truth? Just imagining it makes Holland scared.

"Yes, Esther? I'm sorry for not focusing, I .. seems to be overworked."

Holland looks for excuses, but guilt builds up as she worries about Holland's lies.

"You sick? What if we just postpone the date today?" ask Esther with a worried face.

Holland shook his head, touching the corner of the woman's lips. "No, Esther. Aren't you looking forward to visiting a cake cafe in the capital? We can go there."

"Oh?" Esther doubts. Even if you look at it, Holland's condition is not very good. When spoken to, the man seemed to look blankly, unable to hear it, let alone focus on it. "Are you sure you're okay? If you are sick, return to your home. The date plan can be rearranged again."

Back to his residence? Somehow for Holland, the residence that should be a place to stop even resembles a hell. Previously, there was the late Duke who continued to pestilence Holland for marriage. However, now there is his petty wife. For Holland, who continues to view his home as hell, he may seek comfort there.

"No, Esther. Don't you understand? I want to spend time with you" Holland replied firmly.

Esther rounded her eyes, a soft red hue spreading across both her cheeks, producing a sweet impression.

Subjected Esther's face to hide her shame. "Well, if that's what you want."

Holland gently pulled Esther's chin, forcing the woman to look up. "Why hide your sweet face?"

"Aah!" Esther blushed more and more, her tone getting more and more concentrated, making Holland chuckle.

"My sweet love" Holland whispered in Esther's ear with a gentle smile.

Esther whines small. "Shut up, Holland. This is a public place!"

Holland laughed again, loose, as if the burden embedded in his chest had also come off. He dyed the woman's fingers tightly, spreading warmth that made the chest serene.

Without saying a word, the two set foot in the crowd of the capital. Even so, the clothes worn by both can be said to be more luxurious than other folk clothes, so that the difference in both social status can be said to be clear, making the plan of both to blend with ordinary people meet failure. In fact, both Holland and Esther, have asked the waiter to provide clothes that are not too luxurious as their daily clothes. However, all noble clothes must be made of the best quality of cloth that only nobles can buy, until ordinary people who see the two can immediately know that their castes are different.

The bells above the door rang loudly as Holland pushed open the cafe door. The atmosphere in the cafe feels soft, with sweet decorations and refreshing eyes, no wonder this cafe was crowded on their opening day.

"Master Holland, I'm at the next table, yes," Miel whispered to Holland, beside her, Hanah stood shyly.

Holland frowned at Miel, but said nothing. Miel sees Holland's response as a green flag and decides to date Hanah in the same spot.

"Order anything, Hanah," said Miel. After all, the fee will definitely be paid Mr. Holland, his mind enthusiastically.

Esther only chuckled slightly after seeing the timid Hanah, then sat down on the velvet chair. The cafe room is distinguished according to class, there is room for high social class, and some are low. Of course, the room that Holland entered with Esther, had to be a high-class place, excluding that she also had to pay Miel's bills because Holland was convinced that Miel would not hesitate to charge her.

A waiter asked for the order and left when the two had ordered.

"Miel and Hanah, they also have a happy time," Esther said with a gentle smile on her lips.

Holland, who had lost his focus for a split second, immediately turned his gaze to Esther. "Yes." Yeah."

"You knew? I feel guilty for Hanah for holding him. Though Hanah could have met Miel at any time, but maybe because Hanah paid too much attention to my feelings, the two did not meet often."

It made sense for Hanah to continue standing beside Esther. If Hanah meets with Miel, it will definitely have something to do with Holland. Hanah does not want her non-hurt, so Hanah also gives distance to Miel.

Holland clasped Esther's fingers on the table, squeezing them slowly. "I'm sorry, Esther."

"No, Holland. Why was it your fault?" Esther returned to Holland. "I ... I do feel disappointed that you are married to Olivia, but I also have to understand your situation. Isn't it after your affair with Olivia is over, you'll come back to me?"

"Yes, Holland." Esther smiled gently. The leaflet on his chest was beating violently, but it was pleasant. "You promised again. You promised not to touch Olivia, right? I'm sure you can keep that promise."

The smile on Holland's lips turned stiff, suddenly cold sweat started to be felt behind his clothes. Not only that, his heartbeat even gave a painful feeling that tortured Holland felt his mind mixed.

Fortunately, a waiter brought his second order so that Holland could quietly exhale in relief. The fingers that were interlocked on the table came apart, then held the tableware in each other's hands.

Holland is deeply guilty of breaking his promise, and not revealing it to Esther. However, expressing a pain to Esther, Holland is unable to. He didn't want to see Esther filled with disappointment anymore. It was enough that his heart cried out sorely because it saw the beloved figure feeling disappointed, no longer.

"What do you think, Holland?" ask Esther after tasting the chocolate cake.

"Aah?" Holland even mused compared to tasting the ordered cake. He then cut the cake with his fork, allowing his taste buds to feel the rich texture of the cake. It was not as luxurious as the cake made by the chef, but seeing Esther's happy face already made her feel satisfied. "Yes, this is good."

Esther smiled, going back to eating the rest of the cake with good etiquette. Although in public places, Esther still prioritizes etiquette, as well as Holland. Both of them who have been taught about manners ethics, will never be separated from it.

"What about Olivia?"

Esther's words again made Holland seem to lose one heartbeat. "Yes? What do you mean, Esther?"

Esther seemed hesitant, but decided to take a peek at the pair of dazzling blood red beads across there. "Is he trying to get close to you?"

"Esther ...," Holland called Esther's name in nanar. To reveal the truth to Esther, it would certainly hurt both sides. Hiding her would still hurt Esther. Holland was struck by a perplexing sense of dilemma.

"What's wrong, Holland," Esther said. "I feel jealous, but it's important to see Olivia move. If he does something sneaky, maybe we can figure out a solution as soon as possible."

Holland's left hand on his thigh clenched tightly. "Y-Yes," she answered nervously. "Olivia does seem to like me, but I avoid her at home until we don't see her often."

"so."

Seeing Esther's relieved smile made Holland's guilt accumulate, making her breath suddenly feel tight, her heart filled with a thick fog so she could not stop fretting.

"I'm happy then. Avoid Olivia as much as possible, yes. The only thing in your eyes, it's just me, right?"

Holland rounded his eyes, the two beads quivering briefly trying to gently highlight Esther, then forced a light smile on his lips.

"In my eyes, there's only Esther."

Holland reached out his hand and Esther gave her hand. Esther's back pecked by Holland long ago, putting every mixed feeling in every simple kiss.

...***...

Holland thought, after the incident where he was affected by a cup of tea— where when he consulted the residence doctor, it could be concluded that in the tea liquid, contained a rare aphrodisiac herb, which was, Holland will keep avoiding Olivia every day. Even if she accidentally crosses paths with Olivia, Holland will turn around and run away. The man did not want to betray Esther any deeper and decided to run away.

However, a news that spread quickly made Holland's heartbeat seem to stop beating. A feeling of despair began to fill the recesses of his chest and Holland could not even stand up straight.

"Congratulations, Mr Holland! Miss Olivia is pregnant!"

The same news began to spread among the nobility and some reached the common people. All the nobles congratulated by letter, or in person. No exception, many gifts were sent to the Floral residence for their joy.

Such is the influence of a child in a potential family. For Olivia, the presence of the child she contained was a paradise, but for Holland who only felt hell, she felt that she had been kicked deeper into a hell that would torment her. Burning his body, making his feelings so poignant beyond belief.

Now, Holland is bound by a pseudo-chain. Her body was limp, while Olivia gripped the end of the chain tightly. Inevitably, Holland falls forcibly on the seduction of the devil, unable to understand where the way out of a cursed demon seduction is.

...***...

Let me ask you something. Do you like this story? Not too weird, is it? Because I am also quite confident with this novel wkwk.

anyway, if there are words that are supposed to be italic but here no, believe me I just copy paste and do not read it again, so do not find out if the italic is lost, okay? and the middle star of the scene also if not in the middle of the screen, please be understood yes.

July 2nd, 2023