Cold wind slipped through the crack in the window, sending a chill across Josselyn's skin.
"No."
Her voice fell firm in the small room.
All eyes turned to her at once.
Sebastian frowned. "You refuse?"
"Yes," Josselyn answered quickly. "I will not explain anything about Lord Yorick."
Howarth watched her for a long moment. "You do realize that only makes everything more suspicious?"
Josselyn lifted her chin slightly, looking away. "It's not something worth worrying about."
She swallowed. Truthfully, if the effect really made her body more sensitive and stirred overwhelming desire, it would be humiliating.
'And who knows if someone might take advantage of it,' she thought.
Her gaze accidentally met Howarth's again. Those amber eyes seemed to smile at her, as if confirming exactly what she had been thinking.
Josselyn tensed. Her instincts told her the man understood her far too quickly.
Howarth smirked faintly. "Very well, if that makes you feel safe."
'Damn. That's unfair. He can hear me, but I have no idea what he's thinking.'
Josselyn clenched her jaw.
Across from her, Sebastian leaned back in his chair. "Then we assume the effect is real. Which means it could happen again."
Josselyn stiffened. She had almost forgotten.
"And if it does," Sebastian continued, "Josselyn will need supervision."
"No." Josselyn refused immediately. "No one will be stationed outside my room."
Howarth raised an eyebrow. "Why so defensive? Wouldn't that benefit you?"
Josselyn looked at him coldly. His tone sounded sarcastic to her ears.
"Because it would disturb my comfort. I am the only woman in this residence. Can you not give me at least a little room to breathe?"
Sebastian gave a faint smile. "In that case, the safest solution is to lock your door."
Josselyn nodded at once. "That's what I'll do."
Kael nodded as well. "Makes sense."
Howarth did not agree immediately. His eyes narrowed slightly. "But what if something dangerous happens inside your room, and we don't know about it?"
"Like what, Howarth?" Kael asked.
Josselyn shot Howarth a sharp look. Her eyes widened slightly.
Howarth lifted one brow.
"Fine, I agree." He changed the subject. "So, we start working today?"
Sebastian nodded. "We'll begin collecting wool. The Queen's request cannot be delayed."
Josselyn exhaled in relief. The earlier conversation had weighed heavily on her shoulders.
"I'll come along."
"No," Howarth answered quickly.
'You've forbidden me too much today, Lord.'
Josselyn glared at him, deliberately letting the thought surface, testing him.
"I have my reasons," Howarth said casually.
'Confirmed. The mind reader.'
Josselyn shifted her gaze between Sebastian and Kael.
"I need to inspect the wool quality myself," she argued. "That's part of my job."
Kael glanced at her. "You're not stable yet."
"I'm fine," Josselyn insisted stubbornly.
Sebastian scratched the back of his neck, though it did not itch, then let out a long sigh.
"Then we compromise. She goes, but under supervision."
Howarth looked at Sebastian. "Under my supervision."
Josselyn was about to protest, but Kael had already nodded.
"Agreed."
~
The farm at the edge of the village was filled with healthy sheep. Josselyn smiled the moment they arrived.
"This is the last one?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes," the farmer replied. "The best wool is here."
Josselyn walked between the pens, carefully assessing the quality.
"The fibers are a bit coarse," she murmured. "But far better than what we have in the capital."
Howarth stood behind her. "You can really tell just by touch?"
"Yes," Josselyn replied briefly.
Kael scanned the surroundings. "The village feels quiet. Is it because of… that?"
The farmer nodded. "Yes, sir. A few days ago, two more children became victims of the illness."
Sebastian turned to Howarth, then back to the farmer.
"What kind of illness?"
"High fever and weakness," the farmer said quickly.
"But what frightens everyone… is that they also bleed from the nose without cause."
Josselyn stopped writing. "How many are sick?"
"Ten children in total," the farmer answered.
Josselyn turned sharply. "Where are they?"
~
The small wooden house was dim.
"I see the child," Josselyn whispered.
Howarth followed her gaze. "At the window?"
"Yes."
Kael immediately halted. "Josselyn, don't get too close…"
Too late. She had already moved.
"Hey," Josselyn called softly. "Are you alright?"
The child stepped back a few inches, looking at her with trembling eyes.
Josselyn smiled, a gentle, reassuring smile. Then she touched the child's forehead.
"She has a fever," Josselyn murmured, lowering her hand to the child's chest.
Howarth stepped closer at once. "You don't want to…"
"I know," Josselyn cut in.
Ignoring his warning, she placed her hand against the child.
A few seconds passed in silence. Her hand trembled faintly.
Slowly, the child's breathing steadied.
"It's done," Josselyn whispered, gently stroking the child's head.
Kael stepped forward, leaning slightly toward her ear.
"That's the third one today."
Josselyn withdrew her hand slowly. "It's fine."
"Fine?" Kael looked at her sharply. "Your body is overloaded."
Josselyn was about to respond, but suddenly her hand moved on its own, grabbing the sleeve of Howarth, who stood nearby.
"Josselyn?" Howarth turned immediately.
Her face flushed. Her breathing grew uneven, her body beginning to lose control.
"…I just need some air."
Kael's expression tightened. "We're going back now."
"No need," Josselyn said quickly. "This was the last farm. I just need to endure a little longer."
Howarth studied her for a long moment, then sighed.
"I'll take her back."
~
The horse moved at a steady pace as they left the village.
Silence lingered, but Josselyn's body was anything but calm.
Every vibration beneath her made it harder to ignore the sensation.
Her eyes slowly closed. She bit her lip hard.
"Don't fall asleep," Howarth's voice came from behind her.
"I'm not sleeping," Josselyn murmured.
"Your body isn't stable," Howarth said. "You've used your ability too much."
Josselyn did not answer. Her mind was already drifting, focused only on the rhythm beneath her, the way it altered her breathing.
'Damn it. Not now.' She took a deep breath, trying to push the feeling away. 'At least let me reach my room.'
"What's wrong?" Howarth asked.
Josselyn flinched slightly at the closeness of his voice. She glanced back and realized her back was pressed against his chest.
She almost let out a soft sound. The firmness of his chest against her back fed the wild images in her mind.
She tried to ignore it. But her body refused to cooperate as the saddle shifted against her, right at a sensitive spot. Josselyn gripped the reins tightly.
"We're taking a detour," Howarth said. His leg nudged the horse, and it turned onto a different path.
The movement shattered her focus. Her hand moved before she could think, searching for something to steady herself, and instead brushed against Howarth's thigh.
"Josselyn, what are you doing…"
"Nothing," she breathed heavily. "Ah… damn it. This saddle keeps touching me…"
She bit her lip. "But it doesn't feel quite right…"
A second later, she cursed herself for the careless words.
Josselyn heard Howarth's breath hitch behind her.
"Stop pressing yourself against me. Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Oh, I am?" Josselyn asked sweetly. She straightened her back slightly. Her hips moved slowly, deliberately, brushing against him in a way that felt unmistakably provocative.
His arms wrapped around her waist instinctively.
"That doesn't mean you can do it elsewhere, Josselyn," he whispered. His voice had grown heavier, strained.
His fingers tightened against her abdomen, trembling faintly with the motion of the horse.
Slowly, his hand moved lower, almost reaching a sensitive place.
"Howarth… your hand…"
Josselyn let out a soft, broken sound. Her head fell back against his shoulder, her body restless.
'Your fingers… please…' she begged silently.
In the fading edge of her awareness, she still tried to restrain herself from saying anything aloud. But she forgot that Howarth could hear her thoughts.
His hand did not stop. Slowly, over the thin fabric, his fingers slid downward from her stomach, between her thighs, finding a soft, sensitive point.
His touch paused for a moment, as if giving her one last chance to refuse.
But she did not.
Then, slowly, very slowly, he pressed against that point, his fingers circling gently.
"Howarth…" Her voice broke in her throat.
But his fingers did not stop.
And everything Josselyn had been holding back finally shattered without restraint.