Since we returned from Vendée, except for the two days I was ill, we''ve hardly had any time to be alone."

"I''m sorry, Edith." He felt extremely guilty and held her on his lap, lovingly kissing her hair.

With a sidelong glance, she saw the ill look upon his face, a result of days of intense labour. Andre was still able to effortlessly switch between his harshness of chilly autumn winds and the mildness of fresh spring water, but she sensed that this change was different from before.

Once, his enigmatic duality had enchanted her. His tender, lamb-like side was only revealed to her, making it all the more precious and endearing in her eyes.

But now, as he shed his stern facade in her embrace, he looked so weary, like a person drained of all strength collapsing all at once, causing her heart to ache for him.

"Try it, Sister''s baking skills are amazing. You''ll rave about it after you taste it." Edith pointed to the sweets on the desk.

He reached into the basket and took out a piece of sweet, holding it in his mouth without chewing. Instead, he suddenly leaned towards her lips.

Edith wasn''t used to his sudden initiative today and blushed all at once. She gently bit the sweet and was about to bring it over from his mouth.

But Andre went straight ahead and snatched it away with his teeth, sucking in her lips along with the sweet. The rich sugar syrup melted in their mouths, spreading between their lips and tongues.

Doing such an intimate act in the office of a revolutionary made Edith''s heart race.