Dietheardt showered Ilse with gentle kisses on her cheek and temple, as if cherishing her. These soft kisses felt like a gentle caress on the inside of her chest. 'Stop it. Her heart was throbbing.' Dietheardt picked up the bewildered Ilse. Since her body was weak and relaxed, she simply yielded to his chest, unaware of how much this surrender delighted him. She was set down on the large bed in the adjoining room. With many cushions placed on the surface, she wasn't completely flat on her back but slightly propped up. Dietheardt, who had removed his jacket, leaned over her. He carelessly ripped off his cravat and then opened his shirt with the force of tearing the buttons. Ilse noticed his surprisingly thick neck and the masculine Adam's apple, and she couldn't help but swallow. Her heart fluttered at the sight of the gentleman's chest, usually hidden. Her feminine instincts had unconsciously reacted. Dietheardt sealed Ilse's lips again. The initiative had already been seized by him. Her lips were easily parted, and his tongue invaded. His hands explored Ilse's body over the dress, stroking her waist, which was cinched by a corset, her breasts, and her thighs. She couldn't keep up with the sudden escalation, yet the memory of the kiss she had just learned kept draining the strength from her body. She had heard that such things often happened. In the upper class, chastity was strictly taught. Noble families, in particular, emphasized marriages as connections between houses, so they tended to demand virtue from women to prevent "unnecessary blood" from entering the lineage. However, men and women seeking romance sometimes surrendered to passion. The discreet circulation of methods for concealing their liaisons likely meant there were many who couldn't suppress their overflowing fervor. Dietheardt's large hands enveloped Ilse's breast. Protected by the stiff corset, she didn't feel his touch sharply. However, the mere fact of a man touching her made Ilse's body heat up. Dietheardt pulled away from her lips, buried his face in her neck, and moved down to her collarbone and then her chest. Josepha's old dress had a low-cut design. Although it had been altered, it still emphasized her cleavage more than Ilse would have ever chosen. Dietheardt sucked at the part where the swell of her corset-lifted breast was partially exposed. "Ahnn!" A sound escaped her involuntarily. Her body jolted at the sensation of his tongue crawling over her skin. Her body, already melted by the kiss, urged her to surrender to him completely. It wasn't that she was uninterested in the romantic tales her friends exchanged. She possessed a healthy, age-appropriate sexual curiosity. Her mind was being pulled by a body that was preparing to accept him. Dietheardt lifted the hem of Ilse's skirt. It seemed he had reached inside her skirt. The caress abruptly stopped. He sat up, muttering, "What is going on...?" as he flipped up Ilse's skirt. "Ah, damn it. I can't get this dress off in this state." She heard a frustrated, almost cursing sound. She had forgotten that an evening dress was not an item that could be easily put on or taken off while lying in bed. It wasn't even something one could put on by oneself. Ilse herself had been helped by her available colleagues while getting ready. The chemise, the corset, the underdress, the crinoline, etc. Multiple types of undergarments were worn beneath the glamorous dress. The situation was somewhat manageable because cushions were placed behind her, but it was still difficult to lie completely flat while wearing a crinoline. Dietheardt seemed to have realized the complexities of a woman's dress. Dietheardt sat up to try and undress Ilse. In that moment, her reason, which had been dissolved by his caresses and had gone somewhere far away, returned. (I almost got completely carried away by the atmosphere... but I have to go to work tomorrow! That's right, WORK!) No! She almost ended up staying out all night. If she stayed overnight at her workplace and returned home in the morning, her colleagues would definitely find out! She couldn't underestimate her colleagues' speed of information transfer. A so-called secret was never just a secret. Never, ever. It could even escalate to a situation where Heidemarie knew about it. She was truly glad that the crinoline had brought her back to her senses. "I apologize for my lack of skill. I've never undressed a woman—" "I'm sorry, Your Excellency Dietheardt. I have to leave right now." Ilse bolted upright. The words "seduction" and "honey trap" had completely vanished from her mind. "I-Ilse..." "Your Excellency Dietheardt, I believe you were able to know plenty about me today, weren't you?" Ilse cut him off. If she did this during the day, it would be a disaster, but if she didn't do this now, her life would be a disaster. She shivered, imagining the rumor spreading like wildfire "Ilse Kallenberg spent the night with a gentleman at the ball!". She desperately did not want to be at the center of a rumor. "Not yet. I haven't been able to know you at all yet." Dietheardt thrust his upper body closer to Ilse. It seemed the flame of passion had been ignited. "W-well, I've learned quite a bit about you." Is Prime Minister Schwarzen surprisingly carnivorous? Ilse wondered inwardly, inching backward. However, the bed was narrow, and behind the cushions was the headboard. She had nowhere to run. "A-also, I have to wake up early tomorrow morning..." She made an excuse, while dragging her bottom toward the side of the bed. "A-and we'll have to continue this next time!" Without realizing the outrageous thing she had just blurted out, Ilse rolled off the side of the bed. She quickly stood up and retrieved her shoes, which she had left in the adjoining room. She was fortunate that this was a room in the palace. As Heidemarie's maid, Ilse was familiar with the palace's servant quarters. She opened the door leading to the servants' corridor and run away like a rabbit.