Before long, Edward Carter heard a rustling sound and instinctively looked up...

Alice Bennett had already tended to the wounds on his knees. He stood beside the bed, his back to Edward Carter, took off his outer garment, then slipped off his inner shirt, revealing the slender frame of a young man.

Alice Bennett's skin was very fair, making the bruises and welts look even more shocking.

Alice Bennett applied medicine to himself, blowing gently as he did so, muttering something under his breath.

Edward Carter subconsciously held his breath. He had thought Alice Bennett was cursing him, but unexpectedly—

Alice Bennett, while softly gasping in pain, whispered, "Doesn't hurt, doesn't hurt, doesn't hurt, doesn't hurt..."

Young Edward Carter's heart softened inexplicably.

He stared for a moment, not expecting Alice Bennett to finish applying the medicine and turn around. Their eyes met, and Edward Carter quickly turned his head away, looking out the window.

Alice Bennett: "..."

Alice Bennett felt a bit flustered and bluffed, "W-what do you want?!"

Edward Carter wasn't feeling calm either. He lowered his head to read, saying nothing.

Alice Bennett watched Edward Carter warily, put his clothes back on, and lay down.

Alice Bennett was extremely tired, but didn't dare fall asleep.

Edward Carter's gaze just now seemed off as well. Alice Bennett was afraid that if he fell asleep, something might happen.

An hour later, Edward Carter finished reading a book, completed his notes, and got up to fetch another. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Alice Bennett staring at him with bloodshot eyes, stubbornly fighting off sleep.

Edward Carter picked up another book and said in a low voice, "Go to sleep."

Alice Bennett stiffened his neck, "I'm not sleepy!"

Edward Carter lifted his book and said quietly, "I won't do anything."

"Right." Alice Bennett nodded, "You'll just 'look', nothing else."

Edward Carter: "..."

Edward Carter really had just looked over instinctively earlier. He wanted to explain, but didn't know what to say. Hesitating, his ears turned slightly red. He got up, took two pieces of sleep incense, and placed them in the small censer on the table.

A rich fragrance slowly filled the air. Alice Bennett was about to succumb to sleep, but as soon as he smelled the sleep incense, his eyes widened like copper bells.

What was bound to happen, finally happened.

Alice Bennett thought helplessly, there's no stopping it.

Edward Carter was usually so quiet, but it turned out he was so scheming, so knowledgeable about these things, even knowing to drug him first.

Alice Bennett blurted out whatever came to mind, "You have such a dirty mind."

Edward Carter: "..."

Edward Carter looked at the censer on the table, understood, and hurriedly said, "I lit the incense because, I..."

Young Edward Carter's hand holding the book trembled slightly. He wanted to defend himself, but felt the words were too undignified, making his ears flush even redder.

Alice Bennett lay on the bed, utterly dejected, awaiting the judgment of fate. "I underestimated you."

Edward Carter was so stifled he could hardly breathe, forcing himself to stay calm, enunciating each word: "I—do—not—want—to—touch—you."

Alice Bennett didn't believe a word.

Alice Bennett, his eyes heavy with sleep, glanced at Edward Carter, holding onto a sliver of hope, trying to negotiate: "Edward Carter... can I ask you a private question?"

Edward Carter's heart skipped a beat. He mumbled softly, "W-what private question?"

Alice Bennett asked seriously, "In bed, do you prefer to be on top or on the bottom?"

Edward Carter was stunned, "What... top or bottom?"

Alice Bennett pressed his lips together, "Well... if you like being on the bottom, you actually don't need to use this incense. I can just fulfill your wish. You spent so much silver to get me here, I can't let your money go to waste. Ahem... Even though I'm exhausted and injured today, it's a small matter. I'm young and strong, I can still..."

"I don't like it!" Edward Carter finally understood, couldn't help but throw the book onto the desk, "I don't like any of it!!!"

Alice Bennett let out a "heh," thinking, as if I'd believe you. His attempt at negotiation failed, so he lay back down, continuing to wait.

Edward Carter, fuming, picked up the book and kept reading.

The two of them stalemated for another half hour.

Alice Bennett's eyes were bloodshot, stubbornly refusing to sleep.

Edward Carter was so angry his chest felt tight. He thought Alice Bennett couldn't keep this up, clutched his about-to-burst lungs, got up, and threw a few more pieces of sleep incense into his own censer.

Young Edward Carter was very upright, thinking that as long as Alice Bennett woke up and found nothing had happened, his own innocence would be clear.

Meanwhile, Alice Bennett on the bed was on the verge of tears. He was about to pass out from exhaustion, and Edward Carter was still burning incense to knock him out!

"What kind of hobby is this..." Alice Bennett mumbled sleepily, almost delirious, "I'll be sleeping like a dead dog soon, what's the point..."

Edward Carter paused, then, almost out of spite, grabbed another handful of incense.

Alice Bennett was completely out of patience.

Even more stubborn than me.

At this point, even his bones felt soft. He probably wouldn't last much longer before falling asleep.

Alice Bennett, resigned to his fate, felt there was no escape.

Alice Bennett said bleakly, "Edward Carter, after I fall asleep this time, when I wake up, I'll have become a real man, right?"

Edward Carter's hands trembled, wanting to hit someone.

Alice Bennett, still unwilling to give in, raised his hand and bit himself hard.