Katelyn gave him a thoughtful look, then responded, "No need. You've been quite busy, haven't you?"

After all, Vincent had recently broken off his engagement with royalty and had his hands full managing that fallout — not to mention his guard against Brendan. He had to be concerned about every detail.

Vincent made no objection. He gently reached for her, suggesting, "Let me give you a massage first. You need to be relaxed to attend the banquet tonight."

Katelyn swiftly clutched the blanket to herself. Her cheeks flushed as she retorted, "No, that's not necessary."

The thought of their closeness the previous night caused her cheeks to redden further.

Vincent's smile grew as he leaned in, whispering playfully by her ear, "Feeling shy still?"

She shot him a glare, her face flushed but her expression softening. Her glare lacked intensity, carrying more softness than anger. Instead of intimidating him, it made Vincent smile.

He whispered close to her ear, "You were incredibly beautiful last night."

Katelyn was left speechless. She wondered how she hadn't noticed this side of Vincent before.

He kissed her gently, then softly instructed, "Alright, just lie down and relax."

Vincent gently prompted Katelyn to lie on her stomach before starting to massage her thoroughly.

Initially, Katelyn was a bit reserved. However, as Vincent demonstrated his adept massage techniques, her inhibitions faded away. Vincent applied just the right amount of pressure, making the massage immensely soothing. It felt as though he was erasing all the aches from her body.

Comfortably nestled on the bed, Katelyn couldn't help but say, "With skills like these, you'd be wasted if you weren't a masseur."

Vincent's eyebrows quirked up as he looked at her. "Do you think just anyone deserves my massages?" Katelyn was the first and only one.

At his words, a small smile played on her lips. She found his statement strangely delightful. She relished this feeling of exclusivity.

Thanks to Vincent's efforts, Katelyn's body, previously tight and sore, began to unwind. She now felt completely relaxed.

Just as Katelyn was about to rise from the bed, Vincent leaned in to kiss her, murmuring near her ear, "I should charge you a little for this, right?"

Rather than pulling away, she responded with a kiss on his lips, whispering back, "Not at all. Here's another one for you."

Vincent pressed his forehead against hers, a smile spreading across his face. "I'm quite pleased with this extra one. Hope to earn more next time."

With that, he kissed her again. It seemed as if she had cast a spell on him, one he couldn't resist.

Katelyn wrapped her arms around his waist and said, "You've changed. You're not the reserved Vincent I once knew."

Previously, he seemed like a distant star, aloof and detached from the world's affairs. But now… the Vincent before her seemed more tangible, as though he had drawn closer to her heart

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