Chapter 112

“Lilithia, you need to wake up.”

A low, velvety voice enveloped my heart. I remembered the sensation of dancing with Freyer and our lips meeting, but as I turned my head, I saw my own hand already clutching a pristine white duvet.

I peeked one eye open and immediately wanted to squeeze it shut again. My dress was discarded, lying in a heap on the floor, and I was wearing nothing but a thin, gossamer-like chemise.

“Th-that’s too fast!”

“Too fast?”

I nodded vigorously. Freyer loomed over me, his presence making my protests feel utterly feeble.

“We’ve already spent countless days together.”

“Countless?!”

As Freyer slowly folded down two fingers, one by one, my eyes grew as wide as saucers and I practically shrieked.

“We’ve only spent one day together!”

The night we spent together was exactly one. The night I got completely wasted and jumped him.

‘Wait.’

A myriad of thoughts raced through my mind at Freyer’s ambiguous reaction. Did I jump him and forget a specific moment? Panic surged at the thought that things might have happened without me knowing. After all, when I stayed at his palace, I barely managed to suppress the urge to touch his hair.

I racked my brain, trying to claw back any lost memories.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

I couldn’t remember. I had zero memory of anything else, so why was he acting like this?! Fine. I’ll just be direct.

“Did I… do something bad to you, Your Highness?”

“Bad? What kind of ‘bad’ are we talking about?”

Freyer’s eyes crinkled as he leaned down to kiss the tip of my nose. I just sat there, dumbfounded, absorbing the touch. Slowly, his soft, moist lips traveled from my nose to my forehead and back down. His fluttering eyelashes tickled my cheeks.

“…I mean.”

My mind was already stained crimson with a thousand unspeakable answers, but no words came out.

“Something like this?”

I stared blankly at his face—the dark brows, the green eyes hidden behind those long lashes, the sharp bridge of his nose. My gaze drifted to his firm, full lips, and I hurriedly looked away.

‘That was close.’

I was drowning in his beauty. My favorite’s looks were a hazard to my mental health.

“You should be looking at me.”

As Freyer used his long, sturdy fingers to turn my chin back toward him, I fell once more into those vast green lakes. Everywhere his fingers brushed felt as though a searing heat was rising, leaving phantom red marks on my skin.

The reflection of myself in his eyes looked dizzyingly fragile. Cheeks flushed pink, the corners of my eyes swollen from crying, lemon-blonde hair scattered across the white sheets, and wide purple eyes. The air felt so stifled and hot that even my thin slip felt like too much.

“It’s warm.”

Freyer stroked my hair with one hand while the other began to slowly undo the buttons of his shirt from the collar down. Gradually, the silhouette beneath his white shirt was revealed, and my gaze fixated on his chest as the fabric fell away.

At the subtle sight, my face flushed past red into a deep crimson, my mouth falling open.

Did I have a wolf living inside me or something?

“That night… you said something to me.”

What I said to him?

‘No way.’

Memories flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern.

“So sexy…”

“Wow, look at these abs, the detail is incredible…”

“Wasn’t this supposed to be a PG novel? This dream is the best.”

Lilithia Baimery. You were definitely insane that night. I wanted to punch myself in the head. Surely, he wasn’t about to repeat that.

“You said you wanted me to be happy. Do you remember?”

Relief washed over me so quickly I let out a sharp gasp. He hadn’t brought up the embarrassing stuff.

“That’s right. I did say that.”

“Then you seem to remember our night together. I assume you’ll retract that statement about it being ‘too fast’ now? Lilithia.”

“Huh?”

I had walked right into his trap. I swallowed hard as I felt Freyer’s gaze drop to my lips. My pupils shook uncontrollably. Freyer let out a slow, lingering smile—a smile so radiant it made my head spin.

As he leaned in to cover my parted, trembling lips, my ankles stiffened with tension. I felt his hot, hurried breath seeking me out. The kiss deepened, swirling through my mind until my thoughts completely solidified.

Our bodies pressed together, the warmth of his skin seeping through my thin chemise. I reached out and gripped his forearms, feeling the hard muscle beneath his sleeves.

The sensation overwhelmed me, and my head tilted back. Finally, with a stray tear pricking my eye, our lips parted. I gasped for air.

“You need to breathe,” Freyer whispered, playfully nipping at my lower lip.

“I thought I was going to die,” I panted, struggling to find my voice. It was the first time I had ever been kissed for so long.

“I felt the same.” Freyer’s eyes shimmered with a lazy, soft intensity. “I thought I was going to die trying to hold back.”

“……!”

He descended upon my lips again, and the senses that had just started to cool flared back to life. The kiss grew heavier, traveling down my neckline to my collarbone, leaving marks in its wake. A shiver ran down to my toes at the sensation of being thoroughly adored.

His touch grew more possessive, stroking and pulling me closer. It was embarrassing to hear my own ragged breathing, but the fluttering deep in my stomach made me squeeze the duvet tight.

Whoosh—!

A gust of wind blew through the room, extinguishing the candles. In the darkness, Freyer and I became one. The sound of heavy breathing and the creaking of furniture were buried under the fireworks still booming in the distance.

***

The chirping of birds in the trees announced the arrival of morning.

“Mmm…”

The duvet felt incredibly heavy. Annoyed by the weight pressing down on me, I flailed my arm in the air. When the weight shifted, I curled into a fetal position. I tried to drift back to sleep, but the pressure returned, making me groan.

“Ugh.”

They say you shouldn’t mess with a sleeping person. Who is ruining my morning nap?!

I forced my heavy eyelids open and nearly forgot how to blink. I was greeted by an expanse of sun-kissed skin. A broad chest, and as my gaze drifted lower, the defined contours of his torso. My face was inches away from being buried in him.

I squeezed my eyes shut, memories of last night crashing into me. I couldn’t think about it anymore or my face would turn so red I’d never be able to show it again. Hearing his rhythmic breathing, I tried to wiggle out of his arms.

Carefully—very carefully—I tried to unlock his arm from around me as if I were picking a lock. Just as I thought I was free and about to slip out of bed—

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A low, gravelly morning voice sounded right above me. A strong hand pulled me back by the shoulder, hauling me into a tight embrace.

“I—I can’t breathe!”

He loosened his grip just enough for me to inhale, but then I felt his breath against the nape of my neck.

“Your Highness…?”

“Take responsibility for me.”

His voice vibrated against my ear.

“I used to think happiness was like sand—something that slips through your fingers no matter how hard you grip it. But I finally caught the person who brought happiness into my life. I’m never letting you go again.”

Just then, a knock sounded, followed by the voice of a royal maid.

“Vice Head Leader Lilithia! May I come in?”

“W-wait! Just a minute!”

Startled, I raised my voice to stop her from entering. I couldn’t be caught like this. Right now, Freyer and I were in a state of nature—not a stitch of clothing between us.

‘I need to get dressed first!’

I tried to scramble out of Freyer’s arms, but he wouldn’t let go.

“Your Highness! Quick, we need to put clothes on…!”

“I’d like an answer first.”

I struggled against him, but he was far too strong.

“Your Highness! This is not the time…! The maid is going to burst in any second!”

“Are you refusing to answer because you plan on taking back your words? After we’ve spent two nights together?”

“I—I mean…!”

“Are you going to leave me again, like you did that first time?”

I swallowed hard and lowered my voice to a frantic whisper.

“…I will.”

“What was that?”

“I said I’ll take responsibility for you! For Your Highness!”