Leah lifted her hands, previously relaxed, and clutched Caius’s shoulders. The thick muscles beneath the thin fabric responded to her touch, sending a shudder through him.
Entwining his fingers in Leah’s well-kept hair, he moved his tongue as if exploring her mouth. Sensing her vision gradually blurring, Leah tightly closed her eyes.
With their engagement officially dissolved as of today, they were no longer bound in that way. Clearly, they shouldn’t be kissing on the bed like this.
However, Caius held Leah even more passionately, his intensity heightened. Helpless against this incomprehensible act, his lips moved deliberately over her body, leaving a fiery imprint.
His movements were persistent, leaving marks on her chin, neck, and collarbone.
“Hmm..”
Trembling, Leah clenched his shirt tightly with her shaking hand, crumpling the fabric haphazardly.
Finally, leaving a lingering kiss on her chest, Caius forcibly pulled down the bothersome dress to her waist. The sound of the knot at the back being torn apart echoed.
The loose fabric exposed her bare upper body, and a sense of shame blossomed in her vacant mind.
“Ah..”
As Leah tried to cover herself with a pale face, Caius lightly grabbed her wrist to stop her.
With desire heavily painted in his deep azure eyes, he leisurely surveyed Leah’s upper body.
“Today, there’s no stopping.”
Caius warned as he locked eyes with Leah one last time.
“Pushing me away won’t do any good.”
His passionately intense voice sent a chilling shiver down Leah’s spine. With her fingertips held by him, Leah, trembling slightly, barely managed to open her lips.
“This, this is..”
“Is this something that can only be done if you’re in love?”
Caius, reiterating her words, let out a soft chuckle through his deep breaths.
As he once again immersed himself in her peak, simultaneously, he, grabbed her slender knee and parted it.
“Then, consider me as your past lover.”
Caius, nestled between her opened legs, whispered gently.
Through tear-stained eyes, Leah beheld the image of a man who appeared more ruthless than ever.
“Imagine me as that affectionate man who loved you unconditionally.”
“…….”
“It’s not that difficult. In the end, we’re the same person.”
The nonchalant words pierced Leah’s heart, as memories from the past involuntarily dug in.
“Surely, even my past self must have ended up like this every time I saw you.”
As he raised his upper body, Caius skillfully removed each piece of his clothing with unhurried movements.
A perfectly sculpted physique, akin to a carved statue, was revealed. From the broad chest and down to the defined abdomen, the center of his being pressed tightly against the unbuckled wet fabric.
Leah’s eyes, soaked in what she witnessed, widened. In the face of an unfamiliar sight, Leah, momentarily lost in thought, managed to lift her head.
‘No, Caius has never treated me like this before…’
The Caius she loved never displayed such overt desire or inflicted wounds with cruel words.
The man before her was not the Caius she knew.
As Leah struggled to deny the situation, Caius, seizing every opportunity, sealed her lips with another kiss.
Simultaneously, his thick fingers moved downward
“Ah!”
Leah involuntarily raised her hips. As she pushed the bedding away with the tips of her toes, she convulsed as if in a spasm.
An unfamiliar sensation, never before experienced, permeated her from head to toe. Instinctively, Leah clung to his back and gasped for breath.
“…Relax.”
Caius murmured with parted lips. Leah, unable to conceal her labored breath, tightly closed her eyes.
With each advancing movement of his fingers, the slick sounds became clearer. Upon reaching the deepest point, tears uncontrollably burst forth.
A haze enveloped her mind. The impulse to deny him had completely dissipated, replaced by a gradual sense of unreality.
The moment beneath him felt dreamlike, as if everything was unreal. Swaying helplessly with his movements, Leah thought that perhaps surrendering to this overwhelming sensation would make everything okay.
Then, perhaps this overwhelmingly heavy feeling would transform into a dream.
As if responding to her thoughts, Caius widened Leah’s legs, which were trembling in the air, even more.
Barely opening her eyes to gaze at him, Leah felt him press against her. Feeling the rush of sensations, she gasped, contemplating whether giving in to the intensity would make everything alright.
Sunbeams filtered through the window, pouring diagonally onto the bed.
* * *
Huanghu Palace’s reception room. Facing the Empress, Lord Leiden sighed in disappointment.
“Who would have known that vile man would have the audacity to do such insolent things behind our backs.”
Caius, that scoundrel, deceived everyone and engaged in the disgraceful affair of rejecting his betrothed, choosing the daughter of the Count Bresha family.
Not expecting any secret dealings since the Bresha family was generally close to Caius, Lord Leiden muttered his frustration.
“It’s all my negligence. I’m paying a heavy price for letting my guard down.”
Margaret responded with a fairly composed voice. However, her fingers, clenching the teacup tightly, revealed a pale strain she couldn’t hide.
“How could this be Her Majesty’s fault? No one could have predicted that he would discard the servant who had been serving him so diligently in such a moment.”
After comforting her, Lord Leiden spoke resolutely.
“However, it’s too early to be discouraged. After all, he hasn’t become the Emperor yet, hasn’t he? The Crown Prince can change at any moment. Surely, there will be opportunities to pull him down.”
“Yes, we need to devise a plan.”
Margaret, who had sighed deeply, put down the teacup.
Leah, who was Caius’s sole weakness and an easy target for Margaret, was no longer useful. The lady from the Bresha family was not in a position to be easily manipulated. Handling her carelessly might result in serious consequences.
Margaret continued to stroke the teacup, contemplating.
The fact that the man who once harbored evil intentions to protect Leah had changed so drastically was a clear indication that he would stop at nothing in his quest for power.
What could have caused him to change so dramatically?
“For the time being, Her Majesty seems to be focused on internal affairs. I will create a pretext to attack the Crown Prince.”
Addressing Margaret, who was lost in thought, Viscount Leiden subtly offered his advice. Not long ago, he had hinted at her recent altercation with the Emperor.
“Yes, that’s the way to go.”
Margaret, who reluctantly accepted the situation, clenched the teacup once again.
On the day Caius simultaneously announced the breakup and his new engagement, Margaret raised her voice against the Emperor for the first time. He had stamped the documents without discussing them with her, which had been frustrating.
“Empress, Caius is now the Crown Prince.”
While the Emperor declared it this way, he never acknowledged her resentment on that day. Since that day, Margaret’s built-up resentment burst forth.
Despite the Emperor’s claim of love, there were times when he behaved coldly, especially when discussing the succession and weighing the two sons. The Emperor always seemed to focus his attention on Caius.
Naturally, the Emperor was not an overly affectionate father. At times, he tested the abilities of his sons harshly, even if they were his own flesh and blood. However, when it came to giving attention and trust, it was always Caius.
When Diego started drifting away through his flights, the Emperor chose to tolerate and evade the situation.
Some might argue that it was favoritism towards Diego, but Margaret didn’t see it that way.
The Emperor was simply indifferent to Diego. As a father, he showed no concern or willingness to intervene when his child was straying.
At times, there were glances that seemed to lack recognition when the Emperor looked at Diego.
Margaret found it unbearable and unsettling.
“I would like to earnestly request something from Father.”
Suppressing the surging emotions, Margaret took a deep breath. Marquis Leiden willingly nodded.
“Just say it.”
“I would like you to procure the poison you gave me before.”
A momentary glint appeared in Marquis’s eyes. The poison Margaret mentioned was a rare, highly lethal substance used when they had planned to assassinate Caius.
“If Her Majesty wishes, there’s nothing I cannot do. However, if you plan to use it, you must exercise extreme caution. Rumor has it that even a trace the size of a fingernail is dangerous.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have asked for it if I didn’t know that.”
Finally, Margaret raised the teacup to her lips, repressing the rising bitterness. The scent that wafted into her nostrils was quite potent.
“I don’t intend to use it immediately. I just want you to get it for me. Holding onto it might ease my mind.”
“Very well.”
In response to the Marquis’s words, a prolonged silence descended. The gazes of the two conspirators drifted into the empty space as they contemplated their plans.
Leah lifted her hands, previously relaxed, and clutched Caius’s shoulders. The thick muscles beneath the thin fabric responded to her touch, sending a shudder through him.
Entwining his fingers in Leah’s well-kept hair, he moved his tongue as if exploring her mouth. Sensing her vision gradually blurring, Leah tightly closed her eyes.
With their engagement officially dissolved as of today, they were no longer bound in that way. Clearly, they shouldn’t be kissing on the bed like this.
However, Caius held Leah even more passionately, his intensity heightened. Helpless against this incomprehensible act, his lips moved deliberately over her body, leaving a fiery imprint.
His movements were persistent, leaving marks on her chin, neck, and collarbone.
“Hmm..”
Trembling, Leah clenched his shirt tightly with her shaking hand, crumpling the fabric haphazardly.
Finally, leaving a lingering kiss on her chest, Caius forcibly pulled down the bothersome dress to her waist. The sound of the knot at the back being torn apart echoed.
The loose fabric exposed her bare upper body, and a sense of shame blossomed in her vacant mind.
“Ah..”
As Leah tried to cover herself with a pale face, Caius lightly grabbed her wrist to stop her.
With desire heavily painted in his deep azure eyes, he leisurely surveyed Leah’s upper body.
“Today, there’s no stopping.”
Caius warned as he locked eyes with Leah one last time.
“Pushing me away won’t do any good.”
His passionately intense voice sent a chilling shiver down Leah’s spine. With her fingertips held by him, Leah, trembling slightly, barely managed to open her lips.
“This, this is..”
“Is this something that can only be done if you’re in love?”
Caius, reiterating her words, let out a soft chuckle through his deep breaths.
As he once again immersed himself in her peak, simultaneously, he, grabbed her slender knee and parted it.
“Then, consider me as your past lover.”
Caius, nestled between her opened legs, whispered gently.
Through tear-stained eyes, Leah beheld the image of a man who appeared more ruthless than ever.
“Imagine me as that affectionate man who loved you unconditionally.”
“…….”
“It’s not that difficult. In the end, we’re the same person.”
The nonchalant words pierced Leah’s heart, as memories from the past involuntarily dug in.
“Surely, even my past self must have ended up like this every time I saw you.”
As he raised his upper body, Caius skillfully removed each piece of his clothing with unhurried movements.
A perfectly sculpted physique, akin to a carved statue, was revealed. From the broad chest and down to the defined abdomen, the center of his being pressed tightly against the unbuckled wet fabric.
Leah’s eyes, soaked in what she witnessed, widened. In the face of an unfamiliar sight, Leah, momentarily lost in thought, managed to lift her head.
‘No, Caius has never treated me like this before…’
The Caius she loved never displayed such overt desire or inflicted wounds with cruel words.
The man before her was not the Caius she knew.
As Leah struggled to deny the situation, Caius, seizing every opportunity, sealed her lips with another kiss.
Simultaneously, his thick fingers moved downward
“Ah!”
Leah involuntarily raised her hips. As she pushed the bedding away with the tips of her toes, she convulsed as if in a spasm.
An unfamiliar sensation, never before experienced, permeated her from head to toe. Instinctively, Leah clung to his back and gasped for breath.
“…Relax.”
Caius murmured with parted lips. Leah, unable to conceal her labored breath, tightly closed her eyes.
With each advancing movement of his fingers, the slick sounds became clearer. Upon reaching the deepest point, tears uncontrollably burst forth.
A haze enveloped her mind. The impulse to deny him had completely dissipated, replaced by a gradual sense of unreality.
The moment beneath him felt dreamlike, as if everything was unreal. Swaying helplessly with his movements, Leah thought that perhaps surrendering to this overwhelming sensation would make everything okay.
Then, perhaps this overwhelmingly heavy feeling would transform into a dream.
As if responding to her thoughts, Caius widened Leah’s legs, which were trembling in the air, even more.
Barely opening her eyes to gaze at him, Leah felt him press against her. Feeling the rush of sensations, she gasped, contemplating whether giving in to the intensity would make everything alright.
Sunbeams filtered through the window, pouring diagonally onto the bed.
* * *
Huanghu Palace’s reception room. Facing the Empress, Lord Leiden sighed in disappointment.
“Who would have known that vile man would have the audacity to do such insolent things behind our backs.”
Caius, that scoundrel, deceived everyone and engaged in the disgraceful affair of rejecting his betrothed, choosing the daughter of the Count Bresha family.
Not expecting any secret dealings since the Bresha family was generally close to Caius, Lord Leiden muttered his frustration.
“It’s all my negligence. I’m paying a heavy price for letting my guard down.”
Margaret responded with a fairly composed voice. However, her fingers, clenching the teacup tightly, revealed a pale strain she couldn’t hide.
“How could this be Her Majesty’s fault? No one could have predicted that he would discard the servant who had been serving him so diligently in such a moment.”
After comforting her, Lord Leiden spoke resolutely.
“However, it’s too early to be discouraged. After all, he hasn’t become the Emperor yet, hasn’t he? The Crown Prince can change at any moment. Surely, there will be opportunities to pull him down.”
“Yes, we need to devise a plan.”
Margaret, who had sighed deeply, put down the teacup.
Leah, who was Caius’s sole weakness and an easy target for Margaret, was no longer useful. The lady from the Bresha family was not in a position to be easily manipulated. Handling her carelessly might result in serious consequences.
Margaret continued to stroke the teacup, contemplating.
The fact that the man who once harbored evil intentions to protect Leah had changed so drastically was a clear indication that he would stop at nothing in his quest for power.
What could have caused him to change so dramatically?
“For the time being, Her Majesty seems to be focused on internal affairs. I will create a pretext to attack the Crown Prince.”
Addressing Margaret, who was lost in thought, Viscount Leiden subtly offered his advice. Not long ago, he had hinted at her recent altercation with the Emperor.
“Yes, that’s the way to go.”
Margaret, who reluctantly accepted the situation, clenched the teacup once again.
On the day Caius simultaneously announced the breakup and his new engagement, Margaret raised her voice against the Emperor for the first time. He had stamped the documents without discussing them with her, which had been frustrating.
“Empress, Caius is now the Crown Prince.”
While the Emperor declared it this way, he never acknowledged her resentment on that day. Since that day, Margaret’s built-up resentment burst forth.
Despite the Emperor’s claim of love, there were times when he behaved coldly, especially when discussing the succession and weighing the two sons. The Emperor always seemed to focus his attention on Caius.
Naturally, the Emperor was not an overly affectionate father. At times, he tested the abilities of his sons harshly, even if they were his own flesh and blood. However, when it came to giving attention and trust, it was always Caius.
When Diego started drifting away through his flights, the Emperor chose to tolerate and evade the situation.
Some might argue that it was favoritism towards Diego, but Margaret didn’t see it that way.
The Emperor was simply indifferent to Diego. As a father, he showed no concern or willingness to intervene when his child was straying.
At times, there were glances that seemed to lack recognition when the Emperor looked at Diego.
Margaret found it unbearable and unsettling.
“I would like to earnestly request something from Father.”
Suppressing the surging emotions, Margaret took a deep breath. Marquis Leiden willingly nodded.
“Just say it.”
“I would like you to procure the poison you gave me before.”
A momentary glint appeared in Marquis’s eyes. The poison Margaret mentioned was a rare, highly lethal substance used when they had planned to assassinate Caius.
“If Her Majesty wishes, there’s nothing I cannot do. However, if you plan to use it, you must exercise extreme caution. Rumor has it that even a trace the size of a fingernail is dangerous.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have asked for it if I didn’t know that.”
Finally, Margaret raised the teacup to her lips, repressing the rising bitterness. The scent that wafted into her nostrils was quite potent.
“I don’t intend to use it immediately. I just want you to get it for me. Holding onto it might ease my mind.”
“Very well.”
In response to the Marquis’s words, a prolonged silence descended. The gazes of the two conspirators drifted into the empty space as they contemplated their plans.
