IWBQ 08

~Chapter 08~

. The Night of Two People
2023.08.09.

The story unfolded smoothly.

“If you grant me what I desire, then I will fulfill everything that Your Highness wishes.”

Afraid that Karan might reject her, Elise laid her cards on the table first.

“Do you… know what it is that I want?”

“The revival and unification of Titrice. And the stability of the royal authority.”

One of the reasons Titrice was belittled by Bedroka was because it had not been long since Titrice had broken away from the form of a tribal state.

Until about fifty years ago, three houses had alternated in ruling.

Then, fifty years ago, Karan’s grandfather subdued the other houses and transformed it into a monarchy.

That was how Karan Lysandro became Karan Lysandro Titrice.

Thus, Titrice was little more than a newborn state, its bonds fragile.

Chaos was rampant, and there were always those scheming to seize the crown.

In his previous life, Karan had dreamed of Titrice’s prosperity, built upon a strong royal power.

But with enemies both within and without, that dream had never come true by the time Elise died.

Still, that was not all he wanted.

“You are remarkably accurate. As though you’ve known me from before.”

Karan’s voice dropped. The suspicion he had felt since the moment they met grew heavier.

She knew him strangely well.

As far as Karan could remember, Elise had never met him in a way that would allow her to know such things.

“I looked into you.”

“About me?”

Elise nodded lightly.

“Why?”

“Would it do as an answer if I said… because I was interested?”

Elise lifted the corners of her lips. A smile so captivating that, whether or not he already had feelings for her, no man could help but be drawn in.

The tips of Karan’s ears reddened. To hide it, he ran his fingers through his hair, pretending to fix it.

That she had harbored an interest in him—it was something he had never expected, and it left him flustered.

“So? Will you join hands with me?”

Elise leaned forward, closer to Karan. Her scent brushed against his nose.

Silence fell. The longer it stretched, the more nervous Elise became.

Her actions—at best bold, at worst reckless.

The only reason she dared was because, at the moment of her death, Karan had come to her.

Whatever his reason then, she believed that at the very least he would listen to her words now.

And that belief bore fruit.

Karan did not reject her. He didn’t exactly welcome her with open arms either, but that was enough.

Should she retreat here?

As Elise hesitated, Karan tilted his head slightly and gazed steadily at her from across the table.

A Bedrokan noblewoman, asking a so-called barbarian Titrice man for a night together…

“Why?”

“As I said before—because it will help.”

“Me, or you?”

“Both of us.”

Karan let out a long, thin breath. His chest rose high and then sank low.

She was so pure and spotless that it felt shameless to even touch her. Too beautiful to even look at directly.

She was a jewel he wished to keep by his side, away from all eyes.

And yet, he hesitated—because it was Elise.

“Are you serious? In Bedroka, unlike Titrice, chastity is considered very important.”

“Do you want me to say you won’t have to take responsibility?”

Her eyes lifted, looking at him provocatively.

It dried out his throat. He brushed back his unruly hair, an excuse to hide his unease.

“I’m saying I will take responsibility. But before that—”

Karan reached across the table and took Elise’s hand.

Her small, delicate hand—compared to his—was unmarked by hardship.

It told the story of a life far smoother than his own.

And it trembled faintly.

“She’s nervous.”

That trembling shook Karan. Slowly, he stroked her palm.

If you’re truly serious, then perhaps I should pretend not to notice—and hold on.

Karan had no intention of warning her that she was standing in fire.

Feigning ripeness, giving off the scent of something safe to consume, he lifted her hand.

Elise swallowed hard.

Without looking away from her, Karan pressed his lips against the inside of her wrist, where her pulse raced.

“It will not be a peaceful night.”

He accepted her proposal. Elise’s heart pounded wildly. Where his lips touched burned as though seared.

“What is it that I must do?”

Elise pressed and released her lips, her lashes lowering.

“Hold me.”

“Then.”

The scrape of a chair echoed. A large shadow loomed over Elise’s smaller frame. His rough hand tilted her chin upward.

“Don’t avert your eyes. Look straight at me, and tell me properly—what do you want me to do?”

Though phrased like an invitation, it carried the weight of a command. His aura alone made her tense. Elise gripped her dress tightly.

Obeying him, she fixed her gaze directly into his eyes.

They blazed like fire, as though a mere spark could consume her whole.

“Go on.”

A moment ago, he had been so composed—analyzing her proposal calmly. Now, he seemed restless, impatient.

He bent lower, stopping just shy of her lips.

“…Elise.”

“Hold me… Prince Karan.”

At that, he swept her into his arms.

Elise undid Karan’s shirt. Beneath it, not the soft shoulders of a pen-bound noble, but a strong, broad frame was revealed.

She paused, breath caught, staring.

His raven hair and obsidian-black eyes were exotic in Veronika.

His gaze, sharp yet intelligent, and the gentle smile at his lips inspired trust.

He truly was a striking man. She remembered their first meeting at a ball.

That memory was startlingly vivid.

Even then, I thought he was handsome. Others said he looked rough, but…

While she lingered in that thought, the soft bedding brushed her back.

She was already on the bed.

“Don’t regret this. It’s already too late.”

Even without him saying it, Elise had decided the moment she sought him out.

There was no regret, no desire to turn back.

And strangely enough, she felt calm. Though her body betrayed her, heating rapidly.

Instead of answering, Elise tugged on his loosened shirt collar.

His unwavering gaze scorched her. She almost wished to block it out.

His lips skimmed hers, barely brushing.

A sharp jolt ran through her body.

He leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear.

They said Titrice men ran hot—and indeed, he did.

His heat, his breath, set her ablaze.

Elise turned her eyes to study his profile—the strong brow, the tall nose, the full lips.

Karan lightly caught her lips between his teeth.

Thus began a night of colors.

When he said it would not be comfortable, he meant he would not allow comfort.

And indeed, he kept his word.

That night, Elise learned that pleasure and pain were two faces of the same coin.

Intense pleasure became agony; exquisite pain blossomed into endless ecstasy.

It was, in truth, a night of delirium.

The next morning, Karan awoke in bliss.

He felt like the luckiest man alive.

Elise had been in his heart for so long. A woman he thought he could never have—so he had only ever watched from afar.

But she had come to him first. And she had lain in his arms.

Even if struck by lightning in the street, he would die without regret.

Yet his joy soon crashed down.

The space where Elise had been was empty.

Barefoot, Karan searched the Pig’s Tail Pub. Elise was gone without a trace.

“What… was it really just a dream?”

He muttered hollowly, running a rough hand through his hair.

But it couldn’t be a dream.

The memory of her skin beneath his hands was too vivid.

Had he worn her out, pressing her so hard until dawn?

The cold bed froze his heart.

“Your Highness, breakfast… what are you doing?”

His retainer Hartwin entered and froze. Karan, pacing in only a robe, was unfamiliar to him.

“Elise is gone.”

“Elise? Which Elise? … Surely not that Elise?”

Hartwin’s eyes bulged. Karan shot him a glare, and he quickly slapped his own lips shut.

“Such a loose tongue! You mean Lady Elise Wharton, Your Highness?”

“Yes. She was here last night. And now she’s disappeared without a word.”

Had Karan been overworked lately?

Or had he gone mad, driven to obsession, always murmuring Elise’s name?

Knowing well his master’s desperate infatuation, Hartwin found his suspicions quite reasonable.

“You think I was dreaming, don’t you?”

“N-o, of course not, Your Highness.”

His stiff, awkward reply earned him another slap to his own mouth.

“Unbelievable, but it’s true. She was with me last night.”

Karan spoke firmly, as if to convince himself.

“Y-yes, of course… The night was… eaten, not spent—wait, spent the night?”

Shock upon shock. Hartwin seriously considered requesting a mental evaluation for his lord.

Just then, Hartwin noticed a neatly folded note on the nightstand.

“Your Highness, have you seen that?”

Karan followed his gaze and snatched it up.

It was Elise’s note.

So last night had been real.

Now that she was his, he would never let her go.

Even if she came to regret it.

With a deep smile, Karan brought the note to his nose and inhaled its lingering scent.