Chapter 128
Actions Speak Louder
The kiss, which started impulsively, deepened over time.
In fact, Eleanor found kissing him overwhelming from the start.
It wasn’t an overwhelming feeling in a negative way. If anything, it was because she enjoyed it so much that it became intense. The way his lips moved over hers, delving deeper than she had imagined, felt far more stimulating than she had expected.
Karsian, who had waited for this moment, eagerly kissed her. His lips kept meeting hers, and their soft skin intertwined as their kiss grew more intense.
The taste of sweet, slightly bitter wine lingered on her tongue. Whether it was the alcohol or the closeness, Eleanor felt lightheaded, but Karsian didn’t let up. He kissed her relentlessly, leaving no room for her to think of anything else.
He seemed determined not to let her think about anything else, even her breath. Every time she exhaled, he was there, swallowing it all. With her breath barely escaping, Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears from the intensity.
“I love you.”
Every time their lips parted, Karsian whispered his love for her, his voice lower than usual. And then, he’d pull her back into his arms, kissing her again.
At some point, Eleanor’s body was tilted backward, and Karsian naturally leaned over her. His all-muscle body gently pressed down on her soft form, and Eleanor couldn’t help but let out a quiet moan.
“Ugh…”
“I love you, Eleanor.”
Karsian’s face was contorted, his expression unreadable—whether it was pleasure or pain. His brows furrowed angrily, and his veins bulged in his arms as he held her tight.
Despite the gentle words, his face looked desperate, like a beast that hadn’t eaten in days. The contrast felt strangely alluring to Eleanor.
“I can’t let you go now.”
It was hard to tell if it was a confession or a threat. His voice, rough and desperate, brushed against her ear, sending shivers through her. Eleanor trembled, her body instinctively reacting to his words.
Karsian… she murmured under her breath, and he responded with a growl, pressing her harder against him as he devoured her lips again.
Eleanor, unable to hold on any longer, was pushed further back. She flailed her arms, instinctively knocking into something.
It was long and firm. It was the wine bottle she had been drinking from.
Clink! The bottle fell from the table, hitting the floor with a loud noise. It didn’t break, but red wine splattered everywhere. Eleanor and Karsian’s clothes were quickly soaked.
Eleanor’s eyes widened in surprise, but Karsian, unaffected, continued kissing her as though nothing had happened.
How could he keep kissing like this in such a situation? For a brief moment, Eleanor thought about the wine bottle, but soon she forgot all about it as she trembled in the sensation of his kiss.
She couldn’t think about anything else. Her head felt blank, and the heat from their skin against hers was overwhelming. It was such an intense, passionate kiss. It was hard to believe he had no experience in romance.
“I’m good at anything when it comes to the body.”
The sudden thought crossed her mind.
She had a feeling she’d understand the truth about that soon. Maybe even now.
Eleanor looked up at him with flushed cheeks. His face, handsome like a painting, filled her vision. His thick brows, sharp nose, striking eyes, and beautiful lips… How could such a perfect man love her? Even as they kissed, it still didn’t seem real to her.
As she stared at him, Karsian’s brow furrowed, and his red eyes burned with a desire to consume her. His gaze felt like it could devour her whole.
“Eleanor.”
His low voice made her shiver.
Eleanor realized just how close she was to him.
Had it been because of the wine? She could feel the hard lines of his body more clearly through the soaked clothes.
His body was so firm it almost seemed unnatural. His chest was firm, and his abdomen was lined with muscles.
Mesmerized, Eleanor slowly reached out her hand. Her pale fingers brushed toward his stomach, and Karsian’s eyebrows furrowed even more.
“It would be better not to provoke me.”
His large hand quickly grabbed hers.
“As I’ve said before, I’m not very good at patience.”
A heavy sensation pressed against her, making her body shiver as his touch brushed over her sensitive areas. A small gasp escaped her lips.
“Ugh!”
She felt embarrassed by the sound she made, her cheeks turning bright red as she gasped for air.
‘Did I really just feel that?’
Could someone’s touch feel this… different?
Her mind was spinning with such thoughts when Karsian bent down again, touching his forehead to hers.
“You’re still not fully healed.”
Why did his low voice sound so seductive? Eleanor had to struggle to keep herself in control.
“Drinking and starting things now… you should wait until you’re fully recovered.”
But he didn’t want to. Karsian muttered quietly as he moved her hair behind her ear.
“Karsian, I…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be satisfied with just this for today.”
He kissed her again, softly this time, and then sat up.
The red wine, still dripping from his white shirt, splattered on her skin. Though her body was equally soaked, it wasn’t as noticeable.
‘So, if this is today…’
What did that mean for the future?
Eleanor bit her lip, trying to push away the thoughts that were creeping into her mind. She felt embarrassed by how forward she was becoming.
But she quickly realized that compared to Karsian, she was nothing.
“I’d love to wash you up, but I’ll have to save that for next time. I don’t think I can control myself.”
“…What?”
“It’s a joke.”
Karsian added that casually, but Eleanor instinctively sensed something deeper in his words.
***
In relationships, a deep kiss is often more effective than a real conversation; Hilda’s claim turned out to be true.
Of course, the kiss had happened after their conversation, but the lasting impression was the sweet whispers and the intoxicating sensations that followed.
That day, when Eleanor returned to her room, wine-soaked and flushed, Hilda immediately noticed. At first, Hilda wondered if Karsian had poured the wine on her to insult her, but when she saw Eleanor’s face, she immediately understood what had happened between them.
It was impossible not to know. Her face was flushed, and her lips were swollen from the intensity of the kiss.
Hilda, smiling warmly, didn’t ask any questions. She simply gave a thumbs-up, knowing everything. Eleanor, embarrassed, rushed to the bathroom.
Even as she bathed in warm water, Karsian’s image kept appearing in her mind. She buried her face in the water, trying to forget the heated sensations, but it was hard to escape.
The reason she couldn’t sleep before the big day wasn’t just because of the trial; it was Karsian.
It was surprising how love, this fragile and ticklish emotion, could overpower hatred, even for a moment.
But despite that, Eleanor hadn’t become a completely different person overnight.
As she prepared for the trial, she regained her composure. The excitement in her eyes was no longer for love but for revenge. Her mind, once filled with turmoil, had calmed down as she calculated every possibility for the day ahead.
And just before she left for the trial, something she had suspected became real.
“Who’s that from, Miss?”
Hilda asked, tilting her head as she helped Eleanor get ready. In her hand, Eleanor held a letter without a sender’s name. However, upon reading it, she recognized the handwriting immediately.
“…It’s from the Astria doctor.”
Eleanor said, throwing the letter into the fire. The white paper turned to black ash.
Hilda didn’t pry, knowing the letter was something Eleanor didn’t want to talk about.
Eleanor’s expression was a mix of discomfort and strange satisfaction. When she wore that look, Hilda knew better than to ask.
“Eleanor, is it time to leave?”
Soon, Karsian came to fetch Eleanor. Unlike the day before, today he seemed more serious and solemn.
“Yes, let’s go.”
As soon as he entered and saw her, Karsian froze for a moment, completely taken aback. Her appearance was so beautiful, yet different from before, and it left him momentarily speechless.
“How do I look? Do I look beautiful today?”
Eleanor asked, flashing him a mischievous smile. Although it could have sounded cocky, Karsian didn’t think so. She had always been strikingly beautiful.
“Yes. You are beautiful.”
“Do I look more fragile, like someone who needs protection?”
“Yes, you do.”
“I’m glad. That’s exactly what I was aiming for.”
Eleanor smiled, reassured.
When it came to trials, appearances were important. It wasn’t just about how the defendant looked, but also how the victim appeared.
Eleanor had asked Hilda to help her look a certain way for a reason.
“I heard that Royster’s laws focus on protecting the victim. Is that true?”
Karsian nodded slowly.
“Yes. It’s not perfect, but at least there’s no atmosphere like here, where criminals are often shielded. In Royster, crimes like murder, sexual assault, and child abuse are punished severely. Sometimes, they even execute those guilty of the worst crimes.”
“It must be a peaceful place then. If criminals are isolated from society, it sounds much safer than here.”
The weather and the laws seemed nice. Eleanor muttered to herself, and Karsian gave her a strange look.
It seemed like he wanted to say something, but held back.
“Shall we go now?”
It was time to meet her father, who was waiting for her.
