Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Rosette’s face, beautifully flushed from the wine, now turned a brilliant crimson.

Theodore openly stared at her flushed face, more specifically at Rosette’s full, tempting lips.

His heated gaze felt almost tangible. Wherever Theodore’s eyes landed, a pleasant tingling sensation, a delightful thrill, surged through her.

As Rosette fell into Theodore’s arms, an intoxicating scent instantly enveloped her. It was the same addictive aroma as before.

That very fragrance, even richer than the finest fruit wine she had been drinking, stirred something deep within him.

Theodore, who usually appeared expressionless, revealed subtle agitation. It showed in his undeniably intense gaze and the slight movement of his Adam’s apple.

As if responding to every part of Rosette that incited him, his face slowly drew closer.

Theodore’s red, full lips parted languidly. The pace was slow enough for her to easily avoid, yet Rosette found herself utterly motionless, like prey caught in a spider’s web.

Then, Theodore’s and Rosette’s lips intertwined deeply.

It was much softer than she expected. Her tender flesh crushed and melted against his, urging him on further.

His thick tongue penetrated the space between Rosette’s closed teeth, and the intimate act continued as they explored each other, breathing in unison.

The pungent scent of vodka cooled Rosette’s mouth. In contrast, Theodore’s lips were burning hot. She felt an inexplicable yearning and instinctively clung to his chest. The smell of the strong liquor he had been drinking seemed to seep deep into her lungs.

The initially cautious kiss grew increasingly passionate. Theodore forced Rosette’s lips wide apart, his own flesh pushing in, ravaging the inside of her mouth. Her lips were far sweeter than he had imagined.

Their tongues tangled wildly, saliva mingling. Compared to her inexperience, Theodore led her with practiced skill, and the wet, squelching sounds of their lips grinding together felt incredibly sensual.

Time seemed to stand still. An inexplicable thirst grew within her. Rosette’s heart pounded as if it were broken.

Despite her gasps, overwhelmed by the intense onslaught of the kiss, Theodore relentlessly explored her mouth, like a hungry child seeking its mother’s milk.

It was as if something inside her had shattered as he pressed her hard for a long time.

The intense kiss continued for a while.

Theodore, pushing her relentlessly, seemed unable to part from Rosette’s lips, as if they were a sweet dessert. Once he started, he couldn’t stop. Like a broken brake, he sucked on her lips, exploring and tasting every inch of her mouth.

The kiss, which had begun out of curiosity, escalated, gradually transforming into desire.

Theodore himself hadn’t anticipated his impulsive actions, yet he willingly surrendered to them. Her lips were that sweet, that addictive.

Rosette, unpracticed in kissing, could only open her mouth and accept him. Dazed by the alcohol, and now gasping for breath, her vision spun, making her dizzy.

Sometimes her stomach clenched, and her mind felt on the verge of fading into oblivion. It was just the fatigue compounded by the alcohol.

Comforting herself with that thought, Rosette could no longer endure the dizzying sensations. She clenched her fists, which had been resting on his chest, and managed to push him away, creating a desperate distance between them.

Her small fists trembled slightly on his chest. Like a creature struggling not to be devoured, creating a last line of defense, she laboriously pushed him away, putting space between them.

Theodore willingly retreated from her weak resistance. Between his parting lips and Rosette’s, a thin line of saliva, whose origin was unclear, stretched long. Theodore found even that sweet, and he lightly moistened his glistening lips with his tongue, then curves of his mouth faintly tugged upward.

“The wine… is good.”

His slightly husky voice jolted Rosette awake. She nearly shoved him off her chest and sprang to her feet.

She must have looked ridiculous in her flustered state, but she was incapable of thinking straight right now.

“Then, I’ll be going…!”

She slammed the door shut and vanished, clutching her erratically pounding heart as she hurried to her room. Her face was as red as a beetroot.

Theodore watched her retreating back, then drained the remaining vodka in one gulp.

A few days later.

Rosette, who had vowed to actively explore the Imperial Palace once her confinement was lifted, was still only lingering near the modest garden.

The soldiers who had been restricting her seemed to have returned to their original posts, no longer visible.

She had expected to revel in her freedom when the time came, but she was voluntarily staying put.

Amidst the garden’s floral scents, Rosette pondered the incident that had complicated her thoughts: the intense kiss she had shared with Theodore a few days prior.

Just thinking about the embarrassing kiss made her heart pound like a broken machine.

‘That wretched alcohol is my enemy…!’

Even if she had drunk a lot, she couldn’t believe she had gotten swept up in the moment. Furthermore, Rosette herself had been the one to fall toward him. It was even more mortifying because Theodore might well think she had seduced him.

‘And clinging to his chest, no less…’

A raw kiss, befitting Theodore’s rough nature. She remembered gasping for air, almost hanging onto him. Her face flushed again at the thought of the obscene act that felt like it had unearthed her deepest depths, but she quickly shook her head vigorously, as if to cast off the thought.

“Get a grip, Rosette!”

How was she ever going to face him after such an embarrassing incident?

Yes. It was just an accident, a brief enchantment by his handsome face.

At parties, there were people who, completely drunk, would grab anyone and satisfy their carnal desires. Compared to them, she was merely an inexperienced child. That thought offered a small measure of comfort, and she deliberately pushed the day’s events to the back of her mind, then strolled leisurely, admiring the vibrant flowers.

Rosette fixed her gaze on the tulips that had recently bloomed fully, inhaling deeply their sweet fragrance.

This garden, which she frequently visited, was small but well-maintained, making it one of her preferred spots when she needed peace of mind.

It boasted many flowers she hadn’t seen in the Hersia Kingdom. Rosette secretly thought that even if she were to leave the Kaysen Empire someday, she would never forget this scenery. She was walking through the garden, lost in such thoughts.

Her steps paused when she spotted someone in the distance.

A man surrounded by attendants and nobles. Amidst the crowd, a tall, handsome man stood out clearly. It was Theodore. He seemed to be leaving the Imperial Palace, likely for an early morning engagement.

Surprised by his sudden appearance, Rosette instinctively hid herself behind a nearby vine.

Hidden behind the vine, Rosette peeked out, cautiously stealing glances at Theodore.

At his side, she saw the longsword she had purified previously. Even fully armored in a suit of iron weighing at least 30kg, his steps seemed as light as feathers.

It was said he possessed monstrous swordsmanship, and just by his gait, the rumor felt true. Moreover, his exceptional good looks once again captured her attention.

‘Yes, it’s that face… that made me feel so enchanted…’

That incident must have been because of his looks.

Theodore’s appearance, so captivating it made her forget who he was, looked even more magnificent in the bright light.

He was well over six feet tall, with a strong chest that seemed impenetrable to arrows. His finely sculpted features were perfectly balanced, as if from a myth.

Though his ascent to the throne had not been smooth, there was a rumor that the Emperor’s striking good looks had captivated the people’s hearts with surprisingly little friction. For the first time in her life, Rosette had no doubt about that rumor.

‘But what good is that? He has a fierce, blunt, and antisocial personality.’

At the same time, one person came to mind: the woman from Theodore’s future she had seen.

She would appear soon. But Rosette predicted that her path would likely be fraught with hardship. Though she didn’t know the woman yet, she already wanted to offer words of comfort and encouragement.

As Rosette was lost in her imagination, shaking her head from side to side, Theodore’s gaze suddenly turned her way.

“Ha—!”

Indeed, he possessed an animalistic intuition. Theodore noticed Rosette’s distant gaze and focused his attention in her direction.

Their eyes seemed to meet for a moment, but he probably hadn’t spotted Rosette. That was because she had quickly moved to conceal herself again behind the large vine.

Rosette, startled by his sudden gaze, clutched her surprised chest. Lately, she’d been getting startled so often; at this rate, she wouldn’t live to a ripe old age. Thinking this, she soothed her racing heart for a long time.

How much time had passed? After a considerable while, she carefully peeked out her head, and Theodore was gone.

Rosette once again stroked her chest.

Every encounter with him brought an unwanted sense of discomfort and tension. Moreover, having just shared such an intense intimate moment with him, facing him unprepared would be even more awkward. Therefore, avoiding him as much as possible was the best course of action for now.