Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Haa…”

Just as a scream was about to escape her parted lips in surprise at Theodore’s sudden appearance, he clamped a hand over Rosette’s mouth and quickly pulled her body behind a large rock.

“If you don’t want to be caught, you’d better keep your voice down.”

His vigilant warning reminded Rosette of her precarious situation. She vigorously nodded her head, his hand still covering her mouth. Unexpectedly held in the man’s arms, Rosette cautiously peered up at his face.

Theodore, whom she had encountered so abruptly. The distance between them was much closer than she had anticipated; she could even feel his breath.

She had been so nervous during their first meeting that she hadn’t been able to properly look at him. But up close, his face was more beautiful than most women’s. Elegant curves and masculine lines merged in perfect harmony, as if a living work of art breathed before her. Even she, who was usually indifferent to such things, found herself inwardly marveling at the unique and incomparable charm that radiated from him.

Just as she was internally showering him with compliments, her eyes met Theodore’s.

A strange feeling arose in her when he slightly narrowed his eyes and calmly acknowledged her with a glance.

Were they really that familiar with each other?

Theodore, at least the one she knew, was a cruel man, cold and ruthless, incapable of letting even a needle pass through him, and one who had even harmed his own family.

And what about the way he looked, overly sensual because of his wet hair?

As soon as she became conscious of it, the places where they touched burned, and her body involuntarily recoiled. Perhaps it was the tension, but breathing felt labored, and her heart pounded like a broken drum.

However, Rosette had another reason for her panic. The sudden encounter itself was awkward, but she was completely naked at the moment.

Fortunately, Theodore had only removed his upper garment, so their bare skin wasn’t fully touching. But that only made her more acutely aware of it.

A soft hand was wrapped around Rosette’s waist.

Beyond her bare body, she could feel his firm physique.

Her body froze even further from his hot body temperature, which she could feel even in the cold water.

Her mind was gradually going blank.

To run into him like this, barely dressed—it was like escaping a pack of wolves only to stumble upon a lion.

When had this man been here? No one had come after she arrived, so he must have been here before her. Did that mean he had seen her talking to herself, playing in the water, and even her naked body all this time…!?

Soon, Theodore noticed Rosette’s face and ears turn beet red like a beet. He whispered softly into her ear.

“What are you imagining to turn so red?”

Once she became aware of him, everything became a source of anxiety. For example, his large, warm hand wrapped around her waist.

Or their legs, tangled together in the confusion.

Despite being in the cold water for quite a while, his body and palms were still burning hot, as if holding fire. To her surprise, she struggled, trying to free herself from his embrace, but his strong grip held her immobile.

“If we go out like this, you’ll be in a world of trouble.”

The moment his words ended, Rosette stopped struggling and tried to avoid his gaze. Even the droplets of water trickling from the ends of his dark hair made her tense. Theodore seemed determined to tease her, continuing with his embarrassing remarks.

“Or, did you come here deliberately, targeting me?”

“N-no, this is just a coincidence…”

“Hmm… Really?”

Rosette bristled at his words, which sounded like he doubted her, and subtly shot back.

“I asked the soldiers, and they said there wouldn’t be anyone here.”

“Right. Then we’ll leave it at that.”

It was an uncomfortable ending. But before she could fume any longer, soldiers who had sensed something unusual began whispering among themselves.

“What was that noise?”

“There was a sound from that rock over there.”

“Is someone there…? Hey, rookie. You go check it out.”

While she was bumbling with him, a soldier who sensed their presence slowly began approaching the rock where Rosette and Theodore were hiding. If she were caught with the Emperor in such a state… she would undoubtedly be rumored as a seductress who lured the Emperor with her body even before officially entering the Kaysen Empire. The blood in her already chilled body felt like it was freezing over.

Theodore watched her face, which changed moment by moment, and chuckled inwardly. Her expressions, from surprise to redness and now to pale fright, were quite amusing. Her face became even more spectacular when the rookie soldier approached within arm’s reach of the rock. Now, her face was almost on the verge of tears. It was so pitiful that even Theodore himself almost reached out to wipe her eyes.

As the soldier drew closer, Rosette burrowed further into his arms. He knew well that she was trying to hide more of her body to avoid being discovered. But the sudden scent of her body caused Theodore to pull Rosette even closer into his embrace.

Rosette’s silver hair brushed against Theodore’s skin. Theodore’s body stiffened at the unfamiliar, tickling sensation.

As they were each lost in their own thoughts, the soldier who had been approaching them was just about to arrive.

Theodore picked up a stone nearby and threw it towards a dense thicket. Startled by the stone, a rabbit darted away, scurrying into the bushes.

“Whoa, what was that? It’s a rabbit.”

“I thought it might be something, but it seems it’s just a wild animal.”

“Hey. Let’s head back before a ghost shows up and we see something we shouldn’t.”

“Yes.”

As the sounds of their departure faded, Rosette finally let out a small sigh. Time had passed so slowly that her wrist, where he had been holding her, throbbed.

Just as the tension eased and she slightly twisted her body, trying to hastily extricate herself from the water and this situation.

Theodore, who was gripping her slender waist, did not release his hold. Instead, he tightened his grip and pulled Rosette’s body even closer. What was this whim? To be pressed against him, with all her vulnerabilities exposed, was too intense.

“Please… let go.”

“Ah… I thought perhaps the Princess wanted more.”

“What? What do you mean…!”

“Isn’t that what the Princess is good at? Just recently, you came into my tent, offering your body to save your country, and now you’re throwing yourself at me again.”

Theodore was referring to the day they had made a deal: in exchange for him not conquering the Hersia Kingdom, she would go to the Empire as a hostage and assist the Emperor.

“That… you know that’s not what I meant.”

Theodore’s large hand, which had been intently observing her, moved towards her face. She flinched momentarily at his touch, but he merely tucked a strand of Rosette’s hair gently behind her ear.

“Of course, I have high expectations, Princess. Of how you will help me.”

His wet black hair resembled a darkness that would absorb everything. His red eyes, shining with interest, slowly traced the path of the water droplets flowing down Rosette’s face.

A strangely suggestive gaze made Rosette’s mouth go dry, and a taut tension filled the air. She couldn’t tell if it was because of this Emperor’s excessively handsome face, or his red eyes, which glowed with an eerie light under the moonlight. She only wanted to escape the peculiar tension that held her captive.

“Th-then, I’ll just…”

It was when she moved her body again to turn away. She was startled once more by an unusual, heavy sensation pressing against Rosette’s backside. This was…

“Don’t squirm. It’s hard.”

It had only brushed her body for a fleeting moment, but it radiated a heat more distinct than anywhere else, asserting its heavy presence within his trousers.

“This is, th-th…”

Rosette’s gaze wavered helplessly in the air, unable to speak from shock. In a way, it was only natural. How many times would she ever be pressed against a man she had only met twice? Moreover, the thing that had touched her body, even for a moment, was extraordinary.

An awkward silence fell, and Rosette, unable to bear it, spoke.

“Are… are you alright?”

‘Are you alright?!’ Rosette wanted to tear out her hair from embarrassment and hide. But Theodore calmly responded to her words.

“What if I’m not?”

Her eyes moved restlessly in her distress. Theodore found he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. He chuckled softly and spoke to Rosette again.

“Don’t worry, I won’t devour you.”

Despite her extreme reaction, he maintained his composure until the end, readjusting his grip on Rosette’s waist.

Rosette, unable to understand his reasons, involuntarily shivered.

Her confused gaze seemed to go unnoticed as he safely lowered Rosette beneath the rock, stating plainly,

“It’s slippery.”

She might have misunderstood, had it not been for the unusual reaction of his lower body. His graceful movements were as nonchalant as playing chess.

Only then did Rosette collect herself and scramble past the rock, hurrying toward the bank.

She was so embarrassed by her mistaken assumption that all she wanted to do was hide.

“I’ll… I’ll go first, so please take your time.”

“Suit yourself.”

“Don’t look back!”

“You worry too much.”

If she stepped out like this, her naked body would be fully exposed. Realizing this, Rosette sternly instructed him and quickly moved her body.

Theodore had seen countless naked women who had thrown themselves at him to seduce the Emperor, so a woman’s naked body held no allure for him. However, he was showing an unusual reaction to the princess of another country, whom he had expected to be stuffy and conventional.

Rosette was different from ordinary women. In fact, the thought that crossed his mind the moment they touched was, ‘I want to stay like this, without letting go.’

And then there was his… thing, which was reacting differently than usual. It was a series of unexpected events, but somehow, it didn’t feel bad.

One side of Theodore’s handsome mouth subtly curved up and down.

Innocent Rosette, unaware of his gaze, just flailed and diligently made her way towards the bank.