LOGINHe reached for her then.Not roughly. Not with the desperation of the kiss in the corridor. But with a slowness that was somehow worse a deliberate, measured patience that made Roxanne's breath grow shallow.His fingers found the first pin in her hair, and he pulled it free with care, watching a strand of dark hair fall across her shoulder. Then another. And another. Each pin removed with the precision of a man unwrapping something he had waited far too long to touch, and with every lock of hair that tumbled free, Roxanne felt herself becoming more exposed, more vulnerable, more his.The last pin came loose and her hair cascaded down her back in a dark wave.Killian's fingers slid into it. He fisted a handful at the base of her skull not pulling, not yet just holding, the way one might hold the reins of a horse that had not yet decided whether to run. His other hand moved to the side of her face, his thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone, and when he spoke again, his voice had dropp
Roxanne opened her lips to reply. But before a single word could form, Killian's hand was already moving. He caught her wrist and pinned it above her head, pressing it flat against the wall. A motion that was quick but not rough. Only firm. Like a man who had been imagining this exact action since he first saw Henry approach his wife in the garden and had only now decided to carry it out.Roxanne let out a small, stifled sound. Not from pain but from surprise.That sound caused something in Killian's eyes to shift. The layer of anger he had been containing all evening began to crack thin fractures allowing something darker, deeper, far more dangerous to seep through."Speak again," Killian breathed, his lips almost touching hers, "and I will not be responsible for what happens after."The threat was delivered in the same tone one might use to read a shopping list. Flat. Ordinary. Yet his eyes were burning. Truly burning. Embers fanned by wind.Roxanne bit her lip.Not because she was
They arrived at the Lunnart mansion well past midnight.The carriage came to a halt in the front courtyard. Killian stepped out first without turning, Roxanne followed, her silk gown whispering against the stone with every step. She looked at the rigid line of her husband's back straight, unyielding, without the slightest crack of doubt and she knew the night was far from over.A servant opened the great front door with a deep bow. Killian passed through without a word.They climbed the marble staircase to the second floor. She turned her head toward Killian, searching his face for something. Anger. Disappointment. Anything.What she found was far more frightening than any emotion she could have named. A complete and total absence.The bedchamber door opened.Killian released her wrist and walked inside without a backward glance. His footsteps echoed softly across the marble floor as he crossed to the table in the far corner where a bottle of whiskey and a crystal glass already waited
Henry’s entire body stiffened beneath Duke Lunnart’s overwhelming presence.It was the aura of a man who had led wars along the border for years. The aura of someone accustomed to making others retreat with nothing more than a single look.And at that moment, all of Killian’s attention was focused on one person.Henry.The man standing far too close to his wife. The man who had clearly ignored Roxanne’s wish to be left alone.Beside him, Roxanne simply stared at Killian for a few seconds.Then, unconsciously, the corner of her lips lifted slightly.Because somehow, seeing Killian appear at the exact moment her patience ran out felt far more satisfying than she wanted to admit.Henry tried to maintain his composure.“Your Grace, I never intended to offend the Duchess.”Killian stared at him for several moments without saying a word.That gaze alone made Henry unconsciously tighten his jaw.For some reason, he felt like a defendant waiting for a final verdict.“Then,” Killian finally sa
The night grew later, yet the banquet in the main ballroom remained lively and loud.After spending quite some time talking with Rion, Roxanne eventually realized that her brother had begun to attract groups of nobles eager for a chance to speak with the Crown Prince.On the other side of the hall, Killian was not much different. Several senior dukes and marquises appeared to be discussing matters concerning the northern territories, forcing him into conversations he could not simply walk away from.For a moment, Roxanne merely stood there holding her glass.The ballroom suddenly felt suffocating. Little by little, it all began to make her head ache.“I’ll just step outside for a moment,” she murmured softly to herself.Without drawing anyone’s attention, Roxanne quietly left the ballroom through the large glass doors leading to the mansion’s back garden.The moment the doors closed behind her, the atmosphere changed entirely.Cool night air greeted her.The music from the ballroom be
Seeing his sister daring to tease Duke Lunnart was a rather rare sight.In the end, Killian only said flatly,“I’ll be over there.”He pointed toward an area near the balcony where several nobles were engaged in conversation.Roxanne nodded.After making sure everything was fine, Killian left them.But before he walked away, the man briefly glanced at Roxanne.Only for a moment.Yet it was enough for Rion to notice.Once Killian had gone, the Crown Prince immediately turned to his sister with a curious expression.“I think I understand now.”“Understand what?”“Why the entire capital keeps talking about you two.”Roxanne rolled her eyes.“Don’t start.”“I’m serious.”Rion took two glasses from a passing servant and handed one to Roxanne.“You look much better compared to the last time we met.”Roxanne accepted the drink.“My life isn’t as bad as everyone imagines.”“That’s what I wanted to ask.”They began walking slowly along a quieter side of the ballroom.Rion studied his sister fo
Roxanne froze the moment she heard Killian’s words.For several seconds, she could not even open her mouth because she truly did not know how to respond.Killian’s crimson eyes slowly lowered, observing the emerald green dress Roxanne was wearing before he spoke again in his usual flat tone.“Even
Applause finally filled the hall after Killian slowly pulled away from Roxanne. The atmosphere, which had frozen moments ago because of their heated kiss, gradually became lively again with the voices of nobles trying to hide their individual shock.But Roxanne still could not steady her breathing
The doors of the grand hall slowly opened, causing the entire room once filled with music and conversation to fall into a sudden hush. Every gaze immediately turned toward Roxanne as she entered beside Emperor Magnor.That day, Roxanne looked so beautiful that several people could not hide their sh
Roxanne slowly clasped her hands together on her lap. Her gaze fell to the polished marble floor beneath them as her thoughts drifted far away to the life she had once lived.Because she understood that feeling.More than anyone else.She, too, had once lived like a political doll of the imperial f