"Never would I have thought that my wife is such an excellent archer." Romeo's proud and gentle voice echoed, but Roselle didn't move to even glance at him. She simply stood there, tensed, as her heart suddenly began to thud fast inside her rib cage.She could hear the maids and Elijah greeting him. She knew that courtesy required her to offer him her greetings too. But Roselle was utterly overwhelmed with the emotions that were surging tempestuously inside of her – the anger, the homesickness and the… unwanted feelings that blazed even stronger in his presence. Why? Why was she feeling like this? What did he do to her that his mere presence could shake her to her core?Slowly, Roselle steeled herself and when she turned towards him, he smiled at her. She stiffened at the sight of that heartbreaking smile that haunted her since last night and then the whole day too.Rigid, Roselle didn't move nor said anything. She couldn't. But when he took a step towards her, she took a step back au
Inside a luxurious receiving room, Romeo was sitting across the general and Thea.The general had been formal and polite but Romeo would never forget the look in this man's eyes every time this exalted general turned his gaze on him when Romeo was still young, until before he left the empire. Like all of the other high-ranking officials, this man was another thick-skinned hypocrite who only knew how to judge based on outward appearances and political gains.Time had gone by and yet, the general was still babbling on about things Romeo did not even care about. Anyone could tell that the robust and huge general was beating around the bush, perhaps trying to appeal to the prince's good side or elicit a positive reaction from him before finally landing on his real purpose. But Romeo never spoke. He looked as if almost all expressions were wiped off from his good-looking face. Except for that cold expression his men knew so well – the adamantine one that meant it was easier to move a mount
When Roselle finally regained consciousness, it was already morning and there was a sliver of bright sunlight streaming in from the small opening in the curtains. Romeo was already inside the room when she came out from the dressing room. However, she simply threw him a glance and refused to look at him after politely thanking him for saving her.She had donned on a mask of irreproachable serenity and proceeded to inform her husband very formally that she wished to be left alone when the man tried to strike up a conversation with her. Still, he never glared at her neither was he angered by her sudden coldness towards him. But one could see the surly look in his eyes as he stared longingly at his wife.Even during meals, Roselle continued to act indifferent towards Romeo. Her gaze never lingered longer than a second and she answered all his questions as curt and as monotonous as possible until Romeo stopped talking to her as well. When she told him to leave her alone the third time, he
Roselle swallowed."I never even saw her shadow, nor had I planned to meet up with her within the last three days, Rosella." Came his firm voice and Roselle could only bit her lower lip. She suddenly knew that she was wrong in judging just according to his expressions and reactions alone."I… I… that…"As she stammered, Romeo stretched his hands suddenly – too suddenly – and slammed them on either side of her, against the wall that was somehow behind her. She stumbled backwards in surprise, finally realizing that she had stepped back from him for so long she had already reached the wall.When she looked up at him, their faces almost collided and she pulled her head back as far as she could without slamming her own head into the wall. However, when she saw the creases between his brows and the intensity of his glittering eyes that held hers, Roselle found herself unable to either pull her gaze away or make a sound.However, she realised very quickly that her reactions were not out of f
The so-called firm resolve, and iron will that Roselle had so long and painstakingly built did nothing at all to shield her from all the words that left Romeo's lips. It was as if his words were fiery arrows. It did not pierce through her shield with force. However, they came like molten lava and they melted her shields, dissolving them down into a puddle of jelly along with her bones.And she was helpless – utterly helpless, unnerved, and shocked. How could mere words bring about such great effect to her heart, mind, and body? She felt as if a spell had been casted on her – a lethal spell that made her body react in ways she had never felt before."Roselle…" his head bent closer to hers. And since her hands were now covered over her mouth, he inclined his head, and she felt his breath against the rim of her ear. Another jolt. An even stronger one travelled like electricity in her every nerve. "I want to kiss you… let me taste your lips. Say yes, Roselle."His voice was so warm and hu
Dacria, the northernmost City of the werewolf's empire was not an unknown place to Roselle. A few months ago, Roselle had taken a look at the map of the Northern Empire and this place named Dacria had caught her interest. It was because it's the only place in the entire empire that seemed to have nothing there, but an abandoned land covered with ice.When Roselle asked her father if anyone lived in that place, she was surprised when her father told her that it was probably the most formidable place in the whole werewolf empire. He had told her then that they had no other detailed information about this place as no human had ever set foot in it. She had understood then that the reason why the estate was a blank canvas on the map was because of the lack of intelligence the humans had about it. Lucius had thought out on multiple worst-case scenarios and had considered Dacria as a place they needed to take seriously, probably more so than the werewolfs' imperial capital, because he had th
Roselle's eyes flew wide at Romeo's statement as her cold cheeks suddenly burned hot. She could not quite respond to that and was stunned to her core. And before Roselle could say a word, Romeo reached out and began undoing the front fastenings of her gown. Her heartbeat quickened, and the blood very quickly heated up in the veins she thought were frozen. When his fingers moved rapidly to free the row of buttons, Roselle felt like her heart was going to burst. And yet, no objections came tumbling out of her lips. She was still shivering with cold, and she felt like her toes had gone numb. Maybe, at that moment, her brain had gone numb as well due to the cold and was the only explanation why it was not screaming at her with its endless protests anymore. Romeo's hands paused before looking into her face, regarding her thoughtfully for a moment before finally freeing the last button. Something gleamed in his eyes as her gown loosened but when her shoulders shivered even harder, somethi
"I… I can manage now. Thank… thank you… for your help." She replied, stammering. "I can definitely do it on my own now." "Be careful. If you need help, just call me." He said and when she nodded, he tactfully turned and left the room. The moment the door was closed, Romeo raked his hand through his hair and exhaled shakily while leaning against the bathroom's door, feeling his legs as unsteady as a new-born foal's. His suddenly stiff fingers fumbled with his cloak and yanked it away as if it were causing him to suffocate from heat. A muffled groan escaped his lips followed by a curt curse. His control was barely hanging on by a thread. When she grabbed his hair and he looked up to see those dazed pair of amber eyes, only the devil knew how much he had to draw out his legendary iron control to stop himself from grabbing her legs and parting them wide for him so he could… he could indulge and ravage her there and then. He was always a man of control when it came to women, treating the