#54. Can You Handle It?
Their lips met and tangled together.
Khalid’s hands hurriedly fumbled with the buttons of Velia’s dress.
No matter how many nights they had spent together, this moment always made him impatient.
His hands moved frantically, yet his kisses remained endlessly gentle and slow.
“Do you still have the mind to write a reply?”
Khalid asked, licking his saliva-wet lips.
Velia exhaled a breathless sigh, her hazy gaze fixed on him.
In a situation like this, to even think of sending a reply?
Her clothes were already unbuttoned and disheveled.
“…Are you joking right now?”
Velia stretched out her long, slender arms, wrapping them around his neck.
Then, just before pressing her lips back onto his, she whispered lowly—
“Don’t waste words. Just continue.”
This time, Velia was the one to cover his lips with her own.
Matching her movements, Khalid tugged her robe off her shoulders, exposing her skin bit by bit.
Every revealed inch, he kissed with tender reverence—
as if every part of her was something precious and beloved.
Velia slid her fingers into his dark hair as his head trailed downward.
The silky strands slipped and swayed between her fingers.
…Damn it.
Even that simple gesture of hers was always enough to drive him mad.
And so the urge surfaced again—to sink his teeth in, to leave his marks all over her body.
…But she’d be frightened if I did.
Velia was easily scared.
So Khalid restrained himself with extreme patience.
More than his own pleasure, it was her satisfaction that mattered most.
“Khalid…”
That voice—thin, pleading—stretched out, begging him on.
Khalid clenched his teeth.
“Please don’t call me like that. Unless you mean to test my patience.”
“…There’s no need for patience.”
Velia’s whisper was soft, but there was no way he wouldn’t catch it.
“…Ha.”
Khalid pulled her closer, deeper into his arms.
“Don’t regret this later. You brought this on yourself.”
Velia locked eyes with him.
Regret? If that were the case, she never would have started this at all.
“You…”
Her hand gripped his shirt tightly.
“…treat me like I’m fragile glass.”
Her voice lowered further.
“Even in bed… doesn’t that just mean you lack confidence?”
Khalid’s gaze sharpened.
Velia smirked, yanking him closer with force.
“Make me regret provoking you, if you can.”
She’d accept whatever came.
“…Ha…!”
Khalid ran his hand through his hair.
If she knew how much restraint it took to hold back, she’d never dare to taunt him this way.
But since she had provoked him—he would answer.
“Can you handle it?”
Velia grinned, unbuttoning his shirt one by one.
That was the sound—snap—of Khalid’s last thread of patience breaking.
The moment she undid the final button, Khalid braced his arms on either side of her and loomed above.
“Then prepare yourself.”
He ripped off his shirt with a dangerous smile.
“Tonight will be longer than usual, Velia.”
No matter how much she begged for mercy, he wouldn’t stop.
His eyes gleamed dangerously as he looked down at her sprawled across the crumpled sheets.
“…That’s exactly what I want.”
Velia smiled slyly, refusing to yield even a word.
And then—she surrendered herself to the waves of pleasure he gave,
the night stretching endlessly as if it would never end.
By the time dawn arrived, it felt like she had hardly slept at all.
Velia squinted against the bright sunlight pouring through the windows, groaning as she buried her face under the blanket.
I don’t want to get up…
She had no schedule today—surely she could afford to lie around a little longer?
Just how many hours had they gone at it last night?
Blushing at the memory, she pressed her palms to her heated cheeks and turned toward Khalid, still asleep beside her.
His peaceful face, one arm resting above his head, made him look almost childlike.
“…Cute.”
The word slipped from her lips before she realized it, and she immediately covered her mouth in shock.
But Khalid didn’t stir—he was deeply asleep, breathing softly and steadily.
Relieved, Velia traced his face lightly with her fingertips, brushing from his forehead down to the bridge of his nose.
She had always thought he was handsome, but the more time she spent with him, the more striking he became.
Looking at his gentle, sleeping expression, he seemed nothing like the man who had pushed her mercilessly until dawn.
I shouldn’t provoke him so carelessly next time.
She reflected on her reckless words.
Though, honestly, she couldn’t promise it wouldn’t happen again—
being with him always brought out sides of herself she didn’t expect.
“…But it was worth it—”
“What was?”
“Ah!”
She screamed, startled by the sudden voice.
When had he woken up? Khalid, eyes still half-closed, smiled lazily at her.
“What was worth it?”
Had he heard everything? Her face flamed red.
“Well?”
Khalid pressed for an answer.
But Velia couldn’t say a word.
“Pfft.”
His stifled laughter made it clear he was teasing her.
Fuming, she clenched her teeth.
Khalid cracked one eye open, and without moving his body, reached out to pull her into his arms.
“It seems you really do like things rough.”
“…If you’re going to spout nonsense, just go back to sleep.”
“But it’s true—”
Velia slapped her hands over his mouth, pressing firmly.
“Say another word, and you’ll regret it.”
Khalid nodded obediently.
When she let go, he still didn’t stop.
“So you did like it?”
Unable to hold back, Velia grabbed a pillow and hurled it at his face.
The Second Prince’s palace had never been this noisy.
Not even when Velia had first arrived at the imperial palace and stirred up scandal with Khalid had things been this boisterous.
Now the whole palace was bustling with activity.
“Put that table over there.”
Velia directed the servants as they carried in furniture.
The garden, now in full bloom, was breathtaking.
It was the perfect setting for a tea party—one she had long postponed.
She had promised the noble ladies she would invite them, and today she would finally make good on her word.
Better late than never; after all, she had been far too busy until now.
“Ah, not there—move that one over there.”
Decorative flowers arrived, soon followed by trays of fine tableware carefully set in place.
“How’s the dessert preparation going?”
Velia stopped a maid heading back to the kitchen.
“The head chef says everything is going smoothly, Your Highness. Even the extra requests you made are nearly done.”
Velia smiled in relief.
The guests who had received invitations would soon begin to arrive.
Since this was the very first party she was hosting since coming to the Empire, she wanted it to be flawless.
“Is everything on track?”
Khalid, dressed for his outing, spotted Velia in the garden and approached.
“Yes, everything’s going well.”
She answered without hesitation.
That, in itself, was rare enough to catch his notice—she was usually cautious, but today she seemed unworried.
“You’re not nervous? Want me to help out?”
“No need. I’m fine.”
Velia firmly declined.
Khalid felt oddly disappointed.
“Really? Nothing I can do for you?”
“Yes. Nothing. Don’t you have a busy day ahead anyway?”
“Well, yes, but…”
Something about this made Khalid feel useless, and he found himself reluctant to leave.
“If you want, I can stay with you.”
“Honestly, it’s fine. Go on.”
“….”
Of course, Velia knew why he was acting like this.
It was because of what he’d heard about her previous tea party incident with Lady Canterif—he was worried.
But she truly was fine.
“I’ve done this many times before. Don’t worry, Khalid.”
In her past life, even though she had been abandoned by the Emperor, Velia had still been Empress.
As Crown Princess and later as Empress, she had hosted countless banquets and tea parties.
And precisely because she lacked the Emperor’s affection, she had gone to extreme lengths to ensure every event was flawless, free of the slightest criticism.
I didn’t waste all those years.
That experience gave her confidence that today’s preparations were perfect.
Khalid started to say something, then stopped.
Instead, he smiled softly.
“You’re right. You’ll do well. I trust you.”
His aide’s impatient expression reminded him he really was out of time.
“Tell me how it went tonight.”
“Of course.”
He kissed her lightly.
“Then, I’ll be off.”
“Have a safe trip.”
Velia saw him off, then checked the arrangements one last time.
“Good. Everything’s set.”
Satisfied, she headed indoors to ready herself.
This isn’t just a tea party—it’s a battlefield.
Since Lady Canterif hadn’t yet entered the palace, Velia was the first to host such a gathering here at the prince’s residence.
She needed to establish her presence firmly.
“Your Highness, we’re finished.”
The maid had completed her makeup.
Velia leaned closer to the mirror, studying her face.
Perfect.
“Thank you.”
She rose and slipped into the dress she had chosen.
It had to convey dignity while keeping the atmosphere warm, so she chose a voluminous dress in a soft peach hue.
Layered fabrics of subtly different tones gave it both elegance and charm, while tiny gemstones embroidered across the skirt would shimmer under the garden sunlight.
Paired with the necklace and earrings Khalid had gifted her—she was flawless.
“The carriage has arrived.”
“Alright. I’m going out now.”
Velia’s eyes hardened.
What lay ahead wasn’t merely a tea party.
It was war.
I think rail knew on some level that velia would choose khalid and that is probably why he was adamant about her meeting him in the past life
Here we go! Something crazy always happens at tea parties 🎉