Chapter 1
Prologue – The Crown Prince’s Son Beneath My Feet
“Bella.”
A noble man, as if his hair were gilded in gold, rested his face on my thigh.
“Your Highness, please get up.”
“Call my name.”
As I tried to push him away, he clung even closer and sweetly pleaded. I let out a small laugh, unable to believe this situation.
“Valeri.”
“Yes, call me like that. I like it when you stroke my hair.”
His face was peaceful, not a speck of doubt in sight. He looked like someone lost in a dream.
I pretended not to hear but eventually gave in, gently brushing his hair. Well, just for today—I’ll grant him whatever he wants.
He let out a deeply contented sigh, so relaxed it made me feel drowsy. Maybe it was because of his enormous build, but he felt like a giant puppy snuggling up to me.
But the more he did that, the louder the ticking of a clock echoed in my ears.
“Bella, if I could stay like this with you forever, I’d sell my soul to the devil.”
Childish.
But I knew—without a doubt—that he meant it. No, maybe he’d go even further. Judging by everything he’s done so far.
He raised his head, took my hand, and pressed a kiss firmly into my palm. His jewel-like violet eyes and perfectly sculpted face were breathtakingly beautiful.
He, who should be above all others, gazed up at me from the lowest position like this.
That sight brought an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and conquest—but it was something I was never meant to possess.
“If you sell your soul, then you’d no longer be yourself.”
“Then to avoid that, you’ll have to take care of me forever. Right, Bella?”
“……”
I pressed my lips together at his words. I had no intention of making such an empty promise before leaving. But then—
“You didn’t answer. Were you planning to leave me behind? To make me sleep and run away?”
As I gently stroked his soft hair, almost entranced, my fingertips trembled slightly. I curled them into my palm and exhaled quietly.
“W-What are you talking about?”
D-Did he find out? I masked my anxiety with a smile, but cold sweat trickled inside. Since when did he know?
Yet his voice remained calm and composed.
“I knew, but I had no choice but to drink it. Because it was from you. But I hope you won’t ever think of abandoning me. If you do, I’ll want to lock you up.”
At his words about wanting to imprison me, my shoulders flinched.
I remembered how unusually often our eyes met while drinking tea. Even when I deliberately avoided his gaze and stared at his throat instead—
So that’s what it was.
“……”
“Well, I’ll let it slide for today. Because it’s you, Bella.”
Still stroking his soft hair, I tightly shut my eyes.
Looks like I failed today. The tea meant to make him sleep had no effect at all.
All I wanted was to stop my stepmother’s cruelty, escape successfully, and live quietly, away from all of this.
I only tried to stop him because I didn’t want to drag him down into corruption.
I hadn’t even engraved him as my mate…
How did things end up like this?
