Chapter 1
Prologue
Rachel gently stroked her flat stomach. The emptiness within her accentuated her sense of void. This void wasn’t from the hunger that had set in since she had starved herself since last night. Nor was it from the nervousness of a bride on the eve of her wedding night.
“This wedding night will be different. No, it has to be different.”
Muttering to herself with clenched lips, Rachel’s gaze turned to the large mirror reflecting her whole body. The bride in the mirror looked so solemn that she appeared stiff, her eyes filled with the grim determination of a commander about to go into battle. The only difference was that the commander’s attire was a delicate, smooth slip, far too fragile to be considered armor for the battlefield.
The tight slip revealed Rachel’s voluptuous figure in its entirety. Made of silk, it was designed to naturally glide off wherever Stefan’s hand might touch, but it wasn’t to her satisfaction.
“Using such an obvious method will only make him scoff.”
Rachel thought of the secret space next to the bedroom. There, she would find Stefan’s makeshift wine storage and bar. She dashed there, poured a large glass of wine halfway, and boldly downed it in one gulp. The bitter liquid filled her mouth, warming her throat as it went down, spreading a pleasant warmth throughout her body.
Rachel wiped the wine from her lips with her long, white fingers. The scent of his favorite wine lingered on her fingertips.
“I didn’t forget even the slightest detail.”
In the meantime, warmth surged within her. Her face seemed to flush with a rosy tint, and with that warmth came a surge of confidence.
“It’s better to seduce him openly.”
She decided to greet him standing in front of the window, where the bright moonlight poured in, capturing his gaze with her alluring silhouette. Rachel refilled the empty glass with wine, held it in her left hand, and stepped outside, only to come to a sudden halt.
Someone was already standing there, right in the spot she had planned to use.
“Y-Your Excellency!”
Rachel hurriedly tried to cover her mouth at her scream-like shout, but it was too late. Trying to seduce him openly and failing to call him by his name properly, she ended up addressing him as “Your Excellency.” Rachel frowned slightly, and the moment she did, Stefan, who had been looking out the window, turned his gaze toward her.
He seemed to have just finished bathing, as his silver hair, still wet, glistened under the moonlight. His red eyes, shining beneath his silver hair, looked like rubies presented by an angel who had come down to tempt Rachel.
“I seem to be late, madam.”
“Pardon?”
Stefan continued, his gaze falling on the wine glass in Rachel’s hand.
“It looks like you got tired of waiting and started without me.”
“……”
Only then did Rachel recall the wine glass in her hand and blushed, suddenly thrusting it out.
“I heard wine is good for fatigue recovery. Would you like a glass, Your Excellency?”
Rachel’s lips closed again. Once more, she had said “Your Excellency.” She squeezed her eyes shut, barely resisting the urge to slap herself for the repeated mistake.
At that moment, she felt something dull collide with the wine glass. Simultaneously, Stefan let out an awkward exclamation.
“Oh dear…”
“Oh my, Your Excellency…”
Rachel opened her eyes after everything had already happened. The glass she was holding was now empty, and the wine had soaked Stefan’s shirt, staining it red. In shock, Rachel stuttered as she fumbled with the front of his shirt.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Excellency. Please, take off your shirt.”
At her words, Stefan quickly removed his shirt as if he had been waiting for this moment. A rich aroma of wine wafted from him as he moved. His upper body, covered in firm, sculpted muscles, looked like the masterpiece of a genius sculptor.
As Rachel tore her gaze away from him, she found an excuse to leave.
“I’ll bring more wine.”
“There’s no need for that, madam.”
Rachel turned back to him in surprise at his unexpected reply, and in that moment, Stefan stepped forward and pulled her close. She found herself awkwardly pressed against his chest like a stiff log.
“There’s already enough wine.”
“Pardon?”
Rachel’s query disappeared into Stefan’s mouth. As if trying to identify the type of wine that had lingered in her mouth a moment ago, he moved meticulously. The unexpected kiss made Rachel’s strength leave her body, and she let go of the wine glass.
Crash.
The sound of breaking glass marked the end of their heated reunion. Stefan pulled away from Rachel.
“Haa…”
A faint sigh escaped Rachel’s lips. It was a sigh that seemed to teeter on the edge of ambiguity, unsure whether it was due to the breathlessness or the regret of leaving the seemingly endless whirlpool.
As Stefan glanced at the broken wine glass on the floor, he suddenly picked Rachel up. It was an unusual action for him.
“Y-Your Excellency.”
“The glass shards are dangerous, madam. I’ll take you to the bed.”
“I-I’m fine, Your Excellency. Please put me down.”
As Rachel struggled to get out of his arms, Stefan held her tighter and calmly spoke.
“The more you struggle, the more we’ll provoke each other.”
Understanding the meaning behind his words, Rachel closed her mouth, and Stefan began walking. With each stride from the man who was two spans taller than her, Rachel, startled, wrapped her arms around his neck. It was a very natural embrace.
