Chapter 1:
I Stole the Prince’s First Kiss (1)
At Penelope’s villa, where the party was in full swing, the late hour was filled with the sound of dancing feet matching the orchestra’s performance, laughter echoing through the air, and the chatter of conversations. The noise was deafening, even in the late hours.
Unable to adapt to the atmosphere that had just reached its peak, Retina, who had reluctantly attended the party at her father’s insistence, made her way to the terrace hidden behind the curtains. She had never been one to easily adapt to such an atmosphere.
In an attempt to avoid suspicion, Retina carried a glass of champagne as she stepped outside, placing the glass on the railing and gazing up at the moon hanging above. The moon was exceptionally round and bright, casting its radiance upon the mansion like never before.
“…Sir! Please, come inside!”
As Retina stood still on the terrace overlooking the garden, a small voice from the bushes broke the silence. It was an unusual sound for a well-tended garden like the one maintained by the gardener. It was a sound more fitting for a bedroom.
As soon as she recognized the sound, Retina’s face flushed. She had wondered why the terrace had been so deserted all of a sudden.
Retina hurriedly lifted her gaze from below and looked up at the sky. Her face was flushed as she hastily finished the wine she had been sipping to enjoy the breeze.
Was the content she had read in books really true? Confused by the events unfolding in the garden on this lively party night, Retina cooled herself with fanning. Although she had come up to the capital city for her debutante ball, all of this was bewildering for her, coming from a small countryside village in the Duchy.
‘Let’s go back up quickly.’
Having stepped out to get some fresh air for a moment, Retina, now with a more fatigued expression, returned to the banquet hall. Penelope’s villa, not far from the capital, had designated guest rooms for visitors, and after the main party, attendees were free to retire to rest.
‘The brothers will find me, but…’
Looking towards her brothers, who were in the midst of the bustling crowd, Retina shuddered. She didn’t want to go to her brothers, even if it meant pushing through those people. The thought of going to them made her nervous just by looking at them. She turned away.
‘I should go back to the room first’.
Retina climbed the stairs to the second floor, where her bedroom was located. From above, she could see a particular area of the banquet hall where people were gathered.
The reason for the unusually large gathering at the Count’s party was the presence of the Crown Prince of the Rudenheim Empire. Despite receiving and not refusing the many glasses offered by the nobles, the Crown Prince seemed like he could get drunk at any moment, but no one seemed to let him go.
‘What does it have to do with me?’
Retina turned her head while looking at her twin brothers and the crown prince.
She thought that ‘unlike me who shied away from the social world, was not divided into aristocrats or emperors’.
‘I want to escape this suffocating corset and shoes as soon as possible. Once I enter the empty room, I’ll be throwing away this wig that even turns my face yellow’.
Before getting off the carriage, Retina glanced at the back of the card she had received. It was a card with room numbers randomly assigned to the guests invited to the party.
The owner of this villa, Countess Penelope, was fond of parties and always prepared unique events whenever she hosted one. This time, the event broke the usual rule of separating men’s and women’s rooms and instead assigned rooms randomly.
“Hmm…, is this the place?”
Retina alternated between looking at the number on the door and the card in her hand, double-checking. After worrying about the possibility of going to the wrong room and taking a few minutes to confirm, she finally entered.
“Haah… exhausting.”
After closing the door, Retina first unpinned the hairpin that had held her hair in place and removed her wig. As the deep golden-brown wig was removed, the silvery hair that had been concealed within it feel free.
Retina casually placed the wig on the table and walked towards the bed, clumsily removing the cumbersome dress and corset. The shoes that had pinched her feet were discarded far away. In an instant, Retina, wearing only a slip dress, lay down on the bed, her face feeling much lighter.
‘As expected, the capital doesn’t suit me.’
With her mind at ease, she unconsciously let out a sigh. Except for the time she attended the academy, Retina had spent her early years in the countryside, so the capital was a difficult and challenging place for her.
No, even if I hadn’t spent time in the countryside, it still wouldn’t have suited me. The capital’s noble ladies always had to be beautiful, intelligent, skilled with their hands, and proficient in playing musical instruments. It was also tiring to constantly be careful about when rumors might circulate about oneself.
“Ugh, what excuse should I make tomorrow?”
Although she had managed to make it to her room for now, she was troubled by the thought of facing her brothers in the morning. Until now, she had not attended parties, and as her debutante ball approached, she had to pay the price for avoiding all kinds of parties.
“Why should women have to be chosen by men?”
Retina had little interest in the marriage business, which is the lifelong goal of noble ladies. Being the youngest daughter of a duke, she had no obligation to carry on the family line, and she had no interest in wealth and honor. Besides, she had the leisure to live comfortably for the rest of her life. Instead, she preferred a life of reading books and living in her country home.
“Even if I were to marry, deceiving my husband for a lifetime would be an impossible task.”
Retina twirled her fingers through the locks of hair that covered her face. Her silvery hair, which faintly shimmered in the moonlight filtering through the windowpane, was a color unique to her alone within the empire.
Retina’s silver hair, which resembled the cold eye color of the northern regions and was even called a cursed shade, would undoubtedly cause a significant stir within her family if it became known to the public. That’s why, from the moment she was born, she had hidden away in the countryside.
While she understood that noble young women were expected to make their debut in society when they reached a certain age, she couldn’t fathom her father’s intention to push her into marriage as well.
I’m only in the capital until the debutante ball… Once the debutante ball is over… Lifting her heavy eyelids with some effort, Retina’s eyes slowly closed. She seemed to have had more to drink than she realized at the party, and her face was getting warmer by the minute.
Overwhelmed by both intoxication and fatigue, Retina quickly surrender to sleep.
How many hours had passed like that? Retina grasped the blonde hair that seemed to sway in her shaky field of vision. A tightly structured body pressed firmly against her flesh, holding her tightly.
“Uh!”
As the thrusting movements continued, Retina pressed her lips together. Then, the hand at the top of Retina’s head approached, gripping her wrist and raising it upwards.
“Keep telling me,” whispered the man, his head lowered, his soft voice tickling Retina’s earlobe. She craned her neck slightly as his gentle words sent shivers down her spine.
Retina swallowed hard and pushed the man away, but he responded by lightly restraining her, twisting her face back towards his, and continuing their passionate kiss. While Retina struggled to catch her breath, the man skillfully led their intimate encounter.
Their lips met, and a tiny gap between them allowed an errant piece of flesh to slide through, creating an intense connection. His hands, firmly clasping her waist, caressed Retina tenderly, driving her wild with desire.
In the brief moments when their lips parted, Retina’s head was a whirlwind of thoughts. This was her first kiss, not like the fairy tales she had read or the romantic notions she had imagined. It lacked the magic she had expected, and instead, it left her feeling slightly perplexed.
“Uh, umm,” she stammered softly, unable to find the words to express her confusion.
Retina gripped the unyielding shoulders of the man and clung to him. In her mind, she thought,
“This man is definitely…”
Amid the dizzying heat that had her head spinning, Retina managed to recall that this man was someone she shouldn’t be involved with. She tried to piece together the fragmented memories.
In her hazy recollection, she remembered a man entering her room. She had been surprised, and amidst the confusion, they engaged in a conversation. She seemed to recall them opening a bottle of wine that had been prepared in the room.
Fearing that she might remember her head without the wig, Retina had been made to drink until she became intoxicated. She had planned to sneak away quietly.
Only after she was drugged did Retina realize who this man was. She attempted to escape him, but she was also intoxicated and couldn’t move quickly. Meanwhile, the atmosphere had become strange.
‘What are you thinking?’ He grabbed Retina’s hips and pulled her down towards him.
The man, who had been blushing since he entered the room, was now a completely different person, driven by intoxication.
“Focus on me when we’re in bed,” he said, his tone implying jealousy at the thought of Retina thinking of something else while in bed. He kissed her neck with a soft, moist touch. He didn’t hide his desire to have all of Retina.
“Make sure you don’t even think of other men,” he said, his lips curling with confidence. Initially, his touch had been slow and gentle to ensure Retina’s comfort, but it quickly changed.
His fingertips seemed to tremble slightly, but it wasn’t clear whether it was real or just a result of her own nervousness. Retina was uncertain if she could spend the night with him like this, but it seemed like it was already too late. She didn’t push him away. She hadn’t felt that way for a long time.
“You are more beautiful than any woman I’ve ever seen,” he said, his hand holding her silvery hair. He kissed her lips gently. Then he kissed her softly.
Retina wrapped her arms around his head and pressed her body close to his. It was the first time she had met him face-to-face, and for some reason, even in the darkness, his gaze felt warm. She wanted to turn away from the fact that she had learned about his identity.
As they held each other tightly, Retina leaned her chin on his shoulder and whispered in a voice that was almost inaudible, as if she were talking to herself.
“After tonight, let’s forget everything, Your Highness.”
With different thoughts in mind, the two spent the night confirming each other’s presence.
