Chapter 127: Beyond the Pages of Romance

Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Beyond the Pages of Romance

Elysia’s heart softened, and the resolve she’d been trying to maintain began to waver.

Putting aside the fact that Cassiel had been the only person to extend a helping hand to her in her previous life, there was everything he had done for her in this one.

Since marrying him, she had benefited from his protection and influence countless times. Whenever she encountered trouble, he had been there to help her, often without asking for anything in return.

She was genuinely grateful to him.

More importantly, she believed Cassiel was a good man.

Now that he was suffering because of the aphrodisiac, how could she simply sit by and do nothing?

Besides, she was his wife.

It was only a kiss.

Surely she could manage that much.

"My lord..."

Elysia clenched her fingers nervously.

"Hmm?"

Cassiel’s gaze returned to her face.

"If..."

She hesitated, her cheeks warming.

"If you kiss me, will you feel a little better?"

"Yes."

His answer came almost immediately.

Elysia took a slow breath.

At last, she made up her mind.

"Then... kiss me."

She closed her eyes, lifted her chin slightly, and pursed her lips.

From Cassiel’s perspective, however, she looked less like a woman waiting for a kiss and more like a soldier marching bravely towards the battlefield.

A faint amusement flickered through his eyes.

Cassiel was not, by nature, a particularly gentle man.

And since he had already pretended to be weakened by the aphrodisiac, he saw no reason to abandon the act now.

His voice dropped into a low murmur.

"The wine’s effects are too strong. I don’t have the strength."

Elysia’s eyes opened a fraction.

She looked at him uncertainly.

"Then... what should we do?"

Cassiel met her gaze.

"Lysa, you kiss me."

Elysia’s eyes flew wide.

Her entire face turned crimson.

"I don’t know..."

The words tumbled out in a flustered rush.

"I... How am I supposed to kiss you? I don’t know how."

Cassiel’s large hand settled against the small of her back.

"I’ll teach you. First, sit properly."

Elysia obediently adjusted herself in his lap.

"Like this?"

Cassiel glanced down.

Only then did he become acutely aware of how little space there actually was in his wheelchair.

It had always been more than sufficient for him alone.

With Elysia sitting on his lap, however, every inch seemed suddenly precious.

Yet perhaps the lack of space wasn’t entirely inconvenient.

With nowhere else to go, there was only one way to sit comfortably.

Closer.

And some parts of him were more aware of that closeness than others.

"Hold me," Cassiel instructed softly.

Elysia hesitated for half a second before wrapping her arms around him.

Her cheeks were still burning.

"Now you can kiss me."

Elysia took a deep breath.

It’s only a kiss.

She gave herself a fierce mental pep talk.

Then, gritting her teeth as though preparing herself for something far more dangerous, she leaned down and pressed her lips against his.

She tried to imitate exactly what Cassiel had done earlier.

Surely that was all there was to it.

But the moment their lips met, Cassiel responded.

His lips captured hers.

Before Elysia could understand what was happening, he gently parted her lips and deepened the kiss.

Her mind went blank.

She instinctively tried to pull away, but Cassiel’s hand had already moved to the back of her head, holding her gently in place.

There was nowhere for her to retreat.

For one absurd moment, a surprisingly practical thought flashed through her mind.

So this is what it’s like.

Perhaps I can use this in my next story.

But the thought disappeared almost as quickly as it came.

The warmth of his lips.

The closeness of his body.

The hand at the back of her head.

The arm around her waist.

Everything blurred together until she could no longer think clearly.

She lost track of where she was.

She forgot why she had been worrying.

Even the passage of time became impossible to measure.

By the time Cassiel finally released her, Elysia felt as though all the strength had left her body.

She sagged against his shoulder, breathing shallowly.

Her face was burning.

"My lord..."

Her voice was soft and unsteady.

"Are you feeling better?"

Cassiel’s voice was husky.

"A little."

Relief immediately washed over her.

A little better is still better.

At least what she had done hadn’t been useless.

Then Cassiel added,

"But not completely."

Elysia blinked.

"Not completely?"

"Once more."

His tone was almost encouraging.

Elysia stared at him.

She had somehow found herself enlisted again.

Her eyes grew misty.

"How long this time?"

Cassiel’s answer came in a rough whisper.

"Quickly."

She sniffled softly.

"Truly?"

"Truly."

Just before his lips met hers again, Cassiel seemed to remember something important.

"Lysa."

He looked at her seriously.

"Remember to breathe."

---

When Vaelen entered the west-wing courtyard, almost everyone else had already dispersed.

He looked around, intending to find someone who could tell him where his uncle and Elysia had gone, but the courtyard was nearly empty.

Unable to find anyone to ask, he began searching on his own.

After circling the area, he noticed a single chamber with its door firmly closed.

Curiosity drew him closer.

As he approached, a faint sound reached his ears from inside.

A soft, pleading voice.

Vaelen stopped.

He knew that voice.

Elysia.

He had known her for years.

She had always possessed a naturally sweet voice, and when she wanted something, she knew how to soften it into something almost impossible to resist.

He had heard her plead before.

But never like this.

There was something different in her voice now.

Something breathless.

Something almost fragile.

A sudden, inexplicable unease seized him.

What in the world is she doing in there?

Driven by an impulse he couldn’t explain, Vaelen moved closer to the door.

He listened.

This time, he could make out the words clearly.

"You said it would be quick... Why is it taking so long again?"

Then came another strained whisper.

"No more... I can’t..."

Vaelen’s entire body went rigid.

A moment later, he heard Elysia again.

"My lord, please... spare me today, alright?"

It felt as though someone had struck him with lightning.

Vaelen stood rooted to the spot.

His mind went completely blank.

As Crown Prince, Vaelen had grown up beneath enormous expectations.

His parents had been strict with him from childhood, especially when it came to matters involving women.

While other young noblemen his age in Caelvyr had already taken bedchamber maids or concubines and had experienced all sorts of sinful pleasures, Vaelen had never done so.

Not once.

His father had always been particularly strict about preserving his reputation as the future King. But that did not mean Vaelen was ignorant of such matters.

He had read erotic books before and seen the illustrations that circulated privately among the nobility. He had also encountered romantic tales such as Legends of Cassiopeia, where lingering kisses and romantic encounters were sometimes described with surprising detail.

He knew perfectly well what a woman’s breathless voice and those words could imply.

Which was precisely why the sounds coming from behind the door left him utterly stunned.

He had never imagined hearing them from Elysia.