Chapter 16

The woman who always shook up his life liked the snow.  

So, on the first snowfall while attending the Academy, he made all sorts of excuses to take a walk in the garden alone with Astrid.  

While they both stared intently at the softly falling snowflakes, the two of them held hands and walked along the path. Their fingertips, cold from touching, made him want to warm her up. When Kaiden intertwined his fingers with Astrid’s, she beamed brightly. He wished for time to stop as he slowly moved his steps.  

That Astrid nearly died in an avalanche. And then, caught in Kaiden’s grasp, she was locked away in the sturdy prison created by the Raselles family.  

“As.”  

The nickname Declan kept repeating used to belong to Kaiden.  

Declan, who was a year below him, had developed slowly. He, who had always called Astrid ‘senior’ in a trembling voice, was cared for by Astrid like a younger brother.  

But in just three years, his underdeveloped muscles became firm and his body grew larger. Declan started to call her name affectionately, acting as if there was something special between them.  

｢As said she has nightmares when she takes the painkillers. Please order the maids to look after her.｣  

Suddenly, Declan’s request flashed in his mind.  

By now, had Astrid gotten better after taking the painkillers he gave her, or was she struggling in a terrible nightmare?  

His rational mind screamed that he shouldn’t do this, but before he knew it, Kaiden had changed into his indoor clothes. He then carefully entered the mansion’s secret passage.  

The corridor known only to the direct members of the Duchy was narrow and dark. But as a trained soldier, he could distinguish objects even in the darkness. Kaiden relied solely on his senses, without a single candle, to find Astrid’s room on the lower floor.  

He had been to the room once before, when she and her friends visited the mansion after graduation, so it was easy to find his way.  

The moment he tried to push the wall of the secret passage, his hand lost its way in the air.  

Kaiden hesitated for a moment, but the answer had already been decided.  

Perhaps, when the butler asked where to assign Astrid’s room, he had already considered this moment.  

Even though she would not welcome him, he wanted to see her face, even just for a moment.  

Kaiden stood cautiously in front of the wall, as if hiding. Beyond this wall would be a bookshelf, and if there was a sudden noise, Astrid might be startled.  

Just as he was holding his breath and observing the room, he heard the sound of sobbing. The sorrowful sound of crying made Kaiden, without realizing it, reach out his hand, and the bookshelf slid open.  

At the sight that unfolded before his eyes, he was at a loss for words.  

* * *  

Astrid, sitting at the table, didn’t move an inch. As time passed, her anguish deepened to the point where she could hardly feel the pain constricting her whole body.  

In truth, the painkiller Declan had brought was effective, but its side effects were just as strong.  

She had lied about having nightmares, but in reality, every time she took the medicine, she felt a strong s*xual urge.  

Her lower body burned as if on fire, and her body grew so hot that she couldn’t sleep.  

The man who appeared in her hazy vision was always Kaiden Raselles.  

Her first and last lover was beautiful even in her dreams. Astrid, in her dazed mind, recalled his sculpted n*ked body.  

His wet silver hair and golden eyes, the small muscles that moved nimbly, the hot breath that pressed upon her—Astrid willingly surrendered to her instincts.  

If only it had been a foreboding dream, perhaps she would have felt less ashamed.  

In her fantasies, Kaiden always held her tightly, and Astrid could only cling to his broad shoulders and sob.  

When she woke up the next day, her pajamas soaked in sweat and the dampness below made her feel miserable, but whenever she took the medicine, she found herself habitually thinking of Kaiden again.  

That was why, upon reuniting with Kaiden, his presence felt even more overwhelming.  

Even after being so deeply betrayed, her heart pounded whenever their fingertips touched.  

Even when alone with him, she couldn’t confess her feelings, but her longing for him only grew stronger.  

Unable to suppress herself, she could only treat Kaiden more coldly and harshly.  

Astrid turned her gaze to the medicine bottle.  

If she swallowed this medicine today, all the effort she had made so far would crumble. But if she didn’t take it, the pain tearing through her body would return.  

“Kaiden.”  

She spoke aloud the name that had circled in her heart countless times. As soon as she did, even though she hadn’t taken the medicine yet, it felt as if he was right beside her, making her heart pound. Now she truly did not know what was causing her pain.  

After once more checking the lock on her door, Astrid took the medicine. Then she carefully drew the curtains around the bed and pulled the covers over her head.  

As the effects of the medicine spread through her body, she curled herself up tightly.  

“Huu.”  

After a while, Astrid fell into a strange excitement. Kaiden’s handsome face and firm body lingered in her mind like an afterimage, making her anxious.  

Her lower body heated up unbearably, and between her legs throbbed. Before she knew it, her underwear was damp. Sweat beaded at her temples, and it felt as if a ball of fire was rolling around inside her abdomen.  

“Ah… Kaiden.”  

She remembered the man who had held her so passionately that day. Astrid moaned as if it were the last day on earth, clinging to him, and Kaiden kissed her as she wept.  

As the warm, ecstatic memory flooded her mind, his name slipped from her lips.  

Perhaps because they were in the same mansion, his gestures came alive vividly, stimulating her whole body.  

Astrid closed her eyes and pulled up her pajamas. With one hand, she kneaded her br*ast; with the other, she untied the ribbon of her underwear. Spreading her legs slightly, she circled her right middle finger over her private area, making her n*pples stand er*ect.  

She traced her cl*toris from bottom to top with her fingertip, then pressed down hard.  

Swept up in the tingling sensation, she squeezed her eyes shut. Astrid continued to pleasure herself, recalling the intense s*x she had with Kaiden.  

Her l*bia was slick with fluids, and wet sounds filled the air.  

She struggled, imagining the man who had mounted her. The curtains parted, but she had no time to care. Her lower abdomen tingled as her fluids gushed out.  

“Kaiden, hurry….”  

“What… do you want me to do?”  

Was this a dream?  

At the familiar low voice, the hand that had been caressing her br*ast stopped, but Astrid, drunk with excitement, couldn’t open her eyes. The voice ringing clearly in her ear was low and husky. Even his breathing sounded so seductive that she let out a small laugh.  

Instinctively, she reached out, flailing, but her hand only wandered through the air. When she couldn’t grasp anything, Astrid slowly blinked. Then, as she opened her eyes a sliver, she saw Kaiden.  

The hallucination caused by the painkiller was so vivid. As the man she missed moved before her eyes, her insides burned hot.  

“As.”  

At his affectionate face calling her, Astrid crumbled helplessly.  

When she took Kaiden’s hand, he interlaced his fingers with hers. Because it was only in her imagination, Astrid did not hesitate to pull the man toward her.  

“Hold me.”  

When she commanded him, almost whining, Kaiden immediately kissed her. Their breaths tangled, and their tongues intertwined.  

His hot tongue pushed into her mouth, exploring every tooth and stroking the tender mucous membrane. When Kaiden bit her lower lip hard, Astrid dug her nails into him.  

“Will you not regret this?”  

His worried voice reached her through her hazy consciousness. Astrid shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then Kaiden licked her earlobe with his tongue.  

A wave of pleasure ran down her spine, making her hips twitch involuntarily. She wanted Kaiden to touch her, but he was too busy kissing her entire face.  

Astrid opened her eyes and gazed at the man engrossed in sucking her tongue.  

Kaiden, undeterred, pressed his lips to hers again and again. The tongue tracing her lower lip was wickedly red.  

Unable to bear it any longer, Astrid lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist. As their lower bodies touched, his back trembled slightly.  

“Hurry.”