“What weird conclusions?”

Water dripped from his disheveled black hair onto Rosé’s thin nightgown.

His slightly languid and unguarded golden eyes held a seductive light as they fixed on her.

Rosé found herself trapped in his gaze, unable to look away.

His neck, thicker than her thighs, displayed a pronounced Adam’s apple.

Above the rising steam of the bath, his smooth, muscular chest, solid as if forged by the god of war, was on full display.

Rosé didn’t know where to look, so she tried to stand.

At that moment, he grabbed her wrist.

She froze in place, unable to move.

Maxim brought her wrist to his lips.

Perhaps due to the bath, his lips were scalding hot, like a branding iron.

Now, Maxim began planting light kisses on the back of her hand.

The way he pressed his lips against her skin was so sensual that Rosé clenched her eyes shut—but only for a moment.

“Aah!”

Rosé’s eyes flew open at the strange sensation that surged through her spine.

Maxim’s tongue slid between the soft skin of her fingers, licking upward before he suddenly took one finger into his mouth and gently bit down.

“St-Stop it! Please!”

Her vision spun as she yanked her hand away and stood abruptly.

Splash!

Rising from the bath, Maxim turned to face her.

Seeing his completely bare form, Rosé’s eyes widened as she stared at his intimidating, beast-like physique.

Her eyes trembled as if the slightest nudge would shatter them into pieces.

Maxim cradled her face gently with both hands.

Leaning in close until their noses touched, he whispered.

“It’s so strange.”

Their gazes locked, pushing and pulling like two magnets caught in a spell.

“…What is?”

“Even while cutting down heads one by one and being drenched in the smell of blood, this was all I could think about.”

Maxim’s gaze dropped, and he lightly captured her lips before rereleasing them.

“It drove me mad.”

Still in shock, Rosé opened her mouth to speak.

“You… You’re completely n*ked right now.”

“So what? We’re married.”

Dripping with water, Maxim pulled her into a tight embrace. Her thin nightgown, soaked through, clung to her body.

He smiled faintly, seemingly satisfied by how her wet gown revealed the contours of her skin.

“Since we’re already wet, let’s bathe together.”

“Ah!”

Before she could respond, Rosé suddenly felt her body lifted off the ground.

In Maxim’s firm arms, she sank into the hot bath.

Panicked, Rosé grabbed his shoulders with both hands.

Maxim wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her firmly.

His tongue parted her lips and slid in.

Like a ravenous beast long-starved, his hardened tongue greedily explored the warmth of her soft, moist mouth.

Rosé felt like her world was spinning.

He pulled her closer, thrusting deeper and deeper, devouring her completely.

Whether it was the alcohol or his suffocating kiss, Rosé felt dizzy, as if she might faint.

Her body felt numb as if anesthetized, but her heart pounded wildly as if it might burst.

Only the sound of mingling saliva and the rapid thudding of her heartbeat echoed in her ears.

“Haah…!”

Panting heavily, Maxim released her lips and stared at Rosé, whose head tilted back like a deer fleeing from a predator.

Her lips, swollen and red from his kiss, and her dazed, unfocused eyes only inflamed his desire further.

“Haah… haah…”

Rosé exhaled raggedly, her breath brushing against his skin, carrying the scent of alcohol and heat.

Maxim’s eyes regained their cold clarity as he noticed something was wrong.

He placed a hand on her forehead and quickly touched her face and neck.

Her forehead was burning, and her tonsils were swollen.

“I… I feel dizzy.”

Rosé barely managed to get the words out before her head fell limply onto Maxim’s chest.

“Damn it.”

Maxim lifted her and wrapped her in a large towel.

He had noticed that her mouth felt unusually hot when they kissed, but he had dismissed it as the heat from the bath.

He hadn’t realized her condition was this bad.

Earlier, when she had mentioned feeling unwell in front of Lady Katriona, he had assumed she was lying to avoid waiting for him.

But she had indeed been sick.

Now clad in a robe, Maxim urgently pulled the cord hanging by the bed.

He couldn’t believe she had been reckless enough to suggest spending the night together in this state.

‘Why the hell did she drink that damn strong alcohol?’

Knock, knock!

“You called, Your Majesty?”

Hearing Freddy’s voice from outside, Maxim strode over and opened the door.

Freddy’s eyes widened at being summoned at such a late hour.

Maxim nodded toward the room.

“She’s running a fever. Call a physician and have the maids change her clothes.”

Freddy looked shocked and immediately glanced toward the bed.

“The Queen is unwell? I’ll see to it at once.”

He turned and quickly walked down the corridor.

Once Freddy left, Jansen, standing behind, finally stepped forward.

He, too, looked worried as he peered into the room.

“Is Her Majesty in a bad condition? It seems she caught a chill from the rain earlier.”

“Rain? Did she go outside?”

Maxim’s sharp gaze fixed on Jansen as he questioned him.

He had sensed something was off as soon as he saw Jansen.

Now that he thought about it, Jansen hadn’t been there when Maxim returned to the castle.

Jansen, who usually stayed by his side to assist him, had been absent, which was suspicious.

“Why weren’t you around earlier?”

“I have something to report to Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

“I told Her Majesty I would inform you myself once you arrived.”

“Get to the point.”

Maxim frowned impatiently.

“I was in the underground prison until just now. I thought you wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow.”

“The underground prison?”

Maxim’s face darkened. What could she possibly have to do with the prison?

Jansen glanced around before speaking in a low tone.

“The situation became quite unusual.”

“What nonsense. Unusual? What happened?”

“I’ll explain in detail as we head down.”

Maxim turned his worried, furious gaze back toward Rosé, who lay in bed.

What dangerous things had she gotten herself into while he was away?

***

The cold, quiet underground prison was faintly lit by torches.

With grim faces, Jansen and Maxim walked deep into the prison.

“I left my post briefly after hearing you had arrived. When I returned, this had happened.”

Two soldiers guarding the farthest cell lay sprawled at the entrance, stabbed with swords.

Maxim passed them and approached someone who collapsed inside the prison.

“They were strangled to death.”

“It’s an inside job. The culprit knows this place well.”

Maxim calmly scanned the area for anyone in hiding.

After confirming it was clear, he nudged the body with the scabbard of his sword.

The dead man appeared to be a young, unremarkable-looking man.

His physique suggested he hadn’t undergone rigorous training to wield a sword.

Sending such an inexperienced person showed they hadn’t considered that someone skilled would be needed to eliminate Rosé Etoile.

“They killed him to keep him silent.”

The man lay face-up, his broad, shocked eyes staring as if frozen in a pained expression.

His gaze seemed to accuse as if asking, How could you do this to me?

“It seems the castle interior isn’t safe if someone managed to get this far in.”

“Quietly search for anyone suspicious.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Assign two seasoned soldiers as her guards whenever she moves.”

“Understood.”

Maxim fell into deep thought, his cold eyes hinting he had a hunch about something.

***

Rosé opened her eyes on the bed and tried to sit up but collapsed again.

Her body felt like it had turned into jelly, unable to muster the strength even to move a finger.

“No! Don’t move!”

Natalie, realizing Rosé was awake, ran over in a panic.

“The physician strictly ordered that you remain in bed!”

“No, I… I told the head maid to show me around the castle today.”

Rosé remembered scolding the head maid yesterday and forcing herself to sit up.

“Ugh! Why are you making such a fuss over that? You can do it once you’re better. What if you collapse again? Besides, when the physician mentioned your medicine earlier, I explained everything in your place.”

Hearing Natalie’s words, Rosé sank back into the bed.

“…What about His Majesty?”

“He didn’t sleep a wink. He just kept watching you until he left at dawn.”

“Watching? Watching what?”

“You.”

“What? Me? So, he stayed beside me the entire time?”

“Exactly. No matter how much I told him I’d stay so he could rest, he didn’t budge or say a word. It was so uncomfortable that my shoulders are still stiff from the tension… ow…”

Natalie rubbed her sore shoulders, clearly having had a rough night. Dark circles shadowed her eyes.

Rosé vaguely recalled the events of last night and immediately checked under the blanket.

She was dressed in a new, white nightgown.

“Wh- who changed my clothes?”