Chapter 1 – Broken Engagement (Part 5)

Moonshine foam on his white, refined hands.

His expression, as if he desperately wanted to wipe it off, showed a slight crack, which was very interesting.

It was amusing to watch, to say the least.

‘He looks like a real person.’

His tousled hair and a couple of undone shirt buttons. The way he looked around, unfamiliar with the place, holding that rustic wooden mug.

‘Cute.’

She had thought he would be competent and natural in everything.

That he would be the center of attention wherever he went and adapt to any situation.

‘Even in front of His Majesty the King.’

So seeing him sitting in the middle of a noisy pub, holding a rustic wooden mug full of moonshine, looking around awkwardly, was both amusing and endearing.

Olivie let out a small laugh that was drowned out by the noise and turned her body.

‘I really should just finish this and go home.’

Hoping that after drinking this much, she might fall into a deep sleep once she got back, she picked up her glass. She felt Robin’s gaze on her profile. Unlike when he was looking around awkwardly, he was now back to being Robin Tanner. Under his blue gaze, she turned her head without even taking a sip.

“Why, what is it?”

Thud.

He took a sip of the moonshine and set the glass down.

“This is good too. Not bad.”

As she tilted her head slightly, meeting his direct gaze, Robin chuckled and lightly sucked the moonshine foam off his finger. The long, white finger touched his red lips and then pulled away. Olivie found herself slightly parting her lips without realizing it.

‘He’s not your real brother, though.’

‘He looks like he’d be good in bed.’

‘So, are you leaving with that man tonight?’

The bartender’s voice, like a devil’s temptation, echoed in Olivie’s ears.

‘No.’

In an instant, she forcibly turned her head to pull her gaze away, regaining her senses.

He was not a delicious meal, but rather a drug, or even poison, that would cause trouble right after consumption. It seemed enticing, but who knew what would happen if she took a bite…

‘…right.’

Yes.

Perhaps it was the sudden rise of intoxication.

She turned to Robin as if organizing her thoughts that were spilling out in her mind.

If this handsome and charming man weren’t Robin Tanner, she would have grabbed him the moment he walked through that door and never let go.

The only reason Olivie hesitated was because he was Robin Tanner.

The fear of not knowing what might happen after a night with him was Olivie’s greatest concern.

‘But.’

Just as undeniable as her fear of an uncertain future was her attraction to Robin. She couldn’t deny that.

‘Should I give it a shot?’

As Olivie gazed at him with slightly unfocused eyes, he met her gaze. No, he was also observing her, as if assessing her.

With the same scrutinizing gaze as when he examined everything in the dessert shop.

Starting from her eyes, dazed with alcohol, to her flushed cheeks, lips turned pale from being bitten tightly, ears reddened as if feverish, and down to her neck, mottled red.

Feeling as if every place his gaze touched was heating up, Olivie felt a ‘could it be’ rising from deep within her.

It wasn’t wavering, but there was warmth, and though her fingertips were cold, sweat seemed to seep into her palms.

‘Like me.’

Suppressing the urge to rub her palms on her thighs, Olivie bit her lip.

‘Should I try?’

If he really felt the same way.

The thought that maybe one night would be okay was quickly dismissed by his cool eyes.

‘Forget it.’

If something awkward happened, like six years ago at her debutante, it would only be troublesome for both of them.

They were young then, but now they were old enough to know better.

So, she decided to let go of the idea and turned her head.

“Hey, if you know this young lady, you should take her home.”

The bartender, polishing a glass with a squeaky sound, gestured towards Olivie. Momentarily, she jerked her head up at his meddling, trying to help her, but he seemed not to notice.

“She seems quite distressed about her fiancé cheating. Don’t let her drink more and get into trouble with some random guy.”

“No, what trouble!”

Feeling the need to shut him up immediately, Olivie sent him a pleading look. At least she had to keep quiet about the part about leaving with the first man who walked through the door. Understanding her plea, he closed his eyes with a knowing grin.

‘Even more worrying!’

But there was nothing more she could do. Olivie pushed her glass forward and hurriedly took out her money. She thought it best to leave quickly, so she generously left a tip and got off the stool.

“I’m fine. Let’s not talk about it, okay?”

But perhaps she had drunk too much.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she felt her body sway heavily, and the floor seemed to rush up to meet her.

‘Am I about to fall?’

Realizing she needed to grab something to steady herself as her legs gave way and she pitched forward, she reached out desperately.

“Careful.”

She fell into Robin’s firm embrace as he pulled her arm.

His embrace was wide, and his chest was solid.

‘That’s not fair.’

A man who was not only handsome but also had a great body.

It seemed too unfair, she thought, as she tried to steady herself.

But even though she thought she was steadying herself, her feet didn’t cooperate, and her knees buckled. As she leaned further into his chest, pressing her face against it,

‘I just want to sleep.’

His familiar scent enveloped her. In his arms, which seemed capable of erasing all the uncomfortable memories from the past, Olivie took a deep breath. The embrace with him made her feel like she was losing her mind.

“Are you okay?”

His cool, low voice came from above her head.

It didn’t match the noisy pub atmosphere at all, yet his voice was clear and distinct, making Olivie, still clinging to him, look up.

“……”

She needed to say she was okay. But her mouth only moved silently, unable to speak, and Robin furrowed his brow at her dazed gaze.

“Are you okay…”

“Oppa.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to sleep with me?”

Her heart raced wildly.

Her pulse was strong and fast enough for him to hear as he held her, making her breathless. As her breathing colored her flushed face a deeper red, and as she let out shallow breaths…

“Okay.”

He nodded.

“Let’s do that.”