Chapter 1.1 – It Began with an Accident

Bang!  

Her back slammed violently against the wall. Before she could even let out a gasp, Katia’s lips were sealed by his. Closing her eyes, she felt the urgency of her partner’s lips exploring hers. His calloused fingers ran through her hair, gripping it tightly. Despite the force, it seemed to barely faze him as he pressed his body closer against hers.

Squinting slightly, she looked at him. His piercing blue eyes, filled with heat, bore into her. The burning lust in his gaze always exuded a certain provocative energy.  

Of course, Katia knew that the desire in his eyes wasn’t directed solely at her. But it didn’t matter. It had never mattered from the start.  

His large, rough hand hurriedly slid under her shirt. The hardened calluses on his fingertips grazed her sensitive n*pples, already stiff with arousal. As they were pressed and flicked, Katia let out a moan, her body flinching.  

“Haah, Kitty…”  

“Don’t call me that.”

She snapped, a slight irritation lacing her voice.  

The man chuckled, his laugh rough and throaty. He knew she hated that nickname, yet he always used it during moments like this, as if to tease her. Annoyed, Katia bit down hard on his lips. “Ow!” he flinched slightly, but retaliated quickly. His hand grabbed her soft, round br*ast, squeezing it roughly.  

“Ahh… that hurts…”  

“Stop exaggerating.”  

His voice, thick with arousal, dropped to a low whisper. His muscular thigh wedged itself between her legs, pressing against her core. The firm bulge of his arousal pressed insistently against her stomach, making its presence known. Katia’s hand slid between his legs, grasping the thick mass and stroking it firmly.  

As her hand worked him, he shuddered, gripping the back of her neck and deepening the kiss. His tongue, soft but aggressive, pulled hers closer, exploring every tender corner of her mouth. The intensity of his movements left her trembling as wetness pooled between her legs.  

Both of them knew each other’s weaknesses well, expertly undressing one another while stimulating vulnerable spots. This familiarity came from countless nights together. For a fleeting moment, doubt crept into Katia’s mind, but it was quickly erased when he stripped her top off completely and took her br*ast into his mouth.  

“Ahh… oh…”  

“Don’t get distracted.”  

“Ahh, wait! You’re too fast…”  

“That’s why you shouldn’t let your mind wander.”  

He was incredibly quick with his hands. The moment her lower half was exposed to the air, goosebumps rose on her skin. But the cold sensation vanished as soon as two of his fingers slid inside her without warning. Katia clutched his shoulders, letting out a shaky moan.  

“Already this wet…”  

“Ahh… slow… down…”  

Her plea for him to take it slow seemed to fall on deaf ears. His fingers mercilessly pressed against the most sensitive parts inside her. Her back arched forward, her nails digging into his skin, but he paid no attention.  

The lewd squelching sounds filled the air, and Katia struggled to suppress the moans threatening to escape her lips. She bit down hard, trying to stifle the sound, but his dissatisfied voice reached her ears.  

“Don’t hold back. I want to hear your voice.”  

He pressed her legs apart with his own, keeping her pinned. His hand, still working inside her, showed no mercy. His fiery blue eyes scanned her face, a hint of frustration flickering in his expression. Yet, he kissed her eyes, nose, and lips tenderly, whispering into her ear.  

“I said, don’t hold back.”  

But Katia had no intention of listening to him. After all, they weren’t in a private space. They were in a public area, with people bustling just outside the door. Despite engaging in such an intimate and obscene act, Katia remained acutely aware of her surroundings.  

Her resistance seemed to irk him, and his brows furrowed in frustration. Even with his face twisted into a frown, he was still strikingly handsome.  

When Katia, tears welling in her eyes, met his gaze, he suddenly pinched her nose tightly.  

“Ah!”  

Startled, she opened her mouth, allowing his fingers to slip inside. As he toyed with her upper and lower lips, he smiled mischievously.  

“Haah… ahh… ahhh!”  

“I love hearing your moans, Kitty.”  

She bit down on his fingers, harder this time, but instead of showing pain, he merely grinned. The fingers that had been inside her retreated, grazing her sensitive folds as they left. Katia shuddered, her hips twisting involuntarily. But his legs prevented her from escaping.  

Then, without warning, something hot and hard pressed against her drenched entrance.  

And before she could prepare herself, he thrust inside. The sudden intrusion made her gasp sharply. Supporting one of her thighs with his hand, he drove himself deeper with powerful thrusts.  

“…!!” 

The sensation of him hitting deep inside her made her momentarily hold her breath. His fingers, still playing inside her mouth, left her lips wet with saliva that she couldn’t swallow in time. He teased her tongue with his fingers, relentless in his assault.  

Her delicate body, unable to escape his grasp, trembled under his touch. Katia’s gray eyes wavered uncontrollably, and seeing her like this, he whispered.  

“You’re so beautiful.”  

“Ahh… ahhh!”  

“And so damn arousing.”  

He pounded into her mercilessly, the force of his thrusts reverberating deep within her. Katia’s mind quickly grew hazy. His fingers, now gone from her mouth, were replaced by his tongue, invading her once again.  

Why was he so impatient today? 

Katia wondered, struggling to keep up with his pace. Then it hit her—Marielle, the woman he adored, had officially been introduced as the Crown Prince’s fiancée today. His jealousy must have boiled over, consuming him entirely.  

That’s why he had sought out Katia so urgently, needing to bury himself in her to forget his frustrations.  

Deciding to stop thinking altogether, Katia surrendered herself to him. Overthinking would only hurt her. It was easier to lose herself in the pleasure he offered, to let go completely.  

“More… Leonid.”

She tightly wrapped her arms around Leonid’s neck.

As if waiting for her to do so, he buried his face into Katia’s neck and began thrusting wildly. The force of his movements made Katia’s body shake like a leaf in the wind. Worried she might fall, she clung even tighter to his neck.

She knew she had to put an end to this strange and foolish relationship. That thought lingered briefly in her mind before disappearing. She rubbed her face against his shoulder, panting heavily. Soon, the only sounds between them were moans and suppressed gasps of pleasure.

And then, drops of black liquid fell onto the wooden floor, leaving small stains.

***

Katia Evlaine was someone who drew attention. At the young age of twenty-three, she became the Crown Prince’s aide immediately after graduating, a fact that made her stand out. Her beauty was another topic of discussion.

With her deep gray eyes and lilac-colored hair, she could appear intimidating when expressionless, but when her face softened, she looked unbelievably kind. Initially, people found her somewhat difficult to approach. However, once they got to know her, they tended to underestimate her. Of course, those who dared to cross the line were often harshly put in their place.

Because of her skills and beauty, many people were drawn to her. After all, it wasn’t surprising that the Crown Prince’s beautiful aide would attract attention. Yet, for some reason, Katia never engaged in the common pastime of romance. She focused solely on her work. Observing this, some people commented:  

“With two dazzling presences by her side, how could ordinary mortals ever catch her eye?”

This statement made sense to those who heard it, as Katia was often seen with two extraordinary individuals. One was Crown Prince Alehin Blidrica, whom she served as an aide, and the other was Leonid Karev, who served as the escort. It was no wonder, as the two men were often referred to as the twin peaks of beauty in the Blid Kingdom.

Standing side by side, the two were like day and night. Crown Prince Alehin, with his golden hair that seemed to capture the essence of sunlight and his emerald-green eyes, was tall and ruggedly handsome. At twenty-nine, he was already praised as a future ruler who would be both compassionate and just. His warm heart and integrity earned him admiration, and his many talents only added to his reputation.

Leonid, who stood as his equal, possessed striking blue eyes reminiscent of the deep sea and glossy black hair. At the young age of twenty, he had defeated all the leading officers and claimed the position of captain of the royal guards. Eleven years had passed since then, and he was still regarded as the strongest man in the kingdom.

He was tall enough to look down on most people, with broad shoulders and a wide chest. Despite his imposing frame, his features were refined, making him a stunningly handsome man. Many young ladies found themselves captivated by him.

Some even joked with Katia:  

“Surely, being around those two makes every other man seem unremarkable, right?”  

To this, she would simply respond with a smile.

In truth, Katia’s dream of becoming an aide came from a slightly different place than others. Before graduating from the academy, her goal had been to become a civil servant. Her sharp intellect was something even her professors coveted, leading to fierce competition among them to take her on as a protégé. However, Katia had always longed for a prestigious position, which made working in the royal palace her ultimate aspiration.

Given her family’s circumstances, this was only natural. Although the distinctions between social classes had blurred, nobles still pursued honor and power. Unfortunately, Katia’s parents lacked the capability to achieve such things, leaving their family name as their only remnant of nobility. They lived a life that was practically middle-class.