Cornelia regretted not leaving the salon earlier. The atmosphere had turned chaotic due to the emperor’s latest scandal.

Had she known this would happen, she would have gotten up sooner.

Of all times, why did Alberto, her favorite chef, have to serve his signature snowflake brownie for dessert?

If not for that, she might have been comfortably lying in bed, resting by now.

A faint crease formed between Cornelia’s delicate brows.

Tap, tap.

‘What should I do?’

She tapped her knee lightly with her slender fingers, deep in thought.

Perhaps it was just bad luck.

She had always known a day like this would come.

Even so—

‘I’d rather it not be revealed through someone else’s mouth…’

Her delicate, soft fingertips tightened around the teacup she held.

Surrounded by people, Cornelia deliberately lowered her gaze to keep her expression unreadable.

Under the salon’s high ceiling, warm sunlight filtered through the grand stained-glass windows, casting a glow on her long, lush, light brown eyelashes and the elegant bridge of her nose.

She was the very picture of grace, like a swan gliding serenely across a quiet lake.

****

Click, click.

Her slender frame swayed precariously as she followed the line of ornate chandeliers, each spaced at regular intervals.

Cornelia steadied her legs, focusing on the hallway ahead to avoid stumbling.

Her golden dress caught the light with every step, shimmering like a jewel, while her abundant blonde hair cascaded in soft waves down her back.

Had the champagne she drank absentmindedly been stronger than she thought?

As soon as she realized just how much alcohol she had consumed, she had stepped out of the banquet hall to clear her head, but it seemed she had done so too late.

Her body swayed again.

The deepening intoxication made it difficult to keep herself upright as she moved.

Usually, she would have taken a moment to rest on the terrace near the banquet hall, but tonight, she passed it by without hesitation.

It would be troublesome if anyone saw her like this.

Her public position did not allow for even the slightest lapse in composure.

Cornelia Olsen—the beloved daughter of the Marquis Olsen, leader of the noble faction, and the reigning flower of the Roman Empire’s high society.

That was what people called her.

At times, she welcomed the noble status they praised, but it was inconvenient in such moments.

‘To think I can’t even drink a glass of wine in peace…’

A self-mocking smile graced her elegant and beautiful face.

“Wow…!”

The moment she opened the terrace door at the far end of the hallway, a breath of awe escaped her lips.

She stepped toward the railing and lifted her gaze.

“It’s been a while…”

The star-filled night sky stirred something deep within her.

The vast expanse of twinkling stars reflected in her light brown eyes was so breathtaking that it sobered her hazy mind.

As she tilted her head back to take in the brilliant spectacle, her long golden hair shifted, revealing her nape’s soft, pale skin.

Her crimson lips curved into a satisfied smile.

Memories of her childhood drifted in; for once, she didn’t mind.

The tension that had gripped her throughout the night’s festivities melted away.

‘That’s enough admiring—time to rest.’

Cornelia quickly scanned her surroundings.

Exhausted from the evening’s exertions, her legs wouldn’t hold up much longer.

Fortunately, a long bench was situated near the terrace railing.

As she moved toward it with slow, graceful steps, the hem of her dress twined around her ankles before slipping away.

Once seated, Cornelia hiked up her skirt with the same ease she would in her chambers.

The motion revealed her shoes—exquisitely designed with eight layers of petal-shaped embellishments, each adorned with precious gemstones.

Without hesitation, she slipped them off.

“Ah, now this is relief.”

Her nanny and Sophie would have been horrified.

But so what?

Neither of them was here, and she was utterly alone.

“Ugh… I love gatherings and parties, but heels are the worst.”

As blood rushed back into her feet after being constricted for so long, a tingling sensation shot through her toes, drawing a soft groan from her lips.

The expensive heels she had just removed dangled loosely in her pale, slender hand.

Did they say it was crafted with the utmost care by a master artisan using the finest leather?

The shoes were comfortable and beautiful, but she still preferred being barefoot.

Her feet, never quite accustomed to high heels, needed to breathe now and then.

Cornelia leaned back against the bench, waiting for the sensation in her feet to dull.

“This feels nice…”

With alcohol in her system for the first time in a while, her head spun, and the tension wound tight within her body and mind unraveled as if by magic.

A breeze, cool against her flushed cheeks, carried away the warmth, while the luminous golden moonlight softened her mood and lifted her spirits.

‘How long has it been since I last felt this ease?’

A pink blush spread across her cheeks like a blooming balsam flower.

The gentle wind carried a sweet melody from her lips.

Her soft, lilting humming filled the quiet space, and her pale legs, draped over the armrest, swayed to the rhythm.

Then, a shadow flickered over Cornelia’s face as she sat, her eyes closed, smiling.

“There you are.”

‘Hm?’

She doubted her ears. For a moment, she thought she had misheard.

“Did I come too late?”

But no, she hadn’t.

The voice that followed sent her heart plummeting.

It was a night steeped in darkness, and with her eyes closed, lost in her own melody, she hadn’t sensed someone approaching.

Cornelia hastily tried to sit up and identify the intruder.

But before she could react, the stranger moved faster.

“Mmph!”

Her light brown eyes, wide with shock and confusion, reflected her disbelief.

The man, having closed the distance instantly, stole her breath away.

Against the beautiful night sky she had just been admiring, she caught a glimpse of jet-black hair, darker than the night itself, and a sharp nose that could cut like a blade.

He was too close for her to see his face clearly, but the aura emanating from him was undeniable—this was a formidable man.

His lips, firm yet unhurried, brushed against hers with practiced ease, coaxing rather than demanding. The sheer skill behind it made her forget, for a fleeting second, the gravity of the situation.

‘No, this isn’t right! Not like this!’

Shaking off her momentary daze, she tried to push the man away.

It had all happened in the blink of an eye, like a bolt from the blue.

‘Who the hell is this man?!’

When she regained her senses, his lips had already captured hers in a deep, consuming kiss.

She struggled to break away, but he was built like a fortress—solid and immovable.

Planting her hands against his broad chest, she pushed, but to her horror, he misunderstood the gesture. His large hand wrapped around her smaller one, pulling her closer instead.

Their bodies, separated only by the thin fabric of her dress, were pressed together with no room between them.

‘No, this isn’t what I meant!’

His body radiated heat, searing against her skin as if he intended to brand her with his touch.

She tried to retreat, but he allowed her only a brief breath before he pursued her again, his lips unyielding.

‘This is insane!’

Just when she thought he would finally let go, he let out a low, husky groan—and then, with deliberate slowness, urged her to part her lips.

‘This man… he was far too skilled at this.’

This wasn’t the kind of kiss she had heard about.

And it was nothing like her first kiss—the one she had long since chosen to forget.

As a noblewoman, she had been properly educated from a young age and was well aware of the nature of physical intimacy between men and women.

Yet, theory paled compared to the heat and intensity of this stranger’s kiss.

It burned. It consumed. It left her parched for something she couldn’t name.

Her instincts stirred in response to his relentless pursuit.

Somewhere along the way, the mystery of his identity became secondary to the sheer force of the kiss itself.

He boldly closed the gap whenever she resisted, only to ease his touch and coax her with surprising tenderness. The contrast was dizzying, making it impossible to think straight.

“Ah…!”

She gasped for air, and instantly, he seized his chance.

The moment she parted her lips, he deepened the kiss without hesitation, as if he had been waiting for exactly that.

His movements were certain, unrestrained.

Cornelia had never imagined a kiss could feel this intoxicating.

Especially not from a man she had never met before.

It was as if the world around them had melted away, leaving only the two of them.

A shiver traced her spine, her heart pounded wildly, and her toes curled.

Before she realized it, her hands had clutched at his firm arms, helplessly responding to his kiss, however clumsily.

With a ragged sigh, he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss further.

His large hand, resting on her delicate nape, trailed downward, skimming along her waist in a slow, deliberate caress.

Hot breath fanned against her ear.

“More than I expected.”

The man, who had briefly parted his lips to catch his breath, murmured in a low voice.

Though slightly rough at the edges, his voice was deep, low, and pleasant to hear.

As her ragged breathing gradually steadied, focus returned to Cornelia’s soft, light brown eyes.

And slowly, her rationality began to return.

She needed to see who this thief-like man was.

‘Just who…!’

When she resolved herself and lifted her head, she was met by a man whose eyes were redder and more brilliant than rubies. He gazed down at her with an overwhelming, searing intensity.

Even in the brief space where their bodies were pressed together, his large, thick fingers relentlessly toyed with her lower lip, urging her to taste that scorching pleasure once again.

That fierce gaze jolted her back to her senses like she had been doused with cold water.

‘Red eyes…?!’

Only then did Cornelia clearly see the man—jet-black hair and crimson eyes.

‘My God…!’

Her lips parted in shock, and her wide eyes trembled with disbelief.

She barely managed to swallow the scream that threatened to burst from her lips.

That wasn’t enough—her hand, trembling finely, lifted to cover her mouth.

This had to be a dream!

Kissing a stranger was shocking enough, but of all people, it had to be Emperor Carlisle?!

Cornelia’s long, thick lashes quivered, and the large eyes beneath them wavered ceaselessly like waves crashing in a storm.

“Why are you so surprised?”

She had done everything she could to silence herself, yet all of it was in vain the moment Emperor Carlisle spoke.

“Ah… this is insane…”

At last, words spilled from Cornelia’s lips—her unfiltered reaction to the absurdity of their situation.