‘Why is this person acting like this? As if they’ve never thought about breaking off the engagement? Shouldn’t they actually be happy about it? If this is an act, they’re an incredible actor.’
Veronia calmly organized her thoughts and opened her mouth.
“There’s no need to pretend. I understand everything.”
“……”
“I want to… create a marriage… a new family… with someone I love and who loves me. That person… is not Lord Killian.”
“How can you be so certain of that?”
Veronia thought she saw blue lightning flash in Killian’s eyes.
“Well……”
Because I read it in the novel. Since she couldn’t say that, Veronia pressed her lips tightly shut.
‘Because you’ll end up falling in love with Evangelina, not me.’
Killian, unaware of her inner thoughts, drew closer and closer.
They were so close their shoes almost touched.
“You said you don’t like me. That I’m not the one who loves you… To be honest, I’m not sure myself yet. What is what……”
“……”
Veronia didn’t understand what Killian meant by not knowing what was what.
But his words about not knowing what was what seemed sincere. Judging by the deep wrinkles forming between his brows as he furrowed them.
“But this much is certain. After meeting you again after two years, there’s only one thing I’ve been curious about.”
“What’s that?”
“How and why the Imperial Princess has changed so much that she won’t even kiss me anymore.”
“Kiss… you say?”
Why is that word suddenly coming up? Veronia’s eyes widened at the appearance of the unfamiliar word.
Ah, that’s right. Come to think of it, didn’t the original Veronia shower Killian with kisses every time they met? And that’s why Killian hated it?
“You… disliked things like kisses, didn’t you?”
So why is he now asking why she didn’t kiss him? Veronia was confused by his words.
“Whether I disliked kisses or not… it seems my memory has become hazy. Or perhaps… I’ve changed so much that the me from two years ago and the current me are completely different people.”
What nonsense is this? Is he drunk? Veronia closely observed Killian’s condition.
His face was a little flushed, but he didn’t seem drunk.
Killian lowered his head and drew even closer. They were so close their noses almost touched.
“So I want to confirm it.”
“C-confirm? What, how?”
Veronia asked, but no answer came. Instead, lips gently pressed against hers.
A soft sensation tenderly enveloped her lips.
Veronia couldn’t breathe.
Her thoughts stopped, and time stopped with them.
Only the soft sensation dominated her. Thump-thump, her heart pounded wildly.
She learned for the first time in both her past and present life that human lips could be this soft, that human breath could be this hot.
‘Killian’s kiss… is it okay to accept it like this?’
This was the pathetic thought that barely managed to poke its head out amidst her confused feelings.
Why can’t I enjoy the present as it is? Why can’t I savor what’s been given to me…? Veronia squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Just for today… let it be okay. I’ve been through enough with the Empress, so I can turn a blind eye to this much of a reward. Right?’
Having convinced herself thus, Veronia carefully wrapped her arms around Killian’s neck.
She embraced his lips as they pressed against hers and swallowed his incoming breath.
His lips were sweet, and his breath was even sweeter.
How much time had passed?
When both of them had no breath left in their bodies, their lips parted with gasps.
Haa, haa… Their heated breaths dissipated into the garden air.
Though their lips had parted, their gazes, filled with longing, still remained fixed on each other.
A look of bewilderment gradually appeared on Killian’s flushed face.
‘This, this can’t be…!’
To kiss! For him to initiate a kiss with Veronia.
It was unthinkable.
Even if they were engaged, she was the Imperial Princess.
To dare to press his lips against the Imperial Princess’s body without even asking for permission! This was a completely different matter from when the Princess initiated kisses with him.
Was it because of the alcohol? No, he hadn’t drunk much.
Then was it because of the atmosphere created by the midnight garden stroll? Could it be…?
Or was it due to emotions like jealousy? Maybe…
Was it because he was hurt by Veronia’s words that kept trying to draw a line? Yes, perhaps…
“Your Highness… I didn’t mean to… I’m sor-”
Killian couldn’t finish what he was trying to say. Because Veronia planted a quick kiss on his lips.
It was a silencing kiss that said she didn’t want to hear any apologies.
The briefly touching lips that parted formed a slight smile.
“So, now that you’ve confirmed it, how was it? Did you like it? Or do you still dislike it?”
“That…”
Killian looked at Veronia with a dazed expression. Thump-thump, his heart raced wildly.
This kind of heartbeat was a first for him.
This vertical rise in body temperature was also a first.
This strange, inexplicable, sensual feeling was also a first.
‘What exactly is this emotion?’
Killian could only swallow dryly, unable to continue speaking easily.
It was then. The luscious red lips moved again.
“I liked it…”
Veronia smiled brightly as she reached out to Killian.
It was to wipe away the glistening saliva on his lips.
But her hand was caught by Killian before it could reach its destination.
“…I liked it more.”
Killian gently pulled her hand and embraced her, kissing her lips again.
There was no hesitation.
No bewilderment, no questions, not even embarrassment.
A long kiss that poured out everything continued.
He gently conveyed in his breath the feelings he couldn’t express in words, feelings he himself didn’t quite understand.
The kiss that began in the moonlit garden continued all the way to the Imperial Princess’s palace. Finally, they reached Veronia’s bedroom.
There was no need for words asking for permission or granting it.
They knew from the kisses that seemed to never part from each other. They knew from the longing contained in their sparkling eyes. They knew from the undiminished body heat.
They could tell from the touches that sometimes gently caressed and sometimes clung intensely.
On the soft bed, using moonlight as their blanket, Veronia and Killian exchanged passionate flames they didn’t even know existed within themselves.
All night long.
[This is the timeline separator]Killian, awakening from a light sleep, blinked his eyes. Outside the window, the dawn twilight still lay thick.
An unfamiliar ceiling and unfamiliar bedding. This was Veronia’s bedchamber.
Turning his head, he saw Veronia sleeping soundly, nestled in his arms.
Killian felt dazed, unsure if this was a dream or reality.
‘Such a thing… can happen so suddenly.’
Killian gently pulled the blanket to cover Veronia’s exposed shoulder, fearing she might be cold.
He thought her sleeping form looked incredibly lovely.
‘Lovely…?’
Isn’t that the kind of thought one has about someone they like? I certainly didn’t…
‘I didn’t particularly like Her Highness… no, it was closer to dislike…’
Does this mean… I’ve come to like her now? Surely not…
Killian squeezed his eyes shut and ran a hand over his face.
Thump-thump, his heart pounded as if in a fit.
He touched his forehead, trying to organize his thoughts. No, he tried to organize them.
But as his body began to heat up, he found it impossible to think properly.
There was only one clear thought he could manage, and that was…
The desire to kiss those red lips that occasionally moved as she slept.
‘But I can’t wake her from her deep sleep…’
Heat began to rise from the arm Veronia was using as a pillow.
Everywhere their bare skin touched, it tingled as if heat flowers were blooming.
‘…This is maddening.’
Just as Killian was casting a reproachful gaze at the peacefully sleeping Veronia, unable to settle down…
“Mmm…”
Veronia, stirring in her sleep, burrowed deeper into his embrace. So deep that her lips almost touched Killian’s bare chest.
Killian had to clench his jaw at the soft sensation tickling his chest.
But no matter how tightly he clenched his jaw, he couldn’t stop his rising body temperature.
Perhaps it was because of the heat where their skin touched.
Veronia, feeling hot, shifted and pulled down the blanket covering her.
“Uh… hot… Ah?”
It was then. Veronia’s eyes slowly opened, and soon her body jolted upright.
Sitting up, Veronia looked around with startled eyes before finally meeting Killian’s gaze directly.
“Lord Killian…?”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Both of their faces turned as red as deep crimson roses.
Fully awake now, Veronia seemed to ponder with a deliberately serious expression before slowly opening her mouth.
“Don’t worry, I won’t hold this incident against you, Lord Killian. My intention to break off the engagement remains unchanged.”
“Your Highness, I…”
Before Killian could finish speaking, Veronia cut him off.
“I’m… tired and need to bathe. I can’t see you off. Well then.”
The corners of Veronia’s mouth turned up slightly as she bid farewell.
It was an extremely businesslike smile.
A smile that built a wall, a silent signal not to cross the line.
Killian unconsciously raised his hand but ultimately had to take a step back.
A dry voice emerged.
“I shall visit you soon. We’ll discuss it again then. About breaking off the engagement, and about last night.”
“……”
Unlike Veronia, Killian couldn’t express any emotion on his face.
[This is the timeline separator]Immersed in the steaming bathtub, Veronia squeezed her eyes shut and clutched her head.
The warm water eased her physical fatigue but couldn’t soothe her mental exhaustion.
‘I understand my being impulsive. I’m naturally an impulsive person! But Killian, why did you… You’re not originally that kind of character!’
As Veronia kicked her feet and thrashed about, the bathwater splashed and overflowed.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
