Bella forgot how to breathe.
The world seemed to narrow until only Ji-ho remained.
Only him.
Only the tears on his face.
Only the trembling honesty in his voice.
Only the impossible words he had finally spoken.
For a moment neither moved.
Neither spoke.
The moonlight stretched between them.
Silver.
Fragile.
Sacred.
Then Bella laughed.
A broken laugh.
One filled with tears.
"You fool."
Ji-ho's expression softened.
"I know."
"You absolute fool."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Ji-ho reached for her before he could stop himself.
His fingers brushed her face.
Careful.
As though she might disappear.
Bella closed her eyes.
The touch nearly destroyed what little composure she had left.
Days.
So much longing.
So much restraint.
So much pretending.
And suddenly there was nothing left to hide behind.
When she opened her eyes again, Ji-ho was still there.
Still looking at her as though she were the only thing in the world.
Something inside her finally surrendered.
Not to him.
To herself.
To the truth.
Bella's hand rose slowly.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of his robes.
Ji-ho inhaled sharply.
Neither of them breathe right now or could look away.
Then Bella pulled him toward her.
She kissed him like she had been starving for months. Like he was the only thing missing in her life.
A longing she hadn't felt in forever and he was the read for it all.
Ji-ho froze.
Only for a second.
Then his hand found her waist. And suddenly all the distance between them vanished.
All the walls.
All the rules.
All the reasons they should not.
Gone.
And he kissed her back like he couldn't live or breathe without her. He kissed her like a men on a mission.
And the kiss. The kiss happened somewhere between one heartbeat and the next.
Soft.
Warm.
Fiery.
Tentative.
A question more than an answer.
Not hurried.
Not reckless.
Just two people who had spent far too long pretending they felt nothing.
Bella's fingers tangled in his hair.
They only pulled apart occasionally when they wanted to admire each other's presence.
Ji-ho tried to catch his breath as he places his forehead against hers when they finally pulled apart.
Both breathing harder.
Bella gets up and moves to her bedding. Taking of her undresssing herself one after another.
Ji-ho looked at her as though he still could not believe she was real.
Bella looked up at Ji-ho when she was fully undressed as the moon reflected on her bare skin.
She could see the hunger in Ji-ho's eyes and also how he restrained himself from bouncing on her.
She called out to him. Not once. Twice.
She wanted him to know that she wanted him as much as he wanted her and that it was okay to desire her.
She reached out for him, as he slowly made his way towards her.
He kissed her once on her forehead and another on her cheeks because placing a chest kiss on her looks.
Her looks up at her and whispers in her ears, "You're all I'll ever need. Not just now, but for eternity."
As he furiously kisses her.
He made it his mission to kiss every path of her body, till the only sound her could hear escape her mouth was that of pleasure.
A pleasure not giving by another but by him to the woman he loves.
As she moans into his ears.
Poong-yeon is was still standing guard outside her quarters.
He hears enough to understand.
Immediately looks away.
Walks farther down the corridor.
Giving them privacy.
Ji-ho on the other hand was eager to please his woman.
He reenact everything she taught him on their first night together. Tracing her body with his lips and tongue. As he drives her into raw pleasure.
He made sure that all her body was loved equally.
And when I say all. I meant all.
He did things to her she never taught him. Like a student learning on sight.
She reach orgasm countless times than she could count.
It drove Bella to the point she thought she would break because of how much her made her feel.
The night was young and Ji-ho was just starting.
But even as pleasure consumed Bella quarters evil lurked.
A kitchen servant.
Someone forgettable.
Someone nobody notices.
Sees the Crown Prince enter.
Sees he never leaves.
Hours ago.
She had waited.
Observed.
Counted every passing lantern.
The woman lowered her gaze.
Turned.
And disappeared into the darkness.
—
The Prime Minister was still awake when she arrived.
Of course he was.
Men like him rarely slept before victory.
The servant knelt.
Forehead touching the floor.
"My lord."
The Prime Minister calmly set aside his brush.
"Report."
"The Crown Prince entered the foreign guard's residence shortly after midnight."
Silence.
"He remained there throughout the night."
The old man's expression did not change.
If anything…
He looked amused.
"Did he now?"
"Yes, my lord."
A long pause followed.
Then the Prime Minister chuckled softly.
The sound sent a chill through the room.
"A king may survive enemies."
His fingers tapped lightly against the table.
"A king may survive war."
The servant remained motionless
"But the heart…"
His smile deepened.
"The heart is the one weakness that willingly opens the gate."
Understanding slowly settled across the room.
The servant lowered her head further.
The Prime Minister rose.
Moving toward the window.
Beyond it, the palace rested beneath moonlight.
Unaware.
Unprepared.
"At last."
His eyes gleamed.
"We have found the Crown Prince's weakness."
—
Morning arrived far too quickly.
Bella woke first.
For several seconds she forgot where she was.
Forgot everything.
Then she felt warmth.
Strong arms around her waist.
A steady heartbeat against her back.
And remembered.
A night of passion and feelings.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Ji-ho.
A strange smile tugged at her lips.
The Crown Prince of Joseon was asleep.
Completely asleep.
Unguarded.
Naked.
Handsome.
In her bed.
She would never allow him to live this down.
Carefully, she turned.
Ji-ho stirred.
His eyes opened.
Immediately finding hers.
He reaches for a kiss and Bella reciprocated it.
It lasted longer than you should, but it almost stored up the heat of the past night in them again.
But Bella stopped it from going any further.
Neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
She stared at him for a moment
As she made the decision to speak.
About his wedding.
About the kingdom.
The crown.
All of the things waiting outside her quarters.
Ji-ho seemed to understand instantly.
His expression darkened.
Bella reached up.
Touching his cheek.
"You should marry her."
She spoke those words free as though they didn't hurt her.
But oh, they did. Even now.
Ji-ho's jaw tightened.
"No."
"Ji-ho."
"No."
Bella sighed.
"The kingdom needs stability."
"No."
"Your father needs peace of mind."
"No." He said heart broken.
"The people-"
"I said no. I don't care what they people want."
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
Bella stared at him.
Then slowly cupped his face between her hands.
Ji-ho immediately leaned into the touch.
As though it were instinct.
As though it was home.
Her eyes softened.
And for the first time…
She said it without fear.
Without hesitation.
Without running.
"I love you."
Ji-ho froze.
The words settled between them.
Sacred.
Real.
Bella smiled sadly.
"I love you more thank words could describe."
His eyes glistened.
"And because I love you…"
Her voice trembled.
"You must think of the kingdom."
Ji-ho stared at her for a long time.
Then suddenly laughed.
Once.
Softly.
Disbelieving.
Bella frowned.
"What?"
Ji-ho reached for her hand.
Pressed a kiss against her knuckles.
Then looked directly into her eyes.
"Very well, my peace."
Relief flooded her chest.
For one brief moment.
One brief, foolish moment.
She thought she had convinced him.
Then Ji-ho smiled.
A dangerous smile.
A determined smile.
The smile of a man who had already made his choice.
"I will marry her today, as you wish."
Bella blinked, unsure of the tone in his response.
"What?"
His gaze never left hers.
"I will do it."
Confusion spread across her face.
Then Ji-ho leaned forward.
Close enough that she forgot how to breathe again.
"But only if you agree to marry me first."
Silence.
Bella stared.
Certain she had misheard.
Ji-ho's expression remained perfectly serious.
"Marry me, Bella."
The world stopped.
And Bella's mouth fell open.