What Josselyn felt in that moment was only this: Killian's cold palm gripping the back of her neck.
Their faces were inches apart.
The scent of wine and anger mixed in the tight space between them.
"All of this…" Killian's voice was low, rough. "Because of you."
Josselyn met his gray-blue eyes directly. She did not step back. She did not tremble.
"Because of me?"
"Ever since you set foot in this palace," Killian's jaw tightened, "my mother's condition has worsened. The Council is pressing me. And I…"
He stopped. His hand still held her neck, but the strength of his grip weakened without him realizing it.
"And you what, Your Highness?" Josselyn pressed softly.
Killian lowered his face closer. The tips of their noses nearly touched.
"I made a mistake," he whispered.
Josselyn froze.
A mistake?
That was not a word the Crown Prince used.
"You should have been left to fall apart that night," Killian continued, his voice turning sharp again. "I should not have defended you."
The tightness in her chest rose, but Josselyn swallowed it.
"Then don't ever do it again. I never asked you to."
Her answer came quickly. Firm. Without hesitation.
Killian fell silent. Their gazes locked.
Something shifted in his eyes. As if he had just noticed the faint tremor in her voice.
"You think I defended you for your sake?" he let out a short, bitter laugh. "I defended you because I couldn't stand seeing anyone else touch what's mine."
The words hung in the air.
The slight furrow in Josselyn's brow betrayed the shock she was holding back. Her heartbeat fluttered uncontrollably.
What is this man trying to say? she thought, irritation rising.
"And that's the problem," Killian continued quietly. "I shouldn't care."
His hand slid from the back of her neck to her jaw. His thumb nearly brushed her lips, then stopped.
His breathing was heavy.
"I should destroy you," he said again, but this time his voice cracked. "Not…"
He closed his eyes for a moment, as if swallowing the words he could not say.
Josselyn looked at him. Truly looked.
The man before her did not seem like the Crown Prince. Not the man who had drawn his sword in the hall. Not the man who had taken her on the bed with cold calculation, the memory of that night flickering through her mind like a dream.
Without realizing it, she scoffed. The sound was just loud enough to make Killian open his eyes.
"You should stop drinking, Your Highness. That sad expression of yours…" Josselyn blinked slowly. "…could fool a lot of people."
"If you want to blame someone," she continued softly, "blame the cowardly Council. Blame the rotten politics that force you to apologize to someone who insulted your own kingdom."
Killian's gaze sharpened again.
"I will not apologize."
"I know." Josselyn paused briefly. "You should be thanking Captain Darius. He saved your pride and your—"
Before she could finish, her lips collided with something soft.
Killian crushed his mouth against hers.
The movement was rough. Painful.
Small, thoughtless bites made Josselyn flinch.
"Let go!" she gasped against him.
Killian did not seem to hear. Even when Josselyn struck his chest hard, he only pressed harder against the back of her neck, deepening the kiss without any intention of stopping.
Heat flooded her body.
Idiot. Push him away harder, Josselyn. He's drunk.
Voices clashed in her head.
"Your Highness Killian."
A voice cut through the moment. Killian finally released her neck.
Unlike Josselyn, who immediately turned her face away and wiped her lips, Killian looked toward the voice with irritation.
"What is it, Darius?"
Josselyn's eyes widened. She turned even further, her back now to Killian. Her face burned.
Damn it. If Darius knows, the entire palace will be talking about me, she thought in panic.
"His Majesty is calling for you in his chambers," Darius replied.
Josselyn stood rigidly in place, refusing to turn around. She wanted to dig into the ground and disappear.
"Tch." Killian clicked his tongue in frustration. "He's been talking about that all day. He thinks I'll change my mind."
He took a step back, his gaze lingering on Josselyn's back.
"You don't yet know what it feels like to be under my attention, Josselyn," Killian said, his tone edged with threat.
Josselyn's hands clenched at her sides.
"I don't want to know," she replied as calmly as she could.
Killian let out a mocking breath. "Fine. We'll see if you end up swallowing your own words, traitor's child."
A sharp pain pulsed in Josselyn's chest, but she forced it down.
"Rule number one. Do not deliberately avoid me. You will come whenever I call," Killian ordered.
Josselyn nearly laughed at the absurd command.
"So now I'm your servant too?"
"If necessary." Killian paused, then continued, his tone more cutting. "Did you really think you were some Special Girl the Crown Prince defended? This palace is very good at creating stories I never intended."
Killian chuckled.
"Then you shouldn't pay me so much attention," Josselyn shot back.
"That is not your decision. Only my orders matter here," Killian said sharply. "And I don't hear obedience."
Josselyn quickly wiped the tears now falling more freely. She wanted this to end. Her head throbbed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
She managed to steady her voice.
Killian finally left her room with unsteady steps. She knew from the sound of him bumping against the door.
Once his footsteps faded, Josselyn shut the door and leaned against it, her breathing uneven.
Her fingers slowly touched her lips.
And what angered her most was not just that her kiss had been taken, but that for a fraction of a second, she had not pushed him away.
That realization made her feel sick with herself.
"Killian…" her voice broke. "He took my first kiss."
Her eyes hardened.
"I'll make sure he regrets it."
~
In the dark corridor, Killian leaned against the stone wall. His breathing was heavy. His fists clenched tight.
"Are you sure you can make it back to your chambers? Do you need my help, Your Highness?" Darius asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.
"You lied," Killian said, turning to him with a displeased look. "I knew it."
"My apologies, Your Highness. I don't know what happened between you and that alchemist girl. But your position is not favorable right now."
Killian hiccupped again.
Darius stepped closer and patted his back lightly.
"You're worried about me, huh? Do I look that pathetic?" Killian brushed his hand away, straightening himself.
Darius only gave a crooked smile.
"Drunk and entering an alchemist girl's room late at night," he said, shaking his head. "If anyone saw you, it would only make things worse, Your Highness."
Meanwhile, behind one of the palace's large pillars, two pairs of eyes watched in silence.
"Did you hear that, Sebastian? That alchemist girl… Josselyn, right?" one silver-haired man asked.
The man beside him, with dark brown hair, nodded. "Perhaps."
"What was he doing in her room while drunk?" Howarth murmured.
His amber eyes gleamed. One corner of his lips lifted into a grin
.
"Interesting," he whispered. "I think we may have just found the Crown Prince's weakness."