chapter 26
“I love you, Eli.”
It felt like an unbreakable shackle had been tightly fastened around her neck.
Kiern pressed Elizabeth forward impatiently. Even though she knew this wasn’t the right path, she couldn’t resist.
It pained her to see Kiern begging her to stay by his side.
First his mother, then his father. No one was left beside him anymore. Perhaps the thought of even her leaving frightened him.
Elizabeth felt sorry that the only person left by his side was the daughter of his enemy. At the same time, it hurt to know how desperately he wanted her.
She didn’t have the strength to reject his confession.
Because it was the very thing she had wanted to hear most.
Her resolve to abandon everything and leave crumbled meaninglessly. The moment he held onto her, she wavered helplessly.
How could she refuse someone who accepted her as she was?
How could she turn away someone who said he would abandon everything for her?
With her hand resting on Kiern’s cheek, Elizabeth asked—her final, desperate attempt:
“Kiern… do you really love me?”
At her question, Kiern answered with clouded eyes,
“Yes. To the point of madness.”
With those words, his lips claimed hers again. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
The moment Elizabeth gave her consent, Kiern lifted her and carried her to the bed.
Clothes were hastily undone and fell to the floor. Torn lace fluttered under his rough touch.
Kiern pressed his lips against her pale skin, grabbing her chest in one hand.
A soft moan escaped Elizabeth, and his touch grew even rougher. Her pale skin flushed red under his harsh movements.
Every place he bit and sucked burned with heat. Fear suddenly gripped her.
“Kiern, a little slower… ah—”
But her words were swallowed by his lips.
At the same time, she realized, for the first time, that such breathless sounds could come from her. Every touch from him made her dizzy.
Soon after, he tore off his shirt, revealing firm muscles that left her flustered.
Embarrassed by the sight of a man’s bare body for the first time, she tried to avert her gaze, but he held her eyes in place.
“Getting shy now?”
“Kiern…”
“You’re more cunning in bed than I thought, Eli.”
At his crude words, her face burned. She had never imagined facing him like this.
It was her first time being consumed by such overwhelming desire, and she felt confused. Then he unbuckled his belt and said,
“Open.”
“….”
As she stared blankly, he smirked and positioned her himself, as if he hadn’t expected any initiative from her in the first place.
Unable to bear the explicit sight, Elizabeth shut her eyes tightly. She couldn’t imagine that it would fit inside her.
“Kiern, I don’t think I can—!”
As she tried to rise awkwardly, he grabbed her and forced her down.
“Ah!”
At his sudden movement, she let out a cry-like gasp. Her body trembled at his lack of gentleness.
Kiern, now stripped of any composure, exhaled heavily and pressed himself against her.
Their bodies met, and his warmth felt unusually intense. As he moved, he muttered curses under his breath.
He began moving slowly, stimulating the tight space. Then he noticed the tears pooling in her eyes and frowned, realizing too late that he hadn’t prepared her.
“Does it hurt?”
At his gentle question, she nodded, then shook her head.
It wasn’t only pain. The sensation was unfamiliar, but just as intense.
“I’m okay.”
As she forced a smile, Kiern let out a low sigh. Seeing her flushed face and smile only drove him further.
Soon, as if letting go of the last shred of reason he had, he began moving roughly.
The relentless motion and his heated voice overwhelmed Elizabeth.
Wet sounds filled the room. The unfamiliar pain was gradually replaced by trembling pleasure.
She had intended to leave. To run away. She thought it would be better for him.
But Kiern held onto her.
She couldn’t push him away.
The thought that this was wrong faded into the distance.
Even if the world condemned them, even if the truth came out and people pointed fingers—she felt it might be okay as long as they were together.
She couldn’t leave a man who said he would abandon everything for her.
She believed they could turn things around.
As long as they loved each other, she thought they could break the chain of hatred between their parents.
Foolishly, she dreamed of such hope—
never imagining that Kiern was thinking something entirely different.
Kiern, expressionless, casually picked up the clothes scattered beneath the bed and dressed himself. Steam still rose faintly from his body after his shower.
In the quiet dawn, only the soft rustle of fabric could be heard.
He looked down at Elizabeth on the bed, appearing neat and composed—nothing like the man who had tormented her all night.
Elizabeth lay there, completely naked, fast asleep. Her body bore countless marks of him.
Remembering how she had cried and clung to him all night made his body stir again.
The moment he decided to go through with it, Elizabeth had appeared before him.
It had been impulsive, but he felt a strange thrill.
Drunk and barely conscious, he had been like a dangerous beast.
Starving—and then prey had come to him on its own.
He hadn’t even needed to set a trap.
So he devoured it.
He wasn’t gentleman enough to let such tempting prey go.
He didn’t hesitate to shake Elizabeth, who had been trying to empty her heart.
He pushed her further, until she collapsed completely.
Now that he had taken her, even his last bit of hesitation had disappeared.
He should have done this from the beginning.
There had been no need to act like a gentleman toward her.
He had been a fool, clouded by childhood memories.
Now that she had been brought down into this castle, all that remained was to break her.
Her red hair spread across the bed like spilled paint—more captivating than the rose garden outside.
Kiern absentmindedly played with her hair.
Now that he had her in his grasp, she felt like she belonged to him.
At the same time, he felt anticipation.
What would happen if he broke her completely?
If he destroyed her so thoroughly she could never recover—
what would she become?
And what expression would Stella make when she saw it?
Just imagining it filled him with satisfaction.
The thirst and emptiness he had felt all this time vanished the moment he had her.
In its place came a deep sense of fulfillment.
He assumed it was because of his desire for revenge.
He felt lower than a beast.
He had thought it would end once he gave in, but instead, he felt even more wretched.
Did Elizabeth know?
That the man who had been her friend and first love could become something so cruel?
His insides had long since rotted, stained like a polluted, dead sea.
He couldn’t clearly define the emotions rising within him.
All he knew was that his long-standing thirst had been quenched.
He let those unknown feelings swirl unchecked.
Instead, he held onto one clear emotion—
his desire to destroy Stella.
Elizabeth was merely a means to that end.
She meant nothing to him.
And yet, after such an intoxicating night with someone who meant nothing—
he impulsively reached for her neck.
Her slender throat looked like it could snap with just a little pressure.
But he didn’t do it.
Withdrawing his hand, he said coldly,
“You’re the one who came to me.”
It was her fault for lingering around someone already broken.
Her naive kindness—smiling at him, trying to stay by his side—was the problem.
“This is who I am. It’s also your fault for not running away sooner.”
He leaned down and roughly captured her lips again, as if confirming she belonged entirely to him.
Whether she stirred in her sleep or not, he indulged his desires freely.
Even after breaking her, he wanted to crush her further.
Eventually, he left for the bathroom to clean himself once more.
The pouring water cleared his mind.
Elizabeth’s wishes would not come true.
She would fall into despair.
The misfortune destined for her and her mother would soon come.
To stand against evil, one must become even more evil.
Kiern had decided to become that evil—
and from now on, he would no longer hesitate.
By the time morning came, after his second bath, he did not return to where Elizabeth was.
“Where shall we go, young master?”
“To Prairie Castle.”
At his command, the carriage slowly began to move.
Today, he intended to proceed with the engagement—
the one that had been postponed due to the duke’s accident
