chapter 49
“Mmm… who’s there…?”
Her voice was heavy with drowsiness. Her unfocused eyes blinked slowly.
“What is this… a dream?”
Even half-asleep, the overwhelming presence that pulled her gaze was none other than Prince Franz.
“Must be a dream…”
Murmuring blankly, Iella looked up at Franz with slight displeasure, still nestled in his arms.
“Franz Princeton.”
“……”
When no answer came, Iella pouted her lips.
“Hey, Franz Princeton.”
Up until that moment, Franz had only hoped she would fall back asleep. But then he doubted his ears.
“What?”
“What, why? Your name is Franz, right? Why aren’t you answering?”
So she really had called him by name.
“Hey? Heeey?”
“…Yeah. You said I could call you comfortably.”
What the—was she drunk? Or just pretending?
Franz narrowed his eyes, staring down at Iella. Far from shrinking, she boldly stared right back at him.
“If you’re drunk, just go back to sleep. Okay?”
Even his low growl only made her snort.
“Hmph.”
A snort? Franz’s eyebrow shot up in disbelief. He’d never heard anyone snort at him before—and then her next words were even more absurd.
“I’m not drunk, okay? And this is a dream anyway. I’m sleeping, so why would I go back to sleep, dummy.”
Her words were defiant, but her smiling face was bright and innocent. That made it even more baffling.
“Dummy?”
As he frowned, Iella raised a finger and pressed against his furrowed brow.
“What, are you offended?”
“Being casual” didn’t mean she could be this rude.
“Keep it up and see what happens.”
Even at his quiet warning, Iella only giggled again.
“What, you’re four years older than me and you’re sulking over that? So petty.”
“Petty?”
Was there a word less suited to him? No matter how he thought about it, “petty” didn’t match him at all.
“Fine, fine. Not petty. I’ll say you’re magnanimous instead. The magnanimous Prince Franz.”
Smiling, Iella reached out and cupped both his cheeks. Her warm palms pressed against his cool skin.
“So cold…”
Franz allowed himself to be pulled closer, until their faces almost touched.
“Are you mad?”
“No.”
His face hardened, his voice heavy. He was struggling to suppress the heat rising inside.
“You look mad. Don’t be. Okay?”
Then, Iella gently kissed the corner of his lower lip before pulling back. It wasn’t even a proper kiss—just a clumsy brush.
Yet Franz’s mind froze, unable to think rationally.
The soft breath against his lips made his halted breathing burst free. Grabbing her hands still on his cheeks, he lowered his face to hers.
If he was going to accept this anyway, he decided he wouldn’t hold back.
Unlike his cool cheeks, her lips were warm. Iella flinched at the sudden pressure but then, trembling, wrapped her arms around him. His solid, broad back and the warmth of his body made her cling tighter, like a child seeking comfort.
Franz embraced her as she burrowed into his chest.
“Ah…”
A sigh of relief slipped through her lips.
Franz drank in her hot breath and damp mouth as though he’d been parched for ages. It was like his frozen senses had come alive again. Every sensation was vivid, almost unfamiliar.
Her breath carried the sharp tang of wine. Though bitter, it now seemed sweet. But his thirst only grew, tormenting him more.
Pulling her closer, he deepened the kiss, tangling his tongue with hers. Iella responded clumsily, trying to match his movements.
In the quiet cabin, the wet sounds of mingling saliva and their ragged breaths filled the space along with the sound of rain outside. The intimate, sticky noise only excited Franz further.
The damp air grew heavy with their heat. No matter how much he took, it wasn’t enough.
He pressed harder, slipping his tongue deeper, leaning his weight against her. Beneath his solid frame, Iella felt soft, pliant—exhilaratingly so.
Even pressed so close, it still felt lacking. Growing impatient, Franz let his hands wander more boldly.
From her nape, his hand drifted down toward her swelling chest. But before it could go further, the heat between them ended abruptly.
“Iella?”
Something felt off—her movements had dulled.
“……”
He called her softly, but no response came.
“…You’re sleeping? You fell asleep now?”
Staring blankly at her suddenly peaceful face, Franz raked a hand through his hair in disbelief.
What the hell? What kind of woman falls asleep while kissing?
And yet there she was, clinging to him, breathing evenly as though in deep slumber.
His boiling heat cooled in an instant.
As he tried to move away, Iella instinctively tightened her arms around his waist.
“…Unbelievable.”
But worse was yet to come.
After some time had passed, Iella awoke from her deep sleep. Blinking at the unfamiliar ceiling, she soon recalled what had happened.
“Huh? Did I fall asleep on the bed?”
Finding it odd, she carefully rose. The room was empty—Franz was nowhere to be seen.
The rain had stopped. Draping the warm blanket around her shoulders, Iella opened the door.
Creak—though she opened it gently, the old wood groaned. On the porch bench sat Franz. At the sound, he turned his head. Their eyes met.
Iella instantly remembered her “dream,” but feigned calmness and casually sat beside him.
Franz gave her only a sidelong glance before looking straight ahead again, his face unreadable.
Unsure what to say, and realizing she didn’t really have anything to say anyway, Iella just sat silently. The two of them remained in heavy silence for several minutes, staring ahead.
“…Don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Huh?”
The sudden question made Iella blink at him. His eyes glinted darkly.
Did I mess up somehow?
Her gaze wavered anxiously. Franz stared back expressionlessly.
“Thank you.”
“….”
Franz frowned slightly.
“I must’ve dozed off.”
Dozed off? Why thank him for that? He tilted his head in puzzlement but nodded anyway.
Then her next words made him snap his head toward her, his face incredulous.
“Thanks for moving me to the bed. I must’ve fallen asleep from the wine without realizing it.”
He could have just left her, but then she would’ve woken stiff and sore. Thanks to him, she felt refreshed, like her fatigue had melted away.
Iella smiled again in gratitude.
“……”
Silence thickened. He’d half-expected this, but experiencing it left him speechless. Judging by her clear expression, she remembered nothing.
Unbelievable. She really doesn’t remember?
Come on, Franz. She thought it was a dream.
Even as he told himself to understand, the absurdity gnawed at him. Worse, he still felt a faint yearning from their kiss.
Lacking the will or the desire to be angry, Franz simply turned his head away.
“What? Do I have something on my face?”
“The rain’s stopped. Let’s go.”
Cutting her off, Franz stood abruptly. If she said one more word, he might actually throttle her.
Puzzled by the odd mood, Iella tilted her head.
What’s with him?
As if the storm had never raged, the sky after the rain was bright and blue. Pools of water reflected it like clear mirrors. Droplets on leaves sparkled like fragments of glass, and the fresh scent of trees filled the air.
“Good thing the rain stopped.”
Her cheerful voice made Franz sigh inwardly.
She has no idea.
He told himself yesterday had been just another day. Still, something surged in his chest now and then.
“It was only a shower.”
Feigning coolness, he answered lightly. That was all he could do in this situation—and it left a bitter taste.
Bitter? Why?
He wasn’t some youth desperate with unchecked passion. In fact, it was probably better that Iella thought it all a dream.
It was just a meaningless kiss. Nothing had changed, nothing would change.
Even if she remembered—what then?
He didn’t like it, but it had only been an accident. He knew Iella hadn’t meant it.
Still, the ridiculousness of it all left him simmering with a strange frustration. A nameless, tangled emotion stirred in his chest. Franz dismissed it as nothing more than pent-up desire.
“Are you well, Your Highness?”
When they returned to the palace, Murray greeted them with a worried look.
He’d been concerned when the sudden downpour began, but Franz appeared as flawless as ever—save for his damp hair falling across his forehead.
“Prepare bathwater.”
“Yes, right away.”
Murray responded briskly; preparations had already been underway for their return.
“Iella, you should warm yourself too.”
Her wet clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin, but at Franz’s consideration, Iella smiled.
“Thank you, Franz.”
“……”
She shot him a look as if to say, See? Aren’t I good?
After a long silent glance, Franz only gave a slight nod before heading upstairs.
Watching his back as he ascended, Murray asked quietly,
“My lady, did something happen outside?”
“Hm? No, nothing. We just got pretty wet in the rain…”
Iella shook her head with a bright face, though inside she worried Franz looked tired.
“I see. Then you should go and rest as well.”
Convinced his prince was simply weary from the rain, Murray set aside his doubts.
