The girl’s sweet, tender voice trembled faintly under the influence of the aphrodisiac, each sound dripping with temptation.
The Crown Prince had only intended to teach her a lesson, keeping her in his chamber to humble her audacity and rid her of those indecent thoughts. Yet here she was, daring to invite his favor.
With such beauty at his side, any other man would have lunged without hesitation. But the Crown Prince relied on sheer willpower to restrain himself—until he could bear it no longer. With a sudden motion, he yanked her into his arms.
Her delicate fragrance wafted into his senses, not the cloying powder-scent he despised during the day, but something akin to sun-soaked sunflowers mingled with fresh grass and the sweetness of ripe fruit—warm yet not overwhelming.
When his palm settled against the soft curve of her waist, the Crown Prince’s breath hitched.
His hand was broad and strong, fingers long and deft, easily spanning the narrow span of her waist.
Clad only in a thin undergarment, her body was supple and smooth, pressed unshielded against his palm like warm snow, the delicate hollows of her form yielding like willow branches in the wind—fragile, as if a single rough touch might break her.
For some inexplicable reason, he didn’t pull away.
This sensation was strange. Since leaving his wet nurse, he had scarcely allowed physical contact with anyone. Others regarded him as a demon, too terrified to even meet his gaze, let alone touch him.
As for those who sought to climb into his bed, a single glance from him was enough to make them recoil in shame—he would never deign to lay a finger on them.
This girl’s thoughts were filthy, her intentions brazen yet cowardly, contemptible in every way… and yet, the feel of her was not unpleasant.
The Crown Prince’s gaze darkened, his eyes burning with a predatory fire as his fingers traced idle, teasing patterns along her skin.
Yun Kui shuddered, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
It tickles, it tickles, it tickles—
Not just her waist—even his breath against her cheek sent shivers through her.
Hot and ticklish.
Trapped in his embrace, she didn’t dare scratch, didn’t dare breathe too deeply, didn’t even dare ask him to touch her somewhere else.
Whimper.
The girl hung her head, too timid to look at him, but the Crown Prince’s mind burned with the clamor of her thoughts.
He wanted to scrutinize this shameless creature, but when he lowered his gaze, he was met with eyes like dark pools shimmering with unshed tears.
Her lashes fluttered like moth wings, her cheeks flushed peach-pink in the candlelight, lips plush and red, slightly parted—a sight so dazzling it stole his breath.
Yun Kui felt the weight of his grip tighten, so much that she could barely breathe. “Y-Your Highness…?”
The Crown Prince tilted his head back, squeezing his eyes shut, struggling to ignore the porcelain slope of her neck, the delicate collarbones beneath, and lower still—the soft, tantalizing swell of her chest.
The aphrodisiac raged through his veins, her scent seeping into his senses, impossible to escape.
“Turn around,” he commanded at last, voice rough.
Yun Kui didn’t want to face him like this either.
The man’s presence was overwhelming, his heat like a furnace—she couldn’t take it anymore. Turning away meant she wouldn’t have to endure the stormy intensity of his gaze.
But… why did he want her to turn?
Does he prefer it from behind? Or the side…?
The Crown Prince: “…”
Yun Kui had seen illustrations—she wasn’t unfamiliar with this position. Her body tensed instinctively as she slowly turned.
Now, the smooth expanse of her back lay bare before him.
She inhaled sharply, fingers clutching the edge of her undergarment until her knuckles whitened.
It was cold. Despite the warmth of the brocade covers, despite the heat radiating from the man behind her—she felt icy.
His gaze felt tangible, slithering over her spine like a serpent’s damp caress.
She hunched her shoulders, the delicate wings of her shoulder blades rising like a butterfly poised for flight.
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened. He’d thought turning her would spare him the sight of her face—but this bare, luminous back was just as dangerous, tightening something low in his gut.
The dose of aphrodisiac had been strong—strong enough to ensnare even him.
Now, with silken sheets warming around them and a beauty in his arms, desire coiled hot within him. If he treated her as nothing more than an antidote… what harm was there?
Before he could act, the girl’s frantic thoughts pierced his mind.
Ugh, just get on with it already!
What’s he waiting for? If he ruins his health, don’t blame me…
If you won’t do it, I will!
…Haha, just kidding, I’d never dare.
But maybe… if I turned around “accidentally,” brushed against his chest, asked if he’s alright… or, under the guise of concern, checked how things were progressing down there…
Just as Yun Kui’s imagination ran wild, a large, warm hand closed around the nape of her neck.
Eek—!
She froze as the Crown Prince’s voice rumbled darkly in her ear: “One more thought, and I’ll feed your head to the dogs.”
Yun Kui: “…”
Wait—how did he know what she was thinking?!
She didn’t dare move. His scorching breath drew nearer, washing over her neck like a wave before something soft and wet pressed against her skin.
Her scalp prickled, her entire body locking up.
The sensation was foreign—sharp yet teasing, like the slow drag of teeth followed by the soothing lap of a tongue.
Yun Kui stood paralyzed, her mind blank.
The alternating pressure of his mouth—sometimes biting, sometimes suckling—sent threads of pain and something else, something indescribable, tangling together until her heart raced wildly.
She panted, struggling to steady her breathing, but the wet heat at her ear continued relentlessly.
Biting her lip hard, she fought the urge to cry out, the coiled tension inside her with no outlet.
Was this… a kiss?
Or was he just biting her? Taking his time so he wouldn’t kill her in one go?
She’d seen others kiss in dreams—never experienced it herself. Those women had moaned in pleasure, wept, even begged for mercy. It left her utterly confused—was a kiss supposed to feel like this? So unbearable?
Hearing her thoughts, the Crown Prince frowned.
This girl had witnessed others kissing? What had she been doing all this time? Had she come from a brothel?
He pulled back abruptly. “Before entering the Eastern Palace, where did you serve?”
The sudden absence of heat made her body sag like a loosened bowstring. Gulping air, she answered, “This servant was previously in the Imperial Kitchen. Before that, I spent a year in the Embroidery Bureau.”
She pressed her lips together. “I was… not very skilled. The matrons said I ate too much, so they sent me away.”
The Crown Prince doubted she’d lie—but how could a palace maid know so much of intimacy?
Had the palace truly grown so debauched in his absence? Were secret trysts and lewd affairs now commonplace among the servants?
His thumb stroked the slender column of her neck, his voice low and rough. “When I kissed you just now… how did it feel?”
How was she supposed to answer that…?
However, men probably all enjoy being praised—and enjoy praising others—especially in bed, especially someone like the Crown Prince, the epitome of masculinity.
Yun Kui shivered as his signet ring grazed her neck, too afraid to struggle. Mimicking the tone of the women in her dreams, she carefully chose her words to flatter him: "Your Highness... so domineering and mighty, this servant feels... very pleased..."
That should satisfy him, right?
Though, strictly speaking, mouth-to-mouth is what counts as a kiss. What he just did to my neck was more like biting!
The Crown Prince’s expression cooled. His fingers drifted along the delicate skin behind her ear, his touch almost indifferent. "Your words don’t match your heart. How should I punish you?"
Punishment again...?
His deep breath brushed against her ear, sending a chill down Yun Kui’s spine. Fighting back tears, she ventured after a long pause, "Perhaps... this servant could assist Your Highness?"
The Crown Prince scoffed. "Wouldn’t that be exactly what you want?"
Yun Kui’s cheeks burned despite herself. Stunned, she murmured, "This servant doesn’t understand Your Highness’s meaning..."
The Crown Prince lifted his gaze, his fingers pressing down with deliberate force.
Yun Kui winced, biting her lower lip hard.
His voice was icy. "What exactly did the Empress tell you?"
Yun Kui answered truthfully, "Her Majesty only instructed this servant to attend to Your Highness."
She’s literally a bedchamber maid—how much clearer does it need to be?
As for promises of a bright future, she wasn’t greedy. Just staying alive was blessing enough.
The Crown Prince hummed, leisurely tracing the skin behind her ear. "Then how do you plan to serve me?"
Yun Kui trembled like a rabbit caught in the jaws of a wolf, her body curling in on itself.
She had no idea what he wanted. He wasn’t in a hurry to kill her—maybe he just wanted to toy with her. But the terror of a blade hanging overhead, never knowing when it might drop, clung to her like a ghost. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, her breath turning ragged.
Without thinking, driven by sheer desperation, she grabbed the hand resting against her neck and yanked it down, pressing it firmly against the soft fullness below her collarbone.
Please! No more squeezing my neck! It’s terrifying!
She’d chosen a far more pleasant spot for him—one all men adored, where he could knead and tease to his heart’s content.
Most importantly, it wouldn’t kill her.
