At the gala, I mistakenly drank a glass of wine that had been… enhanced. My body burned with an agonizing heat, and my first instinct was to find Lord Kaelen, my childhood friend. But then, strange, glowing text flickered into my vision. 【Oh, sweetie, you’re making a huge mistake! You might get your relief tonight, but tomorrow you’ll face the toxic hero’s wrath. He’ll be forced to marry you, then blame you for driving away the female lead. On your wedding night, he’ll have a beggar take his place…】 【Don’t be an idiot! Go to your cousin next door, the ice prince! He has a secret room with a thousand portraits of you, in every conceivable pose!】 【Some people deserve to lose her. Acts all high and mighty around her during the day, then when his ‘fever’ hits at night, he’s crying her name. Pathetic!】 My hand trembling, I knocked on the door of my cousin—the man known for his untouchable grace and cold self-control. 1 Thirsty. My throat was a desert, my eyes stinging with tears I couldn’t shed. It wasn’t water I craved. It was the cool touch of someone’s skin to quench the fire raging beneath my own. The wine was spiked. My vision swam, faces blurring together across the grand ballroom. Who did this? Who wanted to see me humiliated, my reputation shattered in a single night? I bit my lip, hard, the sharp sting of pain a fragile anchor to my fading sanity. I stumbled out of the hall, desperate to find Kaelen, the young lord who had escorted me to the gala. There, in the moonlight, behind a trellis of climbing roses, he stood with another woman. Before I could call out his name, my voice a desperate, trembling plea, the strange text flashed before my eyes again. A chill, colder than any winter night, washed over me, momentarily eclipsing the feverish heat. I recognized the woman with Kaelen. It was Seraphina, the Duke’s daughter, a celebrated scholar famed throughout the kingdom for her beauty and wit. The “female lead” the comments mentioned. Kaelen’s untouchable goddess. “My lord,” she said, her voice a soft melody on the cool night air, which had cleared my head just enough to hear his reply. “Shouldn’t you be with Lady Elara?” His voice was a careless drawl, laced with an irritation that cut me to the bone. “Elara?” he scoffed. “She’s nothing but a pretty face, an empty-headed doll who’s been clinging to me for years, chasing away any other woman who dares to come near. I’m sick of it.” “She still hopes that the alliance between our families means you’ll marry her. How could I possibly marry someone like that?” Seraphina offered a small, elegant smile. “Then what kind of woman would you wish to marry, my lord?” Kaelen’s usual swagger softened, his tone turning earnest. “Someone like you, of course. Graceful, poised, elegant… a woman who would bring honor to my house.” 2 A moment ago, I’d dismissed the glowing text as a fever-induced hallucination. Now, hearing Kaelen’s cruel words with my own ears, a different kind of heat burned behind my eyes. My heart clenched, a painful, sour knot in my chest. The drug surged through me, a relentless tide that gave me no time to breathe. If I couldn’t go to Kaelen… could I really go to him? He was my cousin, yes, but a distant one. As the King’s Chancellor, he was a man carved from ice and ambition, a figure of daunting perfection. I’d never seen him bow his head to anyone. Whenever I saw him, his formidable, chilling presence was so intense I could barely lift my gaze from the floor, my voice a whisper. “Cousin Julian…” He never responded. Could this man, Julian, as remote as a snow-capped peak, really be the one the text described—the one who cried my name into his pillow at night? A blush, hotter than the drug itself, scorched my ears. The blood in my veins felt like oil meeting a spark, an unbearable itch deep in my bones. I steeled myself, ready to turn and flee, but my foot snapped a dry twig. The sharp crack shattered the quiet conversation in the rose garden. “Who’s there?” Kaelen’s voice was sharp, his gaze piercing the shadows. My eyes were red-rimmed as I twisted the fabric of my gown, the effort to stand still excruciating. When he saw it was me, his brow furrowed in a deep scowl, his lips twisting with scorn. “Elara. Must you be so pathetically clingy? Can’t I have a moment’s peace without you chasing after me?” His face darkened. “Am I not even allowed to speak with Lady Seraphina?” “You’re so possessive and jealous, it’s no wonder no man would ever want you!” My voice, when I finally found it, was thick and watery. “No, it’s not that… I… I don’t feel well. I wasn’t trying to follow you.” Seraphina, ever the picture of grace, interjected smoothly, “Please, my lord. Lady Elara is unwell. You should see to her.” Kaelen just snorted, his disbelief a slap in the face. “Don’t play sick, Elara. Can’t you come up with a new excuse? Every time another woman is near me, you pull one of these stunts. Last time it was a lost bracelet, now you’re ‘unwell’?” He strode forward and seized my wrist. The moment his skin touched mine, his arrogance vanished, replaced by a flicker of panic. His brow creased. “Gods, you’re burning up. Did you catch a chill? Is this a fever?” The scent of his cologne, once a comfort, now made my stomach churn. I felt my legs buckle, my control slipping. I was about to collapse into his arms, the drug too strong, the gnawing ache in my bones unbearable. But then, the text appeared again, a desperate, flashing warning. 【NO! Don’t let him touch you! If you fall for this psycho, your life is over!】 【That bastard! He’ll enjoy it just as much as you, but he’ll claim you seduced and forced him! Years from now, when he and his precious Seraphina have their dramatic reunion, you’ll be thrown out of his house to make room for her, left to die sick in the streets.】 【And after you die, your tight-lipped cousin won’t say a word. He’ll just silently follow you into death. Can’t you two just get together and spare us the drama from these two clowns?! It’s not even a good tragedy, it’s just manufactured angst!】 I stared at the glowing words, my mind reeling. In the end, Julian—the cold, proud Chancellor who held the kingdom in his hand—would follow me to the grave? 3 As Kaelen moved to sweep me into his arms, I shrieked, a raw, ragged sound. “Don’t touch me!” Then, forcing strength into my voice, I added, “I’m fine now!” Kaelen’s brow tightened with impatience. “Elara, what game are you playing now? Is it fun, toying with me? You were just faking it to get my attention, weren’t you?” He sneered. “Honestly, Elara, when will you grow up and be more like Lady Seraphina? Composed, dignified.” I dug my nails into my palms, drawing blood. My lips were a mess of bite marks from holding back the moans that threatened to escape. I couldn’t risk speaking again. Leaving Kaelen standing there, I fled. I found myself outside the guest suite of the Chancellor, Julian. My fingers trembled as I raised my hand to knock. An eternity seemed to pass. I was about to give in to the desperate urge to throw the door open and rush inside when it was pulled open by a hand with long, elegant, powerful fingers. “Lady Elara? Are you lost?” His voice was cool, like water flowing over ice, like the chime of jade. “This is not Lord Kaelen’s suite. The man you’re looking for isn’t here.” The fire inside me, briefly quenched by his cool presence, roared back to life, fiercer than before. The pop-up comments were practically screaming. 【He’s SO bothered! He’s probably been crying into his pillow every night you didn’t come looking for him, writing Kaelen’s name on the soles of his shoes just to stomp on it.】 【Don’t be fooled by the ice prince act, Elara. He’s a total softie for you…】 【Every time you call him ‘Cousin’, his fingers start trembling with excitement. Later, when you’re whispering it in his ear, he’s going to absolutely lose his mind!】 The flashing text was becoming a blur. My vision, red-rimmed and hazy, could only focus on the saint-like figure before me. Julian. He wore a simple white linen shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, revealing the sharp, clean lines of his collarbones. His dark hair fell, soft and immaculate, around his shoulders, and he was surrounded by the cool, clean scent of sandalwood. He was a man who made you want to drag him down from the heavens, pull him into the messy, mortal world, and ruin him completely. To see his eyes, red and wild, as tears of pleasure streamed down his face. My gaze slid from his collarbones to the lean line of his waist, and then, shamelessly, lower… 4 Julian’s sharp eyes missed nothing. He saw the state I was in. His cool palm came to rest on my forehead. “What’s wrong? You’re burning up. Are you ill?” His voice, usually so cold, had softened, laced with a concern he couldn’t quite hide. Being this close, the crisp scent of sandalwood and winter air filled my senses, an intoxicating drug all its own. My heart hammered against my ribs. The world tilted, my legs no longer able to support me. As I swayed, I instinctively grabbed his hand, my fingers wrapping around his cool, long ones. The sound that escaped my lips was a broken, desperate whimper. “Ju… Julian…” I stammered, my voice cracking into a sob. “Cousin…” The man I clung to went rigid for a moment, but he didn’t pull away. He let me hold on, my fingers tangled with his. “I feel so sick,” I whispered. “Help me.” “I… want…” I wanted him to pull me into his arms, to silence the fever with his cool lips. The comments flashed again: 【She listened! See? This is why she gets the goods!】 【Look at the ice prince’s ears, people! They’re so red I think I’m going blind. You’re holding her with one hand, what about the other one? Don’t you have plans for it?】 Prompted by the text, I glanced at Julian’s ears. The soft lobes were flushed a deep, translucent crimson, like polished agate. He wasn’t as calm as his expression suggested. Julian leaned in, his pale lips so close I felt I could just tilt my head up and capture them. His other hand moved, strong and sure, to my waist, locking me in place, pulling me flush against him. His thumb brushed against my swollen lips. “My sweet Elara…” he murmured, the words a delicious, whispered secret. “Tell me clearly. How do you want your cousin to help you?” 5 His question left me dumbfounded. How? How could he help? The comments were in a frenzy: 【This is killing me! Hurry up! I paid for the premium subscription, just kiss her already, then do that thing (redacted), and then the other thing (redacted)…】 【If Elara doesn’t know what to do, don’t you, Ice Prince? Stop playing innocent, I’m begging you! I’ve seen the way you draw her. You’re a pro! Didn’t you practice on her stolen dress every night? You practically wore it out!】 【It’s her first time coming to him, he’s probably so happy he’s in shock. Afraid his dark, secret self will scare her away. Where’s my ‘get-them-together’ squad?! Somebody superglue their mouths together, now!】 “Elara, look at me,” he said, his voice low. “Do you know who I am?” I knew. He was Julian. I had come for him from the very beginning. “Elara,” he warned, his voice a low thrum against my skin. “If you start this, there’s no turning back. No regrets.” I couldn’t stop myself. I bit my lip again, tasting blood. “Cousin, please… can you just help me? Now?” “I won’t regret it…” A tear finally escaped, tracing a hot path down my cheek. Julian’s cool eyes darkened, a predatory beast stirring in their depths. The rough pad of his thumb brushed my cheek, catching the tear. He then smeared the dampness across my lips, mixing it with the blood. He lowered his head. His lips met mine. The cool scent of sandalwood exploded in my senses, overwhelming everything. A cascade of fireworks erupted behind my eyes. 【The Ice Prince knows what he’s doing! A kiss of blood and tears! So dramatic!】 【What did he do wrong? He just loves her too much! Better he claims her himself than letting that toxic Kaelen hurt her. Make her his wife!】 【Kiss her until she faints! Kiss her until she can’t even think about another man!】 My legs gave out completely. I clung to the front of his shirt, my fingers leaving a trail of wrinkles in the fine fabric. “Cousin,” I gasped. “Can we… can we go to the bed?” Standing like this was torture. 6 My lips were numb and tingling, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my eardrums. After I managed to pant out my request, Julian suddenly released me, his pupils contracting in a sharp, sudden motion. 【Damn, he almost lost it! That flash of possession and pure, unrestrained desire in his eyes was everything!】 【Elara, you can’t be that direct! You’re going to give him a heart attack!】 【Okay, everyone, let’s all put our pants back on. Bye now.】 【Hey! This isn’t a private server!】 “Cou… Cousin?” I mumbled, leaning against his chest as I looked up at him through a haze of desire. A sliver of his icy composure had returned. He leaned close to my ear, his voice raspy. “Elara, do you love me?” “I love you…” I was so, so thirsty. “That doesn’t count right now,” he murmured, his voice dropping lower. “You’re a little liar. You just want me to be your antidote.” I looked up and saw his lips, glistening from our kiss, and I wanted to taste them again. But he turned his head, and my lips landed on the sharp line of his throat instead. His Adam’s apple bobbed violently against my mouth. “I do love you, Julian!” I insisted, my voice trembling. “I know exactly what I’m doing…” My heated cheek pressed against his cool palm, rubbing against it like a desperate cat. But it wasn’t enough to extinguish the fire that felt like it was melting my bones. The comments were going wild again: 【I’ve thrown my pants so far they’re in another dimension, and this is all I get to see?】 【Elara’s suffering, and I bet your ‘fever’ is about to act up too. You’re each other’s cure, it’s perfect!】 【Sisters, calm down. We can’t push him too hard. Someone drugged Elara to frame her. If they sleep together now, they’ll be playing right into the culprit’s hands. The moment Elara is in his bed, someone will burst in to ‘catch them in the act.’ We’ll never get our ship to sail.】 【Our girl Elara is just a poor little thing caught between a psycho and a schemer. She’s just a side character, after all.】 【In this society, a tryst without a marriage contract would ruin her reputation. The fact that he can stop himself at a moment like this… I have to respect the Ice Prince. Either he has insane self-control, or he’s… not very capable.】 I took a deep breath, focusing on the comments, and slowly, a sliver of my own sanity returned. I closed my eyes, trying to fight the drug’s pull without looking at Julian’s face. “Elara, open your mouth. Be good.” I had clenched my jaw tight against the overwhelming sensations. The man before me showed no impatience. As he gently nipped my earlobe, his cool fingers found the seam of my lips, prying them open just enough to slip a bitter pill inside. 7 The bitterness dissolved on my tongue. I wanted to spit it out. Julian leaned over me, his fingertips sealing my lips. “Don’t spit it out, Elara. It’s the antidote.” “Once you take it, you won’t be so desperate for my help.” His eyes still held the dark embers of desire, but his tone had turned cool again. The comments wouldn’t stop. 【Elara, you’ve ignored him for so long. Now that you’ve finally thrown yourself at him, the Ice Prince thinks it’s just the drugs talking. He’s secretly sulking and jealous.】 【If you hadn’t been so foolishly chasing that psycho Kaelen, if you’d given this man even a single glance, he would have fallen from his pedestal for you long ago…】 【On the night you were supposed to marry Kaelen, he stayed up all night, sharpening a dagger with red-rimmed eyes. But seeing how much you ‘loved’ the psycho, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.】 As the medicine took effect, the burning heat and dizziness began to recede. But my heart was still racing. I reached out and hooked a finger around the sleeve of his immaculate shirt. “Cousin,” I whispered. “Kiss me again.” He looked down, his long lashes trembling uncontrollably. His gaze fixed on my lips, and the corners of his eyes began to bloom with a faint, lovely crimson. “What are you saying, Elara?” I wrapped my arms around his long, graceful neck, pulling him down to me, forcing him to bend. And just as I’d wanted, I launched my assault, a conquering army laying siege to a willing city, leaving no corner unexplored, mingling my breath with his… We kissed for a long, long time. The corners of his eyes were as red as crushed poppies. His cool gaze was shimmering with unshed tears. 【Tsk, tsk. So weak! Elara hasn’t even brought out the big guns yet and he’s already about to cry?】 【What can I say? Tears are a man’s best dowry~】 8 At that exact moment, the door was slammed open. 【Here we go! The schemer makes her grand entrance, ready to stir up trouble!】 【Phew, that was close. Good thing our Chancellor hit the brakes. I can’t imagine the horror if a crowd had burst in on… that.】 From the doorway, Seraphina’s elegant, soft voice rang out. “We just discovered a villain was at the gala, drugging the wine! It seems Lady Elara was the one who drank it.” Her voice trembled, as if she were overcome with concern for me. “I believe Lady Elara came this way to rest. Everyone, please, help me look! We must see if she’s been harmed…” She trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air. Everyone understood. They exchanged glances and then surged forward, ready to burst into the room. They expected to find me disheveled, a public spectacle, the centerpiece of a grand scandal. This was probably the scene they’d planned for after I’d sought out Kaelen. He would have been standing over me, loudly proclaiming how I’d shamelessly tried to seduce him, causing the heartbroken Seraphina to flee in tears. But as the door was thrown open, Julian stepped in front of me, shielding me from every gaze. “It is late,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet. “Why are you all looking for my cousin?” Seeing him, the smile on Seraphina’s face froze, then bleached to a ghastly white. “Elara? Why is she with you, Chancellor? I thought she went to find Lord Kaelen.” Julian’s voice was flat. “She is my cousin. Is it not perfectly normal for her to seek me out?” His eyes narrowed. “Were she and Lord Kaelen so close? Without a betrothal, Lady Seraphina, you should be careful with your words. Do not tarnish my cousin’s reputation.” His voice turned as sharp as a shard of ice. Behind his back, the hand holding my wrist tightened its grip. 【He’s still holding her hand, hasn’t even let go, and he’s already this jealous.】 【Elara, that poison is nasty. One little pill won’t fix it. You better be good and appease your jealous man, or you’ll be the one crying and begging for his kisses later.】 【Field report! The schemer is in position, and the psycho is on his way. Level one alert!】 Chancellor Julian was a legend. So young, yet so powerful, a man many viewed as a god, utterly unattainable. To hear him personally reprimand Seraphina for insulting my honor was a shock. Seraphina, the “female lead,” had likely never been spoken to so harshly. Her eyes instantly filled with tears, which began to fall one by one as if she had suffered the greatest injustice imaginable. “Chancellor, you misunderstand. I was only worried for Lady Elara, I meant no harm…” “But… Lady Elara is only your distant cousin. For the two of you to be alone in a room at this hour… it is improper. You must consider her reputation, Chancellor…” The comments were livid. 【I’m so mad! This girl is so two-faced! It gives me this helpless feeling, like trying to slap smoke. I bet she was the one who drugged Elara’s wine!】 【Just stick with your psycho, nobody’s trying to steal him from you! If you ruin our secret ship and I can’t get my fix, I’ll destroy you all.】 I wanted to leap out and tear at her perfectly styled hair. But Julian’s hand held me fast. His long, beautiful fingers began to gently trace circles in my palm. It tickled. In front of all these people, he was calmly, deliberately, teasing my palm. It was… thrilling. The heat I had just managed to suppress began to stir again. Julian fixed his gaze on her. “What does it matter? I can take responsibility for Elara. I will marry her.” The comments exploded. 【HE HAS A MOUTH AND HE KNOWS HOW TO USE IT! ICE PRINCE SUPREMACY!】 【My forbidden, secret ship can finally come out of the shadows and feast!】
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