Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

Cailus silently closed the door.

Bang.

Then he opened it again.

Richard was still in exactly the same pose.

A rose held between his lips, one shoulder bared, his eyebrows slightly raised as though in seduction.

"Are you joking?"

"Do I look serious?"

"Where did the rose come from?"

"There were some decorating the hallway outside the bedroom. I figured taking one wouldn't be a problem."

"..."

Cailus pressed a hand to his forehead.

"You're insane."

"I'm perfectly sane."

Richard slowly rose.

The long, trailing hem of his silk robe fluttered slightly, falling to his ankles.

He took one step, then another.

He approached Cailus.

"Even as a joke, doing something like this..."

"You'd prefer it if it were a joke, wouldn't you?"

Richard whispered slyly.

His voice was sweet and sultry, and his gaze was several shades darker and deeper than usual.

Cailus took a step back, his brow furrowing.

"You... said you hated me, didn't you?"

"That's right."

Richard nodded.

The incident in the North.

Yes, I hate you.

He hated Cailus. That feeling would never change, not for all eternity.

But...

He had thought about it while entering the palace.

The engagement succeeded, but...

His blue-gray eyes momentarily turned cold.

...now that I think about it, it isn't over yet.

An engagement was only a promise, after all.

To truly bind him, Richard had to secure the marriage.

Who knew?

If the Emperor passed away in the future... Cailus might immediately annul the engagement.

So, before that happened—

I have to shake him.

He had to seduce him more thoroughly, more securely.

"Even so..."

Richard smiled faintly and took two more steps toward him.

"Now that we're engaged, shouldn't we reconcile?"

He lifted his head and looked up at him.

"..."

The red eyes grew cold and still.

"What scheme are you plotting now?"

"Just a sincere desire for reconciliation."

Richard answered glibly, then turned away.

"Wait a moment."

He walked familiarly over to the small liquor cabinet in the bedroom.

A bottle of red wine and several wineglasses were neatly arranged inside.

"What are you doing?"

"Sharing a glass of wine wouldn't be so bad, would it?"

With only those words, Richard took out two wineglasses.

As he tilted the bottle and poured, his fingertips moved with flawless delicacy, and the deep purple liquid swayed gently within the glasses.

Tap.

He placed one glass on the table before Cailus.

"Relax. It isn't poisoned."

"Who would believe that?"

"Then verify it yourself."

Richard raised his own glass first and lightly wet his lips.

"See? I'm perfectly fine."

Of course, that was a lie.

The Love Potion.

While pretending to pour Cailus's wine, Richard had secretly slipped the Love Potion into his glass beneath the table.

A potion that would make whoever drank it fall asleep and mistakenly believe they had spent the night with another person.

With this...

Richard swallowed his laughter.

He might be able to shake Cailus.

Ever since the incident in the North, Cailus had been noticeably wary of him.

This was a means of overturning that situation.

"..."

Cailus cautiously picked up his glass.

Although his gaze was filled with suspicion, there was nothing wrong with Richard's words, so he eventually brought the wine quietly to his lips.

One sip.

Then another.

Richard set down his own glass and subtly raised the corner of his mouth.

Got him.

Once he fell asleep...

Richard would fabricate the scene to make it look as though something had definitely happened.

If Cailus believed he had spent the night with Richard under the influence of the Love Potion, he would no longer be able to treat him as he did now.

Excellent.

He silently thanked Zahir once again.

Even if it becomes necessary, I can't actually spend the night with that bastard.

Wearing a victor's smile, Richard watched Cailus.

His eyelids were growing heavier.

His head was slowly tilting.

Good, it's working. Very smoothly.

Richard laughed bitterly to himself in relief.

If he falls asleep like this, it's over. When he wakes up tomorrow morning, his mind will be filled with... very passionate memories.

A perfect plan.

Even if they're only memories, they'll be intense...

That was when it happened.

"Richard."

Richard's thoughts instantly halted at the low, resonant voice.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"What?"

Something was wrong.

His voice was far slower and more languid than usual.

It was not merely fatigue... His voice sounded deliberately laden with emotion.

Cailus slowly, almost too calmly, set down his wineglass.

Then he looked directly at Richard.

There was no haze in his gaze. If anything, it was clearer and sharper than before.

"Weren't you falling asleep?"

Richard asked cautiously. Inwardly, however, he was panicking, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Cailus smiled faintly.

"How could I fall asleep and leave you alone?"

His voice was unnervingly affectionate.

With a serene smile, he spoke again.

"Richard."

"...?"

"You really do use such cute tricks."

Richard's smile instantly froze.

"I don't quite understand what you mean."

Cailus stepped closer.

Strangely slowly, with an affectionate step that carried no pressure.

"You thought I would collapse around now, didn't you?"

"..."

"That I would fall asleep and wake up in the morning mistakenly believing something had happened between us."

He smiled quietly as he stopped in front of Richard.

Then, as naturally as could be, he touched Richard's fingertips.

"Using something like this. How disappointing."

"...?"

"You shouldn't need to use a potion like this. You could simply... spend the night with me for real, right now."

Richard's eyes widened.

"Have you lost your mind?"

He could not believe his ears. What was this bastard saying?

How did he figure out my plan?

And... did I know Cailus could smile like this?

"..."

Cailus smiled.

Gently, brazenly.

"It means I want you."

He tilted his head and whispered in a low voice.

Beneath the moonlight, his red eyes gazed quietly down at Richard's face.

His expression was surprisingly affectionate, yet passion burned in his eyes.

As though he desired Richard at that very moment.

"Your Highness, are you in your right mind?"

Unable to conceal his bewilderment, Richard retreated.

This was not the potion's effect.

According to what I knew about its effects, the target should have fallen asleep immediately.

But why...

For every step Richard took back, Cailus took two steps forward.

"I am in my right mind."

His voice was soft and sultry.

"If anything, I'm at my most honest right now."

Richard's back struck a bedpost.

"Don't look at me with those eyes."

Cailus reached out and gently brushed Richard's cheek.

"You came to me first, didn't you? You even used a potion to try to have your way with me."

"That was—"

"So I was quite offended."

His fingertips slowly trailed from Richard's cheek down to his neckline.

"Being seduced like that by the one I love..."

"..."

"Isn't very pleasant."

"..."

"So I'll change the method now."

Cailus lowered his head.

His lips, his breath, so close they were almost touching.

"I'll have to take you."

Richard instantly drew in a breath.

But it was too late.

Both his wrists were firmly seized.

Before he could even resist, his body swayed and he was pushed onto the bed.

"Cailus, this is—!"

Richard sensed the danger and belatedly shouted.

But his words went unfinished.

Our lips met.

A brief, soft touch.

As though swallowing every word.

He did not speak.

He simply replaced everything with a single kiss.

"..."

Richard could not breathe.

His Adam's apple trembled slightly.

But his body would not move.

Their lips slowly parted.

Cailus closed his eyes and gently pressed his forehead against Richard's.

"Richard."

"..."

"I love you."

Something was terribly, irrevocably wrong.

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