Lewd Courtship - Chapter 58

The situation was clear, yet his thoughts kept drifting in absurd directions. Even after firmly concluding Rachel was unfit to be empress, his mind circled back to her like a broken record. At this point, he wasn’t even sure what he wanted anymore.

“Sigh…”

Killian dragged his hand over his forehead as if to wipe away his tangled thoughts. He pressed his temples and exhaled deeply, but his throbbing mind had already leaped ahead to tomorrow.

What should I do about tomorrow’s date…?

Should he act unaffected and try to enjoy it? Or subtly bring up the club? Maybe canceling the date altogether was for the best.

As he imagined various scenarios, Killian squeezed his eyes shut. He felt unfamiliar and irritated with himself for agonizing over something like this.

Just as he decided canceling was indeed the wiser choice and moved to call his attendant, he froze mid-action. The memory of Rachel’s excited, sparkling eyes when she’d first received his invitation flashed through his mind.

The image of Rachel’s retreating figure as she headed back to the palace surfaced in his mind, and he found himself unable to speak the command. Moreover, any excuse he concocted for canceling felt hollow and unsatisfying.

In the end, he remained still, unable to call for his attendant, and simply lay there. His mind continued to race, and a restless, unsettled feeling lingered in his chest.

After tossing and turning countless times, the moment his thoughts finally quieted arrived. In the late hours of the dawn, Killian at last drifted into a fitful sleep.

***

Early the next morning, Rachel stood before Killian’s chambers, dressed with unusual care. She waited for the door to open, her heart fluttering with anticipation.

I hope he opens it soon.

As if answering her wish, the emperor’s door slid open quietly. Her eyes met Killian’s immediately—he was seated in a chair by the tea table, already awaiting her.

His hair was slightly damp, as if he had just finished his morning preparations, and his attire seemed more relaxed than usual.

Through the slightly unbuttoned shirt, his collarbone was subtly visible. Rachel glanced at him briefly before stepping across the threshold.

“Good morning, Your Majesty.”

At the princess’s greeting, the attendants quietly exited the room. As the door closed, the space became theirs alone. Killian’s low, sleep-roughened voice filled the silence between them.

“…So early in the morning.”

“I couldn’t wait for our date.”

Rachel offered a charming smile, her eyes narrowing slightly in the expression she often used to entice men.

But Killian showed no reaction. Whether it was the effect of his late night, he could barely keep his heavy eyelids open. Though deeply tired, he couldn’t bring himself to neglect the princess who had come to see him, so he gestured to the chair opposite.

“Will you have some tea? The Empire’s black tea is quite flavorful.”

Rachel barely suppressed the urge to blurt, Your lips taste better. Instead, she bit the tip of her tongue and took the seat across from him. Staring intently, she teased him with a play on words:

“I like you… and black tea.”

The jumbled phrase made Killian start slightly. He watched the curve of her smiling lips before lowering his gaze. Once again, he offered no reply, quietly beginning to prepare the tea.

He poured hot water from a silver kettle the attendants had set out earlier. The sound of falling water filled the room, and thin steam rose gently into the air.

As the tea’s aroma subtly spread, he filled her cup first, then his own.

With the soft clink of the kettle being set down, stillness settled over them.

Rachel lifted her teacup and took a sip, but Killian remained still, quietly observing her.

Her face was slightly flushed, much like the warm hue of the black tea she was drinking. Her lips, moistened by the tea, still held his gaze captive.

Feeling an inexplicable thirst, Killian finally raised his own cup. Though this was the very woman who had tangled his thoughts all night, facing her now, he found himself strangely free of anger.

The questions he had wanted to ask faded away one by one. Instead, he simply felt at ease in this moment, and the once bland tea now tasted sweet.

Pleased by the flavor, he took another sip. Almost simultaneously, Rachel’s throat moved as she drank as well. Watching her hold the same teacup as his, Killian finally spoke.