The Price of Saving a Vicious Beast - Chapter 39

Right then, the grandfather clock in the hallway began to chime. Twelve strikes. It marked the passing of midnight and the arrival of Killian’s twentieth birthday.

“Unfortunately, I can’t give you much time to think. I’ve got a busy schedule today.”

At sunrise, a grand banquet would be held to celebrate the Crown Prince’s coming of age.

Killian smiled at Adelaide, who stood there trembling.

She glared back at him. A face she had once thought beautiful now felt nothing short of horrifying.

Give him her purity? He said it as lightly as if he were asking for a piece of candy. He wouldn’t force her? It was her choice?

The sheer audacity of it made her teeth clench.

A beast caught in a trap cannot escape, no matter how it struggles. The more it thrashes, the tighter the snare becomes, until it chokes the life out of it.

Caught in the trap Killian had set, Adelaide’s only real choice was to “willingly” give him everything he wanted.

This had been his plan from the very beginning. Sending away the guards. Dragging her family away.

All of it.

Her father’s labored coughing flashed in her mind—after being kicked by the captain. Adelaide bit down hard on her lip.

Her family’s lives were at stake. What did her purity matter in comparison?

The situation was unbearable, but she forced herself to stand, unsteady on her feet. If what that madman wanted was her body, then she would give it.

She only had to endure it once. That would be enough to save her family.

Slowly, she slipped off her gown and began unfastening the buttons of her nightclothes. The fabric parted, revealing the soft, pale curve of her chest.

“What are you doing? I said we don’t have time.”

At his impatient urging, Adelaide clenched her lips tighter. It’s nothing. This is nothing. She repeated it to herself.

Even knowing the man before her was no longer the Killi she knew, her fingers trembled as she reached for the ties of her undergarments.

Bastard. Bastard. You filthy animal.

At last, her fingers touched the knot of her underwear.

She pulled, and just as it loosened, Killian moved.

“Why…?”

“I may be a bastard, but I’m not that kind of shameless animal.”

His eyes curved with quiet satisfaction.

“No matter what, I’m not taking your first time in a place like this. Even if I’ve cleared everyone out, you never know. I don’t intend to share what the future Crown Princess is like in bed with the servants.”

“…What?”

Adelaide stared at him, stunned. What did he just say? First time? Crown Princess…?

The moment the words sank in, her mind went blank. She could only stare at him, mouth slightly open.

“Adelaide. After all this time together, you still don’t understand me. Did you really think I went this far just to sleep with you once?”

His tone sounded almost irritated. He reached out, gently brushing her hair back as he continued.

“No, Adelaide. You can’t run from me anymore. You’ll become my wife and stay by my side forever. What? Being buried together even in death. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?”

“You’re insane. You’ve lost your mind.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them. It was a grave insult, but Killian didn’t seem to care.

“I know. If I were sane, I wouldn’t have done any of this.”

With a faint chuckle, he reached into his coat and pulled something out. The moment Adelaide recognized the small box, her face turned pale.

Killian placed it on the table, then calmly adjusted her disheveled clothing. He retied her loosened undergarments, helped her back into her gown, and brushed her tangled hair neatly behind her ear.

Then, slowly he knelt before her on one knee.

“Don’t… please stop…”

Adelaide’s fragile plea went unheard. Killian opened the box lined with luxurious black velvet. At its center, a large diamond ring sparkled, scattering light in all directions.

A second proposal that was delivered in the midst of chaos. Like a nightmare made real, everything felt unbearably surreal.

Her first refusal had turned her entire family into traitors. If she refused again, what would happen next?

“I told you. The choice is yours.”

Killian looked up at her, smiling.

Even knowing that what he wanted wasn’t just one night but her entire life, Adelaide slowly nodded.

The ring he slid onto her finger fit perfectly.