CH 4.2

4. Kissing for Escape (2)

So-hee stared at Deon’s back sadly.

She had spent a hot night with him so it was a bit disappointing to let him go like this.

Well, he tried to kill her anyway.

Yet, the thought made So-hee’s eyes grow big.

Oh, yes.

Ariad was supposed to spend the night with Deon and have a baby!

Joshua approached So-hee without a word and tied the rope tightly to her arm.

So-hee had  no room to worry about it because she was too lost in her own thoughts.

If she gets pregnant with Deon’s child,  Ariad can never become Joshua’s female lead.

And if she tried running away from him, she would remain a supporting character in this web novel.

But if she decides to stay next to him, Joshua will cut off her neck and display it in front of the castle.

The results were too obvious and that’s not what she wanted!

“You can’t do this, Joshua! I have to become the heroine!” She said under her breath.

Joshua raised an eyebrow as he looked at her.

“I know you’re out of your mind, Ariad. When I saw you jump yesterday, I realized that the shameless Ariad I recognized wasn’t alright.”

“No, I’m fine.”

The men in her web novel seemed to get a kick out of ignoring her words as if they were meaningless.

Without even listening to So-hee, Joshua continued, “I’ll take care of your body and mind until you get sober.”

What’s this sweet comment coming from him?

Did she get promoted as the female lead already?

So-hee’s eyes twinkled with anticipation.

Joshua picked her up but his next statement was cold enough to make all of her high expectations drop to the ground.

“I’m still going to break you down once you’re fine. Nothing would be intact.”

He didn’t seem to love Ariad.

* * *

The carriage rattled as they headed to the palace.

She was still in Joshua’s arms and had no idea why he had carried her like this.

Perhaps, he thought she was going to kill herself again.

Nevertheless, the scent of mint emanating from his skin aroused So-hee.

It was her favorite scent on a male, which she had reflected on her novel herself.

“Ariad, please stop being such a pervert, will you?”

Sohee, who had buried her nose at the back of his neck to smell his scent,  glanced up at him awkwardly.

“Oh! What a shame.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Chagrined, So-hee turned to the carriage window while Joshua glowered at her like a bug that he wanted to squash.

“Excuse me. Do you need to embrace me like this? You can just allow me to settle on the seat.”

The corner of Joshua’s mouth drew a graceful curve when he  responded sweetly, “Don’t be silly, Ariad.”

As expected, there is no such thing as romance between them.

Joshua had tied her limbs already and she had hurt her legs as well.

Why was he doing this when she couldn’t even move to escape from his clutches?

Biting her cheek, Sohee organized her complicated thoughts so that she could develop her future story further.

First, Ariad had to make this man fall in love with her to be the heroine.

Second, she had to kill herself here so that she could return to her reality.

Third, Joshua and Deon fought fearlessly earlier and it was over and done with.

That completed episode might be interesting to the readers once she gets back.

Shall she jump out of the carriage to die again?

Thick wooden pillars had quickly passed their carriage as So-hee observed the scenery.

She looked inconspicuously at Joshua’s veiny arm as he held her trim waist tightly.

“What should I do?” She muttered as she thought about Ariad’s character, Joshua’s mortal arch-nemesis.

When So-hee faced his cold and stern gaze, she thought of a brilliant idea and smiled.

Perhaps, she could escape Joshua by utilizing Ariad’s seductive nature.

The male lead might feel something, and she could finally return to reality.

“Joshua.”

His eyebrows furrowed at the sudden call.

Ariad’s thin, long fingers gently brushed the dark hair at his nape.

“What are you doing, Ariad?”

“I had no idea about how you feel, but… this is what you wanted, right?” She watched Joshua with slow, sleepy blinks. “You like me.”

Joshua’s face crumpled in outrage.

“Listen up, Ariad. Other men might have rolled over like a dog and worshiped you at your feet when you do something like this. But you  should know that all you have for you is disgust.”

His resentment was stronger than So-hee thought.

How could she possibly evoke romance out of this hopeless situation?

So-hee got worried while maintaining Ariad’s relaxed countenance, but she couldn’t stop glancing at Joshua’s lips close to hers.

She didn’t know anymore.

Maybe, she should kiss him or something.

“What are you—-?”

Joshua withdrew in shock when her face suddenly moved closer but the wall in his back had prevented him from avoiding Ariad’s kiss.

Fixated on Joshua’s cherry-red lips, So-hee rushed forward and devoured his mouth without hesitation.

The man’s pupils trembled in panic, and then the strength of his grip on her waist gradually weakened.

When their sweet lips touched, her dirty mouth immediately opened to make way for her hot, moist tongue to tangle with his.

Then, both of them withdrew at the same  time, leaving a sweet scent on each other.

“All right, Joshua. I’m done checking your mind.”

“What?”

Ariad laughed low.

“You said you were disgusted with me but perhaps, that didn’t include kissing me.”

Joshua blushed hard as he bit his lower lip lightly.

The solid arm around her waist that Joshua had forced her to like had fallen off.

“By the way, Joshua. I didn’t plan on being  tied up next to you forever.”

So-hee stood up on her bandaged legs with all she might.

Of course, the pain was too severe, but she had no choice but to endure it… so she could fly straight to the carriage’s door.

‘Please let me roll down and hit my head on a boulder so I could go back to reality.’

“Ariad!” A sharp voice echoed the path where leaves had fallen.

So-hee flew in the air for a while before she landed on a rock at the side of the road just as she planned.

Fuck.

She could feel the warm blood flowing over her head with a dull sound.

Soon the vision gradually faded.

“Oh, this story is gonna be amazing.” So-hee recited softly.