CH 18.1

18. I wanted to kill him sooner (1)

So-hee’s stomach had bloated from overeating.

She observed Joshua as he scrutinized the documents in his hand before leaning back against the headboard.

The crown prince seemed so devoted as if he would give everything to a woman he loved.

Most women might wonder if such a perfect man existed in this world, but a man like Joshua—-who was willing to give it his all—-meant that anger and resentment would come back to the female recipient of his love tenfold if he ever felt betrayed.

In other words, So-hee shouldn’t be appalled at the devastation she would cause in the future once Joshua found out she carried Deon’s child.

‘Please be kind to me, Joshua.’

So-hee met Joshua’s eyes as she prayed earnestly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Well—-” After thinking about what to say for a while, So-hee blurted out, instead. “I just like it.”

She loved how kind he was being and she hoped it would last forever for the sake of her web novel but she had to swallow the words back to her throat or else she might regret it.

However, the lighthearted reply made the wrong person’s  heart thump.

Joshua gave So-hee an intense, wide-eyed stare.

Of course, she never noticed how her words affected him.

When she felt the sudden heat from his gaze as they faced each other, So-hee had to look away to survive.

She looked up at the ceiling and announced, “I’m going to bed.”

He settled the documents on the table, laid on the bed, and turned the lamplight off.

Soon, Joshua hugged So-hee, who lay right next to her, just as he did yesterday.

“Tell me again, Ariad.”

She heard his voice crack as he whispered in her ear.

“What?”

So-hee, lying straight on her back, turned her head to the side as usual.

She saw a handsome yet playful face.

“I want to hear you say I’m yours.”

Surprised at the sudden request, So-hee choked on a cough.

The male lead, who was an expert of giving the illness and providing its cure, patted her gently on the back.

“No. Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“I just want to hear it again from your own lips.”  He drawled. “What did you say? Don’t covet what’s mine.”

“Please stop.”

Joshua really knew how to embarrass her that she had to close her eyes to block him out.

Hearing what she had told Kelly from his cursed mouth doubled her shame.

She couldn’t believe she had said such nonsense.

Joshua smiled and pressed a light kiss on her cheek, which drove the butterflies in her stomach into a frenzy.

“Ariad.” He called her name softly as if he was singing a slow, delicate melody.

She knew that Joshua didn’t call her by her real name—-Han Sohee.

Still, her heart fluttered for no reason despite being called Ariad.

“Do you now recognize me as a fish in your fishing grounds?”

Sohee’s eyes flew open to see Joshua’s face.

The color of his eyes was a sight to behold, filling her heart to the brim.

His eyes looked like the reddened sky before the sun finally settled on the river.

“This isn’t bad either.”

“What do you mean? Becoming a fish?”

“Yes, I am your fish.” In an instant, the sweet words he had uttered in the quiet night turned into a deep, possessive desire. “—but from now on, there will be no one else in this fishing ground of yours.” Joshua’s pretty eyes had narrowed from that dark promise, effectively drawing the line. “I’m going to eat them all.”

How could he laugh so innocently one minute and frighten the wits out of her the next?

Still, So-hee knew that Joshua’s threat rang true so she simply accepted it as such.

“I only have you, Joshua. No one else. So, don’t eat the wrong person.”

She didn’t want someone to lose their life from Joshua’s wrong accusations in the future.

The muscled arm, loosely wrapped around So-hee’s small waist, strengthened its clasp.

“Yes, I believe you.” He replied in a low voice.

Then, she felt his hot lips brush against her cheek again.

Joshua’s sweet words and actions brought her a sigh of relief.

If they simply had faith in each other like this, no one wouldn’t die.

It appeared like all of her plans were running smoothly.

Sohee shut her eyes as he enjoyed the warmth of Joshua’s embrace which she had grown accustomed to.

* * *

It was a time when everyone should be asleep.

However, people wide awake at dawn couldn’t even notice the sound of crickets.

Joshua peeled Ariad—-who had snuggled against him through the night—-away from his body and rose carefully from the bed.

He didn’t forget to tuck her in a thick blanket.

After grabbing the jacket hanging on the coat stand, he left the room and found Macon waiting in front of the door the instant he opened it.

“As you said, I have brought ten knights and put them on standby, Your Highness.”

“Good job.”

Macon chased after his master as he strode down the stairs.

Men in uniform stood in line in front of the Crown Prince and Princess’ Palace.

Joshua climbed stealthily on his waiting horse right away.

“Let’s go to Filtmore’s mansion.”

The cold wind which marked the end of autumn and the loud neighs of horses brushed his cheekbones.

The more he increased his horse’s speed as he held the reins in a firm grip, the clearer and sharper the memories he had in his head.

Deon on top of Ariad’s beautiful, naked figure.

The more he attempted to covet her, the less relaxed he felt.

He had never felt so nervous before.

He only had one thing in mind as his desire to possess Ariad deepened.

“I wanted to kill him sooner.”

A murmuring, dismal voice dissipated in the wind.

Unlike his wishes, So-hee’s actions had to advance the plot further.