Chapter 178 - Slipping Away

"I want a kiss from you in exchange for helping your family!" Although he was asking about something very intimate, his eyes were cold and lack of any emotions. 

The kiss had nothing to do with love but it was more like a price to get what she wanted which humiliated her. Her eyes turned cold and hate could be seen on her face but she did not say a word as she continued to look at him.

His darker eyes that were reeling on her every reaction burnt when he saw hate forming on them but he didn't care since she had started hating him a long ago! All he wanted was a kiss to show her how he felt all this time! How he felt when she let go of him and how he felt when she did not trust him today!

As if spelled by the sound of a siren, his reationality had left him and all he wanted was to hurt her the way he was hurt!

"Ha! To think that you would ask that, I must say I am surprised!" her words were cold and filled with poison as she looked at him with utter disgust but got a mocking laugh only in exchange.

"Now that you know, are you in for the bet or not?" he tilted his head and asked her indifferently as if she was only a piece of meat he would use to his liking. 

The kiss they would share would be far from the love and emotions but a cold and brutal business! Only the thought of it made her feel molested but at the same time she did not want to back away! If he could do that then why could she not!?

After all, she was the colder one among them. How could she show him that she was hurt!? 

But even when she closed her eyes and thought about it, she could not do that! Even if he wanted to fall up to that level, she could not! Her family respect and care had nourished her into a respectable person and she could not forget it even in this condition!

When she opened her eyes, they were calm. All the emotions of hatred, cold and pain were gone that surprised him. He looked at her with a stunned face when she gave him a genuine smile.

"I am afraid that I will not be able to pay the cost you are asking me, your highness. Thank you for trying to help me. But I think I will manage the problems of my family." she held her dress and bowed her head in a courtesy that shocked the man again.

He stood there frozen when he realised that she had denied it! She had taken a step back which she never does all her life! She had always been stubborn and never knew how to give up!! But now!

Did it mean that she had finally given up on him completely and no matter what method he would use, he would never be able to touch her again. His gaze lingered on her luscious lips.

He could not explain how much he missed their feelings. Though she had never crossed her boundaries and he had never asked her to. They had kissed a few times on special occasions. He still remembered how they had danced till the end of her coming of age ceremony and then slipped up to her own party and walked to the deserted balcony and looked at the stars till late talking about anything and everything.

She was standing in front of the back only while he was standing behind her holding her from her waist. Inhaling her scent, it was a magical moment for him. While she was lost in looking at the stars and moon, he was blessed to have his moon in his arms. And when she turned back.. He just lost himself in the emotions. 

And that was when he had hugged her and took the initiative to kiss her for the first time. Though she was a bit scared, she had closed her eyes and gave herself to him with so much trust that he had felt a flood of love erupted in his heart and that day he had promised that he would never let her go even if she wanted to go!

But was he wrong all this time!? Did she really want to go now and he was forcing her to stay!?

"Are you really giving up, Elizabeth?" he asked as he looked above towards the ceiling instead of her. He could not show her the tears that had started to well up in his eyes. 

He had always been a rational and decisive man in her eyes and he could not show her how broken he was just with the thought of her leaving him. It felt like all the air was leaving his body and he could not even take a breath!

"Yes! Your highness. The price you asked can not be paid. So, I request my leave!" she replied in the same calm voice that he felt a void forming on his body.

"Very well, if that is the case then you can leave! But remember once you  crossed the door the matter could not be discussed any further!" he warned her, hoping that she would stay. If only she would let him kiss her again. He would tell her the truth but did she even care about knowing the reason anyway.

"I understand the effect of my actions very well, your highness. So, if you excuse me now, I have some other matters to take care of." she bowed her head again as he had expected and he just nodded as he did not have the courage to speak another word and she nodded back and walked towards the door with straight back.. Her posture was still filled with confidence that made her wonder how cold she could be to not be affected by the incident at all.