Chapter 0

“Bella.”

The voice came from the nobleman, who had hair as if painted with gold, resting his face on my thigh.

“Prince, wake up.”

“Call me by my name.”

As I tried to push him away, he came closer, demanding with a sweeter voice. I laughed a little at it.

“Valery.”

“Yes, call me like that. I like it when you pat my hair.”

A calm face without a single speck of dust. It looked like he was wandering in a dream.

I pretended not to hear it but reluctantly brushed his hair carefully. That’s right, today I will listen to whatever my heart wants.

Then he let out a drowsy sigh of satisfaction. Perhaps because he was so big, it looked like a big dog was attached to me.

But the more I thought about it, the clearer the sound of the clock’s second hand in my ears.

“Bella, I would sell my soul to the devil if I could stay like this with you forever.”

It’s childish. But I knew for sure that his words were sincere. Actually, he might do something worse than that, just by looking at what he has done so far.

He lifted his head, looked up, and pulled the palm of my hand, pressing his lips against it. His purple eyes looked like jewels, and his sculptural face was so stunningly beautiful.

He, who has risen to the highest position and put everyone under his feet, looked at me from the bottom.  

His appearance gave me a sense of satisfaction and victory, but it was something I shouldn’t have. 

“If you sell it to the devil, you won’t be yourself anymore.”

“If you don’t want that to happen, you shouldn’t leave me alone for the rest of your life. Right, Bella?”

“… ”

I kept my mouth shut at those words. It’s clear that he would not leave with such a vain promise.

And then.

“You didn’t answer. Did you try to leave me? Or trying to make me fall asleep?”

“Uh, huh? What do you mean?”

‘D-Did I get caught?’

I hid my nervousness with a smile, but a cold sweat broke out inside.

‘Since when did he know?’

He continued to talk with a calm voice, “I had no choice but to drink it even though I knew about that. Because you gave it to me. But I hope you don’t think about leaving me. That makes me want to lock you up.”

My shoulders trembled at the words that he wanted to lock me up.

As he drank the tea, I remembered the eyes that had encountered me unusually close. Even at that time, I looked at his throat with an averted gaze.

That’s why.

“… “

“Then I will let it go for today. I’m talking about what you’ve done, Bella.”

I closed my eyes tight as I patted his soft hair.

It seemed like today’s attempt was also a failure. The sleeping tea didn’t work.

I just wanted to stop my stepmother’s evil deeds, succeed in escaping, and live a long life. Another reason was that I didn’t want to corrupt him. 

Even though I didn’t imprint him… How did this happen?