For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 22

His hand moved up Aura’s leg. It felt like he wouldn’t be satisfied until he had touched all of her skin. His touch made her stomach feel a familiar tickle. She was also so awkward sitting on his lap that she had to look away.

Karl stared at Aura, who was blinking her eyes, at a loss. “Aura.”

At that moment, his hand moved past her thigh and touched the area above it.

“!”

Aura flinched at the unfamiliar sensation. Karl hugged her back more gently and said, “Tell me if you don’t like it.”

“…Ah.” Aura gripped his shirt collar tightly.

Karl kissed her again. Aura bit her lip, but he kissed it softly, as if to soothe her.

“Ugh…” Her legs began to tremble. A feeling as if her lower body was melting spread through her. She was clinging to him, almost as if she was about to fall. Karl didn’t leave her trembling lips alone. His tongue entered her mouth and explored. “Karl, wait…”

The pleasure coming from his palm, his fingers, his fingertips—everything felt overwhelming. Where had the pain gone? Why was there only pleasure and a burning sweetness left?

Aura hugged Karl. If she didn’t, she felt like she would collapse.

“Are you scared?” Karl asked.

Aura nodded repeatedly. He took his hand away and laid her on the bed. He wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and gave her a faint smile. He kissed the corner of her mouth and then cupped her breast. The pleasure spread warmly, tickling her. Aura, in a daze, pulled Karl toward her and kissed him. His tongue entered her mouth, and his hand on her breast tightened.

“Haa… Karl… ugh!” Aura twisted her body, feeling him torment her. The feeling below her, which had been numb from his touch, slowly returned. As if he knew, Karl parted her legs and placed his hands on her knees. Aura took a long breath.

If she were to be asked if she was scared, the answer was yes. Even though it always ended with sweet pleasure, the beginning was always painful, so she was always terrified.

Then, Karl lifted her right leg.

“…?” Aura’s eyes wavered at his action. ‘What is he going to do now?’ Karl smirked, as if he could read her thoughts.

“Is your leg all better?”

“Ah… yes.” Aura sighed in relief. Why was it that his small gestures of concern comforted her?

“It’s… it’s really fine now.”

Aura didn’t know that she was smiling when she said that. Or that her smile was making Karl want to believe her.

“That’s good.” As if it were a habit, Karl kissed her ankle. He gently lowered her leg. Then, he slowly entered her.

“Ugh….” Was it because he had already touched her? Or was it because of their conversation just now? The pain was much less than she remembered. And soon, Karl began to move.

“Ah! Ugh…!” Pleasure spread through her body. Every time he went deeper inside, something white exploded in her mind. When that white haze filled her mind, she felt like she was going to scream even louder. She instinctively bit her lip, trying to hold back her moans. Karl stopped and leaned down.

“You did that last time, too. It’s a bad habit.” He took her lower lip out of her mouth. The red teeth marks were visible. He kissed her lower lip and licked the wound. Aura flinched at the sharp pain. Karl let go of her lips. “I know I said it’s okay to scream, but you won’t do that.”

“Haa…” He put the back of his hand over her mouth. Aura shook her head at his unexpected thoughtfulness. Karl silently stroked her lips with his thumb. And then, he began to move again.

“Ugh… aah! …Ah!” The sounds came out despite her efforts to hold them in. Aura unconsciously tried to bite her lip. But at that moment, Karl’s hand was already in her mouth.

She didn’t want this. She didn’t want to hurt his body or rely on him like this. But just as always, nothing went the way she wanted in bed. Even her body’s reaction to the extreme pleasure. Aura bit his hand. A faint smile spread across Karl’s face.

At dawn, Aura slowly opened her eyes. Karl was sleeping soundly in front of her. Josh’s words came to mind.

‘No. He suffers from severe insomnia. In Devla, his insomnia was more of a concern than the monsters.’

‘Why? What am I to you?’

She looked at the back of his hand. The teeth marks she had made were still there. She reached out to touch it but pulled her hand back.

Aura stared blankly at his face. The face that was confused by his inability to trust her. But also the face that finally gave in to his desire. The face that had so willingly offered her his hand. The face that had seemed breathless even when he was breathing.

To be honest… She didn’t hate it.

Aura was confused. She didn’t hate it? It felt as if her heart was leaning toward Karl. But she quickly pulled herself together. It was only natural for a person’s heart to waver when their bodies were intertwined. She had to ignore the fleeting emotions of pleasure and use him to get the Pin. That was the only reason she had stayed by his side.

Aura carefully got out of bed. She put on her nightgown and opened the bedroom door to go to the office. She quickly walked to the other door. ‘Karl’s private study…’

The door was, of course, locked. But it was a study he used from his office. Aura searched Karl’s desk drawers for the key. Click. The locked door opened. She checked the bedroom door again and went inside.

It was less of a study and more like a massive storage room. Books, documents, and various items were piled up everywhere. Aura began to walk around. She passed a bookshelf filled with books and a large table. Her steps stopped in front of a worn-out console table.

On the console were an ink bottle and a quill. The top of the table was stained with ink. She opened the drawer, and as expected, it was filled with maps. There was a high chance that military maps were among them.

“…” Screech. She closed the drawer.

She looked around and saw a cabinet with glass doors. It was hard to see in the dim moonlight, but she could definitely see something sparkling. Step, step, step. Her steps quickened. She was almost in the cabinet when… “!”

A hand came out of the darkness and wrapped around her. Aura gasped. His breath, the warmth, the feel of his arms, the hardness of his chest against her back. She knew who it was without even seeing his face or hearing his voice. It was only natural. She had felt all of it just a few hours ago.

“…Karl?”

“What are you looking for?” His voice was emotionless. Aura’s hair stood on end.

“…Huh? Aura. Tell me.”

“…”

“A military map?”

Aura opened her mouth and then closed it. If she told him the truth, that she had no intention of doing that, she would have to admit she was looking for the Pin. The arms wrapped around her tightened. She tried to pry them off, but he just held her tighter. Aura closed her eyes and let out a breath. This was the end. There was nothing more she could do.

“…How did you know?”

“Because you genuinely wanted to sleep with me. That just couldn’t be right.”

“…”

“There was only one answer. You wanted to put me to sleep.” Karl kissed her neck. His lips were cold. The sensation of his teeth made Aura close her eyes.

It hurt. Both her neck and the reality she had to face. Karl let go of her neck. He kissed the throbbing spot again and whispered, “Let’s go, Aura. To where you belong.”

Karl led Aura to her bedroom. Click. The door closed. He let go of her hand and leaned against the wall. He was hidden in the darkness, but Aura could feel his piercing gaze. His voice was flat.

“Aura. You were never in my study.”

“…You think I helped the rebellion. And you’re just going to pretend you didn’t see me?”

“That’s right. But you have to pay the price.”

The price. Aura flinched. “From now on, you cannot see anyone without my permission. Not a royal, a noble, or a commoner. All of your movements will be reported to me, and my knights will be officially watching you.”

It was the life of a prisoner. Aura’s voice caught in her throat. “You have no right to do that, Karl.”

“I may not have the right, but I have the power. You know that.” Karl turned the doorknob as if he had nothing more to say. “Live like a doll. Don’t move. Don’t catch my eye. But if I want to see you, I’ll come to you. We won’t be bored. I don’t hate that kind of thing.”

He opened the door and was about to leave, but he stopped. He asked her, “Are you scared?”

He had asked her the same question just a few hours ago, as if to soothe her as she struggled to bear the unfamiliar pleasure. Aura remembered her nod back then.

Had Karl not trusted her even then? Had he touched her, kissed her, and offered her the back of his hand, knowing everything?

When her thoughts reached that point, Aura had no choice but to answer. “No, I’m not.”

Karl gripped the doorknob. “Good, Aura. Think of it as being back in the north tower.”

Aura’s eyes widened at the words “north tower.” Karl added, “Because that tower is the perfect place for you.”

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