For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 29

“Oh…” Aura’s eyes widened as she looked at Karl. He was looking down at her. ‘I thought he was sleeping.’

“Why are you curious about that?” Surprised for a moment, she looked away as if she didn’t know what he was talking about.

“You said it yourself. That I lie and mock you all the time.”

“I never…” Karl slowly leaned in. His lips were so close they were almost touching hers. “Did I ever say that I liked you because you were kind?”

It was an unexpected answer. And it was true. He had never said anything like that. ‘But… don’t most people like kind people?’

She couldn’t understand. Despite what Karl had done, she had tricked him several times. And he must know that she will continue to do so in the future.

“Then what is the reason?”

“I have no choice.” Karl kissed Aura lightly and pulled away. “You have everything that I want.”

Before she could even comprehend his low whisper, the kissing started again. He pressed his lips against hers, then licked them with the tip of his tongue. When Aura flinched from the ticklish sensation, he gently stroked her shoulder. His tongue slid into her mouth and pressed against hers. When she pulled her tongue back, feeling suffocated, he followed, gently teasing her mouth. Soon, their tongues were intertwined, swimming in each other’s mouths.

‘It’s so sweet…’

The moment that thought entered her mind, Aura’s eyes shot open.

“!”

She pushed him away in a panic. Her heart was pounding. ‘Why… Why am I doing this with Karl?’ This wasn’t about fulfilling her duties as empress. She wasn’t doing this to get something from him either. But she was kissing him so naturally, and even thinking that it was sweet. Something was very wrong.

Karl seemed a little surprised, but he traced her lips with his finger. “You don’t like it?”

Aura opened her mouth to say no.

“…” ‘Why am I hesitating?’

Aura froze as if time had stopped. Karl kissed her hair and said, “I don’t hate it.”

His dark eyes were a mix of playfulness and desire. Aura let out a long breath. ‘When things fall apart, I’m the one who’s going to be in trouble.’

She cupped Karl’s cheek. ‘So… I’ll just go along with it.’ She pulled Karl closer. She knew that her reasons for doing this were weak. So she quickly cleared her mind.

“Don’t come here tomorrow. This is only for tonight.” Karl gave her a meaningful smile instead of answering. He kissed her again.

Aura wrapped her arms around his neck, and his hand moved to her waist. When his hand moved down to her hips and then to her stomach, Aura let out a deep breath. “Haa…” Karl pulled his lips away and looked at her dazed expression.

Rip. The sound of the ribbon on her nightgown being untied was dry. His hand slid through the gap and wrapped around her back.

“!”

“Why did you hide it?”

“…Hide what?”

“The fact that you put me to sleep.” Aura flinched and answered in a small voice. “It was… a pointless thing to do.”

“Then why did you do it?”

Her nightgown slid down her shoulder, revealing her body. Aura couldn’t answer. She didn’t know the answer herself, just as she didn’t know why she was showing him her body.

Peck. Karl lightly kissed her shoulder. “No matter how much I think about it, I think you made a mistake, Aura.” Karl lightly bit her earlobe, and his voice echoed in her ear. “Every time you act like nothing happened, I feel like I’m going crazy.”

A shiver ran down her body. Then, Karl’s tongue entered her ear. “Ah!” Aura, startled, pushed him away. Karl lay her back down on the bed and continued to torment her ear. Aura twisted her head away, trying to escape the unfamiliar and intense sensation. She then blurted out, “Then what about you?”

“Me?”

“…”

“What about me?” Aura swallowed hard. She almost asked, ‘Why haven’t you said anything about the concubine?’

But if Karl asked her, ‘What does that have to do with you? You don’t even like me,’ what would she say? Did she even have the right to bring up his feelings? Even if she was the empress, what would she gain from it? Aura fell silent. She promised herself she wouldn’t make things any more complicated.

“Aura,” Karl said, sounding serious. “Is there something you want to ask me?”

Aura shook her head. “…No. That was a slip of the tongue.”

At that moment, Karl’s eyes darkened slightly. “A slip of the tongue… I see.” He sat up and unbuttoned his shirt one by one. Aura looked away when his firm muscles were revealed. She heard the sound of him carelessly throwing his shirt on the floor. And then, a shadow fell over her. Karl held Aura’s breast in his mouth.

“Ugh…” Aura squirmed as his teeth and tongue brushed against her nipple. His touch was gentler than usual, so it was more ticklish than stimulating. His hand moved down to her hips and gently explored her inner thigh.

“It… tickles,” Aura mumbled. Karl let out a small laugh.

He came back up and met her gaze. “Good. It’s supposed to tickle.”

It was a playful answer, but Aura felt a strange sensation in her lower stomach. Karl intertwined his fingers with hers. And as he settled himself between her legs, Aura felt a new feeling. The gentle touch of his hands, the kind tone of his voice, their clasped hands, the soft look in his eyes—it all seemed to be telling her one thing. ‘I love you.’

The fact that she had only known in her mind was now being felt with all her senses. The feeling was so intense that she momentarily forgot the nervousness of what was to come.

He entered her. Aura squeezed her eyes shut and accepted him. At that moment, he kissed the back of her hand. Maybe it was because of his kiss, or maybe it was because she had gotten used to his body, but a pleasant sensation of pleasure followed soon after.

“Ah…! Ah…!” Sweet moans escaped her lips uncontrollably. When she instinctively tried to bite her lip, Karl kissed her. She couldn’t bring herself to bite his lips. So she just let the sounds come out and let him explore her mouth.

How much time had passed? By the time the sheets were damp with sweat, Aura felt like she was melting.

“Ugh! Ah…!”

“You’re so beautiful, Aura,” he said, looking at her as if he were mesmerized. Aura blushed and turned her head away. As if he found that cute, Karl went deeper inside her. A deeper pleasure surged through her. Aura squeezed her eyes shut.

When she reached her peak, Karl took a long, deep breath.

“Haa…” His Adam’s apple rose and fell as he stopped moving. He lay down beside Aura and hugged her. His heartbeat was distinct on her chest. Thump, thump, thump, thump… His heart was beating so fast. It was so hard to believe that Aura said to him, “Your heart is beating… so fast.”

“I told you. You’re beautiful.”

Aura’s face flushed again at his passionate voice. She was used to hearing such words since she was a child, but hearing them from Karl was a strange feeling. She didn’t like the ticklish feeling in her chest, so she pulled her hand away from his. “I’m going to wash up.” She put on her robe and hurried to the bathroom.

Karl chuckled at her retreating figure and covered his eyes with his arm. He wanted to hold her, but sleep was coming for him.

The next morning, Karl woke up early. Aura was sleeping soundly beside him. He must have washed up and collapsed from exhaustion. When he came back from the bathroom, Aura was already asleep.

Karl looked at Aura as if he was admiring a painting. Her thick, ivory eyelashes, her delicate nose, her moist, small lips. She had the face of an angel. ‘Even though she says things like a devil when she opens her eyes.’

And her flowing hair. Karl took a handful of it and kissed it. He could almost smell the subtle scent of soap. Ever since he found a strand of her platinum hair in his bed, he felt like he was going crazy just thinking about it. He even regretted giving her the necklace.

That’s why he went to her last night, using insomnia as an excuse. He had only planned to hold her and sleep, but when he came to his senses, he was taking off her clothes. Karl, who had been kissing Aura’s hair, stopped.

‘Then what about you?’

He thought about the question she had asked him last night. He wondered if she had asked him about the concubine. That’s why he had asked her if there was anything she wanted to ask him, but she had only said it was a slip of the tongue.

He thought it was a bit much. Aura must have heard the rumors circulating among the nobles. ‘She doesn’t show any interest, so how am I supposed to bring it up?’ It would be awkward for him to just bring it up. And even if he had the courage to bring it up…

“…You would just say it doesn’t matter to you.” Karl whispered, stroking Aura’s cheek. He didn’t want to hear that answer, so he didn’t bring it up. He didn’t want to face her indifference.

Karl let out a short sigh and stroked Aura’s hair. Then, he saw something sticking out from under her pillow. It was a letter.

Karl carefully pulled out the letter. ‘H…’ He stared at her. If it was a love letter, he would not let H get away with it.

His expression darkened as he read the letter. This was… worse than a love letter.

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