The Little Prince Failed to Seduce and Got Hooked Instead - Chapter 3

At exactly seven o’clock the following evening, Shen Yanci’s car pulled up at the entrance of the royal side hall.

Today, he had changed into a dark gray suit, maintaining his impeccable elite aesthetic. His expression was calm, betraying no emotion. Only he knew that since the afternoon, a strange, forced curiosity and fine, perhaps an infinitesimal spark of anticipation, had been flickering in his heart like a small flame.

He wanted to see exactly what kind of play Arthur was staging.

The royal butler was already waiting at the door, bowing respectfully to lead him in. “Good evening, Mr. Shen. His Highness is already expecting you.”

The side hall was not as boisterous or magnificent as the ballroom from the night before; it was more private, decorated with elegant comfort. A fire crackled softly in the hearth, and the air carried the faint, crisp scent of cedar.

Then, Shen Yanci saw Arthur.

The Little Prince, was actually wearing a burgundy velvet dressing gown!

The belt of the robe was loosely tied, and the collar hung open, revealing a patch of pale chest and the tantalizing lines of his collarbone. He looked as if he had just bathed; his slightly wavy, golden-brown hair was still damp, falling haphazardly over his forehead.

He was leaning lazily against an antique armchair, swirling a glass of amber liquid. When he saw Shen Yanci enter, his gray-blue eyes immediately lit up, like a cat that had finally spotted a particularly interesting prey.

“Mr. Shen, you’re quite punctual.”

Arthur stood up, the hem of his robe swaying with the movement to reveal a glimpse of his well-defined calves. He smiled without a hint of burden, as if his choice of attire for a seven o’clock formal meeting was perfectly normal.

Shen Yanci’s gaze lingered on the dressing gown for about a tenth of a second before he looked away as if nothing had happened. He spoke in a businesslike tone, “Your Highness, I have come to retrieve my suit.”

Internally, he let out a cold sneer. He’s doing this on purpose.

“Oh, right. The suit.”

Arthur acted as if he had just remembered, tilting his chin toward the butler. The butler immediately brought over an exquisite garment bag and opened it. Inside was Shen Yanci’s black suit, pressed to a mirror-like finish. The wine stain, seemed to have vanished completely.

“It has been cleaned and pressed to the highest standards. Please inspect it, Mr. Shen,” the butler said respectfully.

Shen Yanci gave it a glance and nodded. “My thanks.”

He reached out to take the clothes, intending to leave immediately. This place, this atmosphere, and this prince in a bathrobe with wandering eyes made him feel unsettled.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the garment bag, Arthur suddenly let out an “Oh!”

The sound wasn’t loud, but it was enough to draw attention. Shen Yanci paused and looked at him.

He saw Arthur lean in toward the suit, his brow slightly furrowed as he pointed a finger at an extremely inconspicuous spot just below the collar. “This, there seems to be a tiny mark left? How do these people do their jobs!” His tone carried a perfectly measured amount of annoyance and dissatisfaction.

Shen Yanci followed the direction of the finger…

Where?

He saw nothing. The spot was clean enough to reflect light.

The butler was also confused, leaning forward to look closely. He hesitated, “Your Highness, this…”

“It’s clearly right there!” Arthur interrupted with conviction. Then, without a word, he grabbed Shen Yanci by the wrist. “Come, Mr. Shen. I’ll take you to the corridor; the light is better there. I’ll handle it for you personally! I’ll make sure it’s clean!”

Shen Yanci: “…?”

Before he could refuse, he was pulled toward a corridor adjacent to the hall. Arthur’s palm was somewhat hot, and his grip was surprisingly strong. Shen Yanci instinctively wanted to break free, but he felt that overreacting would put him at a disadvantage. He could only keep a stiff face as he was half-dragged away.

The butler stood in place, opening his mouth to speak but ultimately choosing to wisely lower his head, pretending he was part of the furniture.

The light in the corridor was indeed much dimmer than in the hall. Only a few ancient wall lamps cast a soft, yellow glow, stretching their shadows long against the floor. The air was silent, save for the sound of their footsteps and the distant crackle of the fireplace.

Arthur pressed Shen Yanci against the corridor wall and held the suit up under a lamp, pretending to inspect a non-existent smudge.

“Look, right here…” he mumbled softly. He pulled his signature silk handkerchief from his robe pocket, poured a bit of his personal cologne onto it, then leaned over to begin… wiping.

His movements were incredibly meticulous and devoted.

Shen Yanci lowered his eyes, looking at Arthur, who was now within arm’s reach. Because the Prince was leaning forward, the collar of his robe hung even wider. Under the amber light, Shen Yanci could clearly see the delicate, pale pink sheen of the skin below the collarbone, and even a faint outline of chest muscle.

A scent—a mix of fresh post-bath moisture and cold vetiver snaked into Shen Yanci’s nose. Then, as Arthur wiped, the ends of his damp, soft hair brushed against the back of Shen Yanci’s hand with every movement.

Lightly. Itchily.

It felt like a feather scratching him, or a weak electric current running along the surface of his skin and straight into his heart.

Shen Yanci’s Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably. He felt his muscles begin to tense again, even tighter than at the gala. This feeling of being led by the nose of having his rhythm completely disrupted—made him feel deeply uncomfortable, even irritated.

But within that irritation was another, more unfamiliar emotion.

Arthur seemed completely unaware of the man’s stiffness. He continued “earnestly” wiping, his head getting lower and lower, the hair brushing the back of the hand more and more frequently.

Again, and again. The itch grew more pronounced.

Shen Yanci’s breathing grew slightly heavier. He stared at Arthur’s face so close to his own, watching the long shadows of the eyelashes on the Prince’s eyelids and feeling the warm breath ghosting over the fabric of his suit.

This guy is absolutely doing this on purpose!

Just as Arthur’s handkerchief “accidentally” swept past his chest again, his fingertips nearly touching him through the silk, Shen Yanci finally reached his limit.

He suddenly reached out and firmly gripped Arthur’s shoulder!

Through the soft velvet robe, he could clearly feel the contour of the bone and the heat of the skin beneath. Moreover, just as he had expected, the shoulder tensed instantly and gave an imperceptible tremor.

“Your Highness.”

Shen Yanci spoke, his voice deeper and raspier than usual, carrying a clear note of restraint. “There is no need for further trouble.”

The air seemed to freeze. In the dim light, they were standing extremely close, their posture as ambiguous as an unfulfilled embrace. Shen Yanci’s hand-held Arthur’s shoulder tightly, while Arthur remained leaned over, handkerchief in hand, looking up at Shen Yanci with a look of startled confusion.

Beneath the yellow light, a flush of thin red spread across Arthur’s cheeks at a visible speed.