The lingering taste of liquor, Axel's lips, still tingled on Lila's now plump red lips as she hurried back to her chamber, her thoughts were still in a whirlwind of confusion, denial, and fear.
As she entered her lavish room, Lila found herself in disbelief. Her delicate and lovely features were highlighted by the subtle glimmer of candlelight that covered the enormous walls. Her pale and porcelain skin was immaculate, her blushed cheeks the color of maroon, and her blonde hair fell in lovely, loose waves around her waist.
Lila splashed cool water on her flushed face, attempting to wash away the lingering traces of need that threatened to overtake her at any minute. She slipped into the bathtub, carefree, and allowed herself to drown for a moment, having a brief moment of peace from the chaos in her head.
But, despite her best efforts to forget what had happened, images of the kiss filled her mind, drowning her and repeating in vivid detail—she could still feel Axel's hand on her waist, his hot breath mixed with liquor mingling with hers.
"Oh no—I can't do this, why did I?" Lila muttered to herself, "I won't let him do this again."
With a sigh, Lila emerged from the tub, her damp blonde hair clinging to her shoulders, her wet clothes— she didn't care.
Lila tossed and turned uncontrollably after getting dressed, her mind captivated by the forbidden kiss. Lila stayed in denial while the moon shone silvery on her balcony.
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In the beautiful morning light, Lila stood before her chamber's enormous mirror, her thin body draped in a light green silk gown. The delicate cloth shimmered in the soft light, highlighting her figure's elegant curves. Her blonde hair fell in loose waves over her thin waist, framing her dark ruby eyes with ethereal beauty.
As Lila made her way to the tea party hosted by Heather, the air filled with tension, the small gathering mingling with the fragrant aroma of the freshly brewed tea. The Southern Empire's Crown Prince, Mateo of Azro, was sitting in a luxurious armchair. He was staring at Lila as soon as she walked in, a light smile teasing his lips.
When he stood to welcome her, Mateo said, "Lila, my dear, you look positively radiant," his voice pouring with honeyed charm. "A vision of beauty as usual."
Lila responded with a courteous smile but she couldn't get rid of the uneasy feeling that was gnawing at the back of her mind. The kind hostess, Heather, watched the exchange across the room with a thin veil of jealousy, her outward politeness concealing the burning envy behind it all.
"Excuse me for a while," Heather walked away for a moment, leaving Lila alone with Mateo.
Heather's quick departure lifts a pretentious curtain, exposing Mateo's true colors. He wasted no time in taking advantage of this chance, boldly flirting with Lila as if his pregnant fiancée was just an afterthought.
"Ah, Lila," Mateo murmured, his voice full of honeyed nuances as he moved closer to her, his touch lingering longer than necessary. "You should have been the Empress of the Southern Empire. After all, you're meant to be my wife anyway."
Lila played along, her flirtatious wit masking a flaming hatred under the surface. "And what about your beloved Heather?" she asked, with a tinge of bitterness in her tone.
Mateo laughed, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief as he drew in closer, the air sparking with tension between them. "Heather is merely just a jewel," he muttered, his breath warm against Lila's ear. "But you, my beautiful Lila, you are the real gold."
Lila couldn't get rid of the terrible thoughts racing through her mind. Her disdain for him was intense, fueled by recollections of their turbulent past and knowledge of his betrayal. However, while she engaged in their playful interaction, she couldn't help but wonder whether she might take advantage of Mateo's infatuation and have him wrapped around her fingers like a puppet on strings.
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A storm erupted inside Heather's head as Mateo's infatuation with Lila grew. She watched their encounter from the other side of the room, feeling a storm of opposing feelings as she watched with a mixture of jealousy and rage.
But as Heather saw Lila play along with Mateo, a cold truth hit her. She wasn't just watching a flirtatious conversation; she was witnessing a betrayal unravel in front of her eyes. The man she loved, Axel, and the father of her unborn child, Mateo, was brazenly chasing that woman, Lila.
"Heather is merely just a jewel," Mateo's words echoed in her ears, igniting a fire of resentment within her.
'How can you take her so casually, as if she were more than just a passing whim?' Heather pondered.
Despite the turmoil inside her, Heather couldn't help but feel a tinge of desperation sneaking into her heart. 'What did Lila possess that I don't have? Why was Mateo so willing to discard me and my child for the fleeting attention of another? Why of all of the people, why her?'
Mateo's cheerful disposition broke during the tea party when a servant appeared with urgent news. With a deep bow before Mateo, the servant declared, "Your Highness, the Emperor requests your presence immediately."
Mateo departed from the party, sighing with resignation, "All right."
Moments passed, Heather returned and sat down, saying, "Did you hear about Lady Amelia, the noblewoman who scandalized the whole empire? She cheated on her husband," she said tinted with a light covering of disgust.
Lila's grip on her teacup tightened gradually, "Indeed, I did," she answered calmly. "Quite the scandal, wasn't it?"
Heather's smile widened, and her eyes were filled with hatred. "Yes, quite," she said, her gaze fixed on Lila. "One can only hope that certain people learn from the mistakes of others."
Before Lila could even reply back, Heather asked, "Oh, where has Prince Mateo disappeared to, I wonder?"
Lila raised an eyebrow, hiding her displeasure with a courteous grin. "The Emperor called him. I'm sure he's around somewhere," she said calmly.
Heather's lips curled into a faint smirk as she observed Lila's controlled demeanor. "Of course," she said, her tone was crude. "But it seems wherever he goes, you're not far behind."
Lila kept her composure, raising her eyebrow and concealing her irritation with a gracious smile. "It's the other way around," she said calmly, her dark ruby eyes sparkling with hidden anger. "But, ah, well, you know what they say. Beauty tends to attract attention, even from certain individuals," she added, her words loaded with subtle skepticism "That includes you-know-who."
Heather's sneer faltered briefly, a flicker of irritation crossing her cheeks before she regained her composure. "Indeed," she responded coldly, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "Excuse me, but I remember I have important matters to attend to," she said dismissively.
"Thank you for your time," Heather said as she walked away.
Lila breathed a sigh of relief as Heather retreated.