"Where am I…?"
Josselyn's voice came out hoarse as she opened her eyes. The ceiling above her was unfamiliar.
Too high. Too lavish.
She blinked several times, trying to clear the fog in her head. It felt heavy, as if stuffed with cotton.
Then realization came slowly. This bed was not hers. Neither was this room.
Josselyn sat up abruptly.
The sudden movement made her head throb.
"Careful."
A man's voice came from the side of the room.
Josselyn froze. Slowly, she turned her head.
Killian sat in a chair by the window, one leg crossed casually over the other. Sunlight streamed in, catching in his black hair and sharpening the icy blue-gray of his eyes.
"Good morning," he said flatly.
Josselyn stared at him as if she had seen a ghost.
"This… is your room."
"That's right." Killian answered calmly, sipping from the teacup in his hand.
Josselyn immediately pulled the blanket higher.
"What am I doing here?"
Killian raised an eyebrow and set his cup down on a delicate porcelain saucer.
"You don't remember?"
Josselyn shook her head, then stopped when the motion made her dizzy again.
"The last thing I remember, I was in the corridor."
Killian did not answer right away. He simply watched her.
"Or you just don't want to remember?"
Josselyn frowned. "Did something happen?"
Killian let out a quiet scoff and looked away. A flicker of something like disappointment crossed his face.
"Maybe it wasn't that important."
"What do you mean?"
Killian glanced at her, then stood. His steps were slow as he approached the bed.
Josselyn instinctively leaned back.
"Your Highness…?"
He stopped right in front of her.
"Do you really not remember what you did last night?"
Josselyn looked at him, confused.
"Did I faint?"
Killian gave a faint smile.
"That's all you remember?"
"If there's something else, you can just say it." There was a hint of irritation in her tone.
She truly couldn't remember anything. Yet Killian was looking at her as if interrogating a criminal.
Killian pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek for a few seconds, then said casually,
"You kissed me."
Josselyn froze. Her mind struggled to process his words. Several seconds passed in silence.
"What?"
"You kissed me," Killian repeated, lifting his chin slightly.
"That's impossible," Josselyn stammered.
Killian ran a hand through his hair. His expression remained cold, but there was a trace of unease beneath it.
"Unfortunately, Darius saw it too."
Josselyn's face turned bright red.
"That… that must be a misunderstanding!" Her voice rose despite herself, her heartbeat racing.
Killian tilted his head.
"You think so?"
"Yes!"
The corner of his lips lifted. Josselyn's flustered reaction seemed to amuse him.
"Because from what I remember, you looked quite… enthusiastic."
Her face burned even hotter.
"That makes no sense!"
A faint glint flickered in Killian's eyes.
"You even grabbed my collar."
Josselyn covered her face with both hands. She was certain she looked utterly ridiculous right now. Just imagining herself grabbing the cold Crown Prince's collar made her tremble.
"Oh my God…"
Killian shrugged.
"If it makes you feel better, you didn't seem fully conscious."
Josselyn slowly lowered her hands and looked at him, confused.
"Not conscious?"
"Your body was hot. Your breathing was unstable." Killian crossed his arms. "And you couldn't stand properly."
Her eyes shifted uneasily as she tried to recall.
Then fragments of memory began to surface, piece by piece.
The heat in her body. The spinning in her head. And warm lips pressed against hers.
Josselyn immediately covered her mouth.
"Oh no…"
Killian watched her reaction.
"Now you're starting to remember."
She looked at him in horror.
"I really kissed you?"
"Quite aggressively," Killian clarified.
Josselyn immediately dropped to her knees on the bed and bowed her head deeply.
"I'm sorry!"
Killian looked rather satisfied with that response.
"So, do you remember drinking anything strange yesterday?"
Josselyn snapped her head up, eyes wide.
"What do you mean?"
"I smelled something." Killian stepped a little closer. "It smelled like mandrake."
Josselyn stiffened. She knew about mandrake. Her late mother had used that "magic plant" more than once to calm patients before treating their wounds.
"Mandrake? That sedative?"
"It's also a truth serum."
Josselyn's mouth parted slightly. She had just learned another use for the herb. But a second later, her brows furrowed.
"So you mean… someone gave it to me?"
Killian shrugged slightly.
"That's what I'm trying to find out."
Josselyn pressed a hand to her temple, trying to recall what had happened yesterday.
But her mind was still exhausted. Forcing herself to remember too much at once made her stomach churn.
"Ugh…" A low groan escaped her, followed by the unmistakable growl of her stomach.
She glanced at Killian, convinced he was laughing at her. Her cheeks flushed as she clutched the blanket.
"I… I should go back to my room before anyone realizes I'm here."
She hurried out of bed and moved toward the door, passing Killian without hesitation.
"There are guards outside."
Josselyn stopped the moment her hand touched the doorknob. She turned to face him.
Killian had pulled a chair and was now seated again, watching her.
"This is the Crown Prince's chamber. And I'm under confinement," he said, taking another sip of tea.
'Damn it. I forgot that.' Josselyn cursed inwardly. Just as frustration set in, her stomach growled again. She quickly pressed a hand against it, hoping it would stop.
"Darius will be here soon. You can have breakfast here first," Killian said, tapping his fingers lightly beside a tiered porcelain tray with a silver handle. Several pastries were arranged neatly on it, looking rich and sweet.
Josselyn swallowed. She glanced at the table in front of him. It wasn't large, but it was filled with food. Tiered cakes, bread, fruit, and several gold-trimmed porcelain containers that she was certain held sweets and candies.
She glanced at Killian again, silently hoping he would invite her once more so she could accept.
Killian lifted the lid of one of the elegant porcelain containers and tilted it slightly for her to see.
"Sweet snacks to restore your energy." He picked up a chocolate biscuit and popped it into his own mouth. "Safe."
Josselyn's feet slowly carried her closer. She pulled out a chair and sat down hesitantly.
"May I?"
Killian sighed and moved the container away from her.
"It's fine if you don't like it…"
"I like it!" Josselyn blurted out quickly, grabbing his hand without realizing it.
Their hands touched. She felt the warmth beneath her palm, sending a sharp flutter through her chest.
"Your face is red. Is the potion still affecting you?"
Killian's low voice snapped her back to reality. She quickly withdrew her hand and grabbed a biscuit from the container, eating it in a hurry.
"Slow down," Killian warned.
He took another cup and poured tea into it.
Josselyn caught a glimpse of him in the sunlight. The light made his features even more striking. His thick brows, his cold yet mesmerizing blue-gray eyes, and the sharp bridge of his nose that completed his refined face.
No wonder women across Valenroth, and even beyond the kingdom, want him.
"Are you starting to regret Count Edmund trying to match your cousin with me?" Killian said casually, sliding the steaming cup of tea toward her.
Josselyn choked slightly on her words and straightened.
"I-it's none of my business," she replied quickly, grabbing the cup and taking a sip.
"Ow!"
She cried out almost instantly, clutching her lips.
"It's still hot, Josselyn."
Killian snatched a handkerchief from beside him and gently wiped the tea from around her mouth.
"Your Highness,"
Darius suddenly appeared at the doorway. Josselyn turned toward him, but Killian did not. He continued wiping her lips.
"You didn't knock," Killian said coldly.
Darius bowed his head slightly.
"My apologies, Your Highness. I did knock. But it seems you were…" his gaze flicked toward Josselyn, "...occupied."
Killian nearly slammed the handkerchief onto the table. "What is it?"
Darius opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly a head peeked out from behind him.
A man with long silver hair tied in a low ponytail.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
He greeted them with a bright smile.
"Oh, hi Josselyn. I didn't expect to see you here this early."