Chapter 225 Struggle
"Julian… what are you doing? We're in the open. Someone mi—"
Her words stopped as she felt the warmth of his hands on her lips, silencing her before she could finish.
The princess froze, her eyes locking with his. Julian's expression was calm, almost too calm, as he gently pressed his fingers to her lips.
"Shh," he murmured softly. "Don't worry about them, Your Highness. Right now, it's just you and me."
Her heart pounded in her chest, but she couldn't look away from his gaze.
Julian's fingers gently caressed her soft, warm lips, his touch both daring and tender. The princess's breath hitched at his touch, but she couldn't bring herself to pull away.
"The thing is," Julian began, "we have never met before. And now that we finally have…" He leaned in slightly. "I must admit, I've become utterly enchanted by your beauty."
His words hung in the air, heavy with underlying meaning. The princess felt her heart race uncontrollably, the unexpected intensity of his words and actions leaving her momentarily speechless.
Julian's gaze lowered, lingering on the swell of her breasts just visible above the fabric of her gown.
"And I must say…" he murmured, "the more I look at you, the more I find myself wanting you."
The princess's breath caught, her cheeks flaming at the audacity of his words. Her lips parted slightly, as though to respond, but no words came.
Julian's eyes locked onto hers again, "So," he murmured, "let's not refer to ourselves as aunt and nephew." He paused deliberately, "Unless…"
He leaned in closer, his breath warm and tantalizing against her ear. His voice dropped to a seductive whisper. "Unless you would like to make it more… interesting, my dear... aunt...."
A shiver ran down her spine, uncontrollable and undeniable. The closeness of his body, the heat of his breath, and the daring tone of his words left her frozen.
Her heart pounded in a mix of shock and something she couldn't name—or wouldn't dare to.
"Julian…" she managed to utter, her voice barely above a whisper.
But the words faltered on her tongue as he leaned in again, his lips brushing lightly against her cheek.
Her breath grew ragged, her body stilling at the intimate contact.
"Ah," he said, his tone both teasing and seductive, "perhaps I've overstepped. Forgive me if I've unsettled you, Your Highness… or perhaps I should say Aunt...?"
The way he lingered on the last word made her shiver again.
Without warning, Julian planted a soft, lingering kiss on her cheek. The touch was light, but it struck her like a bolt of thunder. Her heart seeming to explode in her chest from the unexpected intimacy.
He pulled back, releasing his grip on her waist. The sudden movement left her feeling oddly empty, as if he had taken something with him.
"Well, thank you for accompanying me, Your Highness," Julian said "I'll take it from here on."
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With that, he walked ahead, relaxed and unfazed, leaving the princess standing there in a haze of conflicting emotions. She barely registered the soft rustle of his footsteps as he moved farther away, his presence still lingering like a fire in her veins.
Her legs felt weak, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to regain composure. But his soft, warm kiss, played over and over in her mind.
Slowly, she raised her trembling hand to her cheek where his lips had left their mark.
Did I just get hit on by my nephew?
She glanced around the grand hallway, almost as if expecting someone to appear and confirm that what she had just experienced was a mere dream.
****n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Meanwhile, in a grand room not far from where Julian had left the princess in turmoil, two figures exchanged a conversation.
The room was massive. It was hard to believe that it was meant for just one person. Every inch of the room exuded opulence and grandness.
The walls of the room were crafted from gold, the surfaces reflecting the light of the grand chandelier above. The chandelier itself was a masterpiece, designed with strands of gold and adorned with rare jewels. The bed was enormous and draped with plush purple velvet.
The first figure, a woman with long, flowing white hair sat before a mirror, its edges crafted in fine gold. Her delicate fingers carefully combed through her hair, her movement smooth and graceful.
She glanced at the second figure, a woman with striking red hair and sharp blue eyes who paced around the room in impatience.
"So, what are you here for, Mother?" the first figure asked, her voice soft with hint of curiosity.
The second figure, who was still pacing around the room, let out a sigh before speaking with both frustration and concern.
"You know what I am here for, Hallie," she said. "What is Aisha thinking?"
Aisha that she was referring to was the princess with the red hair, the one who had just been in the presence of Julian.
Hallie, the youngest princess, sighed, her delicate fingers pausing in mid-comb as she stared into the mirror.
"I don't know, Mother. Aisha does whatever she wants. She never listens to anyone, especially me." Her tone held a hint of frustration and resignation, as though she had grown used to her sister's unpredictable nature.
The second figure who was none other than the queen herself, stopped pacing and turned her eyes onto Hallie. The calm exterior she usually maintained faltered, revealing a trace of concern and disapproval.
"But you know what she did," the queen said. "She acknowledged Julian as her nephew."
Hallie's brows furrowed, her fingers gripping the comb a little tighter. "What of it?" she replied, though her voice trembled slightly.
The queen's voice raised a pitch. "It wasn't just the acknowledgement, Hallie. It was how she acknowledged him. In front of the entire court, in front of the king."
She paused for a moment before continuing. "And you know exactly what it means, Hallie." Her eyes locked onto her daughter's in a fierce stare.
"Acknowledging him as royal blood is the same as giving him the kingdom. You know that, don't you?"
Hallie's expression hardened as the weight of her mother's words sank in.
"You're saying that Aisha... made a move that could change everything," she murmured, trying to process the implication of what had just been revealed.
The queen's lips pressed into a thin, angry line. "Yes. He has just as much right as your son to compete for the throne. She has practically sealed our fate."