Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 28

Chapter 14.2

Van simply shrugged and led Winter to the dance floor in the center of the hall.

“Winter, am I the first partner you’ve attended a banquet with?”

Winter glanced up at Van and gave a slight nod. With so many people around, she kept her beautiful smile in place.

“Good thing I already kissed your hand. I almost lost you to Lillian.”

“Why does that even matter?”

Still smiling softly, he pulled Winter close.

Winter’s steps faltered for a moment, but Van didn’t seem to care as he wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her to the music.

“Why wouldn’t it? If the emperor hadn’t taken you, all of your firsts would have been mine to claim.”

“Hah.”

For once, Winter failed to hide her expression.

She was glad that Van was holding her so close, or others would have seen the face she made.

The music paused briefly before a new tune began to play.

It was one of Niello’s signature pieces, with slow, majestic notes from the cello.

Winter pressed even closer to Van Helgram, gripping his collar tightly where no one could see.

“Van Helgram, enough with your arrogance.”

Winter said, still smiling, but her voice held a cold, sharp edge.

“My, my. It seems my fiancée is angry.”

Van Helgram tightened his arm around her waist. Winter let out a quiet grunt.

“Care to tell me what’s got you so worked up?”

He whispered softly into Winter’s ear.

She felt an overwhelming urge to push him away, but Winter continued to smile as she replied,

“You say I’ll be yours, but our contract becomes permanent after I get my revenge. Are you mistaking my indulgence in your little games for something more?”

It appeared as though the two were whispering sweet words of love, but their conversation was anything but romantic against the melody of the string instruments.

“No, I agree with you. I have yet to give you anything.”

“But your earlier statement made it sound like you were already under the impression that I belonged to you.”

“You mean when I said I wanted to claim all your firsts?”

Winter nodded in affirmation.

A nearby dancing couple came too close, causing Winter and Van to pause their conversation. They waited for the couple to twirl away before resuming.

“You really think all of my firsts should naturally belong to you? What nonsense. Until the emperor is dead, nothing of mine will truly belong to you.”

“I never fail.”

Unable to bear Van’s arrogance, Winter pretended to trip and stomped on his foot.

Mmph. A small groan escaped him, but it was hidden by her dress, so no one else noticed.

“Grabbing your partner by the collar wasn’t enough? You had to go and step on my foot? Is this your way of suggesting we should break our contract?”

“No. I’m warning you not to interpret our contract as you see fit. I said I’d surrender myself for revenge, but I trust you’ll remember the proper sequence of events.”

“Yet, the duties of a wife were clearly stated in the contract, and it was you, Winter, who agreed to them.”

Winter shook her head.

Van’s slow, relaxed tone made her want to stomp on his foot again—or even kick his shin—but there were too many people around.

Instead, she decided to be straightforward with her words.

Van Helgram was not a man who understood subtle hints.

“Yes, all to ensure our revenge succeeds as quickly as possible. I won’t deny that I got swept up in the moment that night, but just as you believe you claimed me, I equally claimed you.”

Winter paused to catch her breath, and Van silently held her gaze.

“So please don’t mistake that into thinking you already own me.”

At her final words, his eyes, filled with slight confusion, slowly lit up with understanding. Finally, he nodded as if he grasped her point.

“Ah, I see. You’re saying that since you’re not my possession yet, I shouldn’t consider you as such.”

“Exactly.”

Winter finally allowed a hint of warmth to soften her cold gaze.

She abandoned her plan to step on his foot again and released his collar from her grip.

But his next words made her furrow her brows once more.

“Winter, if you insist on speaking of the contract that way, I’ll have to find a way to use it to my advantage.”

The music reached its climax.

To immediately demonstrate his point, Van Helgram kissed her right in the middle of the dance floor.

Swept up in this unavoidable, sweet kiss, Winter thought to herself…