Chapter 56.
~Katrina~
The breeze carried something strange—an energy I couldn't explain. The air had changed the moment the old woman appeared at the end of the bridge.
I stepped out of the water, my feet shaky, and slowly walked toward them. The closer I got, the heavier the air felt. It was dark, cold… wrong.
There was something about her. Something that made me feel weak. Like she had power over me, though I didn't know why.
Karl stood beside her so easily, like he belonged there. But me? I was barely standing. My legs trembled, and I wished someone—anyone—could help me.
Still, I pushed forward. I needed to hear what they were saying. I needed to understand.
But before I could get too close, the old woman turned away. She said nothing and left Karl standing there like he was frozen in place.
"Karl…" I called his name softly. My voice barely came out.
He turned fast and ran to me, his eyes full of worry. "Why did you come out of the water?" he asked, grabbing my arm gently.
He saw how weak I was. Without another word, he lifted me into his arms and began walking—toward the same path the old woman had taken.
I wanted to speak, but my strength was fading. Still, I managed to whisper, "Who is she?"
"No one important," Karl replied. "She was just curious about you."
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
My vision blurred. Everything around me started to spin. And the last thing I saw… was his mask.
**
I woke up later, lying on a bed that wasn't mine. And it wasn't the king's either.
I looked around. The room was simple, but beautiful. It felt peaceful… but strange. It wasn't like any of the palace rooms I'd seen before.
The king was there, sitting quietly by the window with a drawing board in front of him. He looked deep in thought.
I didn't feel weak anymore. I felt like myself again, so I slowly sat up.
He noticed and rushed to my side. "How are you feeling now?" he asked, his voice soft.
"Better," I said. "But where are we?"
I turned toward the window. The sky was still green.
We were still in the forest.
"My home," the king said with a soft chuckle, gently holding my hands. "I built a small cottage not far from the river. That's where we are now."
"Really?" I asked, eyes wide. I couldn't hide how shocked I was. The king had a secret home—one no one else knew about?
"Yes," he smiled.
"What were you doing before I woke up?" I asked, smiling back at him, even though I knew I must have looked a mess after swimming and falling asleep like that.
"Drawing you, princess," he said, standing up and walking over to the drawing board.
I felt my heart beat faster, curious and nervous at the same time. Before I could get out of bed, he turned the board to face me.
A chill ran through me.
It was me.
Sleeping.
My curly black hair spread across the pillow, my face peaceful. He had captured everything—every line, every detail. I looked… beautiful.
But I was also bare.
He had drawn me without my nightie—my breasts, my waist. He had stopped there, out of respect, maybe. Still, it caught me off guard.
That's when I noticed I wasn't wearing anything now, either.
The nightie must have been wet. He must have taken it off.
Still, there was nothing shameful in it. Not with him. He wasn't just the king—he was the man who had seen every side of me, the man I loved.
"This image of you… I'll never get it out of my head," he said with a soft laugh.
But my heart didn't laugh.
It ached.
This man—this powerful king who once claimed he couldn't love—had fallen for me. And I had fallen for him too. Deeply.
But I also knew it wouldn't last.
Not forever.
Not when he learned the truth about who I really was.
The thought made my cheeks burn with shame and sadness. Why did fate have to be so cruel?
"Why do you look like that?" he asked gently. "Don't you like my drawing?"
"N-No… I love all your drawings. Especially this one," I said, forcing a smile. His face lit up.
I needed to distract him—before the tears in my heart reached my eyes.
Then, something came to mind.
I stood, completely bare, and slowly walked toward where he sat on the sofa. His eyes followed me, full of hunger, full of love.
He wanted me. All of me.
And in that moment, I wanted to forget everything else… just for tonight.
"Why do you keep staring at the portrait when you have the real thing right here?" I asked softly, smiling as I watched him.
Karl chuckled, a little embarrassed. "That's silly of me, princessa," he said, taking my hand. He pulled me closer while I remained standing between his legs.
Then, he kissed my thigh so gently it sent chills all over me. His lips moved up to my stomach, and a wave of heat rushed through me.
I leaned down and kissed him, craving his touch, his warmth—everything. That one kiss lit something deep inside us both, something raw and real. For a moment, I forgot the world. We wanted each other so badly that we might have made love right there by the river… if that old woman hadn't come earlier. Just the thought of her made me freeze.
Karl noticed right away. "Are you okay?" he asked gently. "If you're not feeling well, we can wait..."
But I didn't want to wait. Not anymore.
I climbed into his lap and kissed him again. This time, he kissed me back even deeper. His hands found me—one resting on my chest, the other between my legs—and I couldn't stop the soft sound that escaped me. I felt alive.
I ran my fingers through his hair, holding onto the moment. I'd never felt this kind of happiness, this kind of hunger. I wanted more.
I helped him out of his shirt and pants, my hands shaking with excitement. He was already hard, waiting for me, needing me.
"Sit on it… make me forget everything," Karl whispered breathlessly.
But I had something else in mind.
I remembered something I once read in a book, about a woman giving pleasure to the man she loved in a way that made him lose control.
So I slowly lowered my mouth to him.
Karl let out a shaky breath, clearly surprised. He hadn't expected it. I felt his fingers tangle in my hair, his body tensing as I kept going, giving him all I had.
"Kat—" he tried to say my name, but his voice caught in his throat. He was lost in the moment.
But then, gently, he stopped me. His hands lifted my face.
His eyes met mine, full of fire… and something deeper.
Love.
"Come here, my love," Karl said, standing up from the couch. He pulled me into a kiss that stole my breath. His lips were hungry, but his touch was tender. His eyes stayed closed, lost in the moment—while mine stayed open, because I loved watching him like this.
He led me to the bed and gently laid on top of me. His chest pressed against mine, his legs settled between mine. I could feel the heat of him, his body fitting perfectly against me.
Then, he entered me slowly, and I gasped, my fingers digging into his back as I held him close. My heart raced. My body trembled. He moved inside me with care, each slow stroke setting my skin on fire. His breath grew heavy, his hand found my breast, and his mouth stayed on mine like he couldn't get enough.
I felt alive… like I had been lifted into a different world where nothing else mattered. Not my past, not my fears—only him.
Then his rhythm changed. He began to move faster, deeper, his body pressed tighter against mine. His lips left mine and now he looked into my eyes, and what I saw there made my heart ache in the best way.
Love.
Real, raw love.
In that moment, there was no one else. Not my father. Not Lady Poria. Not Queen Fortuna. Not even the old woman by the river. There was just us—two souls becoming one.
I could feel him getting close. His eyes slowly shut, his body tensed, and he moaned softly in my ear. I didn't say a word. I just held him and listened.
And I loved every sound that came from him. Every breath. Every whisper of my name.
Because this—this was ours.