A Drunken Interruption

KAELIA'S POV

Mirel and I turned to find the source of the tiny voice. Standing there was a five-year-old boy. He wore tailored noble garments, but his face was dominated by the most pinchable chubby cheeks I had ever seen. He shared Draven’s dark hair and sharp jawline, yet on him, the features looked downright adorable.

Without a second thought, I reached out and squeezed his left cheek.

"Uhh, what a cute kid," Mirel cooed, leaning down to pull his right cheek.

The boy slapped our hands away and puffed out his chest, his lips forming an angry pout. "You ladies have zero respect. How dare you pull the cheeks of a man?"

Mirel and I burst into laughter.

"I'm sorry, little man," I said, crouching to his eye level. "What's your name, and how old are you?"

"My name is Prince Kian," he declared, lifting his chin. "And I am five years old."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Kian." I offered a warm smile.

"The pleasure is mine." He shrugged, carrying an arrogance that clearly ran deep in the royal bloodline. "I heard you will be marrying my brother. Does that mean I'll be marrying the little lady beside you?"

He pointed a tiny finger straight at Mirel. I choked on a laugh.

"Listen here, kid," Mirel said, crossing her arms. "I am not little, and I am way older than you. There is no way I am marrying you."

Kian let out a dramatic sigh. "What is wrong with you? I am handsome and hot. Many girls are dying to be with me. Why are you rejecting me?"

I laughed so hard my ribs ached. A five-year-old boasting about being hot was the funniest thing I had heard all night.

Mirel rolled her eyes. "Because you are a child, and you are not my type."

"Oh, I see." Kian nodded slowly, tapping his chin. "You are playing hard to get. But I am not a man of patience. You should think wisely. Make the decision quick before other girls take me away. I will surely take good care of you."

"My decision stands," Mirel shot back, feigning frustration. "You should not be thinking about marriage."

Kian shook his head in disappointment. "I will take my leave now, ladies. And a word of advice—you should never call my brother a devil again. If he hears you, it will end bad for you."

Before either of us could respond, the little prince grabbed my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles. He did the exact same to Mirel, shot us a cheeky wink, and swaggered away into the crowd.

Mirel scoffed. "He called me a little lady. I would have twisted his ears if he wasn't a prince."

"He's just an adorable boy, Mirel," I said, wiping a tear of mirth from my eye. "Leave his ears alone."

The feast turned into an endless marathon. Servants kept refilling my silver goblet with heavy, sweet wine. The lords and ladies of the court lined up to offer their greetings, and with every toast, I drank. By the time the music began to slow and the crowd thinned, the great hall was spinning around me. My head felt light, and my legs felt like jelly. I was undeniably drunk.

Queen Eleanora materialized through my blurred vision. I blinked, trying to focus on her face, but I kept seeing two of her.

"You must be exhausted, Kaelia," Eleanora said softly. "I will have a servant show you to your room. Since you and Draven are to be married, you will be sharing a chamber."

I nodded, the words floating past my ears without truly registering.

"I apologize," the Queen added, patting my arm. "My son has already retired to sleep. He should have escorted you, but he left early."

"S'okay," I slurred, flashing a goofy grin.

A servant appeared, gesturing for me to follow. Mirel linked her arm through mine, and together we stumbled down the long palace corridors. We were both wasted. We giggled and sang old folk songs at the top of our lungs, our voices echoing off the stone walls.

Finally, the servant stopped in front of a pair of massive golden doors.

"Princess, look," Mirel hiccuped, pointing a shaking finger. "A golden door."

"It's so shiny," I giggled, leaning against the heavy metal.

"Your Highness," the servant interrupted, gesturing to the entrance. "This is the King's chamber, and now yours. I will escort your friend to her own quarters."

"Bye, Mirel!" I waved clumsily.

I turned back to the golden doors and shoved them open with my shoulder. I staggered into the dimly lit room, the scent of burning candles and musk hitting my nose. My vision swam. In the center of the room sat a massive four-poster bed.

I squinted. There were two naked figures tangled together on the silk sheets. A man and a woman.

The alcohol flowing through my veins erased any sense of shock or decorum. I didn't care what they were doing. I just wanted to sleep.

I stumbled closer, my boots thudding against the plush rug. The man stopped moving and glared at me. Through the drunken haze, his sharp jaw and dark hair looked familiar.

I raised a heavy arm and pointed a clumsy finger right at his face.

"You," I muttered, my words slurring together. "You look just like that arrogant king."

I didn't wait for a response. I dragged myself to the far edge of the mattress, collapsed face-first onto the soft covers, and let the darkness pull me under.

DRAVEN'S POV

I had abandoned the banquet hall hours ago. The polite chatter from the groveling lords bored me to death, and the sound of Kaelia’s bright, carefree laughter ringing from the next table only irritated me further. She was my enemy, yet she sat there enjoying the feast thrown in her honor, ignoring my presence. It gnawed at my patience.

I needed a distraction to burn off the tension. When Odelia caught my eye, flashing a seductive, knowing look, I made my exit.

I dragged her straight to my chambers. The moment the heavy golden doors shut behind us, I pinned her against the wall and kissed her. It wasn't about affection; it was about raw, primal release. We tore at each other’s clothes, leaving shredded silk and discarded tunics on the floor.

I stripped her naked, my eyes tracing the curve of her hips. I shed my own trousers, standing bare before her. Odelia moaned, her hands roaming over my chest and trailing down to grip my hard cock. Her touch fueled the fire in my blood.

I grabbed her by the waist and threw her onto the center of my massive bed. I climbed over her, my weight pressing her down into the mattress. I lowered my head, my mouth closing over her swollen nipples. I bit and sucked the sensitive flesh, drawing loud, breathless moans from her throat. Her legs parted willingly, wrapping around my hips.

I shifted my weight, positioning my heavy, throbbing cock directly against her wet pussy. The slick heat of her arousal coated the tip. I tightened my grip on her thighs, preparing to bury myself deep inside her.

Bang.

The golden doors burst open.

I snapped my head up, a lethal growl tearing from my throat. I was ready to slaughter whoever had the audacity to interrupt me.

Kaelia stumbled through the doorway.

She reeked of wine. Her hair was a mess, and her dress slipped off one shoulder. She swayed on her feet, her glazed eyes scanning the room before landing on the bed. She stared blankly at Odelia and me, her gaze drifting over our tangled, naked bodies.

I expected her to scream. I expected her to run out crying.

Instead, a sloppy smile spread across her face. She raised a shaking finger and pointed it straight at me.

"You look just like that arrogant king," she slurred.

My jaw locked. The sheer audacity. She barged into my private sanctuary, caught me naked, moments away from fucking my mistress, and had the nerve to insult me to my face. She practically had a death wish.

Before I could roar at her to get out, she bypassed us. She dragged her feet to the far side of the bed, the mattress shifting as she crawled onto the edge. Without a second glance, she collapsed onto the sheets and passed out. Her slow, rhythmic breathing filled the silent room.

I stared at her, stunned by the absurdity of the moment.

Beneath me, Odelia scrambled into a sitting position, her face flushed with rage. She grabbed a sheet to cover her bare breasts, her eyes shooting daggers at Kaelia’s sleeping form.

"The nerve of that bitch," Odelia spat, her voice trembling with fury. "If she weren't a princess, I would not spare her. I would kill her myself."

"Enough," I snapped.

My mood was dead. The heat in my veins had turned into cold, sharp irritation. The desire to fuck was gone, replaced by a dark urge to strangle the princess snoring on my sheets.

"Get out," I ordered, stepping off the bed.

Odelia froze. "Draven, please. We can just move to the couch—"

"I said get out, Odelia." My tone left no room for argument.

She clamped her mouth shut, snatched her torn dress from the floor, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

I snatched my trousers and pulled them on. I stood bare-chested at the foot of the bed, my eyes locked on Kaelia. She slept so peacefully, her chest rising and falling, oblivious to the danger she had just put herself in. She had ruined my night, invaded my space, and insulted my pride.

She had crossed a fatal line.

I crossed my arms, a dark promise settling in my chest. The moment she opened those eyes, I was going to ensure she paid for every single thing she did tonight.