“This contract includes sharing a bed.”... more>>

The corners of his eyes lifted coldly as he smirked without emotion.

“I’ll try to suit Your Highness’s tastes.”

It was an engagement arranged to smother a filthy scandal.

The world had pointed fingers, saying the prince had lain with a noblewoman and caught a lecherous disease.

Though Louis was the one to extend his hand first, the one who truly needed this relationship was Enze.

With someone out for her life, she needed the prince’s strong protection.

There was no love involved.

They kissed only when under watchful eyes, and shared a bed only when intrusive reporters camped outside the palace.

Even without love, Louis taught her that the body could still feel pleasure.

She told herself it was only temporary.

That was before she grew used to the quiet warmth that had crept in unnoticed.

“This won’t end… not until you give birth to my child.”

He pressured her to tell him what other conditions she wanted.

His calm voice shattered her reasoning like a cold, mechanical blade.

***

‘If this is an assassin, I’ll admit—it’s a creative one.’

She was dangling helplessly from the wreckage of a crash-landed hot-air balloon, like a lost bird flung by the wind.

He assumed she was a failed infiltrator, an assassin who had botched her mission. He had been about to dispose of her immediately—

“Please… help me.”

But the woman looked at him with trembling eyes and begged.

Her gaze was not that of someone staring at her target, but like she was seeing him—truly seeing him—for the first time.

Her eyes were bright, as if reflecting her very soul.

‘Could this be… a new kind of trap?’

If it was a plan to get close to him, then it had already half succeeded.

Because for the first time…

he wanted to know more.

Keywords: Contract romance/marriage, class difference, power struggle, arranged marriage, European-inspired setting, capable male lead, emotionally detached male lead, honorific-speaking male lead, wounded male lead, royalty/nobility, kind-hearted female lead, wounded female lead, soft exterior-strong interior, underworld organizations, melodrama, tragic romance

Male Lead – Louis Cléve von Verblank

A prince infamous as the “scandal of the kingdom.” His beauty surpasses even the most handsome actors and idols. While he maintains a carefully crafted image of a reckless wastrel who lives without rules, in truth he serves as the king’s most obedient hound. He feels disillusioned with everything in the world, especially matters of the heart, viewing life through a lens of cold cynicism.

Female Lead – Enze Swatson

She became a hot-air balloon pilot after enlisting in the military to escape life-threatening danger. Her petite, delicate appearance makes her look as though she belongs in the sky. Though she dreams of something greater in her heart, the harshness of reality forces her to shrink back.

When to Read:

This story is perfect for when you want to experience the emotional journey of two wounded souls overcoming society’s prejudices and their own hidden scars to find genuine connection. It delivers a moving tale of how love can bloom even in the darkest circumstances.

Memorable Quote:

“You seem to owe me a great deal of light.” <<less

Fertan, the enigmatic rogue of the night, had many suspicious quirks. Unexpectedly, he became entangled with her. While being chased by the royal guards, he hid in Eleanor’s skirt.... more>>

“I thought you enjoyed this kind of thing since you kept holding me.”

“That’s impossible. My tendencies and your reputation are complete opposites.”

He was slick, slightly unhinged, and every encounter left her nerves tingling. His actions swung between seduction and provocation, leading to countless arguments. Before long, the two fell into a secretive relationship.

“Is it really impossible for you to act dignified and mature? Honestly…”

“Kiss.”

He cut her off mid-sentence, leaning in as if demanding an immediate kiss.

“I’m so turned on, but let’s start with a kiss. Isn’t that extremely dignified?”

“Fertan!”

“You know what you’re good at. Bite my lips. Then I’ll get hard like a horse in heat.”

Their families belonged to opposing factions, and various circumstances made Fertan an unreachable man for Eleanor. Meeting him required maneuvers akin to a spy mission. But despite her reservations, she couldn’t stop herself from being drawn to him. The more she learned about Fertan, the more secrets began to unravel—secrets tied to a vast conspiracy… <<less