A Warm Kiss in Alleyway

WARNING: 18+

Time frame: after war

~~~

"That's you being stupid, Uzana," Adeline reconsidered her preconceived notions of the prince. Perhaps he wasn't so bad after all.

As they walked, Adeline couldn't help but notice Uzana's confident stride and the way his eyes scanned the crowd as if he owned the place.

Despite his status as a prince, his arrogance seemed almost innate, as if it were part of his very being.

It surprised her that he was the first to greet her when they met in the hallway leading to the banquet hall. His haughty demeanor was as much a part of him as his sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes.

And, Adeline admitted, he did look handsome tonight. He wore a regal Cescil robe with golden, vine-like ornaments adorning the collar.

The robe's stitching was unfinished, leaving seams and gaps that were seamlessly bridged by a crisscross of silk.

Uzana radiated confidence and beauty despite the haphazard clothing. His presence was magnetic, captivating the attention of all those around him. Plus, he was not wearing a face covering tonight.

"You guys aren't wearing face coverings tonight?" Adeline asked.

"No, because we finally realized that we are quite handsome. All this time, we were wrong because we thought our faces were hideous. It was only when we arrived in Everkeep that we realized we were the true definition of handsome. In contrast, most men in Everkeep turned out to be ugly. No wonder the girls here immediately swarmed us."

Adeline immediately rolled her eyes upwards. Oh, she took back the compliment about Uzana not being arrogant and being quite humble. As for the fact of his good looks, Adeline could not deny it.

"No, I'm kidding. We're not wearing them because tonight we'll be choosing our brides." He said as he sipped his wine.

"Oh." Adeline said briefly. She didn't know why she felt uncomfortable hearing that. She wanted to ask who he was going to choose, but she held back. Why did she suddenly care which girl Uzana liked?

"Besides, it's a dinner, so it's troublesome to wear a face covering. Besides, you Cescil girls, despite the birth defects we have, you won't be able to resist us. We have given you protection. Well, unless, of course, she prefers her loser husband to my brother," he pointed his wine glass at Lady Sophia, who had just arrived with her husband, the loser Sir Arthur.

"So, try to explain why you built a bathhouse with a hole in the wall. This time, try to explain it in good words, woman."

Adeline rolled her eyes again. "Your Majesty, the Eryas Citadel bathhouse was designed for both parties, male and female, to peek at each other. This is because the baths are designed for matchmaking, which is what you are here for. The walls are perforated to allow you Gamaaloths to peek into the baths of the Cescil girls. You can see them without clothes and choose which girl you like. But you were too naive, and it was the girls who peeped at you! They seem to be eager to marry you. Congratulations! Unlike back home where you always had to buy women to sleep with, in Everkeep, you can get any girl you like just by pointing."

"Oh, shit, it turns out women have lust too?"

Adeline gave Uzana a lazy look. "Yes! Of course, we do!"

"Oh, so you do too!" He grinned slyly from behind his wine glass.

Adeline did not answer and walked away. What a stupid question. Hhh, Adeline wished she had Lady Sophia's patience in explaining matters like this to the Gamaaloths, who knew nothing about women.

Adeline recalled how the citizens of Everkeep reacted after the peeping incident at the Eryas Citadel baths. The streets were abuzz with excitement as word spread about the renowned beauty of the people of Gamaaloth.

Their physical features were the subject of much discussion, particularly the impressive size of their genitalia, which appeared to be universally striking.

The men's chiseled physiques exuded an aura of godlike power, while their handsome faces left onlookers gasping for breath. It was a spectacle that left a lasting impression on everyone who witnessed it.

In an instant, the once fearful and anxious nation of Gamaaloth had transformed into a breeding ground for matrimony. Young women from all over the land jostled for the chance to wed a Gamaalothian.

It was as if a switch had been flipped, and suddenly the entire world was enamored with the rugged, handsome people of Gamaaloth.

It was a funny thing, really, how quickly perception could shift based on something so superficial as physical beauty.

Then, the healer girls walk freely now, no longer on the list for arranged marriages by the Gamaaloth Nation.

While noble women from all over the country were clamoring to attend the evening banquet, vying for the chance to become the wife of a Gamaaloth.

"Hey, where are you going?" Called Uzana while laughing after Adeline.

"Get some air in the garden. It's so claustrophobic to be in a room full of matchmaking competition." Adeline answered honestly.

"Wait, I want to come." He said.

But unfortunately, a noble girl from the next town had already held him back. She bowed gracefully and asked Uzana for an introduction.

Seeing him restrained, Adeline waved goodbye and continued on her way to the garden outside the banquet hall. That night she wore one of the beautiful gowns given to her by Lady Sophia.

The dress was silky and smooth against her skin, its striking sapphire blue color shimmering in the moonlight. The color

  matched the Barsphirine stone pendant given to her by King Valdemar Clementine, which she was currently wearing as a necklace.

The intricate beading and lace detailing made it look as though a constellation of stars had fallen from the sky and landed on Adeline's body.

Lady Sophia had chosen this gown for her specifically, knowing that it would complement her eyes and highlight the curves of her figure.

As she stood in front of the mirror before, she couldn't help but feel like a princess from a fairytale, ready to embark on a magical adventure.

A towering figure landed gracefully on her shoulders in a dimly lit alleyway.

"Hey, where are you running off to? I already said I wanted to come along. How dare you leave me, hm?" Uzana said in a low, whispered tone.

Uzana's massive hands rested upon her skin, sending waves of electricity coursing through her body.

The touch was both thrilling and intimidating, as if she had suddenly become an important player in an unknown game.

The two of them shuddered in anticipation, the sensation overwhelming them. Adeline turned around, and suddenly they were kissing.

They didn't know who started it first. They didn't remember. They seemed to have lost their memory. But Uzana's lips were so warm and pleasant as they met.

Uzana's hand touched Adeline's neck and rubbed it gently. The girl's body trembled instantly. His hands were large and calloused, rubbing against her neck. It was a stark contrast to his soft, supple lips.

Uzana pushed Adeline into the darkest alleyway with no lighting at all. Their lips were still locked in a kiss. Uzana's large tongue crept into her oral cavity.

Adeline sighed involuntarily. She also vaguely heard Uzana's moan. She was pressed against the wall, their bodies close to each other without a gap.

Oh, it was hot. It was so hot. Uzana's body emitted an abnormal heat, his breath brushing against Adeline's cheeks, a little rough but intoxicating.

His hand was still gently rubbing Adeline's neck while his other hand began to explore her breasts.

Adeline dismissed it reflexively.

"Hm!" He muttered in a commanding tone. His hand that was on her neck moved to grab Adeline's right hand above her head and lock it against the wall.

"Ngghh...!" Adeline's sigh sounded really embarrassing, but she couldn't stop it. Her head was spinning wildly and foggy as Uzana rubbed and squeezed her breast gently.

Then suddenly Adeline felt something strange, something sharp and cold like a dagger scraping across the top of her chest, followed by warm, melting droplets, and then a stabbing pain.

"Mrgghh!" Adeline groaned as her lips parted from Uzana's.

The warm, blood-like liquid flowed gently. Uzana quickly removed his hold on Adeline's lips, creating a bridge of saliva between them that broke once Uzana moved away.

It was pitch black, and Adeline couldn't see anything. Uzana released his hold, and she could no longer feel the heat of Uzana's body against hers.

Not long after, she heard the sound of his footsteps fading away. Uzana had just run away after doing all that? Oh, how rude.

Even prostitutes still receive payment. In contrast, Adeline hadn't received anything. That meant she was lower than a prostitute.

Bastard Uzana!

It was so embarrassing! It felt like Adeline was going to lose her mind! It was her first kiss but definitely not Uzana's first.

Oh, he must have thought Adeline was a cheap girl for being so easy to kiss in a dark corner of the castle.

Adeline held back her tears and bit her lip hard.

Still with foggy thoughts and a feeling of abandonment weighing heavily on her heart, she walked out of the dark corner of the hallway.

She looked down at her chest and found a stabbing scratch there.

Blood dripped from the wound, staining the brightly colored lace breast collar. Oh, crap, what should she tell Lady Sophia?

Adeline quickly wiped away the oozing blood and stopped the bleeding from the wound. Why did Uzana suddenly wound her with a dagger?

Fortunately, the scratch wasn't too deep. She managed to heal it instantly without leaving any marks. It was as if the wound had never happened.

But wait, why did the scratch look so haphazard? There were bits of peeling skin on the edges of the wound. This wasn't a dagger wound. A dagger wound should be clean.

Oh, Uzana, what is he hiding? Why did he run away? Why are he and his people so obsessed with covering up their supposedly amazing bodies?

And why does he keep talking about birth defects when there isn't a single sign of defect visible?

Adeline halted the wound-healing process. She left the scratch as it was, stopping the bleeding but leaving it otherwise untouched. She would examine the wound more closely with Lady Sophia.

*