Chapter 269: Fire, Sea, And Belonging
A soft chuckle escaped Ivan’s lips at her antics, and he went on to tell her how, the moment he teleported into the bathroom of his room at the palace, Arthur mistook him for an intruder and, in his fright, attacked him with his own shoes.
Eve was taken aback when he first told her, then burst into laughter as the scene played vividly in her mind.
She could hardly control herself and laughed for several minutes, while Ivan made no attempt to stop her. He loved the sound of her laughter, and seeing her so carefree after such a long time warmed his heart.
Once she finally managed to calm down, she reached up and tugged his cheeks playfully, mumbling, "You really should stop scaring your staff like this, Ivan."
"Hm," Ivan hummed in response, tightening his hold around her before pressing a gentle kiss to her nose.
He then filled her in on what Damien had told him about Minister Silas snooping around the palace kitchen, as well as their plan to attend a ball being held at Minister Silas’s estate to see what was really going on.
Eve sat quietly, listening to every word he said.
When he noticed that she had not said anything, Ivan added gently, "We do not have to go if you do not want to."
"I am alright with going if you are. I am guessing you have already agreed to the plan, which means it must be important," Eve replied, meeting his gaze.
"It is not that important," Ivan said. "Damien was the one who came up with the plan, and I know he is more than capable of handling things. I only agreed to see if they might make a mistake when I am around, since they would be more desperate by now."
"Desperate for what?" Eve asked, confusion flickering in her eyes.
Ivan pressed his lips into a thin line before replying, "Desperate to have their daughters catch my attention, so they can marry me and claim the position of Crown Princess."
Eve went still for a few seconds, and Ivan clearly saw a flash of gold streak through her irises before it vanished, as though it had been nothing more than a fabrication.
He then watched as the warmth drained from her eyes, replaced by an icy coldness, strikingly similar to Solaira the first time he had met her.
"Oh? I see," Eve replied in a tone so cold it sent a shiver down Ivan’s spine, one he never thought anyone could make him feel. Yet here he was, sitting perfectly still beneath her, careful not to move or make a sound, afraid she might lash out.
Seconds passed, and when Ivan could no longer bear the silence, he cautiously reached out to cover her hands resting on his chest. "Eve? We really do not hav-"
"Oh, but we do," she cut him off, finally meeting his eyes head-on.
Her hand, still beneath his, slid to the back of his hair. She gathered a fistful and tugged gently, just enough to set fire blazing in Ivan’s eyes.
Leaning in close, she murmured, "We need to go, Ivan." One hand lifted to caress his cheek as she continued in a low voice, "After all, they need to understand that you are not a man who can be easily coveted."
A cold smile curved at the corner of her lips. "They need to see who you, the Crown Prince of Versailles, truly belong to."
"You are mine, Ivan. Only mine."
She spoke barely above a whisper, yet the force behind her words carried the weight of an unmistakable declaration.
Ivan’s eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise at her boldness, and he could not stop desire from swirling within him once again. He had fully expected her to be angry, yet here she was, claiming him so boldly, so possessively, that it left him feeling more elated than he had ever imagined possible.
And it was true in every sense. His very existence belonged to her....only her.
A slow smile curved across his lips as he wrapped one hand around her waist and the other around her neck, drawing her closer until their noses brushed. In a firm, pleased voice, he said, "Yours, baby. Only yours."
At his words, her fierce demeanour melted away.
She leaned in and pressed a light yet savoury kiss to his lips before pulling back completely, leaving him instinctively leaning forward as if he were not quite ready to let her go.
"Good. It is decided then. We will be going to this ball," she declared cheerfully, then added playfully, "And who knows, maybe you might need my help to make someone confess."
A throaty chuckle escaped Ivan’s lips as he nodded. "Hm... maybe we can put those abilities to good use there."
Eve beamed at him, and Ivan found himself admiring her face once more before asking, "So....have you decided where you would like me to take you today?"
"Yes! I want to see that island you were talking about," she replied excitedly.
The smile on Ivan’s face widened. "It is decided then."
With that, they both got to their feet. Ivan went ahead and made them change into ordinary clothes, along with a robe meant to conceal both of their faces completely, leaving only their lips visible.
As she got ready, Eve noticed several dresses laid out neatly on the bed. All of them were high-collared, and a soft smile bloomed on her lips at the thought of how possessive he was of her.
Once they were both ready, Ivan turned to her and extended his arms with a warm smile, silently inviting her in. Eve smiled back and practically ran towards him, launching herself like a cat and wrapping her arms around his neck. Ivan held her tightly and, before parting from her, adjusted both of their hoods carefully to ensure their faces were properly concealed.
"Hold on to me tightly," he murmured, and his eyes flashed orange.
Eve stared at them, mesmerised, and this time she did not close her eyes, wanting to see how they were transported from one place to another. She watched as fire swirled around them, forming a thick, impenetrable wall. It lasted only a second before dissipating.
The first thing she felt was the scent of salty sea air and the warmth of a gentle breeze brushing against her skin.
Unwrapping herself from Ivan, she turned around to take in the endless vastness of the blue sea. The sound of waves crashing against the shore blended with the whisper of the wind, and all she could do was stare, eyes wide with awe.
Ivan came to stand beside her, taking in the same serene view she was. Their robes fluttered behind them in the breeze as they stood there quietly for some time.
Seeing the shoreline so close for the first time, an irresistible urge rose within her to dip her bare feet into the water and feel it wash over her. Acting on impulse, she stepped forward, only to feel the heels of her shoes sink into the pale sand beneath her.
"Oh," she murmured softly, realising that her shoes were not suited for such soft ground.
"Take them off, Eve," Ivan whispered, leaning closer to her ear, knowing exactly what she wanted to do.
She looked up at him, her blue eyes mirroring the deep sea stretching out before them, and he found himself utterly captivated.
With a gentle tilt of his head towards the shore, he prompted, "Go on. There is no harm in it."
A soft smile bloomed on her face, and she wasted no time kicking off her heels. She took a few eager steps forward, thoroughly enjoying the sensation of her feet sinking into the soft sand.
The child within her was utterly delighted, finally free to play. Watching the waves crash in again, her eyes sparkled as she moved closer, but then she suddenly paused.
Turning around, she saw Ivan still standing where they had first arrived. His molten red eyes were fixed solely on her, filled with such tenderness as he watched her take in every bit of her new surroundings.
Catching his gaze, she called out to him, her excitement was evident in her voice. "What are you still standing there for?"
Ivan tilted his head slightly and replied, "Why do you not go ahead? I am actually enjoying watching you instead."
A slight frown settled on her face at his answer.
Shaking her head, she hurried back to him, enjoying the feel of the sand sinking beneath her feet until she stood right in front of him.
Taking his hand, she looked up at him eagerly and said, "Come with me, please? I do not want to be the only one enjoying this. I want to experience it with you, Ivan," her melodious voice soft as her beautiful eyes searched his face.
Even with the dark hood covering her head, she was still beautiful in his eyes. And when she pleaded so sweetly, how could he ever deny her anything?
"Fine," he replied lightly.
Her smile in response was nothing short of breathtaking, stealing the air from his lungs once again.
