Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 157: Lie

The soft morning sun filtered through the window, casting warm hues across the room’s stone walls.

Rose stirred gently as her lashes fluttered open. She blinked slowly, taking in her surroundings—until she felt it.

A strong arm draped over her waist.

Her body stiffened, heart beginning to race in her chest. Carefully, she turned her head—only for her breath to catch in her throat.

His Highness.

Zethan.

His face was mere inches from hers, his breathing slow, calm... still asleep—or so she thought.

She swallowed, her fingers reaching to gently lift his arm away—but the more she tried, the more he pulled her in. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she found herself pressed closer, his body warm and firm against hers.

The feeling was just too new to ignore.

She stilled, then glanced toward his face.

His eyes were open.

Startled, Rose flinched and tried to move back, but his hold on her didn’t loosen. Her voice came out soft and polite.

"Your Majesty... good morning." Her heart hammered in her chest like the festival’s loud music last year that had disrupted her beauty sleep—it was New Year’s Eve, after all.

But as soon as the words left her lips, the memory of last night hit her like a wave—him, in the garden, with another woman.

Zethan’s voice broke through her thoughts.

"Zethan. Call me Zethan."

Rose gave a slow nod before speaking again, more quietly this time.

"Please... could you let go of me?"

He shook his head, eyes still locked on hers.

"No, my queen. Why the rush?"

She forced herself to breathe calmly. Stay composed, Rose... just stay composed.

Remember—don’t push your luck. He is the king.

"It’s nothing, really, Your Majesty. I was just... surprised to see you here. I thought you’d be... enjoying yourself with one of your mistresses."

At her words, Zethan sat up slightly. His gaze darkened, and his lips curved into a faint smirk.

"Do you have a problem with that, my queen?"

Rose looked away, her fingers tightening slightly over the bedsheet.

"I have no problem with it. None at all. I just assume... if you’re allowed mistresses, then surely you wouldn’t mind if I had a mister or two as well... right?"

But before she could finish her sentence, Zethan moved.

In one swift motion, he pulled her back, and Rose gasped as she found herself now atop him.

Her eyes widened. She instinctively tried to sit up—but the movement only deepened their closeness, their position turning even more intimate.

She froze.

"Your Majest—"

"You... won’t. Not at all," he said, his words final—so cold that she froze for a moment in disbelief.

"But..."

Her words were cut off when Zethan leaned in, pulling her into a hug. Her eyes flew wide, surprised by the intimacy of it all. This was the first time she had ever been in such a state with a man—

Not to mention the fact that his head was resting on her chest... right in between her—

Oh...

Her cheeks flushed deeply.

"Your heart is beating very fast, Bunny," Zethan’s voice vibrated against her chest, making her body tingle with an unfamiliar sensation. She heard him chuckle, the sound rumbling through her once more.

Rose’s face flushed even harder as Zethan slowly pulled back, his face just an inch from hers.

"So, tell me, Bunny... why is it beating so hard? Aren’t you already used to things like this... as an experienced one?" he murmured.

Then Rose immediately glared at him—

Or at least, she tried to. The so-called glare didn’t carry any real weight, especially since her cheeks were slightly frozen in place, flushed pink with lingering heat.

"I am very experienced, of course," she said, trying to sound confident. "But you caught me off guard with that pull, Your Majesty. And I’m... not exactly experienced in the field of being caught off-guard or... hurt."

She tried to manage her tone, even though deep down, she knew what she was saying wasn’t entirely true. She trusted that he would catch her.

Zethan smirked, clearly already seeing through her. His gaze lowered—

And Rose instinctively followed it. Her eyes widened.

Her nightgown...

The neckline had slipped from the earlier motion, revealing a generous hint of her ample chest. Her eyes flicked back up, and she clicked her tongue sharply, quickly pushing herself up to fix it.

To her surprise, Zethan chuckled.

What was funny? This perverted man, she said to herself, her face burning with embarrassment.

"Why am I not convinced yet?" he teased.

Rose opened her mouth to reply, flustered. "Because I... I—"

She paused, lowering her voice into a whisper as if speaking only to herself. "Because you’re just a proud and arrogant king..."

"Oh really?" Zethan’s lips curled into a devilish grin.

Her body stiffened. Had he... heard that?

"Your High—" she tried to explain. Oh, what had her lips gotten her into...

But before she could finish, Zethan had already moved—maneuvering her until he was now atop her.

Rose’s eyes flew wide, locked onto his dark crimson ones. Her breath hitched, her cheeks deepening to an even darker pink.

"Zethan," he said lowly, voice thick with mischief. "Call me Zethan when we’re alone. If you call me ’Your Highness’ again... I’ll take it as you trying to seduce me."

Her eyebrow shot up. "S...seduce you?"

A smirk danced across his lips at her flustered response. Then, without another word, he pulled away, sitting up, and rising smoothly to his feet.

She couldn’t believe it.

This man was unbelievable.

How could he say such things? How could he turn something so normal—so casual—into something so suggestive?

Before she could even gather herself, she turned and began walking toward the bathroom area.

"Do you want to bathe with me?" his voice floated behind her—smooth, dangerous.

"What... I—I uh... you don’t have to worry," she stammered, caught off guard. What kind of shameless king was this man?

"Close your eyes while you’re at it," she pleaded softly without looking back.

He chuckled. "You don’t have to worry, my queen. No need to be so shy."

But the moment she called his name—"Zethan..."—he stilled.

Something about the way it rolled off her tongue made his steps pause.

Then she added, trying to sound indifferent, "Suit yourself, my king," mocking his own tone.

And that’s when she heard it—

The sound of fabric dropping.

She turned her head slightly, then instantly froze. Her eyes widened.

"Z–Zethan! Please go in and undress!" she pleaded, immediately snapping her eyes shut. She did not know he would take her words seriously. "Why are you undressing here? Are you truly this shameless?!"

Another laugh broke through the room from him.

"There’s nothing to be shy about. Isn’t this your daily routine? Or... are you suddenly inexperienced again?"

Her heart skipped. He was using her own words against her.

She opened her mouth to respond—eyes snapping open—only to gasp.

There he stood.

His robe was gone.

Only his pants remained, and his bare upper body was on full display—smooth skin, taut muscles, and an aura that made the room feel smaller. Her breath caught, and her heart pounded at the breathtaking sight.

"You know," he murmured casually, catching her stunned stare, "you could touch. It’s far better than just staring."

Her head jerked away as she stuttered, "I—I advise you... to quit acting so shameless!" Her eyes refused to meet his, darting to the side as she awkwardly shifted her stance.

"Shameless? If I’m not mistaken," Zethan said slowly, letting each word drip with deliberate weight, "you are the shameless one here, my Bunny."

"Nuh-uh."

Rose shook her head, turning toward him with a hint of defiance. Then her voice lowered, tinged with challenge. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"If you keep acting this way, I’ll start thinking you’re the one trying to tempt and seduce me."

She crossed her arms. "I hate to break it to you, but I don’t work with... experienced men. I work with inexperienced ones. All the people I work with have little to no experience... and that’s what makes it work."

Zethan tilted his head with a raised brow. "Oh really?"

"Yes," she answered quickly. "I don’t work with men who’ve had lots and lots of mistresses."

She lowered her gaze, her voice faltering slightly. "I don’t work with that type."

Zethan paused. He had caught something—something raw—in her eyes. A flicker of hurt she hadn’t meant to show. He remained silent, absorbing it.

Then, without a word, he moved toward the bed.

Rose instinctively began shifting back from where she sat on the bed. Wasn’t he heading to the bathroom?

Why was he coming closer?

He sat down silently, and she sighed in quiet relief—grateful he hadn’t moved toward her.

But she had celebrated too soon.

Zethan reached out, pulling her gently toward him. Her back landed against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her in place.

"Tell me, Bunny," he whispered, his breath brushing her ear, which suddenly turned pink at the sensation. "You’re angry about that, aren’t you?"

Rose shook her head. "Why would I be? It’s... normal for a king to be with his mistresses. Even on the night of his wedding, right?"

Her voice cracked slightly, and she bit her lip—finally letting the bitterness in her heart slip out.

She pulled away a little. "Please... if you’ll excuse me. I need to take my leave."

She needed to leave before she broke down and blew her cover.

But Zethan didn’t let go.

"You’re not excused," he said firmly.

She froze at the weight of his voice.

Then came his next words—

"Tell me, my wife..."

She stiffened the moment she heard it.

"...You don’t want me having mistresses, do you?"

Silence fell between them.

Then, softly—barely above a whisper—Rose replied,

"I don’t want you having any."

Zethan’s expression shifted, his gaze fixed on her. "But I thought you said you didn’t care."

"I... I changed my mind," she admitted quietly, lips pressed tightly together.

How could she say it out loud? That it hurt. That even if she had once planned to escape... now, she couldn’t bear the thought of him with another. That maybe... just maybe... she was falling—

No. She wasn’t. He was her husband now, and he needed to respect her.

And he nodded slowly. "As you wish," he said. "Very well, then."

Rose blinked, eyes wide. "Really?" she asked—surprised by how hopeful she sounded. Her own voice startled her.

She quickly looked down, as if scolding herself for that flicker of joy.

Zethan’s smirk returned. "Having a mistress would mean my wife would be the one to—"

Before he could finish, Rose’s hand flew to his lips.

"Don’t say it," she whispered, her lips parting.

Zethan’s eyes glinted with amusement, but he leaned in closer.

"Tell me, Bunny... are you a virgin?"

Her eyes darted away. She replied coolly, "As I said earlier—I’m not."

A lie.

And Zethan knew it.

He shook his head slowly. "As I said earlier... a queen should know how to lie with confidence. Now..."

He tilted her chin gently with his fingers.

"Look into my eyes... and say it again, my wife."