The Crown's Seduction-Chapter 477: A Place To Belong

Niran’s breath caught in her throat, his question catching her off guard. She could feel the tension in the air, the invisible line between them growing thinner with each passing second.

"I believe they are necessary," she finally answered, her voice steady but laced with an undertone of something she couldn’t quite define. "For both our sakes."

Raul hummed thoughtfully, and she could sense the smirk playing on his lips even without looking at him. "Perhaps," he murmured, "but I find that some boundaries are meant to be tested... or even broken."

Niran’s pulse quickened, her mind racing as she tried to decipher his intentions. She knew she was walking a dangerous line, but she also knew that retreating now would only embolden him further.

"Only if one is prepared for the consequences," she responded, meeting his challenge head-on.

Raul’s laughter echoed softly through the bath chamber, a sound that sent a thrill of both fear and excitement through her. "Indeed," he said, his tone filled with dark promise. "And I do look forward to seeing how prepared you truly are, Niran."

As she finished scattering the last of the petals, Niran rose to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. But before she could fully stand, she felt a sudden grip on her wrist. In an instant, Raul’s hand pulled her down with him into the spacious bath.

She gasped as the warm water enveloped her, her clothes clinging to her body as she landed beside him. The shock of the moment left her breathless, her wide eyes meeting Raul’s with a mix of surprise and something she couldn’t quite name.

Raul’s smirk deepened as he watched her, his hand still holding her wrist, keeping her close. "You didn’t think I’d let you leave so easily, did you?" he teased, his voice a low purr that sent shivers down her spine.

Niran’s breath came in quick, shallow gasps as she tried to regain her composure. The warmth of the water was nothing compared to the heat of his gaze, which seemed to burn right through her. She could feel the firm grip of his hand on her wrist, holding her steady in the water, and it made her painfully aware of just how vulnerable she was in this moment.

"Your Highness, this is highly inappropriate," she managed to say, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound calm.

Raul chuckled softly, his other hand brushing a wet strand of hair away from her face. "You seem to have a lot of opinions on what’s appropriate, Niran," he murmured, his tone playful yet laced with something darker. "But I’m not interested in what’s appropriate. I’m interested in you."

His words sent a jolt of something through her—whether it was fear, excitement, or a dangerous blend of both, she couldn’t tell. All she knew was that she had to keep her wits about her.

"Let me go," she demanded, though her voice lacked the strength she wished it had.

Raul’s eyes narrowed slightly, his smirk fading as he studied her. For a moment, she thought he might actually release her, but instead, he pulled her even closer, until their faces were only inches apart. The water rippled around them, the petals floating serenely on the surface, a stark contrast to the tension simmering beneath.

"What if I don’t want to?" he whispered, his breath warm against her cheek. "What if I want to see how far you’ll go to resist me?"

Niran’s heart raced, her mind screaming at her to find a way out of this situation. She knew she couldn’t afford to let him have the upper hand, not if she wanted to stay in control of the delicate game she was playing.

Summoning every ounce of courage, she met his gaze head-on, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. "Then you’ll be disappointed, Your Highness," she said firmly. "Because I won’t give in."

Raul’s eyebrows raised in genuine curiosity. "What do you want in exchange for giving in to me, Niran?"

His question caught her off guard. She had heard countless stories about Prince Raul—how he was heartless, ruthless, and used to taking whatever he desired without a second thought. She was resisting him, but deep down, she knew that if he truly wanted to force himself on her, there was little she could do to stop him. She had heard others before her succumb to his will, unable to fight back.

Yet, something in his demeanour made her pause. He could take what he wanted, but that didn’t mean she would submit to him willingly. There was a difference, and perhaps he sensed that too.

Niran took a deep breath, her eyes locking with his. "I’m a nobody, Your Highness," she began, her voice steady but filled with a quiet strength. "An orphan who doesn’t even know her origin. I grew up moving from place to place, never having a stable home, never knowing where I truly belong."

She hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "All I have is my dignity and my principles. I may not have much, but I hold onto those with everything I have. My dream... my deepest wish is to one day be legally married, to have a family of my own, a place where I can finally belong—a true home."

Niran’s voice softened as she spoke, her words carrying the weight of her longing. "That’s what I want, Your Highness. Not just a fleeting moment of passion or a temporary arrangement. I want something real, something lasting. I want love, respect, and a life I can call my own."

For a moment, the bathhouse was silent, the only sound the faint ripple of water as it lapped against the edges of the tub. Niran held her breath, unsure of how Raul would react to her words. She had laid herself bare before him, revealing her deepest desires, and she braced herself for whatever response might come.

Raul studied her, his gaze unreadable. She couldn’t tell if he was amused, intrigued, or something else entirely. But he didn’t laugh or dismiss her words, as she had feared he might. Instead, he seemed to consider them carefully, as if weighing her dreams against his own intentions.

"You seek something that most would consider unattainable in our world," Raul finally said, his tone thoughtful. "And yet, you speak of it as if it’s the most natural thing to want. A home, a family, a place to belong..."

Niran nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes, Your Highness. That’s all I’ve ever wanted."

Raul’s eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to see through her, to understand what drove her. "You’re a fascinating woman, Niran," he murmured, almost to himself. "But you should know, the path you seek is fraught with challenges. Especially with someone like me."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Are you willing to risk everything for that dream?"

Niran didn’t flinch, meeting his gaze head-on. "I’ve been risking everything my entire life," she replied quietly. "I won’t stop now."

Raul’s lips curved into a slow, enigmatic smile as if her response had only deepened his interest in her. "Very well, Niran," he said, leaning back in the water. "We shall see where this leads."