Chapter 7: Within Reach 

Eden’s startled eyes tangled with Liam’s calm gaze.

Sincerity. Her heart pounded furiously with anger. That was a word he had no right to utter. Her lashes quivered faintly.

Once, she had vowed to make him live and die for her alone. But now that the word ‘sincerity’ had fallen from his lips, what surged up first was not triumph, but resentment.

“Liam.”

Liam slowly rose to his feet. When Eden moved to stand as well, he raised a hand lightly, stopping her.

“So I will give you the choice. If you believe you can bear it.”

He slowly bent down to meet her at eye level. At a distance where their breaths mingled, Eden could feel every nerve in her body bristle. His scent, tinged with warmth, flooded toward her.

Her breath caught in her throat. She bit down hard on her lip. His eyes burned hot enough to consume her, yet at the same time held a coldness that could chill even a teacup still holding warmth.

In the suffocating silence, their gazes clashed and tangled with unbearable intensity. Liam leaned in. As his breath brushed her ear, a flush spread through her like she’d downed a shot of strong liquor.

“Try taking me. Make me yours, if you dare.”

He whispered in a voice so low it sent a chill down her spine.

Eden trembled. As she turned her head slightly, he straightened his posture.

Inwardly, Eden cursed him.

Fine. Just as he said, she would take him completely. She would offer up a sincerity so real it left no room for doubt, and she would make him crawl to her feet, begging for mercy.

She straightened her back with resolve. Her clenched fists on her lap slowly tightened.

“As you said, the tea is excellent. I’ll be sure to return for more.”

As if nothing had happened, Liam had already regained his usual poise, towering above her with dignified composure. Though he had drunk several cups of tea meant to induce sleep, his eyes remained fiercely lit. And yet beneath his clothes, she could sense the tension in his body had eased.

Tonight, perhaps for the first time in a long while, he would sleep peacefully.

Even if it was a small difference, the sweetness of rest after so long would taste better than honey. In the end, like a man dying of thirst guzzling seawater, he would become addicted to that fleeting sweetness and be left parched.

Eden bowed deeply. Even after Liam left and the door closed behind him, she didn’t lift her head for a long while.

* * *

From that day on, Eden poured her efforts into melting Liam’s heart. Slowly but surely, she became a part of his daily life.

When he seemed tired, she’d bring him desserts she had prepared and visit his office. On days blessed with sunlight, she would coax him into enjoying the view with her outdoors. She even crafted calming sachets to gift him.

Though Liam often scowled and told her not to bother him, he never truly turned her away. When Eden smiled and chatted about various things, his replies were usually curt, but every so often, he would let out a small chuckle.

At some point, sharing tea with Liam became the last item on Eden’s daily routine. Whether it was the tea’s effect or something else, he began to look noticeably better.

They never spoke of anything profound. That dangerous moment between them now felt like a distant dream, and their conversations were surprisingly ordinary. Contrary to what she expected, the time spent with him wasn’t unbearable. Liam behaved with unusual restraint.

What changed, however, was that he began to ask about her day. Their usual dynamic, where she asked and he answered, flipped. Now he asked, and she answered.

It wasn’t a particularly welcome shift for Eden. Whenever he asked her something, she was expected to respond in rambling detail until he was satisfied.

Just the other day, Liam sat sprawled, legs crossed and scowling, glaring at her with visible displeasure. It was hardly new, so Eden simply greeted him with a bright smile.

‘Let’s see how long you keep this up.’

The air of decadent exhaustion from his sleepless nights had somewhat faded since they began having tea together, but his mood swings had become even more unpredictable. At times, Eden felt like she was pacifying a stubborn child.

Perhaps it meant the walls around his heart had lowered, and that should have pleased her. But with no affection for him left, his moodiness was nothing but an inconvenience.

“I heard Viscountess Lavieta came to see you today. Were you two always that close?”

“Well, we exchange pleasantries from time to time.”

He gave her a curt nod, urging her to continue. The deep furrow between his brows suggested his displeasure.

“Strictly speaking, I’m not close to the Viscountess herself. I’m closer to the Marchioness. She looked after me a lot when I was young. Since the Marquis and Marchioness have been staying in the southern provinces, the Viscountess occasionally visits to deliver news.”

Only then did Liam’s expression ease slightly as he emptied his teacup. As Eden reached for the teapot out of habit, a faint smile touched his lips.

Sometimes their conversations veered into odd territory. Occasionally, he would ask a question only to disregard the answer entirely.

Then why bother asking in the first place? Eden would curse him silently every time.

“If you’re not going to eat it, why keep bringing cake every day?”

He clicked his tongue, clearly unimpressed by the perfectly arranged cakes and cookies. Eden suppressed her irritation and met his gaze with feigned innocence.

‘You were eating it just fine yesterday. What whim is this now?’

The treats were tailored perfectly to his taste.

Glancing at his expression, Eden murmured softly.

“You seemed to enjoy it before…”

“Eat it.”

He shoved the large slice of cake toward her. It was rich and heavy enough to be a full meal. Her fingers twitched. For someone who didn’t care much for sweets, it was a kind of torture. Yet Liam watched with a smug expression as she picked up the fork.

“How thoughtful of you.”

That day, Eden had to force a smile through a sugar-induced numbness.

* * *

As always, Eden sighed as she stared at the towering pile of letters. Since Rosaline’s coming-of-age ceremony, endless streams of apology letters had arrived. Strangely, there had been nothing from the Munach family themselves. For just a single warning, the response was excessive.

She hadn’t replied, thinking the fuss would die down on its own. But instead, the letters grew longer, and more frequent. It was reaching a point where reading them all was impossible.

‘Should I send someone to draft a polite, formulaic reply?’

Eden was starting to feel annoyed. But she decided to wait a little longer. The thought of how flustered they must be was… quite satisfying.

A soft, deflating laugh escaped her lips.

Since early morning, the skies had been overcast, and by nightfall, thunder and lightning had joined the downpour. Rain pelted against the windows with deafening force.

Eden didn’t particularly dislike rainy days, if anything, she rather liked them. Resting her chin on her hand, she gazed at the cloudy night sky, humming softly. The rhythmic sound of raindrops tapping on the windows lulled her into drowsiness. Eventually, without realizing it, she crawled into bed and drifted off.

She had no idea how long she’d slept when a frantic pounding on her door jolted her awake. Startled, Eden’s face went pale with fear.

“Who could it be at this hour…?”

The knocking was desperate and rough. Clenching her fists to still her shaking hands, she forced herself to calm down.

‘If someone meant to harm me, they wouldn’t knock. They’d have come in silently and slit my throat.’

Regaining composure, Eden cautiously slipped out of bed and tiptoed toward the door. Pressing her ear to it, she heard the ragged breath of a man.

“Liam?”

She unlatched the lock and cracked the door open, only for Liam, half-dressed with his robe undone, to thrust his hand through the gap. His eyes were bloodshot.

When she opened the door fully, he stumbled in like a man collapsing.

“What on earth…”

“Edenastie!”

He grabbed her shoulders and shouted. He reeked of strong alcohol. Eden quickly locked the door and supported him.

Sweat glistened on his forehead. His massive body slumped against her, and her knees buckled under his weight. In the attempt to help him, she ended up nearly cradled in his arms.

“Liam, you’re clammy with sweat. Did something happen at the palace? Hm?”

She soothed him gently, like calming a child, but Liam showed no signs of calming down. Without answering, he slowly raised a hand and caressed her cheek. His hand was icy cold.

“Edenastie… is it really you? Or is this a dream too?”

Groaning, she finally managed to sit him down on the bed. Sweat dripped down her back. What was he even talking about? Confusion clouded her eyes.

When she tried to step back, he swiftly grabbed her wrist.

He looked completely unhinged, like a man being chased by something. A dream? Eden’s lips twisted. He must’ve had a terrible nightmare.

As the situation came into focus, her heartbeat slowed. She could feel the blood cooling in her veins. Hiding her icy gaze, Eden whispered in a gentle voice.

“It’s me, Liam. It’s not a dream.”

She approached him slowly, took his hand, and met his gaze. His fiery red eyes clung to her as if he’d never let go. His grip tightened.

“Shh. It’s alright.”

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Liam pulled her close. He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face against her stomach. Through the thin fabric, his cold hands contrasted starkly with the burning heat of his face.

Eden absently stroked the back of his head. The more she did, the tighter he clung to her. His hot breath tickled her lower belly. A strange discomfort rippled through her.

Her emotionless eyes stared down at the man leaning on her. With every movement, the smell of alcohol-laced sweat wafted up. Suddenly, Liam looked up at her. 

In a hoarse, growling voice, thick with alcohol and drowsiness, he rasped, “Edenastie. Stay with me. Don’t leave. No… stay where I can reach you. That’s an order.”

The strength drained slowly from Eden’s hand. They both knew it wasn’t a command. It was a plea. She hid the smirk tugging at her lips and leaned in.

Liam kissed her with desperate urgency. As he pulled her into his lap, her body sank onto his thighs. Her lips parted in surprise, and he immediately deepened the kiss, as if he’d been waiting for the opening.

His kiss was clumsy, rushed, blatantly a first, but that made it all the more intense. Like a man stumbling through a desert who finally found water, he was frantic.

Whatever nightmare Liam had, this was an opportunity. Eden wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. From this moment on, everything would change.

Eden shivered as Liam’s control unraveled completely. He focused only on her lips, blindly desperate. His large, calloused hands tangled in her hair.

Eventually, she broke the kiss and gasped for air, pushing him away. Only then did his red eyes waver.

“Edenastie…”

His body radiated heat. He was clearly aroused. Veins bulged in his neck. Through the open front of his robe, his bronzed, sculpted muscles came into view.

“Yes, Liam.”

Though honed for survival, his physique was flawless. The only imperfection was his numerous scars.

Eden reached out and traced the long scar across his left chest.

‘If it had gone just a little deeper…’

Her fingertips trembled. She bit her lip to suppress the rising heat in her chest.

Perhaps that touch stirred him, for Liam’s eyes flared with fire. He opened his mouth slowly, grinding each word through clenched teeth. His voice, like a blade, seemed ready to pierce her at any moment.

But ironically, the hand gripping her waist didn’t let go as if terrified she might disappear. It held just enough pressure not to hurt. Eden’s eyes darkened.

“You always… displease me. I find you intolerable. Deeply.”

Eden stared at him, stunned.

Liam never revealed his inner thoughts. That he was now baring his feelings, it felt surreal. His eyes were wild with rage and desire. And yet Eden’s heart didn’t stir. His emotions spilled into her hollow gaze.

Liam’s face contorted with overwhelming feeling.

“That pathetic little girl who used to cower in the corner, the way you timidly watched me, and then suddenly, as if you were someone else, began to shake me so fearlessly… All of it, every bit, irritates me. So much that I want to erase you.”

He gripped her nape. His hand, once cold, now burned with heat. Her slender neck, so easily breakable, lay helpless in his grasp.

But Eden wasn’t afraid. Not at all.

“And yet… when I don’t see you in front of me, it burns me up inside far worse than all of that.”

Liam Jin Cherott could never kill her. There was no strength in his hand. Soon, it fell limp. His face flushed. Veins popped in his forehead as if he were suppressing something monstrous.

A kaleidoscope of emotions flickered across his face – anger, confusion, fear, tension, sorrow. And then… a tremor he didn’t recognize.