(Bl) Transmigration: Seducing and making Cinderella's prince mine

Rolling around peacefully, he smiled unintentionally, his eyes closed as he breathed in the fresh lemon scent drifting through the air.

It was sweet and intoxicating, but suddenly something jolted through him, and he woke up instantly at an alarming speed, sweat forming on his forehead.

Kayden's eyes were still sleepy, but the drowsiness vanished the moment he realized he was in bed—with a man.

What!

He didn't do it with him, right? It would have been completely inappropriate for him to take advantage of his condition. Besides, he felt fine, so how the hell did he end up on the bed of a stranger who was still fast asleep?

Contemplating how to sneak away, he suddenly remembered yesterday's terrible event that shook him to the bone.

Cinderella's tragic and heart-wrenching death.

Kayden was there—yes—but it all happened so fast, and he couldn't quite wrap his mind around who the perpetrator might have been. Internally, though, he suspected those three:

The wicked stepmother and those vicious sisters who hated Cinderella with a passion. But even then… how could you be so vile as to kill your own family?

Realizing he was feeling guilty about Cindy's death, he sighed in sorrow.

Enough of the death drama. Time to escape from this nightmare.

Slowly creeping out of the bed, he felt his body—and to his relief, his clothes were still intact. He began to imagine the man's reaction to his rather unusual attire.

Well, no time to dwell on that.

Tiptoeing, he crept to the door, contemplating whether to open it slightly and make a run for it. Run so fast to avoid getting caught. But amid the incessant thoughts, a soft voice greeted him from behind, stunning him so much he froze.

"Good morning, dear. Hope you had a good night."

The breathtaking stranger spoke, his golden eyes gleaming in the sunlight. That was when Kayden truly noticed his features, illuminated by the streaming rays, highlighting his gorgeous face.

And his hair. Damn, his hair. It was enchanting—not to mention the color. Who in this world has green hair?

Yes, that was the stranger right now. His hair, long and curled at the ends, screamed perfection.

Kayden fell speechless. Someone shouldn't look that good and sexy—it was just illegal.

Just realizing he'd been gawking and probably drooling this entire time, he blinked in embarrassment.

Gods help him in this predicament.

First, there was that Prince—the Crown Prince—who wasn't just his rival in the real world but was also so damn sexy. Sexy enough that Kayden could imagine his hands gliding over those hard muscles, worshipping the golden abs that practically begged for attention.

But first, he needed to get this man's intentions. No one helps for free—at least that's his understanding.

"Who are you, and why did you take me into your room?" Kayden demanded outright, not bothering with introductions.

The stranger smiled. His golden eyes shone like those of a kid staring at candy.

Oh, he was so adorable that Kayden wanted to pinch those cheeks. And with horror, he slapped his own face.

"Focus, Kayden. This isn't the time." He reprimanded himself loudly, momentarily forgetting the stranger was watching him intently.

Kayden let out an awkward smile, trying to salvage his already trampled image. And when he thought the man would lash out, he instead let out one of the most perfect smiles Kayden had ever seen.

"No problem. You don't need to shy away, Kayden! I'm Stephen Nightshade, the youngest child of the royal family."

And just like that, Kayden could feel his heart pounding wildly.

That smile—it was like it could melt glaciers. And though he felt impatient over being delayed by Stephen's sudden display of affection, he was losing his sense of urgency.

This wasn't the place for this, Kayden. His mind tried to warn him. He had a mission. And he had to remember Cinderella—she was killed here in the palace. And about the Crown Prince… he hadn't fulfilled his plans, meaning he was probably going to die.

And like a puff of smoke, the smile faded from Kayden's face. He needed to leave—now.

Stephen, sensing the shift in the air, stepped closer and took hold of Kayden's hands.

Those hands were so gentle, so delicate they almost looked fragile. And suddenly, Kayden found himself afraid—for Stephen's sake.

"You know, you're too innocent, my prince. Staying with me will probably get you punished. Please, let me go. I want to leave now!" Kayden begged, trying to calm down. Stephen hadn't hurt him. It was the Fairy Godmother who had ruined his plans by bringing Cinderella here. Now she was dead.

Stephen, however, was stubborn. He tightened his grip on Kayden's hands.

"Don't go, Kayden. I'm lonely here. You're different from everyone else. Please… can we be friends?" Stephen's voice came out in a strangled whisper that shocked Kayden himself.

And as if being controlled, Kayden found himself pulled into Stephen's embrace. Stephen patted his shoulders, gently stroking Kayden's green hair.

"Just stay. Trust me—no one will find out where you are. No one really cares about me here, actually."

And that was enough to make Kayden pause.

Why does he remind me so much of myself? Kayden thought. He was alone, isolated in this world. No parents, no siblings, no friends—only him. He'd always felt stretched thin. Now, seeing someone else share the same plight was like a push to his heart.

"Calm down, Stephen. I'll stay. But just for two days," Kayden revealed. He needed those days anyway—to learn more about Cinderella's brutal accident.

Then, as if he'd won the lottery, Stephen shrieked and hugged Kayden so tight, pressing soft kisses over his face and forehead.

"Thank you, thank you! I knew you wouldn't refuse me," Stephen exclaimed confidently, his eyes shining with triumph.

So together, they made their way to the prince's courtyard, Stephen's peaceful domain where he went daily to observe nature.

And just as they were about to enter the courtyard fully, Kayden suddenly stopped in his tracks and threw out an unexpected question.

"Did any… accident occur in the palace?" Kayden asked.

Stephen, looking confused, stared back at him.

"None that I can remember. Is there something you need help with?" Stephen inquired.

Kayden froze. How was that possible? He'd been there. He'd seen it happen. Well… he'd seen the back of the figure—the dark silhouette that pushed Cinderella off the building. Or… could he be imagining it? Or was someone manipulating things?

Kayden suspected as much—that the accident might have been erased from everyone's memory. But by whom? And why the hell was he the only one who remembered it?

"Are you sure you didn't see anything? You were the one who rescued me yesterday. You saved me from something. Didn't you see anything strange?" Kayden tried digging deeper.

But Stephen still wasn't convinced there'd been an accident. To him, the ball had been peaceful, and tranquility had reigned. Just that the beautiful maiden had vanished without a trace.

"As I said earlier, nothing happened. Just a minor issue with the bride running away from the proposal that was supposed to take place," Stephen elaborated, and Kayden's eyes widened slightly.

Yes, he remembered Cindy running out from the ball. But she hadn't made it to the staircase. She'd been pushed to her death.

Now it became obvious—someone was orchestrating something dark and deadly, and unfortunately for him, he was involved.

"Stephen… no matter what happens, don't go to the castle garden alone," Kayden warned firmly. A brooding tension settled between them.

The garden was where Cinderella's body had been thrown off. And from what he'd noticed, whoever was pulling the strings wanted the throne—and the empire of Eldrador. And to achieve that, the royal family had to be wiped out.