Felix walks towards his walk-in closet.
‘’I dress myself too, so you two can dress in peace.’’
Milna approaches and helps get dressed. She really did have perfect timing. And I do feel more comfortable now, fully clothed.
‘’Should I fetch so healing ointnt for you, Lady Lorelia?’’
‘’Healing ointnt? Why?’’
She looks a little embarrassed.
‘’Mm… No reason. Is there anything you need before I go?’’
‘’No. Thank you, Milna.’’
She exists, and soon after, Felix cos back looking like the perfect Prince once again. He really is way too charming. No one should look like that.
‘’Why were you so confused earlier?’’
‘’What do you an?’’
‘’I sensed it from your mind. Did Milna say sothing off-putting?’’
‘’Oh, it was probably because Milna asked if I wanted so healing ointnt. But I’m perfectly fine, so I didn’t quite understand why she asked that.’’
He smiles at , looking sohow smug and guilty at the sa ti.
Crap.
Did he do sothing to ? Sothing that Milna saw?
‘’Felix.’’ My voice drops low.
‘’Yes, pretty flower?’’ He says, faking innocence.
‘’What did you do?’’
‘’? Nothing. Why would you ever think I did sothing?’’ He acts dramatically, like I hurt his feelings or sothing.
I walk in front of the mirror. But I see nothing on my skin. My dress covers my neck, so I open a few buttons and lay my eyes on the hickeys. I turn to glare at Felix.
“Did you really have to? It’s already embarrassing enough without the hickeys.”
“The hickeys?” He looks at for a while, and then he smiles awkwardly. “Yeah, right, the hickeys. Sorry, my bad. Will happen again.”
There is sothing unusual about the way he speaks. Sothing weird in his tone.
“I think you ant to say that will not happen again.”
“No. That would be lying.”
I just stare at him. The audacity of this man is just too much sotis. But there is sothing more serious we need to discuss. I go sit on the sofa. And I startle since sitting hurts a little. I guess it's understandable since he was pretty ruthless with his fucking.
“Sit down, Felix. We need to talk.”
“Woah, am I in trouble? You going to spank ?” He winks
“No! Just sit down.”
He walks toward .
“Not next to !”
“What? Why not?”
“I need space to think. You are just going to distract with touching or sothing.”
“Aww… You know so well.”
Luckily, he obeys and goes to sit on the couch opposite .
“Why did you make your Queen when I specifically told you not to?”
“'Cause I can't live without you.”
“I really can't be your Queen.”
“Why?”
Because I don't want you to kill . But I can't just tell him that.
“I want to be a priestess, not a Queen.”
“You can be that if you want. I don't care.”
“A Queen can't be a priestess.”
“Well, maybe not right now. But I’m sure I can change that when I’m the King.”
I just stare at him. He really is hopeless. Okay, let’s say sothing else.
“What about your mana?”
“What about it?”
“My presence clearly makes it act up more. Do you really think it's smart that I’m close to you? Aren't you afraid that soday you can’t control it at all? Master Loneflare said that it didn't settle as it used to.”
He inspects for a while, maybe thinking what to answer.
“Are you afraid that I will hurt you?”
I nod. I’m pretty sure you can count killing as hurting.
“Did I hurt you today?”
Well, yes, a little. I didn't mind that. Should I mind it? Probably. But apparently, I’m just so twisted that I liked it.
“No. I an, yes, but that was okay. I didn't an that kind of hurt. Master Loneflare said that you were going nuts on the battlefield because of it. So doesn't that an that it affects you in other ways too?”
“It’s true that it boosts my hate and anger on the battlefield. That’s only because it is war. You are bound to have so aggression. But that's not the case here. I would never hurt you like that, Lo.”
“This whole thing with your mana is just new and foreign to . It’s just scary.”
“I promise it won't affect you. Okay, that was maybe stretching the truth, since it most definitely makes resisting you harder. But that's all. Is there anything I could tell or do to make you more comfortable with it?”
This could be my chance. Perfect.
“Could I talk to Master Loneflare about it?”
He looks rather surprised.
“Theodore? Why?”
“He is the most knowledgeable about magic. And he is the one settling your mana. I just thought he could answer my questions more neutrally than you. Since you are biased.”
He leans back, thinking.
“Sure. I can ask Theodore here. If that makes you feel better.”
“Thanks.”
“Sooo… Can I now sit next to you?”
“No! I’m not finished.”
He throws himself to lie on the sofa, lifting his hand to his forehead dramatically.
“My pretty flower is so cruel. I might die if I can't touch you soon.”
I ignore his dramatic act.
“Are you now going to stop pretending to be other people?”
He turns his head to look at .
“Do I have to? It’s just way too fun.”
“Yes. Tricking isn’t fun.”
“But—”
“No! No buts.’’
‘’Give one good reason for it.’’
"Firstly, it’s just a purely an thing to do. Secondly, Master Loneflare said that you should not use your illusion magic so much. Thirdly, how can I ever trust you if you just keep playing mind gas with ? I’m still pissed off from the whole Father Owen and Max thing.’’
He turns to lie on his side and leans his head against his hand.
‘’Goddammit, you are so hot being defiant like that. I’m so turned on right now.’’
‘’Felix!’’
‘’Yelling my na like that? Even better.”
“Stop being a jerk!”
He really is utterly hopeless. I can't believe this man before is the future King of our country.
“You stop being so cute first. My heart might burst anyti.”
My brain may burst anyti with this rate. I just let out a heavy sigh. Better change the topic, again.
“So what happens next?”
“Well, you are going to be here for a week. So we can get to know each other better. Your identity will be a secret for that ti. Next Friday it’s our engagent party, and only then will it be revealed who got chosen. After that, everything is sealed between us, and you can go back ho, while everyone prepares for the wedding. Which will probably happen in a couple of months. While waiting for a wedding, you will receive more education to prepare you for what's about to co, if you want.”
“What do you an if I want?”
‘’It's normally mandatory. But I’m not going to force you to perform Queen’s duties if you don’t want to. Since you didn't want to be a Queen in the first place, I won't force the duties on you.”
I’m not sure what to think about that. Usually, if the Queen isn’t doing her duties, it ans that the Queen has died. Then her duties fall to concubines. My heart freezes.
Is Felix going to take concubines?
The thought is like poison in my head. The disgusting, ill feeling spreads through my whole body.
“Lo? You okay? Is the thought of being a Queen really that hideous?”
I focus on Felix again and see that he is sitting again, looking distraught. I should have known he sensed my discomfort from my mind. But he doesn't know why I feel that way. I should correct him, but I don't want to admit my thoughts either. And it doesn't even matter if he takes concubines or not. I’m going to die anyway.
I furrow my brows, not sure what to say to him.
“Or is the thought of being with so hideous?” His expression is painful.
“No. It’s not because of you.”
Well, it is. But not in the way he thinks. I don't want him to think I don't like him. Not anymore. I think I have lied to him enough. But his expression still seems depressed. I thought he would lighten up to hear that.
“For the first ti, I wish you would be better at lying Lo.”
Crap. I didn't think he would sense that I’m lying.
“It’s not what you think. I promise. I do like you Felix, I really do. I just can't tell you the real reason, I’m sorry.”
In a second, Felix is suddenly sitting next to with wide eyes. I can't understand his mood swings at all.
“Did you really just say that? Say it again.”
“Say what?” I ask, confused.
“That you like . Say it again.”
I suddenly feel pretty embarrassed. I didn't even realize that I just confessed my feelings for Felix. I an, I wanted him to know that I like him, but I just didn’t think about what telling him that actually ans.
“Co oooon Lo. Say it again.”
I fiddle with my fingers on my lap.
“I…”
“You?”
I close my eyes like that would make this situation sohow less embarrassing.
“I like you.”
He scoops in his arms and hugs so tightly.
“Goddammit, you really make the happiest man alive. Say it again.”
‘’I’m not going to say it again. Let go!’’
‘’No chance.’’
I admit my defeat and just press my head to his chest. My heart feels so warm when I’m around him. Why do I really have to like him of all the people? And he is just an oddly dramatic, annoying trickster. He has fooled and haunted with his visions. But still, I feel so safe being like this. Next to him, clinging to him.
When he finally withdraws from the hug, he looks at with his usual bright smile.
‘’So ready for dinner with my father?’’
I choke on my own saliva. Dinner with the King? Hell no! I’m not ready.
‘’What do you an?’’ Maybe I just heard him wrong.
‘’Oh, did I forget to ntion? We will be having dinner with my father like right now.’’
‘’Well, hell yes, you forgot to ntion! How could I ever have dinner with the King?’’
‘’Don’t think about him as a King. Think about him as your future father-in-law.’’
‘’I think that might be even worse. You know I’m not good at things like that.’’
‘’Things like what?’’
‘’You know. Socializing. I’m used to being in the background.’’
‘’You don’t give yourself enough credit. I think you are rather skilled at conversing with people. Sure, you might not be the most loud one, but you don’t need to be. And I’m there. So you have nothing to worry about.’’
‘’Do I really have to?’’
‘’My father is rather excited to see who I chose to be the future Queen. And he has been having more energetic day today. So he will even co to the dining room himself.’’
Oh right. I kind of forgot for a mont that the King is ill. But still. It’s so sudden. I’m not ntally prepared.
‘’Please, Lo. I really want you to et my father.’’
His eyes gleam like a shimring ocean under the sunlight. Crap. I can’t say no to those eyes. So I nod.
‘’Thanks, Lo. You’re the best. I promise I will repay you.’’
‘’Repay how exactly?’’
He leans to whisper in my ear. His lips against my skin give shivers.
‘’You just have to wait and see.’’
It’s quite obvious from his tone that he definitely plans sothing sexual. He stands up and reaches his hand toward .
‘’Let’s go. I’m starving.’’
I grab it and let him pull up from the couch, and he starts leading toward the dining room. I’m so nervous, so my appetite is nowhere to be seen.
Oh, please God. Help sohow manage to do this without looking like a complete fool.
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