Llewelyn patted her neck. She wondered if she would be okay in the morning, but tonight, the heat from her neck spread all over her body. Llewelyn drank cold water to try and satisfy the burn. She knew she had to sleep with Ernel to calm down.
Still, it was awkward to meet Ernel. Almondite, even more so.
Llewelyn didn’t want to be a pitiful princess, even to Ernel. What a pity that she had to be cursed to have to sleep with a man every week. It seemed that the pride she had tried to throw away still remained, causing shame in her.
Therefore, Llewelyn ordered the guards guarding her palace to refuse any audiences. She also rejected Almondite and Ernel’s requests for an audience.
“Phew.”
Llewelyn let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her neck. She would have to visit Ernell tomorrow. She muttered angrily.
“Why does everyone keep telling me what to do?”
Why was everyone doing this? She was fine with Ernel, but Almondite was obviously trying to convince her. Alman insisted on marrying her so that he could plan for the future, and Bastian asked her to get rid of Pamela.
A knock was heard.
“Princess, this is Tristan Jayad.”
Llewelyn asked curiously.
“What brings you here?”
“Didn’t you tell me to come see you?”
“Ah.”
Llewelyn sighed. It seemed that the escorts let Tristan in. Llewelyn was so flustered that she forgot their appointment. Llewelyn had been stroking her neck, moaning and getting hot. It seemed like it would be better to end the cycle* simply.
[*E/N: the curse cycle of having to sleep with a man every >10 days. She’s saying she wants to get it on with Tristan… maybe ;)]
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
Her conclusion was simple. She needed to get Tristan away from her. It seems that this honest knight had not yet escaped the illusion of chivalry, or he thought he had received a strange from her and continued to do stupid things.
Llewelyn pondered how to get rid of this leech-like man.
After a few moments, Llewelyn came up with a good idea. She felt sorry for him, but at best, Llewelyn’s future was in a monastery. It was not a path suitable for a knight with big dreams.
‘This is all for his future.’
The method she came up with was so ingenious that she immediately put it into practice.
“Wait. Can you order out all knights in my palace?”
“All right.”
Tristan left her room and swiftly delivered Llewelyn’s orders. After a few moments he knocked in and came back in. Llewelyn’s heart was pounding. Her lips felt burnt due to the heat in her throat. Llewelyn sat in a chair and examined Tristan, who was standing in front of her.
Gray hair, and copper-toned skin that looked like perfectly baked bread. The man wore the wine-colored cloak of the Red Knights as if he were born in it.
“So, have you thought about it?”
Llewellyn asked.
“Yes.”
“As you can see, I am not treated well by either the royal family or nobles. Even if I simply fulfill my duties, I received the queen’s hatred.”
“…”
“I have told His Majesty about today. He has promised to relieve the Queen’s mood.”
“…”
“Why don’t you just entrust my escort to the Red Knights instead? You can get out of this business.”
“I can’t.”
Ugh! Even diamonds would break under his stubbornness. Llewelyn suddenly imagined Tristan raising his fist and smashing a diamond.
“Then you are saying that you will protect me no matter what happens?”
“Yes.”
“Are you saying that you will obey whatever orders I give you?”
“I will obey everything except an order to abandon the princess.”
Tristan replied sternly.
He looked as if he was ready to kneel at any moment. Llewelyn let out a small sigh. Now she just wanted to see how this would turn out.
Almondite stood at the entrance of the detached palace, where Llewelyn was staying. But, of course, Llewelyn refused his request for an audience.
“Aren’t you the Duke of Biserk?”
Almondite turned his head towards the voice. The Patron was standing there. Wearing a white priest’s robe, he boasted bewitching beauty.
Almondite’s face stiffened in an instant, because he knew that Ernel had likely slept with Llewelyn. What’s more, the place they met was where Llewelyn lived.
“Long time no see, Patron. How are you doing?”
“I am doing good.”
Ernel gave a bewitching smile. Almondite knew that while receiving his blessing, Llewelyn couldn’t take her eyes off of that man’s slick face. So, did Llewelyn sleep with him? Maybe that enchanting priest seduced Llewelyn.
“Patron, what are you doing here?”
“I have come to see the princess.”
“What happened to the princess?”
“Well…”
Ernell smiled strangely and announced his visit to the knight standing guard. Almondite smiled softly.
“It seems that there are many places that call the Patron, but to meet the princess on a night like this, you are on good terms.”
The phrase had a strange meaning. Ernel opened his eyes wide and raised the corners of his lips.
“There is no one more attractive than a princess.”
Almondite’s first impression of Ernel felt quite unlucky. It seemed that there was poison hiding in that holy smile.
“Do you know what happened today?”
At Ernel’s words, Almondite furrowed his eyebrows. He wanted to meet Llewelyn over something else. Pamela tried to turn Alpheus’s room into the new Prince Dion’s room, and even insulted her. Almondite couldn’t bear that insult and felt sorry for Llewelyn. Did this man know what he knew?
“The princess is very sad.”
“…”
“I really want to help.”
‘Help? What?’
Right then, the Red Knight who had spoken to Ernel returned and said,
“The princess doesn’t want to see anyone today.”
“… Oh my, there’s not much time left.”
Almondite heard Ernel’s murmur. Time? Ernel furrowed his eyebrows. He wanted to ask what he meant, but Ernel left without saying goodbye. Almondite watched his retreating back. A strange anger crept up inside him.
Why did he, a Patron, take an interest in Llewelyn and approach her? Why did Llewelyn sleep with a priest? Was she so desperate for such a life? Before he left, he glanced up at Llewelyn’s bedroom.
A light in her room was on.
‘Llewellyn! What is that arrogant woman doing?’
*
Tristan looked shocked after hearing her words. Llewelyn’s face remained cold.
“I’m not asking you to kill any of the knights or maids.”
“…”
Llewellyn asked provocatively.
“Didn’t you say you would follow my orders?”
Llewelyn thought Tristan would step down. He was not the personal knight of a nobleman, but a knight of the royal family. Even a commander. How could he allow her to turn such an honorable knight into a one night stand?
Tristan, facing Llewelyn’s cold gaze, began to slowly unbutton his jacket as ordered.
‘Come on… I can’t wait anymore…’
Llewelyn was deeply perplexed. What was she going to do? Llewelyn leaned her head against the backrest and watched him with a cold expression, as if she was being forced to do it. As a royal, she learned how to manage her facial expressions well.
Tristan took off his coat without much hesitation. He unbuttoned his shirt too. His convex ab muscles became exposed.
When he took off the shirt that covered his perfect body, his full upper body was revealed. Llewelyn couldn’t stand it any longer and was going to say, “Stop it.”
However, what Llewellyn nearly forgot was the stigma on her neck. When Llewelyn and Tristan’s eyes met, it heated up.
When her stigma flared up, it took over her consciousness and led to irrational behavior. As she gazed at the luscious body of Tristan, the stigma whispered.
This is a man who can hold you in his arms…
The man’s [email protected] body was beautiful. It was a straight, muscular body that exuded a cool masculine charm. She knew it ever since she saw him wearing a riding suit, but his chest was firm and tight, unlike other men.