“What's going on?”
Randall was wearing a bathrobe with a slit in the front. Judging from the tips of his hair, he seemed to have come out in a hurry after hearing a knock while washing.
Sylvia was momentarily speechless because the contrast with his clean face made him look all the more erotic. Then, she slowly moved her lips. Her voice was low and deep.
“...What if I wasn’t the one who asked you to open the door?”
"Yes?"
Randall tilted his head in confusion as if he didn’t understand her words. At that moment, the presence of what were presumed to be servants could be heard from the other side of the hallway. At the moment Randall realized this and was about to tell Sylvia to come in, Sylvia pushed him away and quickly closed the door.
“...What if I wasn’t the one who asked you to open the door?”
"Yes?"
Randall tilted his head in confusion as if he didn’t understand her words. At that moment, the presence of what were presumed to be servants could be heard from the other side of the hallway. At the moment Randall realized this and was about to tell Sylvia to come in, Sylvia pushed him away and quickly closed the door.
Boom.
In the blink of an eye, Randall was leaning against the door, seemingly in Sylvia’s arms. He opened his mouth, flustered by the warmth he could feel through his thin bathrobe.
“Sylvia, your posture...”
Sylvia, who had been listening to the sounds outside the door fading away, finally looked up at Randall. Instead, his face got closer as if he was going to kiss her at any moment.
As Sylvia stared at Randall, his face grew redder and redder. When he finally tensed his neck and looked away, Sylvia glanced down. A strange smile appeared on her lips.
“Sylvia, your posture...”
Sylvia, who had been listening to the sounds outside the door fading away, finally looked up at Randall. Instead, his face got closer as if he was going to kiss her at any moment.
As Sylvia stared at Randall, his face grew redder and redder. When he finally tensed his neck and looked away, Sylvia glanced down. A strange smile appeared on her lips.
“Randall.”
“...”
"Honey."
“...Don’t say anything, please.”
“I haven’t said anything yet?”
“You have a funny face.”
“....Is that the difference?”
Sylvia was surprised by Randall's words and touched her face with one hand. She knew very well that she usually had a blank expression. So unless she smiled intentionally or something, people had a hard time guessing what she was thinking.
However, Randall was a little surprised that he could read Sylvia's mind so accurately right away. Randall thought about the chin that David had touched and turned blue, and his face darkened for a moment, but he tried to shake off his anger and raised the corners of his mouth.
“Of course, my wife is not the type of person to express her emotions very clearly.”
“...”
“...If you look at it like this, there’s no way I wouldn’t know.”
The affection filled with his green eyes was heartbreaking and touching. Sylvia eventually couldn't hide her love and lifted her heel.
“Stop being so cute.”
She kissed him lightly on the lips and then turned around bashfully. Randall remained frozen in place, still not realizing what had just happened until Sylvia sat down on the edge of the bed.
'Cute...'
His mind was a step behind in recognizing the situation. He felt his face flush and covered his mouth with his hand. Even so, his head continued to roll as if trying to make up for the previous breakdown. Randall was able to realize something as he thought over Sylvia’s words and actions.
'...That's.'
Isn't this something you can't do if you don't like someone?
"Like now, facing each other, without touching. We can joke around with each other and laugh lightly."
"You and I are just suited for that kind of relationship."
When Randall revealed a little of his feelings, Sylvia clearly drew the line by saying that. However, recently, Sylvia somehow didn’t feel awkward about Randall expressing his feelings. Rather, she readily accepted his kiss. And to say something like that, and to kiss him first...
Randall was born with a wild beast, except in front of Sylvia. He sensed with a sense close to instinct that this was some kind of opportunity. He was about to step away to give Sylvia a little more attention with his eyes shining.
“Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you why I came. The chamberlain came to see me, saying that His Majesty had invited me to tea time.”
"... Yes?"
“Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you why I came. The chamberlain came to see me, saying that His Majesty had invited me to tea time.”
"... Yes?"
At Sylvia's words, all the impure thoughts that had been clouding his mind until just a moment ago flew away.
***
Randall's face hardened after hearing Sylvia's words, and he eventually groaned and prepared to leave.
"Even if you can't go into the reception room together, you can wait outside".
So Sylvia and Randall went to the reception room together and parted ways. Randall told her several times that he would be waiting nearby and that she should shout at him whenever she had trouble. It was funny, like a parent telling his child not to get lost, but it made me laugh.
“You look happy, Duchess. What makes you smile like that?”
"Ah."
Sylvia was lost in her thoughts about Randall, but the question that pierced her ear suddenly brought her to her senses. She raised her head and saw the King observing her with an interesting gaze. Sylvia answered with a smile that was nothing but a hollow one, unlike before.
“How could I not be happy when His Majesty personally serves me such precious tea and snacks?”
“What? Heh heh.”
It was a bit of a mouthful, but it wasn't bad. The King smiled pleasantly and put down his teacup. Sylvia noticed that he was trying to explain why he had called her, and she followed him and put down her teacup.
“Yes, you must be wondering why I called you here, Madam.”
The King took a deep breath and began to speak.
“It’s to apologize.”
"...Yes?"
As he put the apple in his mouth, Sylvia let out a surprised sound without realizing it. The King gestured to the area near Sylvia's face and continued speaking.
“Even though the bruise has disappeared thanks to Dosler’s treatment, that doesn’t mean the Crown Prince’s mistake towards you has disappeared.”
“...”
“Let me apologize on his behalf. I’m sorry.”
The King concluded his speech in a calm tone. Sylvia looked at him with a strange expression, then smoothly raised the corners of her lips.
“...It was a mistake.”
Click, the sound of a teacup being picked up resonated faintly. She spoke lightly, her eyes slanted down as if savoring the scent of the tea.
“Originally, an apology is not something that can be done by someone else doing it for you.”
“...”
“I have no desire to see His Highness the Crown Prince again, so I will accept Your Majesty’s apology for the ‘rudeness’ he showed me.”
Sylvia smiled calmly at the end of her words. Her smile was so pure that it seemed to be free of any sarcasm, even if only briefly. The King's expression sank coldly. After a moment of silence, he spoke with a voice that was slightly filled with anger.
“The Duchess’s personality is very... unexpected.”
"Thank you for the compliment."
Although it was a sarcastic remark, Sylvia responded with an innocent face. Then the King opened his eyes dimly as if trying to gauge her sincerity and looked at her before continuing.
“I have already told the Crown Prince to reflect on himself for the time being. What’s more, what you said is correct. Once the Crown Prince has reflected on himself, I will tell him to apologize to you directly.”
'There's no need to do that.'
Sylvia's expression almost fell apart for a moment, but she managed to maintain a calm expression. As she said before, there was no need for an apology from the Crown Prince. However, it was difficult to openly refuse the King's offer to personally bow the Crown Prince's head.
Furthermore, she was the one who had first scratched the King because she did not like the word 'mistake', so she had nothing else to say. In the end, Sylvia clicked her tongue and sipped her tea with a displeased expression.
At that moment, the King leaned back on the armrest and smiled meaningfully.
"Come to think of it."
At that laugh, Sylvia thought, now we get to the main point.
"Come to think of it."
At that laugh, Sylvia thought, now we get to the main point.
As she had expected, the King spoke in a voice that sounded like a snake's whisper.
“There have been unpleasant rumors going around in the North recently.”
“There have been unpleasant rumors going around in the North recently.”
***
After Sylvia entered the drawing room, Randall was loitering around the central garden near the drawing room. When the nobles passing by occasionally recognized him and greeted him, he greeted them with an awkward smile. However, his turquoise eyes kept glancing anxiously toward the drawing room.
'When is she coming out?'
In fact, it had not been long since Sylvia had entered the drawing room. But to him, who was worried that the King might harm her, it felt like an eternity. Randall was half-consciously looking toward the drawing room and was sending away the nobles who were greeting him one by one. The commotion was approaching from the other side of the corridor that was wrapped around the garden.
“...Your Highness! You must not do this!”
“Go back to your room! If His Majesty finds out...!”
Randall turned his head in confusion after hearing the muffled scream. Then, his face hardened when he saw the sight that came into view immediately after.
“I can’t just let the Duchess of Belfort come all the way here without even apologizing. I’ll go see His Majesty and tell him. Get out of the way.”
Across the corridor. Crown Prince David was walking toward the reception room, forcibly shaking off the servants who were blocking him. Randall, who had overheard the conversation, realized that David was targeting Sylvia and his face twisted fiercely.
'When is she coming out?'
In fact, it had not been long since Sylvia had entered the drawing room. But to him, who was worried that the King might harm her, it felt like an eternity. Randall was half-consciously looking toward the drawing room and was sending away the nobles who were greeting him one by one. The commotion was approaching from the other side of the corridor that was wrapped around the garden.
“...Your Highness! You must not do this!”
“Go back to your room! If His Majesty finds out...!”
Randall turned his head in confusion after hearing the muffled scream. Then, his face hardened when he saw the sight that came into view immediately after.
“I can’t just let the Duchess of Belfort come all the way here without even apologizing. I’ll go see His Majesty and tell him. Get out of the way.”
Across the corridor. Crown Prince David was walking toward the reception room, forcibly shaking off the servants who were blocking him. Randall, who had overheard the conversation, realized that David was targeting Sylvia and his face twisted fiercely.
Randall strode away, leaving the nobles behind who were groaning in surprise. He stopped David in the middle of the corridor.
“I heard that you are in self-reflection due to the King’s command.”
David, who was pushing a servant, stopped when he heard a familiar voice. He looked back at Randall with a look of displeasure.
“...The Duke of Belfort.”
“Please return to your room before His Majesty becomes angry. If you return now, I will pretend not to have seen you.”
"Gibberish."
As Randall blurted out his words, David snorted in disbelief. David shook off the knights' arms and stepped closer to Randall. He lowered his voice ominously and spoke.
“Isn’t the reason for that self-reflection the fact that I accidentally touched the Duchess? So I should have met her and apologized. Are you going to stop that, Duke?”
“Do not minimize Your Highness’s faults by making excuses for mistakes. And.”
This time, Randall took a step closer. David shrugged his shoulders for a moment, not showing it, as the sage green eyes glared at him from right in front of his nose. Randall whispered in a voice so low it sounded like the growl of a wild beast.
“Last time, the situation was so urgent that I didn’t even have time to properly blame you.”
“...”
“If you touch my wife like that one more time, I will tear off your wrist. This is a warning, David de Kelmar Lochlen.”
"Ha."
A whisper so low that it could not be heard by those around him, but so clear that it could not be heard at all by David's ears. At this, the tendons on David's forehead stood out. His deep purple eyes blazed with anger.
“Where on earth does this kid dare...”
“If you talk like a human being, people won’t treat you like one. Be polite.”
Randall and David glared at each other with a murderous look on their faces, as if they were about to strangle each other.
“What is this...”
“Why is His Highness the Crown Prince there?”
“By the way, didn’t you two say you were friends since you were young?”
The nobles who were watching the two from a distance murmured in surprise. Hearing their words, David twisted the corners of his mouth, raised his hand, and tapped Randall on the cheek.
“Yes, he is my childhood friend who came back alive after going through life and death. It would be disappointing if you act like that, Duke.”
This time, Randall let out a hollow laugh. He gritted his teeth as he roughly slapped away David's hand that was hitting his cheek unpleasantly.
“Where is the lunatic who calls that kind of relationship a friendship?”
There was a deep rift between them that could not be expressed in the word 'antagonism'. Even Randall, who usually did not hate people, despised David and even hated him. He was the only person who knew how much evil and cruelty David had, despite his outward appearance. The day they first met.
"Are you a duke?"
"It's a shame that those who gave up their lives to protect someone like you. It was a complete waste of time."
Because David took the breath of life out of Randall just because he found his actions annoying.
“I heard that you are in self-reflection due to the King’s command.”
David, who was pushing a servant, stopped when he heard a familiar voice. He looked back at Randall with a look of displeasure.
“...The Duke of Belfort.”
“Please return to your room before His Majesty becomes angry. If you return now, I will pretend not to have seen you.”
"Gibberish."
As Randall blurted out his words, David snorted in disbelief. David shook off the knights' arms and stepped closer to Randall. He lowered his voice ominously and spoke.
“Isn’t the reason for that self-reflection the fact that I accidentally touched the Duchess? So I should have met her and apologized. Are you going to stop that, Duke?”
“Do not minimize Your Highness’s faults by making excuses for mistakes. And.”
This time, Randall took a step closer. David shrugged his shoulders for a moment, not showing it, as the sage green eyes glared at him from right in front of his nose. Randall whispered in a voice so low it sounded like the growl of a wild beast.
“Last time, the situation was so urgent that I didn’t even have time to properly blame you.”
“...”
“If you touch my wife like that one more time, I will tear off your wrist. This is a warning, David de Kelmar Lochlen.”
"Ha."
A whisper so low that it could not be heard by those around him, but so clear that it could not be heard at all by David's ears. At this, the tendons on David's forehead stood out. His deep purple eyes blazed with anger.
“Where on earth does this kid dare...”
“If you talk like a human being, people won’t treat you like one. Be polite.”
Randall and David glared at each other with a murderous look on their faces, as if they were about to strangle each other.
“What is this...”
“Why is His Highness the Crown Prince there?”
“By the way, didn’t you two say you were friends since you were young?”
The nobles who were watching the two from a distance murmured in surprise. Hearing their words, David twisted the corners of his mouth, raised his hand, and tapped Randall on the cheek.
“Yes, he is my childhood friend who came back alive after going through life and death. It would be disappointing if you act like that, Duke.”
This time, Randall let out a hollow laugh. He gritted his teeth as he roughly slapped away David's hand that was hitting his cheek unpleasantly.
“Where is the lunatic who calls that kind of relationship a friendship?”
There was a deep rift between them that could not be expressed in the word 'antagonism'. Even Randall, who usually did not hate people, despised David and even hated him. He was the only person who knew how much evil and cruelty David had, despite his outward appearance. The day they first met.
"Are you a duke?"
"It's a shame that those who gave up their lives to protect someone like you. It was a complete waste of time."
Because David took the breath of life out of Randall just because he found his actions annoying.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment