WTPB - Chapter 45




Erdene wasn’t looking at Arkan. She seemed to be lost in thought, looking at something in a corner. Perhaps because it was the first time he had seen her so absorbed in something, Arkan hesitated for a moment, not knowing what to do.

“What are you doing?”

When he heard Erdene’s voice, Arkan was momentarily flustered, thinking that he had said something without realizing it.

As if he was trying to make an excuse, he hesitated, and then suddenly got angry.

She didn’t even look at him when people came in, but that was because of that thought.

“That seems like something I should have said. What are you doing there?”

Arkan didn’t know whether she heard his question—there was no way she didn’t—but she remained silent without answering and tilted her head.

The moment Arkan, who had been blankly staring, finally couldn’t hold it in and took a step forward, Erdene, who had been absorbed like a child observing a swarm of ants, suddenly stood up.

“Oh, that’s a surprise.”

Arkan, who hesitated, complained softly.

Then came the shame that seemed to hit his forehead.

The fact that he was so surprised that he just raised his body, the fact that he was so nervous, and the feeling that Erdene might have caught on to that nervousness, all came rushing in without a trace.

“What are you so surprised about? Did you eat something delicious by yourself?”

The words behind him were clearly mocking as if to tell him to listen.

The moment Arkan, who was taken aback, was about to say something, Erdene slowly approached him, sweeping the edge of the table with her fingertips. He could hear the sound of her thin hem scraping the floor.

The light rustling sound was enough to make his heart flutter, but the sharp gaze, like an arrow shot sharply, only confused Arkan.

“Stay there for a moment.”

In the end, Arkan spoke first this time too.

Erdene made a puzzled expression at first, then smiled.

But as he said, she stood still.

With her weight on one leg, her posture is crooked.

“Why, Your Majesty? Do you not like me getting close to you?”

“Is it a habit to sneer at me as soon as you see me? Or is it like exercising after a meal?”

“Sneer? Your Majesty, you were the one who stopped your wife from approaching the gentleman.”

“Anyway, you didn’t say a word. It doesn’t suit you, so stop.”

Then, the smile on Erdene’s lips grew deeper.

As if she was trying to hide her expression, she lowered her chin a little, and her silky hair slid down.

Arkan unconsciously followed the movement... and then he rubbed his neck, which was suddenly red, and turned his head to another place.

‘Who made you wear those clothes!’

Now he understood why Erdene had shouted at him on their first night together, ‘Why are you wearing those clothes?’

The face of Sophia Fiddler, who was serving her, suddenly came to mind. It was absurd to think that she had sent the Queen to wear such clothes with such a dull face.

“Those clothes.”

When Arkan stammered and pulled away, Erdene lifted her head.

The moment her large eyes slowly blinked, Arkan felt as if he was being sucked into her pupils, and he unconsciously put strength into his heels.

It was a completely different gaze from before when she had seemed to rush at him fiercely. A gaze that seemed to be earnestly pulling him, a gaze that seemed to be pulling him to come here.

“What about the clothes?”

Erdene asked back. Arkan suddenly came to his senses and coughed in vain.

“Who chose those for you?”

“You mean this?”

Erdene asked back casually and then lowered her head again to examine her attire.

Arkan was taken aback by her innocent-looking behavior and didn’t know what to do.

It was as if he had suddenly been possessed by a ghost.

Erdene shook the hem of her thin and light robe, which was so thin that her skin was clearly visible.

In an instant, a clean and fresh scent rushed to Arkan’s nose.

“I chose it, but why do you ask?”

“You chose it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Is there a problem?” 

A problem? Arkan thought. There were many problems.

The shock that Sophia Fiddler had chosen such clothes with an indifferent expression was now out of the question.

The Queen’s ceremonial attire was always prepared in the amount of ten or more sets for each season.

Of all the things, what on earth did it mean that Erdene chose such a thing herself? What was she trying to do?

While Arkan was lost in unnecessary suspicion, Erdene was lost in thought.

Because of that thought, she kept laughing so hard that her clenched cheeks were tattered.

'My goodness, I can't believe he fell for something like this!'

The maids who escorted Erdene to this bedroom were Sophia and Sabnake, who was said to be her distant cousin.

Although she had chosen the most explicit dress among her clothes because of the words of Countess Wickes, who especially emphasized 'marital affairs', Erdene, who was sitting carelessly on the chair, had no trace of sexiness. Perhaps it was her murderous intent that threatened to snap anyone's throat.

Seeing that, Sophia and Sabnake whispered to each other with subtle expressions before saying.

[When His Majesty comes in, instead of turning your head away, how about counting to three inwardly and then looking at him?]

[Why should I do that?]

[Because it’ll make him feel more anxious that way.]


It was hard for Erdene, who routinely ran to his subordinates and kicked their heavy butts when they didn’t respond right away when she made a sound, but she nodded anyway.

Sabnake chimed in as soon as Sophia finished speaking.

[Uh, rather than sitting on the chair, it might be better for you to stay somewhere else. Hmm, maybe next to the bed...]

[Why is that?]

[His Majesty would be curious!]


When someone who was supposed to be in their rightful place left their seat without saying anything, it was routine to lightly kick their shins for teasing them... Erdene nodded again.

[And, it might help if you try this too.]

Sabnake grabbed the hem of her skirt and shook it roughly.

Sophia looked at her relative with eyes that said, “Why bother?” but she didn’t bother to stop her, so Erdene nodded in agreement.

So when she finished—that was why she was crouching in the corner—Arkan was talking nonsense and couldn’t find where to look, so she burst out laughing.

“Your Majesty.”

Arkan’s cheeks, which had been standing there, lost in thought, instantly turned bright red.

Under the candles lit here and there, his face looked even redder, and that appearance made Erdene slightly happy.

“You have a handsome face. I admit it. At first, I thought, ‘Why is there such a pale face?’

Erdene muttered something that no one could hear and slightly extended her hand toward Arkan.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch the long sleeves of his gown, Arkan flinched and pulled his shoulder back.

It would have been fine if it had ended there, but the look of defeat on his face the next moment immediately upset Erdene's temper.

When Erdene's eyes, which had furrowed the bridge of her nose, became sharp again, Arkan hurriedly waved his hand.

"No, this is..."

"What, are you saying that you want revenge?"

Arkan blinked his eyes in bewilderment.

"What do you mean, revenge?"

“You don't mean because I asked you to sleep separately on our first night of marriage?”

"What are you talking about...! No, you were fine just a moment ago, so why are you suddenly angry again?" 

There were times when he had deliberately provoked her, but this time it was really unfair. When Erdene reached out, Arkan had pulled his arm away without even realizing it.

Even before Erdene reached out, Arkan had already been unable to take his eyes off her.

He was at a loss, not knowing the names of each and every one of the urges that were boiling over.

As the fragrant scent grew stronger, the lights flickered, and the occasional faint sound of the wick burning echoed, it became harder for Arkan to control himself.

Whether he opened or closed his eyes, there was only one image that came into his vision.

He wanted to hug Erdene, who was standing in front of him, and drag her to the bed. He would pull down the curtains, turn off all the lights, and then...

But the moment he saw Erdene’s hand reaching out to him, Arkan flinched as if his heart was pounding.

He thought that if he continued like this, he might end up doing something to her. He didn’t want to do that.

But Erdene got angry, and Arkan, who had not yet come to his senses, couldn’t understand what was happening.

Erdene said.

“I’ve always heard people say that you are a generous King, but I wonder if they know that Your Majesty is such an easily offended man.”

Arkan opened his lips with a bewildered expression and spread both hands.

“What are you talking about? Who is talking about being upset? I am shocked right now! At your whim!”

“What whim did I have to do to make you say this? Ask everyone who passes by. If a wife shyly reaches out to you and the husband avoids her, ask him whether it is something to be angry about or not.”


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