Lust for the King’s Wife

Chapter 14: Two Thoughts (3)

“Uuuuu…”

“…”

“Huaaahhh…”

A languid morning.

The princess’ long yawn rose from the soft blankets like a puff of dust. Sleepy and playful, her flailing arm stretched over to my side and accidentally landed on my chin.

Only then did her tightly shut eyes slowly blink open. Meeting my gaze, the princess gave a shy, bashful smile and greeted me.

“Good morning, Alf.”

“Did you sleep well, Princess?”

“Did I just hit you?”

“Just a little.”

“Sorry. I don’t usually have such bad sleeping habits… Oh!”

Scratching her head awkwardly, the princess suddenly realized she’d drooled. She quickly turned her head away, pretending not to notice, but it wasn’t enough to completely hide her embarrassment.

A blush naturally spread across her cheeks. Desperate to shift the focus, she quickly brought up a new topic.

“Ahaha… Maybe it’s because I had a strange dream last night. I keep showing you such clumsy sides of myself.”

“What kind of dream was it?”

“A dream where a headless dragon bit into my heart. It felt so vivid that I was cold all over.”

“That must have been terrifying.”

“Of course. I kept calling your name until I woke up, but you never came. It seems even in my dreams, our hero is far too busy.”

The princess added a lighthearted joke with a gentle smile. But I couldn’t laugh. I knew better than to dismiss her words as mere jest.

No matter how young, a woman’s intuition was not something to be underestimated.

“At any rate, it’s time to get ready now. If the king finds out you spent the night in my room, I’ll be the one having nightmares next.”

“He won’t say anything. He’s the one who brought up the engagement in the first place.”

“Even so, seeing his daughter in another man’s bedroom is enough to set any father’s heart ablaze.”

“You seem to know a lot about a father’s feelings. Do you have a secret child somewhere?”

“If I did, I wouldn’t have become an adventurer like this.”

“Or maybe you’ve spent a lot of time imagining being a father?”

Her leg subtly entwined with mine, pressing against my thigh like a serpent. The princess clung to my chest and looked up at me, her gaze filled with expectation.

It was a transparent ploy, but I didn’t indulge her. Instead, I ruffled her disheveled hair and reminded her once again of the need to get ready.

“The sun’s already high up, Princess. You need to get ready to show your best self to everyone.”

“I’m not a child, you know.”

“Then you should act more mature. A proper lady doesn’t show her careless side to others.”

“Fine, fine. I get it. Without Jorfe, you’ve taken up nagging me now. I’ll get ready, so just stop already.”

“Good. Shall I fold up the blankets?”

“But only if you give me a hug first.”

Though she tried to insist on her maturity, the princess couldn’t give up this last bit of childishness. Since she had tried her best otherwise, I opened my arms willingly.

She jumped into them at once, burrowing deep into my embrace. Unlike Mirian’s cool touch, her warmth felt like basking in the sun, leaving me tingling all over.

“Huaaah…”

“…”

“…Mmm.”

Yet there was something uneasy in her breath, an odd tension brushing past my ear. 

After a long moment of silent contemplation, the princess spoke in a somewhat hesitant voice.

“Alf.”

“Yes, Princess?”

“You smell amazing.”

“…”

Her words carried a layered meaning. Depending on how they were interpreted, they could be either a simple compliment or a veiled suspicion.

The princess seemed to choose the former, smiling faintly as she added,

“Maybe it’s the perfume you wore for yesterday’s event. Anyway, it’s nice.”

“Thank you.”

“And, well…”

But once doubt takes root, it rarely fades easily. The princess buried her face against my chest, hesitating, before adding one final remark.

“It feels like I’ve smelled this scent somewhere before.”

***

The day after the march for the people came the events for the nobility. 

At the banquet in the grand hall, dignitaries from across the kingdom gathered to meet the hero. 

Nobles eager to leave a lasting impression on a future power broker filled the room like clouds.

It was an exhausting schedule, but with the hero party’s disbandment imminent, it was unavoidable. Understanding the situation, I joined the atmosphere without complaint.

The princess remained glued to my side throughout the event. She was so close that even Siha, watching from nearby, voiced her disapproval.

“Are you some kind of tumor?”

“Mind your business.”

“I mean, there’s a limit to sticking together. You’ve been clinging to him all day. How can I not notice?”

“This has nothing to do with you, Siha.”

“It does! I’m one of his comrades, someone who’s shared life and death with him. Before we part ways, I’d like to spend some time reminiscing, but thanks to you, I can’t even have a proper conversation with him.”

It was oddly touching. For someone as aloof as Siha to say such things stirred an unexpected emotion in me.

But the princess seemed unfazed, snuggling closer as though to assert her claim.

“He’s leaving tomorrow, right? There’s still plenty of time.”

“You little brat. I wasn’t going to say anything, but who do you think stayed up all night keeping watch while you slept? Who cooked all your meals, snacks, and emergency rations? That was all me.”

“Honestly, they didn’t taste very good.”

“Wha-what?! You little…! This brat doesn’t even know the basics of fine cuisine!”

Her raised voice drew attention, and, as always, it was Jorfe who stepped in to mediate.

“Both of you, stop it. We’re not alone here.”

“This works out, actually. Let me show you what diplomacy from an elf looks like. First, I’m going to fix that brat’s manners—”

“Siha, enough. If you keep this up, I won’t let you ride in the carriage tomorrow.”

“You… you petty bastard!”

“And perhaps, Princess, you could act just a little more maturely. This is a gathering of the kingdom’s most important guests, after all.”

“…Hmph.”

Though she let out a pouty sigh, the princess seemed to acknowledge the validity of Jorfe’s words and finally stepped away from me a bit. 

As he’d pointed out, the banquet hall was filled with dignitaries from all corners of the kingdom.

But one person was still absent. Despite this being a party attended by the king, the princess, and the kingdom’s key ministers, the lady of the kingdom had yet to make an appearance.

“The queen isn’t here again today.”

“…”

“This must be a rather important occasion, though.”

Jorfe, too, found the queen’s absence odd enough to voice his doubts. But upon noticing the princess’ expression, he realized his misstep and quickly changed the subject.

“She must be unwell. The weather’s been quite chilly lately. Yesterday was so cold, it felt like winter had already arrived.”

“Exactly. It’ll be a tough journey back for you, Jorfe.”

“That’s why I’ve prepared thoroughly in advance. Siha, as usual, just lazed about.”

“No wonder you use the carriage as leverage.”

“Right? At this rate, I might actually leave her behind.”

Trying to diffuse the situation, Jorfe made lighthearted remarks, steering the conversation away from the sensitive topic. I played along, grateful for the distraction.

The princess, however, didn’t follow suit. After a long pause of contemplation, she spoke unexpectedly.

“The queen not being here makes sense. She wouldn’t find this sort of gathering pleasant.”

“Uh… what?”

“Think about it, Jorfe. Most of the guests here participated in my father’s wars. Some of them even personally planted crosses in the witches’ lands.”

“Princess, I’m not sure this is the right setting for such a discussion…”

“But that’s my father’s way—fighting to win and taking what he wants. It’s the attitude of a warrior.”

The princess’ words, straddling the line between bold and dangerous, left even Siha silent. 

Jorfe glanced around nervously, checking to see if anyone else had overheard, while I quietly took the princess’ hand.

To my surprise, she smiled at me and continued.

“I don’t think it’s inherently bad. It’s barbaric, sure, but my father has his own sense of justice. That’s why, at the end of a victorious war, he even fought a duel to claim the throne.”

“Princess…”

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s not the best method. Because he won the throne through a duel, he can’t refuse a challenge for it in the future.”

“It shows how fair he is.”

“Maybe. I’m not sure. I love my father, but sometimes I worry that he lives too recklessly.”

Her voice, calm until now, took on a tinge of bitterness. Yet the heaviness didn’t last long.

“Maybe that’s why I like you, Alf. You understand that strength isn’t everything and know how to care for people with wisdom.”

“That’s far too generous of a compliment.”

“It’s not. I know you’ll be a truly great successor. I’m certain.”

“…”

“So, let’s make sure we’re happy together. Not just for me, but for our family and the entire kingdom.”

It felt as though the princess was stacking the weight of the royal family and the kingdom on top of the hand she was holding. 

As if trying to compensate for a lack of love with the burden of responsibility.

I had no idea how to respond in such a moment. Silence couldn’t serve as a substitute for agreement, so I managed to find my voice.

“Princess…”

“What a beautiful scene.”

Suddenly, a noble’s voice interrupted from nearby. Turning to look, I saw a familiar face appear.

“It’s an honor to meet you again, Princess, and the members of the hero’s party. We’ve met before, but let me reintroduce myself: I am Count La Riand Brey—”

“Oh, for f—sake. Not this guy again?”

“Haha. The elf’s fiery personality never changes. It must be what enabled you to defeat the vile dragon.”

“Shut your damn mouth, you crazy bastard. First, you slander me with racial insults, and now you’re acting all friendly?”

“In any case, hero, during the last procession, we were discussing my humble political views, but the conversation was cut short. Perhaps we could take this opportunity to—”

“…”

Though his arrival was ill-timed, the chaos he caused was oddly welcome. Siha’s explosive outburst quickly turned the scene into a commotion, naturally shifting the atmosphere.

By the time Jorfe managed to calm the fuming elf, evening had arrived. The effort had left me drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted, my legs nearly giving out.

Then I noticed a drop of blood on my wrist. Though I hadn’t sustained any visible injuries, the bright red bead reflected my face as it formed.

“Siha, thanks to you, my last night turned out to be quite the ordeal.”

“How is that my fault? It’s that crazy racist count! Just looking at his face pisses me off—”

“Count Brey is an excellent man. You must’ve done something wrong, Siha.”

“You’re hopeless, brat. Come here. Let me fix that face of yours once and for all.”

“If you’re going to fight, both of you can sleep outside. I’d like to have a civilized conversation with Alf for once.”

The night of farewells remained chaotic to the end. Siha and the princess bickered endlessly, Jorfe struggled to mediate, and I held my tongue, afraid that speaking might spark another argument.

Despite the discord, none of us wanted to separate. The conflicting desires to stay close led to inevitable clashes.

“I thought we’d stop fighting once we returned to the palace. From now on, I’ll make sure never to talk to an elf again.”

“Wow, I can’t believe this. You start every argument and then use your title as an excuse to act smug. Do me a favor and visit our forest someday. I’ll show you just how amazing elves can be.”

“No thanks. Just leave already, Siha.”

“Both of you, stop. Do we really have to end things like this?”

“Wise one, I’m sorry, but it’s their fault for being rude. You know that too.”

“Ha, so now you’re siding with Jorfe? Fine, bring it on. I’ll take you all on.”

“Ha…”

As the argument repeated itself, Jorfe’s laugh echoed softly. At first, I thought he might have finally snapped, but his expression held a wistful smile.

“This feels like old times. Back when we didn’t have to worry about anything and just waited to return to the kingdom. Honestly, I missed it.”

“It was fun. Just as much as it was awful.”

“Indeed, Princess. Such language is hardly fitting for royalty.”

“Think about it, Princess. When else would you go on adventures with someone like me? Someday, you’ll miss this.”

“That’s…”

“You might even miss that foul-mouthed elf girl.”

Though he usually positioned himself as a scholar, Jorfe often acted as a teacher for our party. And once again, he succeeded in calming the mood. The princess’ tone softened.

“You’re right. Someday, I’ll miss this. Honestly, I already do.”

“Exactly. But don’t worry, we’ll visit from time to time. Not often, though.”

“I’ll miss you, wise one.”

“It’s my honor, Princess.”

“…Damn it. The thought of missing that brat’s voice already makes me sick to my stomach.”

Even Siha and the princess expressed their regrets in their own ways. As the bickering subsided, both yawned simultaneously.

“Ah, I’m sleepy. If we don’t sleep now, we’ll just end up fighting again. Brat, you should go to bed too.”

“I was planning to. Alf, is it okay if I stay a bit closer to you?”

“Aren’t you quite the romantic… Honestly…”

“…”

“Asleep already? That was quick. Why am I so sleepy all of a sudden, too…?”

Even Siha, who had been grumbling, trailed off mid-sentence and drifted into slumber. In no time, the two were softly snoring, their breaths faint and peaceful.

Jorfe, glancing at them, whispered with a small smile.

“Well, that’s because I used a sleep spell on them.”

“…”

“Goodnight, you two.”

Had they been so busy bickering that they missed the signs of magic? Apparently, so had I. I realized too late, only now expecting the weight of sleep to overtake me.

Yet sleep didn’t come. Jorfe noticed my stillness, yawned lazily, and spoke up.

“The spell was only for the princess, Siha, and myself. Those two were far too noisy, and I wanted to sleep early.”

“And me?”

“I didn’t cast it on you, Alf. It didn’t feel right to impose magic on someone who’s lived their whole life by others’ decisions.”

“…”

“So, Alf. From now on, live the way you want to. Siha’s right; you can’t remain a hero forever.”

Jorfe’s lips moved slightly, as though he wanted to say more. But he shook his head and offered me a silent nod instead, lying down and soon falling into a tranquil sleep.

And so, the final night of the hero party passed. Filled with idle chatter, a bit of the sage’s trickery, and one last piece of advice.

It ended as beautifully as the final chapter of any fairy tale.

“…”

Yet, for some reason, I couldn’t close my eyes with the same ease. Was it regret? A reluctance to end this long, childhood epic?

Or perhaps it was the persistent ache in my wrist.

“Ha…”

As I lay still with my eyes closed, I heard a faint tapping at the window. It wasn’t the sound of a hand but the gentle touch of a thorny vine. Knowing it was just wishful thinking, I kept my eyes shut.

It’s just an illusion, I told myself, preparing to sink into sleep.

…

…

…

Tok. Tok. Tok.

“…”

When I realized it wasn’t a figment of my imagination, I opened my eyes again.

The others were still fast asleep. Even the princess, clutching my arm tightly, didn’t stir as I carefully got up.

Leaving the bed quietly, I walked toward the door. Then came the knock again.

Tok. Tok. Tok.

“…”

It was a faint sound, as if made by plants brushing against the door rather than fingers. Once the soft noise stopped, I cautiously opened the door.

On the other side of the dim corridor, leaning against the wall, stood Mirian.

“…Mirian.”

“Hero.”

For a brief moment, we simply looked at each other. Then Mirian broke the silence, her voice carrying her purpose clearly.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“…”

I didn’t respond. Not because I didn’t know what to say, but because there didn’t seem to be any need for words.

Instead, I stepped closer and gently took her fingertips. Even as our hands intertwined and the weight of our joined palms pressed down, she offered no resistance.