Chapter Twenty - A short respite in the pavilion

We were sitting side by side in the pavilion in the garden, listening to the sound of the rain. We were alone, one of his hands around my hip and my head on his shoulder. I didn't think I had ever felt this content since I was born into this world.

We arrived yesterday, late afternoon in the duchy. I tried teasing him because of his high rank, that he was a prince, but he didn't take the bait, sadly. Anyway, after we were served a quick meal, everyone went to their room. Naturally, Aprudeé and Eiran slept in their own room, and Ryenne and I got a fancy guest room.

It was an enormous building, bigger than our home, but at first glance it looked similar. However, the differences became apparent when we walked in. My home gave off a warm, sunny feeling, yet it was stylish and furnished with expensive furniture according to my mother's taste. It really felt like a home, but this, Eiran's house shoved in the visitor's face how wealthy this family was. It was as if the person who decorated the place didn't care about moderation, harmony and tastefulness.

My room had an unnecessary amount of golden embellishments as well, and I felt I could get lost in it. But at least the bed was fluffy and comfortable, so I had a good night's sleep. I didn't mind camping in the woods a few times during our journey or sleeping in little inns, but really, nothing can beat a bed like this.

After waking up, I expected a maid to show me the way, but it was Eiran who knocked and accompanied me to breakfast. We ate with the kids and then Aprudeé took Ryenne to show him around. I didn't feel like going on a house tour, I won't be staying long anyway.

So Eiran took me to the garden despite the slight rain. It had a completely different atmosphere than the house. The flowers were blooming beautifully and there was a lot of colour, but they weren't too orderly. It was carefully arranged, but it didn't give you that feeling.

The maids served us some hot tea and then left us to ourselves at Eiran's command.

„You grew up in a beautiful place." I wasn't talking about the house, but the surrounding area.

„Yes, it's thanks to the gardener. My mother left everything up to him. After their marriage, she quickly decorated this mansion and left for the capital. The only thing I'm grateful to my parents for is that they rarely spent time here. They prefer the capital, even though they have no business there, but as a result, we had a peaceful childhood. And after becoming a little more aware, we could do what we wanted."

„Like what?" I looked up at him curiously.

„Like replacing incompetent tutors with good ones, or studying something new and buying whatever we wanted. Thanks to their neglect, we were very free."

„Still, I think it would have been better if you had nice parents like mine." Why are you never lucky when it comes to your parents?

„It could have been worse. They could have been negligent while giving us the wrong kind of attention. At least we weren't abused and they didn't demand anything unreasonable from us. In our world, they probably wouldn't have children." He caressed my hair. You are the one who needs consolation, not me.

„Well, we can create a happy family in the future !" I tried to sound cheerful for his sake. I've always wanted to give him that, so I was happy for the opportunity.

„Was that a proposal?" He raised an eyebrow.

„Not yet." I winked at him and he burst out laughing.

I sighed and put back my head on his shoulder.

„Since we reunited, I kept thinking about what it would be like if we were in our old world. Would we have children? How many? Or would we even be together? What if we only feel this way because we never had the chance to experience a life together? Maybe we would have broken up after a few years, but because the flow of our lives was interrupted, we became obsessed with each other. Sometimes I worry that our feelings are unnatural and unhealthy." I confessed everything.

„You only worry because you keep overthinking it. I don't care what binds us together as long as we are bound. I love you and I want the best for you, and I don't care where these feelings stem from."

„At least you didn't become an obsessive male lead or something." I made a joke to lighten the mood. I was truly worried, but I should have known he would say something like that. I was always the overthinker in our relationship and he was the kind of guy who took everything on as it came. He accepted things as they were and didn't worry until it really became a problem. I envied this personality trait, but I couldn't just change myself.

„I can be if you want." His voice deepened and he squeezed my hip. Woah! 

My mind went to the gutter and a scene flashed before my eyes. Us in bed, he was hovering over me, holding my wrist in his grip and pinning me down. He slowly lowered his body to touch mine, his eyes burning with desire and a little craziness. I never knew I had such a desire, damn it! 

„I will gladly trap you in a room where no one can see you but me." He continued to whisper in my ear and I shivered. „It's not like I never thought about owning you completely." Oh, I felt we were going in a dangerous direction.

„Are you serious?" I turned my gaze towards him, biting my lips.

I will be honest, my mind was going places. I am not really into that, but a little role-playing as foreplay wouldn't be against my wishes. I think it would be exciting to play the role of a captured princess or something as long as he would be my obsessed male lead.

I shook my head. The only problem was my body. Doing anything with this body would feel really improper and indecent.

„Nope." He kissed my nose smiling. „I want to make you happy, and if I locked you in a small room, you wouldn't be. It was payback for teasing me."

„For a moment I thought you had become a red flag, obsessive male lead." I sighed and relaxed.

„Well, it's not like I never thought about hiding you from everyone's eyes, but I don't want you to witness this ugly side of me."

„I do not think it's ugly." I looked seriously into his eyes to make sure he understood. „And it's not like I never thought about pushing down some girls on the stairs who obviously made a move on you, fully knowing you were in a relationship. I just restrained myself." He looked at me like a fish, blinking in disbelief. He was adorable.

„You never told me that." He expressed his surprise.

„Of course I didn't." I laughed a little. „I didn't want to show you my ugly side and make you disillusioned with me. But I don't care anymore, I won't hide my feelings." I rested my head on his chest.

„You're so cute."

„Is murder cute?" I asked quizzically.

„As long as you are the killer." I felt his hand in my hair. Hmm, I could fall asleep, but we have an important meeting today.

„You're dumb." I murmured affectionately into his shirt as I felt my lips curl up.

„Yes, I am an idiot for you." He admitted and placed his chin on my head. We didn't speak any more, just enjoyed this peaceful, loving moment.