Why don’t you just pull me against your chest while you do it?! My body’s so sensitive to your touch that the moment you seize me with your hands, it gets the wrong idea and tries to melt into your arms! No! Focus, Cecilia! Hang in there!
Lucas leaned in close to my ear, his voice so deep it practically drowned out the soft jingle of the charms on my veil.
“Go ahead and wreck him, Cecilia.”
“Huh?”
It didn’t register for a second what he’d said. I was still stunned as he started kissing along the edge of my ear.
“Nngh… Wh-what are you…”
“He’s annoying, isn’t he? You shouldn’t bottle things up.”
You’re the one who needs to bottle things up a little more! I thought, smacking him in my mind.
He wants me to wreck Prince Islan because he knows I’m annoyed with him?! But then why did he tie up my hands? How am I supposed to beat him up like this?!
I turned to peer at that unbearably dazzling smile just inches from mine, and then he looked up at me, his blazing golden eyes filled with admiration. My heart pounded loudly.
“We can’t ignore Aram’s military strength, and having Princess Yana on our side is entirely thanks to you. You never back down when challenged, and even danced the Sword Dance, which no one in Majaar had done for years. You pulled off way more than any of those three men expected, all on your own. You’re incredible. That’s why I’ll behave myself, for my amazing wife. So please,” Lucas said with a smile, “crush this smug bastard into the ground, so we can end this trip on a high note?”
That beautiful demon of a husband of mine was practically glowing as he said it, and for a second, I almost nodded.
He was a typical Herbst. The best defense is a good offense. They were always picking fights like this. I never imagined I’d be given permission to obliterate someone while on a trip with my husband. This was certainly a honeymoon to remember.
Still, although I didn’t stop him, I snuck a glance as Lucas kept kissing my cheek.
Since he’d been raised in the meritocratic society of the knights, it was probably second nature to him to respect the person who won this battle—me. Lucas would never use me. If anything, he always listened to me and respected me. He was the only person I could truly trust.
But Felix used to say, “If you want to be on top, you have to get up there on your own,” before dumping all the responsibilities on me.
No one had ever shown me this kind of respect before, and old traumas still made my heart clench. Even though I saw no signs of darkness or cruelty in his sweet gaze, I couldn’t hold back the question.
“Won’t it bother you if I negotiate with Prince Islan?”
“Huh? Of course it will.” He gave me a look that said, “What kind of question is that?” and I was so surprised my mouth hung open.
Then why start a fight about it in the first place? What’s that all about?!
“You know I’m insanely jealous, Cecilia. Of course I hate it when you talk to other men. I hate it so much. But even if I hate it, that doesn’t mean I get to parade around like it’s my achievement. I didn’t take your hand so I could pull that kind of crap. I married you so that you’d never have to fight alone.” He made a smug little noise, and my lips trembled.
“How did you know that’s exactly what Felix used to do to me?” I looked up at him with teary eyes, and the person I wanted to love forever gave me an awkward look.
“Because I’m a Herbst. Can we not bring that up right now, though?”
“Because you’re a Herbst?”
“Pfft, ah ha ha! You’re hilarious when it comes to someone you care about…” Dirk laughed.
Are you kidding me? Is that your excuse?!
Lucas could never lie to me, and this terrible excuse of his was just so him that I didn’t even react to Dirk laughing his head off in the background. I just stared at those golden eyes, trying desperately to look anywhere but at me.
He didn’t want to admit it. He didn’t want me to know. He was scared I’d hate him, and it was so cute I couldn’t help but sigh.
Lucas flinched, his shoulders tensing up. I lowered my voice and murmured softly, so he’d be able to tell me honestly.
“So you didn’t look into it because you were curious? Because you liked me?”
“N-no, I was curious because I liked you! Please don’t hate me!”
I thought so.
I grinned as Lucas blushed, his voice filled with frustration.
I mean, he did say it was hard on him, moving through all that pain. And this is the guy who added audio and video recording functions to a ring! There’s no way he didn’t investigate every little thing about me. And honestly, he probably knows not just one or two of my secrets, but a lot more than that!
Still, even though the thought of him knowing everything left me feeling a little exposed, it didn’t feel bad. Lucas would never use anything against me, and I understood wanting to know everything about the person you loved.
I wanted to know all about Lucas’s childhood, too. Honestly, I’d love to get my hands on every single one of Dirk’s recording crystals… I heard they were stored chronologically in some warehouse somewhere… But how could I get in? I’d have to get Lucas’s permission to watch them first, though…
Hey, focus!
Right then, I needed to apologize to him for forcing that confession out of him.
“I’m sorry, it’s just…you’re always so kind to me, Lukie. I wanted to understand. Does it bother you?”
“Not really. I was just terrified you’d hate me for looking into things like that.”
Because I love you.
He pulled me into a hug and whispered right into my ear so Prince Islan wouldn’t hear, and I couldn’t help but giggle.
“So you’re going to keep yourself in check?” I asked him.
“I’ll do my best—just finish up quickly. Also, I’ve decided I’m never letting you slap anyone else but me, so you’ll just have to deal with this.”
Ohhh, so that’s why he tied my hands up. To keep me from slapping anyone. Wait, that makes me sound like a violent wife! Sure, I did slap Prince Akeem that one time, but only after confirming that he’d be tried under Bern’s laws! I wasn’t about to smack Majaar’s crown prince for failing to cherish his wife. Absolutely not! But I can’t promise anything if he insults Lucas again…
I gave myself a mental pep talk. As the second princess of Bern, I had to keep it together. But as I tried to pull myself together, something heavy pressed against my shoulder. Lucas buried his face there, doing his best not to look at Prince Islan. Honestly, it was so funny I couldn’t help but smile.
If this was how he liked me to behave, then this was exactly the version of myself I’d use to deal with Prince Islan.
“Prince Islan, as you know, I am Cecilia Cline Herbst, the wife of the second prince and Hero of Bern, Prince Lucas. I apologize for the situation, but I ask for your understanding.”
“As long as we can speak to each other, I have no issue.”
“I’d expect nothing less from the next king. I appreciate your generosity.” I kept my voice gentle and refined. Then, I smiled at him sharply before jumping into negotiation mode.
“Aram produces beautiful gold work. We have a few merchants selling it in Bern, but not in great quantities. I’ve always found that rather disappointing. And since I’ve had the pleasure of gaining Princess Yana’s friendship, I thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss a more substantial agreement,” I said.
“Is this a personal deal between you and Yana?” His tone was sharp, but I didn’t respond.
Why should I explain a deal I secured with Yana to someone I barely had ties with? But the truth was, I hadn’t actually finalized anything with her yet. I didn’t want to do anything to hurt her or make her feel like she was betraying Prince Islan, so I paused the negotiations.
She said she’d contact me once she made up her mind, and at the banquet, she’d handed me the sword to make it look like Bern and Aram had already joined forces. That was part of our bluff.
And it had worked. The scare tactic had taken effect. It was time to press for the advantage.
“You should probably discuss the details with Princess Yana later. Or have the two of you ceased speaking altogether?” I asked sarcastically. Prince Islan’s face twisted in frustration.
“Princess Cecilia, I admit I caused you trouble, but using this meeting as a pretext to interfere with our romantic relationships is in bad taste.”
“Oh? He he. And yet you were allowed to interfere in mine? Now, why is that, I wonder?”