The warmth of another person’s skin was pleasant. Feeling it from Arcrayne as he clung to her made Estelle fall asleep too.
Things had been hectic ever since the day she’d gotten locked up in the Tower of Albion, so she must not have slept off all of that exhaustion yet.
When she woke up, it was already dark in the room. The clock showed just past five, which meant she’d slept for approximately three hours.
Arcrayne still slept in Estelle’s arms. She closely observed his handsome face; at that moment, it looked a little younger than usual.
The prince had lost his biological mother at the age of five and had started to live with his aides at the Libra Palace at the age of seven. Had he ever had the opportunity to depend on someone like this?
It was said that the royal custom of parting with one’s parents at a young age was part of fostering a future king.
Growing up with one’s parents made one dependent. Having to live with one’s aides from a very young age and learning to put people to use fostered a sense of self-reliance—this was what Estelle had heard.
However, the thought of her and Arcrayne’s children having to live a life like that didn’t sit right with her.
Then again, it surely wouldn’t have been the same if the child’s parents were both alive.
Because then he could’ve frequently gone to see them, unable to endure their absence, she thought to herself.
Arcrayne, however, had surely seldom had such gentle moments in his childhood.
If this gives him at least some peace of mind... Or am I being too presumptuous...? Estelle gazed at the prince in her arms. Long eyelashes, a prominent forehead, a shapely nose bridge, and thin lips—Estelle could look at his handsome face forever.
She didn’t put looks first, but there were inevitably some whose appearance she instinctively found repulsive. Estelle was unmistakably lucky that the man who’d used his power to force her to come and live in the palace had been as handsome as Arcrayne. It wasn’t just his face, but also his proportions, his deep, penetrating voice, and his graceful manner—he was, in practically every way, the ideal prince.
His personality was flawed, and his position as first prince and future king seemed to bring him more bad than good.
However, Estelle loved him from the bottom of her heart. And it took a miracle for the one you loved to desire you as well. Which was why Estelle didn’t want to let go of him, no matter what.
I wonder what will happen if I can’t bear a child... she thought to herself. The main role of a crown princess and a queen was to give birth to an heir. If said heir didn’t inherit the great reserve of mana that was typical of royals, or wasn’t born in the first place... Would people around them allow the royal authority to be passed on to Liedis’s family line?
The word “mistress” passed through Estelle’s mind. However, she found the idea of sharing Arcrayne with another woman completely unacceptable.
Estelle appeared to be emotionally fragile. Tears were welling up in her eyes.
She shifted her position a little to wipe them away. But that might have just been what made Arcrayne’s firmly shut eyelids twitch.
They opened slowly, exposing his blue eyes. They were unfocused, but when they perceived Estelle, they opened wide. The prince instantly sat up and pulled away from her.
“Sorry, Estelle. Was I too heavy? I didn’t think I’d fall asleep...”
His flustered attitude made Estelle burst into laughter. “You were not heavy at all. And most importantly, I am glad you managed to sleep. How do you feel?”
“A lot better. Much of my exhaustion is gone.” The prince awkwardly averted his eyes.
“I slept well too. Your warmth was too pleasant.”
As Estelle sat up, Arcrayne reached out for her hair. “Your hair was done so well, and now it’s a mess. I’ll call an attendant for you.”
“Thank you.”
Estelle smiled at the prince, then took the pins and ornaments out of her hair to make it easier for the attendant to work on it.