Seven
1634 Words
MORGANA'S POV
I slowly recovered from my shock and glanced sideways at Zack hidden beside me, beneath the bed curtains. He shamelessly looked far too comfortable in my chamber. Meanwhile, my heart was still racing wildly from the maid nearly discovering him.
“It's nothing serious,” I quickly told the maid through the curtains. “I was only trying to kill a mosquito.”
To make the lie believable, I smacked Zack's arm hard.
Smack.
He sucked in a quiet breath and glared at me.
The maid outside finally relaxed.
“Then this servant will leave Mistress to rest.”
Footsteps retreated. The chamber door closed softly and silence returned.
Only then did Zack lean lazily against the headboard and sigh dramatically.
“That was dangerous,” he whispered. “If she discovered me in your bed, rumors would spread tomorrow throughout the entire Pack.” His golden eyes curved teasingly. “They would probably say that whenever the older Lady Anderson became lonely, she secretly invited men into her chamber at night.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“How are you somehow the victim here?”
He smiled innocently.
“I am a prince. My reputation is precious.”
“You climbed through my window like a rogue thief!”
“A romantic thief,” he corrected calmly.
I nearly threw another slipper at his face.
“Enough already,” I hissed. “Why aren't you leaving already?”
“Leave?” He blinked slowly as though the thought genuinely surprised him. “Of course I need to leave.”
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
Then, the shameless devil stood from the bed, calmly removed his boots, folded his outer robe neatly beside the pillow…and laid back down comfortably beneath my blanket.
“I'll leave in the morning.”
I sat upright immediately.
“ZACK!”
He closed his eyes peacefully like a wolf preparing for hibernation.
Honestly, at that moment, murder crossed my mind. I wanted to scream. Fight him. Kick him through the window personally. But deep down, I already understood that trying to force Zack out of my chamber was like trying to push an enormous wolf away from fresh meat.
Pointless. Absolutely pointless.
After glaring at him for nearly half a minute, I finally surrendered and moved to the farthest edge of the bed. At least there was enough distance between us to fit another person.
For a while, silence filled the chamber. Then Zack suddenly spoke.
“Why didn't you run away?”
I turned slightly toward him. His eyes remained closed.
“I came tonight because I thought you might escape before tomorrow's mating ceremony.”
I stared suspiciously at him. With Zack, trusting anything he said was impossible. Out of every ten sentences leaving his mouth, at least nine were lies. Maybe the whole ten.
“Thank you for your concern, Ninth Prince,” I replied politely. “But as you can see, I'm still here.”
“Well,” Zack murmured lazily, “since you didn't run away, it appears I can no longer leave either.”
Before I could react, he pulled off the outer layer of his robe carelessly and tossed it aside.
My entire body stiffened instantly.
“Besides,” he continued smoothly, “starting tomorrow, we'll sleep together every night anyway. Think of tonight as practice.”
Practice?!
I immediately dragged the blanket tightly around myself like armor before his hand or leg would wander.
Zack noticed instantly. His lips curved upward.
“My little kitten is nervous.” His voice softened unexpectedly. “Tell me honestly, Morgana… are you willingly marrying me?”
My fingers tightened against the blanket.
For once, his tone lacked teasing. Even his golden eyes looked strangely serious. It unsettled me more than his usual nonsense.
“My father already accepted the alliance. How can I refuse?” I smiled gently afterward, the same obedient smile I always wore before others. “Marrying the Ninth Prince is a blessing accumulated through three lifetimes.”
Zack frowned immediately.
“Is that truly how you feel?”
“Of course.”
I maintained my soft voice flawlessly.
“Ninth Prince is handsome, intelligent, respected, and gentle. Countless noble ladies dream of becoming your mate.” I lowered my lashes. “Meanwhile, I possess neither talent nor status within my own household. Being chosen by you is practically a miracle.”
My tone sounded convincing enough to fool anyone else. But Zack knew me too well. And I knew him too well. Which was why, he suddenly laughed quietly.
“You're an expert liar.”
“You taught me well.” I smiled sweetly.
To my horror, a laugh escaped my lips afterward. A genuine laugh.
Zack stared at me for a moment before smiling too. The atmosphere softened unexpectedly.
“So you actually wanted to marry me,” he said lightly. “Unfortunately, I was forced into this marriage.”
I blinked.
“What?”
That response genuinely surprised me. I had always assumed Zack proposed simply because tormenting me amused him.
He leaned back dramatically and sighed.
“Mark wants to marry your little sister. Naturally, you became an obstacle as you are still unmated.” His expression turned pitiful. “And I became the unfortunate sacrifice.”
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
“I originally wished to marry someone unrelated to me. But I returned to Crestwood at the wrong time.” He placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “I looked left and right, hoping someone else would be chosen instead. Sadly, fate was cruel.”
His golden eyes suddenly met mine directly.
“You are Beta Nelson's eldest daughter. Your little sister will eventually become Crown Princess beside Mark.” He shrugged lazily.
“So naturally, you needed a husband with enough status to avoid embarrassing the Anderson family. Unfortunately, there weren't many suitable candidates. Only male folk ls of low class.
His lips curved slowly.
“A prince with weak status. A Beta's daughter with weak status.” He spread his arms helplessly. “A perfect match created by the Moon Goddess herself. And that's how I was forced to marry you.”
I stared at him silently. Every word entered my ears clearly. And for some reason… My chest hurt slightly. Not because I cared deeply who I married.
Honestly, I had always known that perhaps my marriage candidate wouldn't willingly accept me. So, I never expected romance, devotion, or even affection from my mate.
But still…
Hearing it spoken aloud so casually made something inside me ache unexpectedly.
I turned away from him slowly.
“It must've been difficult for Ninth Prince,” I said quietly. Sorry about that.”
Then I rolled over, showing him my back.
Silence followed.
Long silence.
Behind me, Zack didn't speak immediately.
And strangely, the atmosphere changed. His earlier amusement disappeared completely. He frowned while staring at my turned back.
That wasn't the reaction he expected. He thought I would become furious and attack him.
Or argue. Or bite him again. Instead… I merely accepted it quietly. And somehow, that reaction felt far worse.
For the first time that night, guilt pricked faintly at his chest. He knew he had to quickly console me and hoped I would be easily consoled like in the past
“Morgana.”
I ignored him. He sighed softly.
“I was teasing you.”
Still no response.
Immediately, Zack moved closer beneath the blankets.
“You really believed that nonsense?”
I remained silent.
He clicked his tongue softly before speaking more seriously.
“The moment I heard about Mark and Eve’s situation, I knew you would need to be married soon. So I rushed back from Namalia immediately.”
I snorted faintly. Here we go again.
“The wolves there practically cried while begging me not to leave, I had to escape in the middle of the night and ride without rest all the way back to Crestwood.” His voice lowered playfully. “How could I allow my little kitten to marry another wolf?”
He leaned closer behind me.
“Heavens know how many years I've waited for you to grow up.”
I finally turned around with narrowed eyes.
“Zack.”
He smiled.
“Hmm?”
“Will you die if you stop lying for one day?”
Those exact sweet words–I had heard them countless times growing up.
Every single visit. Every single reunion. And every single time, he said them only to tease me. If he thought I would easily believe him like the first time he told those familiar lies to me, then he was a foolish rabbit prince.
Zack rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Oh.”
Realization crossed his face.
“I've used that line before.” He nodded seriously. “Next time I'll think of something new.”
“Just die already!”
Unable to endure anymore, I kicked toward him angrily beneath the blankets. But Zack easily caught my ankle before pulling me straight into his chest.
I gasped softly.
Warmth surrounded me instantly. His arms wrapped around my waist firmly while his scent completely enveloped me.
“This version suits you better,” Zack murmured quietly beside my ear.
I glared upward.
“Will you believe me, if I promise to be honest with you from now on?”
For one dangerous second, His eyes looked sincere. Until his gaze slowly lowered. Toward my chest.
A wicked smile appeared immediately afterward.
“After accidentally seeing your chest earlier tonight…it doesn't seem much bigger compared to when you were younger.”
Silence. Pure silence.
I genuinely considered strangling him to death with my bare hands.
How had nobody killed this man yet?
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD