The Villainess was Loved

Chapter Ninety-Four: The Journey to Capital

It was six in the morning, my usual wake-up time, but now, rather than prepare for an early run, I was in my temporary office with a knight whose knees were pressed to the wooden floor.

We had not discussed much.

I couldn’t sleep, so I wandered into the room to pack some personal documents that I would prefer any help the prince brought for the moving, not touch.

I was halfway through when a knock jarred my focus. When I let Tagen in, he went to his knees wordlessly.

Since then, an hour and a half had passed.

I sighed again, then adjusted my posture on my cosy desk chair.

“How does your power work?”

“If I can stare into the eyes of the person whose mind I wish to read for at least thirty uninterrupted seconds, I can read their mind for up to one hour. The ability refreshes every six hours, and I cannot read the same person’s mind until forty-eight hours have passed.”

“Hmm..how much does the Empress know about clay?”

“Other than the general repairs, she is aware that you lack an army. However, she chalks it up to your naivety.”

“The Empress thinks me naïve?”

“Indeed, I told her that your leadership was cutthroat, but she asked me if I was forgetting myself in my role when I brought that up. She sees you as capable but too promiscuous to be thorough.”

I tapped my finger on the desk.

“I will tell you this only once. Do not read my mind without permission.”

“P- if you promise you will protect me with your newfound societal advantage and that you will not trade me off, I will sell my very soul to you.”

“Sweet words.”

A smile crept up my face.

“But the reality is that you would betray me at the drop of a hat.”

“I would not dare-”

“I care little of what you think yourself capable of. The only way for me to harbour even a semblance of trust is if we sign a blood contract.

“I will sign it; I will sign the oath.”

He answered with little hesitation.

I stood from my seat, walked to my already suitcased documents, pulled out a dossier, and placed a beige parchment that pulsed an ebony glow.

“Betrayal entails…”

As I said the words, they appeared on the enchanted document.

“Any form of treason towards Clay, reading my mind without a signal or any form of authorisation, any sharing of unauthorised information with a third party, any action performed with malice towards Clay, my people or family and, lastly, any speech of the existence of this deal before or after my death.”

The words that wrote themselves on the paper glowed and then turned dull.

“Your turn, state your terms.”

Leon cleared his throat and began.

“For the contract to maintain validity, the countess or whatever title she will hold in the future promises to protect my secrets, protect and defend my family, and grant me a piece of land in clay I can call my own to begin my lineage anew.”

He took a dagger from his belt and then sliced deep enough for blood to gush onto the parchment.

I took my dagger and did the same; only the cut healed as soon as I made it.

“Oh, for fu*k sake!”

I cursed, took a deep breath and plunged the dagger deep into my shoulder.

“COUNTESS!”

“Oh, relax!”

Again, as soon as I pulled the dagger out, the wound had healed. However, the fabric of my dress had absorbed some of my blood.

I ripped my sleeve and then squeezed the excess blood onto the parchment.

The entire document glowed, slowly dried, and then darkened. The fragment of its magic hung ripe in the air and then flew to our chests, plastering a mark on our hearts or whichever organ deemed vital.

If we break our word, it grants three days to remedy the breach, after which, It dries the vital organ it plastered itself on.

An agonising way to die, but I had no intention of breaking the contract…or permitting him a chance at remedy if he did.

“Now then, for the business side of this arrangement. Tell the empress that I plan on hastening my marriage to the first prince for fear of a scandal due to my pregnancy. Tell her I intend to stay in Kranis. That should buy you enough time to sell your property in the capital and relocate stealthily to Clay. Also, avoid drinking unless it is by my order, which you can always turn down.”

He nodded, then gripped his chest and heaved a small sigh of relief.

It would be a useless gesture if he did not keep his end of the bargain, but I let it slide.

I would have traded him if it had not been for the prince. He means very little to me, but this will help him prove his value.

I turned to the window to watch the workers loading our things into the carriage.

Most of the cases were black and gold-bearing the crest of a dragon.

“How heavy does that bastard pack?”

*

*

The train ride was tight.

Not uncomfortable, but tight because I had to share the ‘day’ space before our rooms were allocated with someone as massive as the first prince.

Well, not just huge but also…handsome, his face perfectly sculpted down to the lines of his jaw. Each motion only served a graceful display of his muscles and-

‘God damn hormones.’

I crossed my arms against my chest.

“What was the verdict?”

“Pardon?”

I tore my gaze from his chest, mentally wiped my drool, and met his gaze.

“The verdict against the Empress’s spy.”

“Ah! Your highness, Clay matters should not trouble you.”

“It is not clay I am worried about; what if he leaks Kranis secrets?”

“He is not your knight, but my own. He is not around you, how would he know Kranis’s secrets?”

“You do not know how his power works!”

“Then, your highness, you are free to avoid him.”

“What? How is that the solution?”

“Fine then, I will permanently situate him to remain in Clay.”

He was silent for a while; then he clicked his tongue.

“So when you leave Kranis for Clay, you fill him in on what he has been missing?”

“Oh, for crying out loud, how insecure are you? Are you not the strongest on the continent?”

“Yes! But I have people I must protect; I have responsibilities, whereas you are as carefree as they come.”

“Hah-! Do I need to ride with the knights to catch a break from you?”

Most of our cargo was sent to the capital via teleportation. The teleport machine in Patum was relatively new, and as such could only move cargo and a limited number of people. Pregnant people were not on the list.

So, the first prince and I opted to use the train that would lead us to arrive in the capital in at least three days, while most of the knights, staff and company used the teleport system that would lead them to arrive at least two days early, depending on the amount of cargo.

“Let us change the subject.”

He said.

“Why do we have to talk at all. The staff handling our rooms will be here in a moment to guide us.”

“Have you forgotten we need to get our stories straight?”

“Hmm~ I think 'I fell into your arms, and the rest was history' sounds good. Am I wrong?”

He rolled his eyes and then continued, ignoring my question.

“And there is the issue of addressing your fiancé by his title.”

“…”

‘Okay, he has me there.’

“So should we practise; I will address you by your name, and you do the same.”

I took a deep breath and then nodded to his suggestion.

“Fine. Rheyes.”

“Good, Arusei.”

It wasn’t even my name, but its enunciation with the deepness of his voice sent ripples of pleasure down my core.

I readjusted my hands against my chest to hopefully shake the sensation from my shoulders.

Rheyes sucked in a deep breath, then turned his gaze to the window before speaking up.

“Why Hafsa? Is that your birth mother’s name?”

“No.”

He turned his gaze to me when I did not explain more.

“No? That is all you will say? Can you not see that I am trying to get to know you?”

“No. Hafsa is not my mother’s name.”

I answered.

He let out a dry laugh, and then clicked his tongue.

I readjusted my hands once again, only this time he reached over and pulled my hands from my chest.

“Seriously, stop. That dress is already too small for your breasts, and you moving them around only serves to-”

“Oh~? The big bad reptile is petrified at the sight of big boobies?”

“For crying out loud.”

He spat out another unintelligible curse.

“Stop testing me, Arusei.”

“Your terms stated that I would not be permitted in your chambers. Does that mean you meant to have your way with me in public spaces?”

He frowned.

“As crass as ever. I see.”

“You are complaining now, but my mannerisms at one point had you tie me to your bed, with your c**k deep inside me as you panted with every thrust like a dog in heat.”

A vein formed at the corner of his jaw as his sneer grew.

The intensity of his gaze increased and his pupils darkened. He looked just about ready to pounce on me.