"Isn't a man who doesn't have the eloquence to please a lady's heart pitiful?"
My back felt ticklish as I saw the tip of his tongue slowly emerge from between his beautiful lips to lick his thumb. It was as if the spot Kaian licked wasn't the tip of his thumb but my waist.
"Are you doing that on purpose?"
Even though he knew everything about me, there was no doubt he was using his talent to captivate me. At this point, there was no way he didn't know I was extremely vulnerable to him, and Kaian was sincere in teasing me at times as if rolling me in the palm of his hand.
"Do you understand now? I thought I'd feel better if I gave you something sweet, but you sulked the whole time."
Kaian came over to me, lifted me up, and held me in his arms.
"I have no choice but to give you something else that my wife likes."
I closed my eyes as I watched Kaian approach me with his head tilted. I could vividly feel the taste of melted chocolate on the tip of my tongue between his lips. The sweet and rich taste gradually became blurred between the exchanged kisses, and only when the familiar scent of Kaian became stronger did our lips finally separate.
"You are... there is no need for eloquence."
There were women everywhere who would shower Kaian with affection if he just stood there and glanced at them. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't imagine a person like that writing a letter begging for love, as if desperately pleading with someone. Kaian was someone who could easily have whatever he wanted.
"Don't write poetry or anything like that. Who is it for?"
I was in a situation where my confession had been rejected. I could bear it to this extent because I'd thought Kaian wasn't particularly passionate about Madame Marcel.
*To think he's interested in someone and is copying poetry.*
Just thinking about it made my blood pressure rise.
"I'm glad my wife isn't pleased. I guess Temnes' sword is stronger than the pen."
Looking at him working brilliantly as a Lord, it hadn't occurred to me he'd be weak in literature since he was a military officer. However, when I realized he thought of himself like that, I felt Kaian was more human.
*There are some things he can't do.*
As I was pondering what I'd just heard, Kaian called my attention.
"Anyway, it's meaningful to me that Valquiterre came like this."
"Because he's the only person you consider family."
If we followed the logic, I wasn't yet part of Kaian's family. I was just jealous that he was so close to Valquiterre.
"Treat him so he can be comfortable. The butler will do the rest, but who else can the King talk to besides me or you?"
"Yes, I will do that."
When I answered obediently, Kaian looked satisfied. The man with his demanding temperament liked me when I obeyed him, and teased or pressured me when I got angry or rebelled.
"But I can't take my hands off work in the castle. Please let me do it."
I spoke with today's event in mind.
"I won't overdo it."
The reason I deliberately gave him an answer he'd like was so I could get one too. It would be difficult for him to refuse my request right away, given that I'd agreed to help Valquiterre with his visit.
"Yes, as long as you don't overdo it."
I sighed softly.
*It's usually like this for an aristocratic couple.*
Even conversations with my husband couldn't help but involve political considerations.
---
That night, a grand banquet was held in the castle.
Putting to shame the old saying that where there are no ears to hear, even the King is cursed, they were busy gossiping about Valquiterre even as they set foot in the King's residence.
"How dare he! Our Lord comes and goes as he pleases, but the King invades Rowan?"
"Let's show them an example. Don't let Temnes be disrespected again."
"How about we all skip the King's welcome ball?"
Their master, Temnes, was the ruler of this land who'd left a great mark on the history of the Kingdom of Oberon. Originally, those who were ruled—whether family vassals or territorial subjects—believed that the lord in front of them was greater than the King far away. This was because they were much more afraid of the power that could directly affect their lives.
"I heard that ten years ago, he could barely finish a meal."
"His Highness Kaian was even greater in terms of height and physique."
Aside from the lack of respect, it wasn't enough to bring up the weight of the Duke and the King from ten years ago and say the Lord was greater.
"Why is he still single?"
"If he's alone at that age, he must have some eccentricity or be lacking as a man."
"I know. Look at our Lord. After settling down with our Lady, he seems much more stable."
They talked as if forgetting that just half a year ago, Kaian had also been single and the entire castle household had come together to treat Claudel as a bride who'd been forced from an enemy family. Even though the person who'd arranged this marriage was Valquiterre.
"I thought I'd never forgive him for sending my Lord into battle!"
In the Kingdom of Oberon, wasn't Rowan the place where resentment toward the young King was the strongest?
The Rowan estate was a large land shaped like a long diamond, and it was a three to four-day ride by horse from the castle located south of the center to the northern end of the estate.
Because the advance party had been sent only three days prior, the family vassals gnashed their teeth as they departed in a hurry even after a telegram was sent and barely arrived on the day of the banquet. It was like the already hateful man had done something hateful again.
However, when they saw Valquiterre sitting at the head of the banquet hall, everyone fell silent and became quiet.
"I am very grateful for your hospitality."
The vassals of Rowan Castle all respected and admired the deceased Lady Elise. Antipathy toward Valquiterre had been simmering ever since Queen Silvia died and Kaian left for the battlefield.
In front of the portrait of Madame Elise, which still stood tall in the center of the entrance hall of Rowan Castle, there was a steady stream of people who stopped during work at the castle, took off their hats, placed their hands on their chests, and prayed for her eternal rest.
"I missed Rowan. I couldn't easily leave the royal castle due to my heavy responsibilities."
The Crown Prince who'd played with a wooden sword in the back garden with the young Lord when he was young had returned as a full-fledged King when he grew up.
"Rowan was always a special place for me. I think my mother will be happy to see me return to Rowan."
The young man with pale lemon-blond hair and blue eyes was elegant and beautiful. Even to those who'd never seen the Queen or Madame Elise in person, his unique aura was so similar he looked like a person walking out of a portrait of the previous Duchess.
The young King said this land was a special place to him. He didn't say he'd come, but that he'd "returned." With just one word, they could feel how specially he cared for Rowan and how he regarded it as his heart's home.
Those who'd had so much to criticize about Valquiterre were influenced by a few words of his and sat down in front of the table where a mountain of sumptuous dishes was laid out, taking out handkerchiefs to wipe away tears, and sobbing sounds could be heard here and there.
"Let us raise our glasses today for Rowan's prosperity. Let's drink! To Rowan!"
There was no one who would refuse a toast not for the glory of Oberon's kingdom but for the prosperity of Rowan.
At that point, the anger toward Valquiterre disappeared as if it had been washed from everyone's minds, and the bold decision to boycott the ball welcoming him flew away without a trace.
"Oh my God, I wonder why he hasn't found a partner until now."
"There can't be two angels in this world. Right—it would be nice if wings grew on his back."
The people who'd been criticizing him just moments ago, asking if he was alone because he had problems, now narrowed their eyes and praised his beauty, convincing themselves it was because it was difficult to find a partner suitable for someone as beautiful as Valquiterre.
While the blood relatives and retainers of the Temnes family who participated in the banquet were making a fuss—
"Who cleans His Majesty's bedroom?"
"She went home earlier. I ran away because I was afraid they'd ask me to switch."
"Good. I want to serve him tomorrow morning."
The maids of Rowan Castle also didn't know what to do as their hearts swelled in anticipation of an unexpected "encounter."
Leaving behind the excitement and noise of the castle, I headed to the castle's back garden.
"Whew."
Although Rowan was warm all year round, the night air was a little different. Due to the season, the air felt lukewarm even at night in summer, but now that it was winter, the night was definitely cooler and the coldness became more evident.
"Everyone is worked up. Really."
I felt as if Rowan Castle had now become a seething furnace. Everyone was swept away by the unknown heat, excited and noisy.
The garden I hadn't visited for a while during my morning sickness was filled with flowers I'd never seen before as I illuminated them with my lantern.
I went to the lakeside and sat down, leaning back. Because the lights of Rowan Castle were reflected on the water, it didn't feel that dark. Because it was the first time I'd seen the entire castle lit up like this, I was also captivated by Rowan Castle's beauty.
At that time, I heard the sound of footsteps on the grass behind me.
"What are you doing here alone?"
"Ah, Your Majesty..."
I hurriedly got up and tried to address him formally, but stopped talking.
"I asked you to call me something more convenient when it's just the two of us."
"...Bark."
"Fortunately, your memory doesn't seem to be bad."
"Why did you come out alone?"
The star of today's dinner was Valquiterre. It wasn't common for the person sitting at the head of the table to leave his seat.
"Then should I stay inside and bring Kaian with me? One of the two has to maintain his position."
When the answer that sounded like wordplay came back, I became flustered.
"Your Majesty speaks well. I heard several people weeping earlier."
Valquiterre laughed loudly at my words.
"It must have been sincere."
Valquiterre's voice became serious.
"I missed you."
---