After Basil excused himself, Rihannan smoothed her disheveled attire, a surge of restlessness compelling her to unpack her luggage. The task proved a soothing diversion, occupying little of her time. With her meager belongings neatly arranged, she stretched her arms and drew back the curtains, revealing a breathtaking vista of the cerulean sea. Engrossed in the tranquil scenery, she aimed to while away her time. However, a sudden throbbing in her head disrupted her reverie, prompting her to reach for a bottle of medicine from her luggage. For the time being, she had no choice but to rely on its soothing effects.
As she twisted open the lid, the door burst open, catching her off guard. A force collided with her, causing her to cry out in surprise.
“Ahh!”
Struggling to regain her footing, she found herself pinned to the floor, wrists firmly grasped by a familiar figure.
“Your Majesty?” Rihannan recognized her assailant immediately. It was Igor, his countenance grave and disconcerting. Though taken aback, Igor maintained his firm hold on her.
Rihannan, regaining her composure, attempted to push him away, but her efforts proved futile. Instead, she felt the weight of his presence suffocate her.
“What were you about to do?” he demanded.
“What do you mean?” Rihannan retorted.
Igor’s abrupt informal speech caught him off guard, but there was no time for explanations. His deep purple eyes bore into her, filled with despair and anxiety. He growled, as though poised to pounce at any moment. “You didn’t hesitate to bring a maid with you. Was the agreement merely a ruse?”
Rihannan tried to break free from his grasp, but Igor remained resolute. He forced her hand back to the floor, his gaze filled with a mix of despair and frustration.
“…What’s wrong?” Rihannan furrowed her brow.
Igor let out a grim chuckle. “Don’t make me laugh. If I had any intention of killing you, I would have done so the moment you set foot in my territory. I won’t allow you to die before me!”
Her eyes widened at his sudden outburst. Despite his menacing words, he seemed on the verge of tears.
“…Igor?”
Rihannan whispered his name, and to her surprise, the frenzy and madness etched on his face slowly subsided. His lips curled, but before he could utter a word, a loud voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Your Majesty!”
Basil burst through the wide-open door, sword at the ready. However, upon seeing the entangled figures of his master and the new mistress, he dropped his weapon, running his hands through his hair in exasperation.
“Your Majesty, what… what are you doing?!”
Igor let out a weak sigh and released his grip on Rihannan. Slowly backing away from her, he allowed Basil to hurriedly approach and help her up.
“Are you hurt, Lady Rih… um… are you alright, miss?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.” Rihannan nodded, rubbing her tingling wrist.
“I deeply apologize for His Majesty’s actions on my behalf. This isn’t his usual self, but I can’t fathom why…” Basil’s words were cut short by Igor’s cold voice.
“Basil, I need to speak with the Countess. Wait outside for a moment.”
Basil shook his head, relenting. “I can’t do that. Instead, you should leave, Your Majesty!” Igor shot him a menacing look, but Basil remained steadfast despite his trembling hands. “Why must you treat your soon-to-be bride like a pirate…!”
“It’s not like that…”
“Don’t make excuses! I saw it with my own eyes!” Basil swallowed nervously. Should he say it? Should he? Damn it all! He would speak his mind. “I saw it… the scene where His Majesty attacked her like a beast!”
Igor groaned, his mouth opening to respond, but Rihannan’s soft voice interjected. “Basil, please step outside.”
“I… I said I won’t…” Basil turned, realizing that the voice did not come from Igor, but from Rihannan.
“I believe there’s a misunderstanding. I would like to discuss it. Could we have some privacy, please, Basil?”
“…Are you sure?”
Rihannan smiled lightly.
Basil’s expression softened. “Then… if you insist…”
Igor stood dumbfounded as Basil’s immediate compliance with Rihannan’s simple request left him speechless.
As the door closed, the room descended into a hushed silence.
Rihannan sighed and looked at Igor. “What happened, Your Majesty? You nearly broke my ribs.” She gestured towards the fallen medicine bottle on the floor. “Why did you do that?”
“What kind of medicine is that?” Igor asked, his gaze cautious.
Rihannan retrieved the glass bottle, placing it on the table. “It’s a medicine I’ve been taking since childhood, a concoction of herbs to alleviate tension. What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s problematic.”
“Why?” Rihannan inquired.
“You will soon become Arundell’s queen. Everything you come into contact with must be thoroughly tested, be it food or medicine. Don’t you understand?” Igor’s tone remained stern.
“That may be true, but…” Rihannan’s initially reserved demeanor gave way to a smoldering anger as she realized she was on the verge of apologizing. Flames flickered in her eyes. “But why did you go so far as to tackle me? Furthermore, this prescription was given to me by my uncle’s personal physician.”
“I was merely ensuring…” Igor coughed. “Setting that aside… from now on, you will only take medicine prescribed by a certified physician. If I ever discover you ingesting unknown substances…”
“And then what? You’ll knock me down again? Are you suggesting you’ll repeat your actions?” Rihannan retorted.
Igor’s brow furrowed slightly. “That’s rather harsh.”
“Not as harsh as what you did. I’m simply speaking the truth,” Rihannan replied.
“You will soon understand what I mean,” Igor stated.
“Why are you so interested in my actions?” Rihannan questioned.
“Because you are my wife,” Igor replied, his tone tinged with solemnity.
“But I am not truly your wife.”
Igor’s words struck a chord within him. “Of course, you are free to say that a year from now, but at present, you are my wife.”
Rihannan arched an eyebrow. “We haven’t even had a wedding yet.”
“There will be a wedding. For now, you are aboard my ship, under my protection and influence.”
“So, what are the boundaries and limitations of my actions under your protection and influence? Don’t you think it would be wise to inform me in advance, so that I may conduct myself appropriately and avoid falling out of your favor?”
“Rihannan!” Igor’s sudden roar startled her. He sighed softly. “I don’t want to argue with you. Things will be different from now on. You are no longer in Crichton. Consider your current position and identity.”
Rihannan interpreted Igor’s words as a desire for her to act subserviently, mindful of her identity, and to remember that she was not a princess, but a replacement.
Why had she boarded the ship again?
“I understand. From now on, I will not forget my position and identity.” Her gentle words relieved Igor, but her subsequent comment left him speechless. “I momentarily forgot that I am merely a substitute for the princess. Don’t worry. I will keep that in mind.”
Igor’s eyes widened. “No, that’s…”
“Basil, His Majesty has concluded his business. Please escort him out,” Rihannan calmly requested.
After Basil excused himself, Rihannan smoothed her disheveled attire, a surge of restlessness compelling her to unpack her luggage. The task proved a soothing diversion, occupying little of her time. With her meager belongings neatly arranged, she stretched her arms and drew back the curtains, revealing a breathtaking vista of the cerulean sea. Engrossed in the tranquil scenery, she aimed to while away her time. However, a sudden throbbing in her head disrupted her reverie, prompting her to reach for a bottle of medicine from her luggage. For the time being, she had no choice but to rely on its soothing effects.
As she twisted open the lid, the door burst open, catching her off guard. A force collided with her, causing her to cry out in surprise.
“Ahh!”
Struggling to regain her footing, she found herself pinned to the floor, wrists firmly grasped by a familiar figure.
“Your Majesty?” Rihannan recognized her assailant immediately. It was Igor, his countenance grave and disconcerting. Though taken aback, Igor maintained his firm hold on her.
Rihannan, regaining her composure, attempted to push him away, but her efforts proved futile. Instead, she felt the weight of his presence suffocate her.
“What were you about to do?” he demanded.
“What do you mean?” Rihannan retorted.
Igor’s abrupt informal speech caught him off guard, but there was no time for explanations. His deep purple eyes bore into her, filled with despair and anxiety. He growled, as though poised to pounce at any moment. “You didn’t hesitate to bring a maid with you. Was the agreement merely a ruse?”
Rihannan tried to break free from his grasp, but Igor remained resolute. He forced her hand back to the floor, his gaze filled with a mix of despair and frustration.
“…What’s wrong?” Rihannan furrowed her brow.
Igor let out a grim chuckle. “Don’t make me laugh. If I had any intention of killing you, I would have done so the moment you set foot in my territory. I won’t allow you to die before me!”
Her eyes widened at his sudden outburst. Despite his menacing words, he seemed on the verge of tears.
“…Igor?”
Rihannan whispered his name, and to her surprise, the frenzy and madness etched on his face slowly subsided. His lips curled, but before he could utter a word, a loud voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Your Majesty!”
Basil burst through the wide-open door, sword at the ready. However, upon seeing the entangled figures of his master and the new mistress, he dropped his weapon, running his hands through his hair in exasperation.
“Your Majesty, what… what are you doing?!”
Igor let out a weak sigh and released his grip on Rihannan. Slowly backing away from her, he allowed Basil to hurriedly approach and help her up.
“Are you hurt, Lady Rih… um… are you alright, miss?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.” Rihannan nodded, rubbing her tingling wrist.
“I deeply apologize for His Majesty’s actions on my behalf. This isn’t his usual self, but I can’t fathom why…” Basil’s words were cut short by Igor’s cold voice.
“Basil, I need to speak with the Countess. Wait outside for a moment.”
Basil shook his head, relenting. “I can’t do that. Instead, you should leave, Your Majesty!” Igor shot him a menacing look, but Basil remained steadfast despite his trembling hands. “Why must you treat your soon-to-be bride like a pirate…!”
“It’s not like that…”
“Don’t make excuses! I saw it with my own eyes!” Basil swallowed nervously. Should he say it? Should he? Damn it all! He would speak his mind. “I saw it… the scene where His Majesty attacked her like a beast!”
Igor groaned, his mouth opening to respond, but Rihannan’s soft voice interjected. “Basil, please step outside.”
“I… I said I won’t…” Basil turned, realizing that the voice did not come from Igor, but from Rihannan.
“I believe there’s a misunderstanding. I would like to discuss it. Could we have some privacy, please, Basil?”
“…Are you sure?”
Rihannan smiled lightly.
Basil’s expression softened. “Then… if you insist…”
Igor stood dumbfounded as Basil’s immediate compliance with Rihannan’s simple request left him speechless.
As the door closed, the room descended into a hushed silence.
Rihannan sighed and looked at Igor. “What happened, Your Majesty? You nearly broke my ribs.” She gestured towards the fallen medicine bottle on the floor. “Why did you do that?”
“What kind of medicine is that?” Igor asked, his gaze cautious.
Rihannan retrieved the glass bottle, placing it on the table. “It’s a medicine I’ve been taking since childhood, a concoction of herbs to alleviate tension. What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s problematic.”
“Why?” Rihannan inquired.
“You will soon become Arundell’s queen. Everything you come into contact with must be thoroughly tested, be it food or medicine. Don’t you understand?” Igor’s tone remained stern.
“That may be true, but…” Rihannan’s initially reserved demeanor gave way to a smoldering anger as she realized she was on the verge of apologizing. Flames flickered in her eyes. “But why did you go so far as to tackle me? Furthermore, this prescription was given to me by my uncle’s personal physician.”
“I was merely ensuring…” Igor coughed. “Setting that aside… from now on, you will only take medicine prescribed by a certified physician. If I ever discover you ingesting unknown substances…”
“And then what? You’ll knock me down again? Are you suggesting you’ll repeat your actions?” Rihannan retorted.
Igor’s brow furrowed slightly. “That’s rather harsh.”
“Not as harsh as what you did. I’m simply speaking the truth,” Rihannan replied.
“You will soon understand what I mean,” Igor stated.
“Why are you so interested in my actions?” Rihannan questioned.
“Because you are my wife,” Igor replied, his tone tinged with solemnity.
“But I am not truly your wife.”
Igor’s words struck a chord within him. “Of course, you are free to say that a year from now, but at present, you are my wife.”
Rihannan arched an eyebrow. “We haven’t even had a wedding yet.”
“There will be a wedding. For now, you are aboard my ship, under my protection and influence.”
“So, what are the boundaries and limitations of my actions under your protection and influence? Don’t you think it would be wise to inform me in advance, so that I may conduct myself appropriately and avoid falling out of your favor?”
“Rihannan!” Igor’s sudden roar startled her. He sighed softly. “I don’t want to argue with you. Things will be different from now on. You are no longer in Crichton. Consider your current position and identity.”
Rihannan interpreted Igor’s words as a desire for her to act subserviently, mindful of her identity, and to remember that she was not a princess, but a replacement.
Why had she boarded the ship again?
“I understand. From now on, I will not forget my position and identity.” Her gentle words relieved Igor, but her subsequent comment left him speechless. “I momentarily forgot that I am merely a substitute for the princess. Don’t worry. I will keep that in mind.”
Igor’s eyes widened. “No, that’s…”
“Basil, His Majesty has concluded his business. Please escort him out,” Rihannan calmly requested.
