Chapter : 10
After a short while, he dismissed the maids and was left alone with Elfreda. Feeling her clear gaze on him, Ainar let out a dry laugh.
“Your face will wear out at this rate.”
As he spoke while meeting her eyes, her face immediately turned red. His eyes naturally caught the left cheek that was slightly more swollen and red than the rest.
Ugly.
He didn’t like it. That cheek, that face—no, everything.
Ainar frowned as he recalled Serina striking Elfreda’s cheek just moments ago.
In any case, Elfreda was now the queen of a nation. For the princess of Makaeri to treat her so carelessly was the same as insulting Machi. And yet…
“I was sleepy, so I just… hit myself to wake up…”
…That.
Just hearing that ridiculous excuse left him speechless. Why? Was she trying to prevent conflict between their nations because of the political marriage? Was she ashamed of showing family discord?
While he was still at a loss for words, Elfreda’s next sentence struck the back of his head hard.
“You don’t have to believe me.”
She had no intention of telling the truth. A wave of uselessness washed over him.
…Why am I even doing this?
As she said, it was none of his concern. There was only one witness—himself. If she stayed silent, things would actually be better.
He didn’t care about her situation. He didn’t care about her relationship with Princess Serina. It wasn’t worth knowing, and it shouldn’t be known.
He was only irritated at himself for getting involved in her personal affairs. Who had killed his uncle and cousin? When he thought of that…
“Pardon me.”
His thoughts were cut off. Seeing Elfreda bow her head again, he felt even more absurd.
No matter the circumstances, the queen of Machi should not behave so weakly. The queen of Machi was the noble bride of Ainar himself, the most prestigious ruler of Machi. He could not allow her to disgrace that dignity.
Ainar stepped forward and lifted her chin.
“Is it fitting for a queen of a country to lower her head so easily?”
When her startled eyes looked up at him nervously, something strange tightened in his chest. Her wet eyes, pale face, trembling breath—it felt like his head was spinning as if intoxicated.
“Then… what brings you here?”
“I already said it. Is it so strange for a husband to visit his bride’s bedroom on the night of their wedding?”
“It’s not… but I didn’t think you would come.”
“Why not?”
“Because… you dislike me.”
“Me?”
“Isn’t… that right?”
Her eyes looked up at him as if hoping for something. At that moment, Ainar felt his heart drop.
He tried to figure out what that feeling was, but his mind turned foggy.
After a long silence, he looked at her stiffly and finally spoke.
“I can’t possibly like you.”
“…I see.”
A faint look of disappointment crossed her face. Whether it was real or not, he couldn’t tell. If it was fake, it was bold. If real, it was laughable. Did she think he might not dislike her? The granddaughter of the tyrant Gunnar?
He felt irritated at her shamelessness. Then he noticed her shrinking expression again, and heat rose inside him.
“Then… you should leave now. If it’s for diplomatic reasons, you’ve been here long enough…”
Just then—
Ainar suddenly seized her lips.
“Ah—!”
Her body stiffened in shock, but he ignored it and pushed forward. He invaded her mouth completely, like a conqueror searching every corner.
Just like her grandfather had once destroyed lands he invaded, Ainar left no untouched place within her mouth.
“Ah… hngh…”
Her breathy sounds of struggle only amused him. Anyone would think she had never kissed before. For someone who must have learned how to seduce men before coming here, her act felt disgusting.
Effort is admirable.
But he would not let things go as she or her father intended. That was something he would never allow.
Overwhelmed by burning emotions—clearly anger—Ainar deepened the kiss without giving her room to breathe. He crushed her lips as if refusing to let them separate even for a moment.
Her faint moans only fueled him further.
After a while, he slowly pulled away and spoke in a cold, mocking tone.
“If you collapse this easily, what are you going to do later?”
“Your Majesty…”
“It’s not difficult for me to take you.”
He added inwardly once more.
There’s no need to pretend otherwise.
He intended to take her. Again and again. And make her believe it was part of their alliance. Because hope made disappointment more painful.
Just like he had once believed his uncle and cousin would return alive… only to see their beheaded bodies.
He would make this woman feel the same despair.
Let her believe she carried his child—only to learn it was never true.
What would she do then? Would she still look so innocent? Or would she reveal her true nature and turn vicious?
He almost wanted to see it.
“But if you truly don’t want it, say so. I won’t force you.”
He turned away immediately.
“Your Majesty.”
At that moment, her hand grabbed his sleeve urgently.
“Please don’t go.”
Her innocent voice only fueled his anger.
“Don—”
Before she could finish, he turned back and kissed her again.
This time, he pushed her toward the bed without hesitation.
Soon she was lying down, and he was on top of her.
He intended to finish quickly.
He looked at her pale neck—so white it seemed untouched by sunlight.
Like an animal, he felt the urge to bite into it and see blood.
Without hesitation, he buried his face in her neck. A sweet scent overwhelmed him, sending a chill down his spine.
Perfume. From Makaeri, no doubt. Probably musk.
That must be why he was acting like this.
He bit down on her neck and pressed harder.
“Ah…!”
Her body trembled, and the sound only fueled him further.
Just as he was about to deepen his actions, Elfreda lightly grabbed his hair.
That gentle touch made him stop without realizing it.
