Chapter 43
A fingertip grazed my pebbles, his other hand pinning both my wrists. He had to know how fear and tension had me on edge. His mocking tone sent a wave of humiliation through me.
“Impressive. Mason’s little love bites all over you. Is he marking his territory?”
Clovis toyed with my nubs as if it were some amusing trinket, then his hand tightened, kneading my mound, thumb and forefinger teasing the peak.
“Mmm…”
“Your n1pples are swollen, too. I take it he couldn’t keep his mouth off them?”
“Ahh…!”
He twisted my peak mercilessly, like a man possessed. The sharp pain made me writhe, only to be met with more of his derision.
“Don’t get so worked up. When we get back, I’ll make sure you’re never dry down there.”
I was speechless. His insinuation that I was some wanton woman, desperate for his touch, was the last straw.
“Get back? Your Highness, thanks to you, I’ve been expelled from the priesthood! Where exactly am I supposed to go back to?”
His hand, still kneading my mounds, stopped.
“Expelled?”
“Isn’t that what you wanted? Did you really think I could remain in the priesthood after you… after what the High Priest saw?”
My voice rose with each word. ‘D4mn him. Does he find it amusing to toy with my life?’
I glared at him, channeling every ounce of hatred I could muster.
Clovis stared back, then his lips slowly parted, curving into a smooth arc.
‘Is this funny to him?’
I frowned at his inexplicable reaction, and he spoke, clearly struggling to contain his amusement.
“So now, I don’t have to worry about the High Priest or the temple when I touch you?”
Thump—
The loud noise from across the room sounded like a divine bell tolling the end of my fate.
‘No, that’s not it. Not at all. The gods have never shown me any kindness.’
It was just the chair crashing to the floor as Clovis abruptly stood. He yanked at the buttons of his formal attire, ripping it open. The gleaming buttons flew across the room in a long arc.
“Spread your legs.”
“Excuse me?”
“Hearing that makes me unable to hold back any longer.”
“W-wait! Your Highness!”
Clovis pressed against me, lifting my legs. As my thighs were exposed beneath my hiked-up skirt, held captive in his grip, I struggled desperately.
“The High Priest! He’s… elderly! The paperwork might be delayed!”
“What?”
“Besides, the temple is swamped with paperwork right now! They wouldn’t have time to deal with the expulsion of a mere acolyte, I mean, they can’t!”
My frantic excuses were pathetic, even to my own ears. ‘Do I really have to stoop this low?’ The thought flashed through my mind, but the memory of the pain Clovis had inflicted was far worse than any humiliation.
My near-shouts and vigorous kicks finally landed a blow to his abdomen. He flinched, but seemed unfazed. I, on the other hand, was shocked. I froze, realizing I had physically assaulted royalty, but Clovis’s persistent advances spurred me to struggle again.
“Your Majesty! Your brilliant future must remain untarnished! The High Priest hasn’t… I mean… Just kill me!”
That last part was more of a scream.
Despite my struggles, Clovis bent over me, burying his face in my neck. He remained still for a moment.
Then…
“Heh…”
His broad shoulders trembled slightly.
“Y-Your Highness?”
I could feel the tremors against my bare skin. The choked-back sounds, his shaking body… This was…
“Ah… AHAHAHAHA!”
‘Holy crap.’
I recoiled in horror, staring at him as if he’d lost his mind. I had known Clovis for over a decade, and I had never seen him laugh like this. The empire’s next heir, raised to be as stiff and proper as a legal text…
‘And now, here he is, in a rundown inn, stripping a woman and suddenly bursting into laughter. Why?’
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