Chapter 70
Only an endless dark forest stretched out—nothing else. As he quietly gazed at the still woods, a girl perched atop a tree stump in the distance caught his eye.
A ghost, perhaps.
That was his first impression.
The girl, whom he wondered whether she was a ghost or a corpse, was named Floria.
The third princess of Altomole. When he asked her age, she was only a few years younger than him—but she looked notably youthful.
Perhaps because her skin was pale and soft—unlike his sun-tanned complexion—and her frame slender and small.
Yet she did not break easily.
For reasons unknown, despite having entered the black forest alone and trembling, she spoke with some composure.
She asked him to bring her to the royal palace.
It was an awkward request.
Just the fact that Aidan had entered Altomole’s territory could be a significant problem.
The princess, not knowing who he was, could casually make such a request—but if they approached the palace and her identity was revealed, it would become a matter of life and death.
He could simply leave her behind.
No matter why the princess was here, the palace must have sent for her.
A princess, not a mere lady-in-waiting or noblewoman.
Thus, she’d be found soon enough.
Yet she trembled in fear.
What if…? What if the palace had sent people, but they couldn’t find her in such deep woods? Or, as she worried, perhaps no one was looking for her at all?
If she didn’t make it through the night, her fragile skin would be pierced by a beast’s fangs.
Her slender neck, if caught in a creature’s claws, would be…
“Tch.”
Aidan clicked his teeth through his clenched jaw.
In the end, he lifted her and placed her atop Silin.
“Thank you very much.”
In her faint whisper of thanks, Aidan said nothing and rode on.
It was the first time he’d carried two people on Silin’s back, but perhaps because she was so light, the horse trotted steadily toward the palace without struggling.
The troublesome part was Aidan himself.
Right ahead, the delicate body—every time the horse moved, her red hair fluttered, captivating his gaze.
He had only recently come of age—prime time for pursuing women—but Aidan had far too many duties.
His father and brothers had died recently, leaving him to inherit the title of Duke and govern the principality.
Many coveted his position, and he had to fight to survive and preserve his realm.
There was no time to waste.
Even if there had been time, he likely wouldn’t have sought women.
He loved hunting, reveling in the freedom of riding across fields.
Many had tried to seduce him—courtiers, nobles, even parents pushing their daughters into his bed.
But he had never felt what he felt now.
A burning, crimson desire.
No woman he’d ever met had stirred such intense longing as this trembling girl trapped in his arms.
He wanted to sink his teeth into her pale nape—not like a beast, but as him.
He wanted to press his lips to hers, craving that sweetness.
He wanted her immediately.
The faint scent from her tumbling red hair—not perfume—stirred a hardness between his thighs.
Youthful blood surged hot within him.
Just as he wrestled with his filthy desire, a clear droplet of moisture formed against her hollow collarbone.
“Oh.”
The first voice to break the silence was Floria’s.
“It’s raining.”
She lifted her head. At the edge of the sunset, dark storm clouds loomed.
Though not vast, it looked like a sudden downpour—and a fierce one at that.
“Let’s take shelter until this passes.”
He surveyed the surroundings and spotted a distant cave.
Toward its spacious entrance, Aidan steered Silin.
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