Pride and Sanctimony

Chapter 33

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[Lexus] “Valentia.”

At the sound of Lexus calling out her name, Valentia tightened the grip she had on him, burying herself deeper into his arms. She was certain he was going to tell her to let go.

But, she didn’t want to and she didn’t hate sitting here in the ice cold rain. It was wet and chilling, but she felt so warm. She liked being able to hold onto a man so big, she couldn’t even touch her own fingers when she reached her arms widely around him.

[Lexus] “Valentia.”

With her face against his chest, Valentia stubbornly shook her head like a child. She felt him take his large hand and pat her small back as if he were trying to soothe her.

[Lexus] “Well, this isn’t so bad for me, but it’s raining a lot…….You’ll catch a cold at this rate.”

Finding his words unfair or amusing, Valentia’s body flinched at his cheeky little comment. And because of how tightly she was holding onto him, Lexus could feel every little movement.

Valentia hesitated for a moment before slowly loosening her grip and pulling away.

[Lexus] “Can you show me your face?”

After Lexus said that, Valentia immediately bowed her head deeply. She did not make eye contact with him, insteading looking straight down at the ground.

She couldn’t even look up at him because she was so shy, and he even thought she looked all the lovelier for it, but this timing was so awkward that he couldn’t even notice the presence of such a calming feeling.

[Lexus] “Wear this.”

He took off his jacket and loosely draped it over Valentia’s head.

[Valentia] “No! You need to wear this.”

[Lexus] “What for, it’s already soaked through. But it’ll help protect you from the rain like this.”

His jacket was originally meant to be waterproof, but when the entire thing was completely drenched, that function was pretty useless. Still, it was useful in keeping the rain from hitting her face and body.

[Valentia] “But….”

[Lexus] “I know you think you’re inconveniencing me, but at times like these, it’s good for me to at least pretend to be a gentleman. Now, let’s find a place to take cover.”

[Valentia] “…Alright.”

It was the middle of the rainy season, so the rain seemed to show no sign of letting up. The smartest and safest choice for them right now would be to find a place to take shelter from the rain rather than try and navigate their way out now.

And they were in the middle of the forest, so it stood to reason to believe a ranger or a hunter kept a cabin out here somewhere.

Eventually, they found a path. It was a forest, so it wasn’t exactly easy to see, but there were natural places where the grass was pressed down or there was more space between the trees, indicating that people passed through frequently.

But it wasn’t easy to move. Her body was soaked through, stiff from the cold, and she had no energy left because she’d been running off adrenaline since before.

Lexus was still going strong, but Valentia didn’t have much in the way of physical strength, and she was awfully thin. But regardless of her suffering, she kept walking, trying her best not to fall behind. She was already putting him through so much since he came to save her, and she didn’t wish to make it worse.

[Lexus] “Careful.”

The leaves were slick with rain water and mud, and she kept narrowly slipping. Again and again, he would turn back to catch her faltering.

But soon enough, she reached her limit. Valentia sank down as her legs buckled.

[Valentia] “I’m sorry…”

[Lexus] “Don’t be…..Is it difficult for you to walk? Please be honest with me.”

[Valentia] “Just a little.”

[Lexus] “This might sound a little improper, but do you want to ride on my back? I was actually thinking about this for a while, but you hurt your leg when you fell, didn’t you?”

[Valentia] “You’re already having a difficult time, Your Highness. And I’m heavy.”

[Lexus] “If I were so weak that I couldn’t even carry you on my back, Valentia, you may as well bury me tomorrow. You can’t move very well, so let me carry you.”

Without waiting for a response, Lexus bent down in front of her, showing her his back. She hesitated for a few seconds, but she eventually relented.

And like she truly weighed nothing at all to him, he easily stood up. The sudden increase in height made her dizzy. She leaned her head against his back, and that’s when she caught the scent of something.

It was very odd. Any cologne he might’ve been wearing before certainly should have worn off from the rain, so what was this scent?

Valentia realized that it was just his body. That’s the sense she was getting. He smelled very warm.

Luckily, for all their misfortune, they managed to find a small cabin without needing to wander much further into the forest.

It looked to be in disrepair, like it hadn’t been kept up for a long time, but it was all they needed to avoid the rain. It was stuck in the middle of a rainy forest, so everything seemed like it was corroding, and lined with dust.

Even the furniture inside was a little sparse. The bed collapsed in on itself, and dust puffed up if you so much as bumped into anything.

But all they needed was shelter from the strong winds and rain, so it would do.

And despite how this place lacked much else, there was at least a fireplace.

[Lexus] “Doesn’t seem like there’s anywhere to sit. Hold on, sit on the floor for a second. There’s a lot of dust, so sit on my coat.”

Looking around, he mumbled to himself about getting a fire going.

[Valentia] “But are you sure you can do that? I don’t know if it’ll be possible.”

It was raining like crazy outside. Any kindling they could’ve used to make a fire would be completely soaked, and definitely wouldn’t invite any embers.

[Lexus] “Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m a member of the Imperial family.”

[Valentia] “I know this is going to sound rude, but I don’t think that’s going to help you in this situation.”

There were no servants to help them right now. Here, there was only a handsome Prince that was soaked to the bone, and a frail low-ranking noblewoman who was about to pass out from exhaustion.

The whole point of the outdoor circuit was to prepare them for situations just like this one, but as the long centuries passed, the meaning slowly changed. At this point, it was nothing more than a glorified picnic.

What they should have been doing during this trip was making a fire and cooking their meals themselves, but now, everything was just left to the servants. Valentia didn’t have any servants herself, but her teammates always did, so even she didn’t have a chance to do the work on her own.

But while Valentia was speaking directly and coldly, Lexus just randomly burst out laughing.

[Lexus] “You’re exactly right. The title of the Imperial Prince is pretty useless.”

Those words felt a little weird coming from someone with Imperial blood flowing through his veins.

[Lexus] “But as a member of the Imperial family, you’d be surprised to know there’s a lot of people who want to kill me.”

[Valentia] “Kill you?”

[Lexus] “How do I put this? I have to be prepared. Just in case there’s a rebellion or something.”

[Valentia] “Lexus! What are you saying right now?”

[Lexus] “It’s just in case. If ever there’s a rebellion, I have to either fight or run. If I manage to live, then I can do whatever I want later on, you know?”

[Valentia] “So you say….”

[Lexus] “But how can I possibly survive if I’ve got nothing but servants and maids circling around me, babying me until I become a fool, incapable of doing anything for myself? Using a blade, hunting, making a fire—I have to be able to do all of those things. And those skills come in handy at times like these.”

He spoke like he was telling a joke. Then, when he noticed Valentia looking at him with suspicion, he made a face like he thought it was unfair.

Turning to a nearby table, he knocked it over so cleanly that not a single speck of dust went flying. With a motion just as clean, he drew his blade and started to dismantle it into fine pieces.

Axes were meant to cut wood, not the blade of a sword, and yet he did it so well. Valentia watched him work with curiosity.

[Valentia] “So that’s why you were able to wield a blade so easily. Honestly, I was surprised.”

By the time she opened her eyes, the wild dog that was attacking her was already dead. She thought it was just a coincidence, but looking at things now, it definitely wasn’t.

Lexus tore the pieces of wood apart, tossing them into a pile in the fireplace. Then, with a flint, he quickly started a fire.

[Valentia] “Why do you have that?”

[Lexus] “I made a fire earlier today.”

[Valentia] “You made a fire by yourself? How?”

[Lexus] “You know, it’s really great being the Imperial Prince.”

[Valentia] “What? What are you talking about?”

[Lexus] “People think I’m amazing for the simplest things—even something as minor as lighting a fire using a flint.”

His words were so funny that Valentia completely forgot where she was, bursting into a short chuckle for just a moment.

Lexus managed to skillfully build a fire from the smallest pieces of kindling and the weakest embers. He did it so naturally that it actually shocked her. After finishing up with the fire, he approached Valentia and sat down next to her.

[Lexus] “It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.”

[Valentia] “But it’s still warm.”

When she reached out to the fire, she could feel the warmth spreading throughout her stiff fingertips.

[Lexus] “I’m sorry about this, but is it alright if I take off my clothes?”

With his clothes completely soaked through, it would be dangerous if he kept wearing them.

[Valentia] “Ah, yes. Of course.”

[Lexus] “I’m really sorry. I know this isn’t something I should be doing in front of a lady, but I’m actually a little cold, too. Even with a fire, wearing wet clothes is a little risky.”

[Valentiaa] “No, it’s only natural.”

[Lexus] “You should take yours off too, Valentia. Don’t worry, I won’t look. I’ll turn around so you can get undressed.”

He turned his back to her, reaching and grabbing the bottom of his outer sweater as he tore it off, throwing the soaked piece of fabric to the side. 

Now remaining was the undershirt still wrapped around his body, and clearly visible was the sight of his rippling muscles underneath it. Somehow, the sight was more embarrassing to see than seeing him stripped of his clothing entirely.

And once his shirt was removed, with his back still turned to her, what was revealed was a beautiful and detailed body. He was also sure to strip off his pants that winded down his long legs.

Then, he sat back down, leaving on the one article of clothing he couldn’t take off.

[Lexus] “You should take yours off, too.”

His body was beautiful, like a white marble statue that would be kept within the Imperial art museum. The kind of work of art that would be difficult to take your eyes off of.

Lexus spoke to Valentia without looking at her, keeping his back turned towards her. Valentia looked down in surprise at what he said.

[Lexus] “I know it’s weird, but please don’t misunderstand. I know you probably don’t have any faith in me, but I promise I won’t do anything to you. On my honor as a member of the Imperial family.”

Valentia nodded, turning away.

And then, slowly she started to take off her clothes, one thing at a time.

The only thing that could be heard was the sound of the crackling fireplace, accompanied by the sound of her wet clothing dropping to the floor. Though the terrifying sound of the heavy rain outside was louder than anything, for some reason, it didn’t reach her ears at all.

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