The Abandoned Princess' Secret Bedroom

‘I found the princess losing consciousness in the garden. But then she passed out, so I was taking her to her room.’

‘The princess… !’ Tristan held out his arms. ‘It would be better if you handed her to me.’

The Duke of Biserk carefully handed over Lewelyn. But still Tristan was suspicious. Tristan did not pay attention to the Duke of Biserk’s expression because he was so focused on holding the princess and worried that he might drop her. 

‘Before she passed out, the princess asked me to keep this a secret.’

‘…all right.’

Did she wish to hide her health condition? She probably didn’t want her weakness to be known. Tristan knew of the princess’s high self-esteem. So, instead of calling a doctor, the Duke of Biserk must have been on his way to her room, holding her.

Tristan was convinced of this theory and looked down at Lewelyn. For some reason, the princess’ face looked strange. Her cheeks were oddly red, and her lips looked slightly swollen. The princess has a sweet and fascinating scent. He realized it again, but she was beautiful. Seeing the small, slender woman in his arms, Tristan felt a strange urge take over his sensible thinking.

It was the urge to slow down a little and enjoy this moment more. 

Tristan quickly forgot about the Duke of Biserk, concentrating on bringing the princess back. The princess woke up for a moment, her eyes glazed and her limbs fumbling. 

‘You have to keep it a secret.’ she mumbled before falling back unconscious. 

‘Okay.’ the Duke said. 

‘If the princess wishes it, it will be so.’ Tristan said firmly. 

The princess lost consciousness again after asking him to keep this a secret.

Tristan could not forget the moment when he dared to hug her and carry her in his arms. Sometimes, he recalled that moment, and her scent would linger on the tip of his nose. But why didn’t he think about the Duke of Biserk?

He thought it was strange. A celebration in his honour was being held in the Royal palace, so why did he leave, let alone go to the garden? And why was he holding the fallen princess like that? He thought he should have dug deeper into the absurdity of it all. 

Studying the princess’s strange attitude, Tristan came to a conclusion. The princess was out of her mind and had hallucinations due to her illness. She was thinking that she “slept” with someone, whom she had not even had a proper conversation with. What did that mean?

It was not a consensual relationship.

To be more specific, it was not a relationship that took place with the royal daughter’s consent nor knowledge.

The princess had a physical relationship without even knowing the other person. And it was also with the Duke of Biserk. Maybe that’s why Tristan hugged her and smiled at her. She was always so sullen.

With only one conclusion in his head, Tristan suppressed his anger. He knew he had to keep this a secret. Whatever her condition was, he knew that the fact she had slept with someone before marriage would ruin her. 

The person who slept with her was that man.

“Get behind me.”

“Lord Jayad?”

“If you want protection, I will give it to you.”

The man stood in front of Lewelyn.

She stood dumbfounded, wondering why he was standing in front of her as if to defend her? What was this sudden boldness? And defend her against what? 

“Princess.”

Almondite called her name again. His turquoise eyes were filled with coldness. He alternately looked at Tristan, and Lewelyn standing behind him. Tristan moved as Almondite was about to take another step. Almondite narrowed his eyes.

“What the hell is this?”

“The princess has not given you permission.” Tristan replied. 

Almondite opened his mouth, but no words came out. 

Lewelyn’s eyes widened. It had been a long time since someone had defended her. She felt a strange sense of stability.

“I thought you were not comfortable with  the royal family, and now you have the commander of the Red Knights as an ally?”

The corners of Almondite’s lips twisted up. At that cold mockery, Lewelyn looked at Tristan and said.

“Can you take me to my room?”

“I will.”

Aside from being surprised, there was no reason to talk to Almondite while both men were taking digs at each other this way. The reason Lewelyn wanted to talk to the person she slept with was to ask for silence. Because sleeping with a man before marriage could become an obstacle to her future.

However, if the person she slept with was hostile towards her, her effort to convince him would be wasted. It was more efficient to think about how to respond in case rumors started to spread.

It was her who seduced him in the first place, so she did not have any resentment towards the man who she slept with. How do you know if your partner is under the influence of a stigma?

But that man, Almondite Biserk, was an exception. He and she were never meant to sleep with each other. Ever.

Lewelyn looked at Almondite with contempt. He looked back at her with a look of incomprehension. It was time for her to leave with Tristan.

“Lewellyn.”

Almondite opened his lips and called out her name.

“…”

“Talk to me.”

“…”

“Please, talk to me Lewelyn.”

Almondite was always refined. Just as he was at the royal banquet. But now Almondite’s voice sounded very sad. Lewelyn looked at him as she remembered the past.

‘Lewellyn!’

The red-haired boy smiled brightly. Her mother was still alive, and the Duke of Biserk was her mother’s ally. Almondite was Llewelyn’s childhood friend.

‘Alman!’

Almondite used to call her ‘Lewelyn’, not ‘Princess’, and Lewelyn called him ‘Alman’. They got along very well. Four-year-old Almondite always cared for her.

Lewellyn was not loved by her father, but she was still happy. She wasn’t disappointed with her father because there were people who were warmer than him. She thought she would be friends with Alman forever. That was, until her mother’s execution.

“What do you want to talk about, Duke Biserk?”

Lewelyn asked softly. Almondite couldn’t hold back his words that seemed to veil their meaning.

“Don’t you know what I want to talk about?”

“…”

“Let’s talk about the day before yesterday.”

“…”

“Fine. Then I will say it here, Princess.”

Almondite said as Lewelyn turned her back.

“Let’s get engaged.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Lewelyn quickly turned her head. She glanced at Tristan. This was not good for him to hear.

“I think Lord Jayad should go home.”

“Princess…”

“I should talk to the Duke, and see what he wants.”

Llewelyn said with a frown. Tristan said.

“Let me do it. It’s dangerous.”

“For the commander of the Red Knights to say I’m dangerous is quite rude.”

As Almondite frowned, Tristan looked at the Duke with contemptuous looks.

“Thank you, Lord Jayad.”

Lewelyn reached out and placed her hand on Tristan’s arm. With his eyes wide open, he looked at where Lewelyn’s hand had touched. A man the size of a giant mountain flinched at the touch of a small hand.

“Princess…”

“You have nothing to worry about.”

She smiled faintly. Tristan stared at her for a long time with a firm expression on his face, then glared at Almondite.

“I won’t be far away.”

As if threatening, Tristan left without a word and disappeared. Lewelyn watched his back as he walked away. She felt a strange sense of guilt. He was such a loyal knight, but there was nothing the princess could do for him.

“Let’s go to the greenhouse.”

Lewelyn spoke coldly and walked ahead first.

As she looked around the greenhouse, the memories of that night became clear and clearer. Lewelyn seduced Almondite, who had followed her, and slept with him. Those unfamiliar memories were truly embarrassing.

He must have known she cherished the greenhouse since childhood. How could he forget that? Lewelyn asked herself as she bit her lip.

“It looks different now, doesn’t it?”

At Almondite’s words, Lewellyn looked back. The greenhouse, where the greenery had once been neatly arranged, was now a place with weeds and was gloomy. The two grown ups were reunited in the old and rotten place. 

Almondite’s face softened.

“Are you feeling okay now? I wanted to take you back to your room, but I couldn’t because you asked me to keep it a secret.”

“…”

“But what the hell is going on with Sir Jayad? Does he know anything about us?”

“…”