The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen

I'm too forward.

I became shameless.

Even if my husband doesn't mind, and he seems to like my clumsy attempts at flirting... What if he changes his mind later? If Ignis decides a tempting wife isn't fun as imagined, what will happen to me?

Maybe he's pleased because it's just the beginning of our relationship. I can't spend my life saying naughty things to him.

He'll eventually figure out my shameless nature and wonder if he needs such a wife. I should refrain from acting like this, at least not too often...

«Your highness, we're close,» Aida says, following my lost expression.

Ah, and here I wanted to keep it private. It's impossible to hide it if I become a red doll after kissing Ignis. I should work harder on suppressing my feelings, at least in public.

«Yes,» I reply in a sigh. «I'm looking forward to meeting with father.»

Also, I'll have to tell him I want to stay married. The deal was to annul the marriage, and father can't know I changed my mind during the journey.

«The guard said we will rest tonight and resume tomorrow morning. So that we'll reach the Duke's residence in the late morning.»

«Oh, we really are close. However, it's better to travel by day. Especially here... There might be assassins waiting for us, and darkness isn't the best for defence.»

«I thought you were in a hurry, your highness.»

«Not as much as to risk our lives for nothing. A few hours more won't mean anything, as long as we arrive in one piece.»

«I thought you would be more scared after the assassins, but you're so resistant,» she murmurs, pressing her palm on her chest, right where the heart is.

She looks proud at this very moment. Yet, her tone is full of nostalgia.

«If anyone told me you would become so brave and reasonable, I wouldn't have believed. Yet, my little Princess grew up so well...»

«Oh, Aida, don't act as if I'm gone! I won't leave home for a while more, so you can keep the sadness for later. Also, I think I should bring you with me.»

«Of course, your highness. I'm your designated guard. I go where you go.»

I smile, comforted by these few words.

The person who took care of me, protecting me from danger, and teaching me so much, isn't willing to let me go. She's one of my primal comforts, as she was there every time I needed someone.

We stop so close to home that my heart flutters, and my tongue tickles in need to tell them to continue the journey. Yet, we have to be rational.

Also, we decided long ago to stop here.

Tobin finds an inn with enough space for us all. Other than the four of us, there are also the four guards sent by the Count. We're quite the delegation, even if Ignis says it's not the case.

We're numerous enough for us to need looking for a place to sleep. The first two inns don't have enough free rooms.

The third, however, does.

Too bad the walls are so thin that one can hear what happens in those nearby. Oh, I guess this is why they have enough space: they cut bigger rooms to make two of them. Or maybe three, for I can hear both left and right.

«This place feels like sleeping in the hallway,» I say to Ignis.

He nods while leaving my things on the table, the only piece of furniture other than the bed.

The bed is smaller than what one expects when asking for a room for two. Yet, it's enough space if we sleep close to each other.

«Let's go eat,» he says.

«If we talk too loud, people will hear,» I say when the people from the room next to ours move a chair. «These walls are as thin as paper!»

«Just be quiet, then,» Ignis replies with a shrug.

Quiet? Oh, well, we'll be sleeping regardless.

He steps in my direction and drags me in his arms. I almost shout in surprise but control myself at the last moment. There are people in the next room, for goodness!

«Don't talk about your identity, or we risk being discovered,» Ignis whispers to my ear. «You never know who's listening, right?»

I nod, hiding a shiver. Not of fear, unfortunately.

Even though Ignis just wanted to say something very sound, my brain isn't processing his words. Not as much as his proximity, his breath on my skin, and the arm around my waist...

«Why are you all red?» he inquires with an almost normal tone.

What kind of question is this? I always become red when he does something like this. Holding hands is something I'm getting used to. But being grabbed and embraced is still too much to keep my cool.

Moreover, with his calm tone, Ignis is informing me that I'm the only one losing control. Oh, but his ears...

I move a lock of his hair to uncover his ears better. Indeed, they're all flushed. His coolness is all a facade!

He's as embarrassed as I am. Or, maybe, he's uncertain of the effects of his action. We haven't been together long enough to be sure about the other's preferences.

I pull his hair and make him bow his head, offering my mouth for a kiss. A gentle, delicate kiss. So delicate that my lips don't swell after splitting.

It's not hasty, just comforting and pleasing. I'd like to continue kissing like this, but we ought to go.

The others are waiting for us to have dinner, and we have to sleep early to wake up before dawn and resume our journey.