Chapter 8

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Gentle waves of blonde hair, cut neatly by the ear. Hazel eyes that seem to be a mix of gold and green. A slight stubble. A thick, masculine chest peeking out from under the gown.

I’m a bit overwhelmed by the charm of the 38-year-old king, who is in the prime of his life.

“Your Majesty…”

After kissing and embracing the king multiple times, the sensation of being swept away by passion is incredibly comforting.

“Nicole, if you’re going to run, now’s the time.”

“—Huh? Kyah!”

I was gently picked up by the king.

My upper body was unstable, so I hurriedly clung to his neck. The king chuckled and kissed me again.

Before I knew it, we had entered what seemed to be the king’s main bedroom.

“This is…?”

“Nicole, I’m going to make you my wife now. If you don’t want to, say it now. I… can’t stop.”

“—”

Now.

Wife.

……In other words, to be taken.

My body trembles, not out of fear, but from excitement.

“Right, I’m creating a fait accompli. But this isn’t to cut off their escape route. Nicole, it’s to keep you from running away.”

So, if you don’t really intend to, run now. The king repeats this many times.

Laid on the large bed, I look up at the king’s face as he looms over me.

Is the king also swept away by the same passion?

His slightly parted lips open and close repeatedly. His moist eyes blink as he takes deep breaths.

“I won’t run.”

I place my hands on both of the king’s cheeks and gently kiss him—

Sometimes, long-held feelings do come to fruition.

The king holds me tenderly, as if I were precious.

“Your Majesty, I will do everything in my power to bear a son.”

“Hahaha! It’s been a long time. I haven’t felt this much joy in a while.”

Am I the villain, or is it his sister-in-law? It’s a subtle point.

“Tomorrow, or rather, today. Are you okay, Nicole?”

“Well… it’s already morning.”

“I’m sorry. It’s been too long—”

The king turned his head slightly, looking a bit embarrassed.

“You’re cute.”

“Huh!? No, I’m quite old, you know?”

Still, you’re cute.

“What about the wedding?”

“Hmm. Sit on the queen’s throne.”

“Is that… okay?”

Just yesterday, the prince’s bride was replaced by his sister-in-law, and I, who was supposed to be the bride, am now sitting on the queen’s throne. I thought it would be a scandal for the king.

“It’s fine. I want you to sit there.”

The king seems to be better at being gentle than I thought.

“I’m sorry I can’t let you wear the wedding dress I made for you.”

“It’s fine. I have no attachment to it. Please make a new one for me someday, and let me wear it just for you.”

When I sincerely make this request, the king tightly hugs me.

I feel like I’m being crushed a bit.

“Haa… Truly. This is what happiness feels like.”

The king sighs deeply, looking reflective.

He says that recently, he hasn’t felt any excitement, just going through the motions every day. He had almost given up on the prince.

If he had approached the situation with more enthusiasm, things might have been different, he apologized.

After seeing the aftermath… I was surprised, but I thought it would end up this way. I had almost given up too.

Thinking that I would finally be free, a faint smile almost escaped my lips.

“I feel that this is the best future.”

“Nicole, you’re a wonderful woman—”

“—Your Majesty! We need to discuss the wedding with the prime minister and the officials.”

“Haha. It seems you already have the qualities of a queen.”

The king got up, laughing, and went to prepare the bath, giving me another kiss on the lips before leaving the main bedroom.

The maids who entered the main bedroom opened their eyes wide for a moment but then led me to the bath without a word, helping me and laying out the dresses they brought from my room.

“Which one should we choose?”

“Well—”

Maybe I should choose a dress that’s a bit provocative for those two?