Chapter 73

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 73

Chapter Title: The Five Knights and Roxiana Franche (7)

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Adrian, peering over Kirshan's shoulder at the complex preparation method scribbled on the paper, asked.

"How about it? Will the princess's brand disappear cleanly? Without even a scar?"

Instead of Kirshan, who couldn't respond because he was so focused, Kain grumbled.

"Ha, until just recently you were desperate to chase her away, and now why the sudden about-face?"

"It's impressive. She lost her family and her country overnight. On top of that, she got branded as a slave. And that's not all—her family wasn't even laid to rest in Adelia flower coffins; they were tossed into a well. Even in that situation, that princess didn't shed a single tear. She risked her life to save people and the forest too. She could've just knelt before our lord and begged for help, but she didn't."

Adrian clasped his hands together as if in prayer and tilted his head back. His eyes sparkled as he gazed at the ceiling.

"It's mind-blowing. Thrilling, even. I like it. There's no other woman like her. She's the best."

His devotee-like fervor left them speechless, clicking their tongues in disbelief, when Adrian suddenly turned to Kain.

"I should swear my knight's oath to that princess, right? She seems worthy of receiving my oath. There's no other woman like her. Right?"

"Forget it. The princess would hate it... Who in this world would want to take your oath? If you really want to do something for her, shut your mouth and stay out of sight where she won't notice you."

"Why, you—!"

Adrian lunged at Kain, but Kain dodged nimbly, causing Adrian's arm to knock over a flask and shatter it. With a sharp clang, the glass broke, and Kirshan let out a sigh.

"Please, can you two go fight outside?"

"Tell me, Kirshan. Can you remove the princess's brand cleanly?"

"It seems possible..."

"Why? What's the problem? Tell me, and I'll get it for you."

"We have everything we need here. But I'm not sure if the princess can endure it. The sedative reacts badly with the herbs that promote new skin growth, so we can't use it. We'll have to rely on anesthetic alone, but since we need to cut deep into the flesh, I don't think we can block all the pain."

"What, so she just has to tough it out? That princess would say yes without hesitation. Wanna bet?"

Adrian asked excitedly. Kirshan stared at him blankly before chuckling softly.

"Pass. It wouldn't even be a fair bet."

Roxiana gazed at him as he slept soundly in her bed.

-"A soft bed after so long. Take care of me, Princess."

He had lain down in her usual spot, closed his eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep with steady breathing. Roxiana pulled a chair over to the bedside and sat there.

There was no real need for her to stay close by. Just having her nearby was enough to calm his inner fire. She could've left the room and done something else, but for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to go.

"He's always so big and scary when he's awake, but asleep he looks like a child, doesn't he?"

Roxiana asked Lion. The massive wolf had climbed onto the bed and settled right beside Floyd, peering at his face with an odd glint in his eyes.

"What an intriguing man. He sleeps on a hard bed with nothing because of that fire, yet he's always so cheerful. Don't you find him fascinating too?"

Lion snorted. A wolf wouldn't think that way, of course, but that's how it seemed to Roxiana.

Lion swatted Floyd's head with a massive paw, startling Roxiana to her feet.

"Lion!"

Worried that Floyd might wake, she checked on him anxiously, but he only frowned slightly and mercifully stayed asleep. Roxiana leaned over to the wolf on the other side of the bed, bringing her face close and whispering.

"What was that? Why'd you do something so mean?"

The wolf snorted again and gracefully hopped off the bed, trotting away. Puzzled by Lion's behavior, Roxiana turned back to Floyd.

He slept for quite a while, with Roxiana by his side the entire time. When the orange glow of sunset filtering through the window cast deep shadows on his face, Floyd opened his eyes.

Disoriented, he fumbled with the pillow and blankets before suddenly sitting up. The covers slipped down to his jaw.

Spotting Roxiana seated beside the bed, his eyes widened, then he let out a soft breath as he remembered what had happened before he slept.

"I slept too long."

His voice, rough from sleep, was lower and huskier than usual—pleasing to the ear.

"You must have been exhausted."

"Not really..."

He fiddled with the soft blanket and chuckled.

"Actually, I guess I was. If I can only sleep deeply by your side, Princess, I might end up coming to your bedroom every night."

"Anytime."

Roxiana was more surprised by her own words than he was, but she kept her composure and added.

"If it helps Your Highness rest comfortably, you're welcome anytime."

Floyd stared at her blankly, then rubbed his face with both hands.

"Princess, you're just... what can I even say?"

He lowered his hands and met her eyes.

"Brazen? Cheeky?"

Thinking he was right, Roxiana blushed. Lately, she kept acting unlike herself around him.

"Oh, right—you once said you'd become a cheeky fox spirit. Mission accomplished, Princess."

He got out of bed and stood before her, but Roxiana couldn't lift her bowed head. She'd meant to act more freely around him, but that last remark had been too crude.

Inviting him to her bed so blatantly.

Even if it was just so he could sleep well, it wasn't something a lady should say.

When she didn't respond after a long moment, he bent down, gently lifting her chin with his thumb and forefinger. Staring into her eyes, he whispered.

"I know you're doing this because you want something from me. I know... but it feels like I'm getting addicted anyway."

Captive to his gaze, she couldn't speak. His ash-gray eyes clung to her thickly, as if swallowing her whole—like impenetrable storm clouds overtaking the sky, conquering her entirely.

'Maybe...'

The impulse surged that it might be better to be swallowed up.

If those ash-gray cloudy eyes consumed her, couldn't she live without thoughts, pain, or regrets? Like drifting through the clouds as a drop of moisture, a water spirit, letting time pass that way?

She wanted peace.

Only then did Roxiana realize she hadn't felt at ease at all.

She tried to live each day fully, smiling constantly, but the grief deep in her chest hadn't faded. The sorrow-tinged longing only grew stronger with time.

She missed her family. She yearned to return to those days wrapped in loving warmth.

Even knowing she could never see them again, no matter how much she wished for it, she couldn't let go of the vain hope that if she just did well with what was given to her, she might meet them as a reward.

Roxiana raised a trembling hand and gently pushed against his chest.

"You're too much of a tease, Your Highness."

Her voice shook.

"Does it seem like teasing?"

"...Yes."

"I see. I wish it were just teasing..."

Suddenly, he ruffled his hair wildly with both hands.

"Sorry. I slept so deeply after so long that my head's not working right. We should talk after I'm fully awake."

He seemed confused, but Roxiana was just as flustered and couldn't check his expression.

"Ah, let's have dinner together tonight. There's a lot to discuss."

"Yes? The training grounds again?"

"No, the main palace dining hall this time. Just the knight order captains."

As Floyd left Lily Palace, he grimaced.

-"I'm getting addicted."

He doubted those impulsive words had really come from his mouth. His face heated up.

'Crazy bastard.'

He had no idea what nonsense he'd spouted to Roxiana. Just having her there made his mind a jumbled mess, like he'd fallen under some enchantment.

Even just seeing her sitting quietly did that to him, and her words about coming to her bedroom anytime were so temptingly sweet that he could barely keep his sanity.

To her, it was probably a casual offer with no deeper meaning. A ruler of a nation who slept without even a blanket—surely she'd said it out of pity.

Yet her voice was sweet, her gaze seductive, her lips so moist and flushed that he'd nearly succumbed to a dark, sticky desire.

Roxiana Franche was that alluring.

"This isn't good."

Floyd didn't want her kindness because he craved her bed service or anything like it. He wanted nothing from her at all.

'But the princess is different.'

Roxiana kept trying to repay his favors. And her way of doing so was excessively radical—risking her life, offering him her bed. It was all so intense and erratic, impossible to pin down.

That unpredictability kept him from looking away, and unable to look away, his mind filled with Roxiana, leaving him tossed about.

Floyd ruffled his hair again and muttered.

"Really not good."