Page 94 of The White King's Favorite

“No! I’m worried about your security, not you losing this stupid competition!”

Cessilia sighed, and sat at the edge of the bed, away from him. She brushed her long hair a bit with her fingers, shaking her head.

“I want t-to win th-this c-competition, Ashen.”

“Do you think I could choose any other woman than you?” he exclaimed, shocked.

Cessilia shook her head, and stood up, walking up to a little table where clean clothes had been left out for a woman. She found clean underwear, a dark pink dress, and a pair of comfortable shoes.

“No, b-but I was serious when I t-told those vixens I would p-play by the rules. Th-this is not j-just about me and you. Those p-people represent your citizens, Ashen. If I want t-to b-become their queen, I c-can’t just force them to t-trust me. I already know at least a few of th-them are willing to see what I c-can do, who I c-can p-prove t-to be. ...C-can you t-turn around, p-please?”

He sighed but turned around. Cessilia began changing quickly, a bit shy as he was right next to her, but she trusted he wouldn’t dare peek.

“I am t-tired of only b-being the War God’s d-daughter. Th-those women hate me b-because they think th-that’s all I am. A rich D-Dragon Master. B-but I d-don’t really have a d-dragon anymore... and I d-don’t want to b-be a fraud.”

“Cessilia, you’re not a fraud. Just because you lost Cece doesn’t mean you’re anything less than... those women.”

“I know, b-but I have to p-prove it.”

She sighed, finished changing, and turned around. She walked up to the bed, where Ashen, hearing her come, turned around to face her, sitting on the edge of the mattress with a confused expression. Cessilia gently smiled at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I r-realized it when I went t-to the Muram Village,” she muttered. “You d-did so much b-by yourself, b-but you really d-do need a queen. Not someone like Jisel, b-but someone who c-can d-do the right things.”

“Cessilia, Jisel is not...”

Her sudden, angry expression convinced him to shut up right there. He swallowed his words right back into his throat, while the Princess was glaring at him.

“I d-don’t want to know,” she hissed. “D-don’t t-talk about th-that woman now.”

He didn’t dare add anything to that. He could have mentioned she had brought up his mistress first, but after seeing Cessilia’s furious, green eyes, so much like her father’s when she was upset, he didn’t. The young Princess had the eyes of someone who knew how to threaten and uphold it. She had the eyes of a real dragon tamer...

After a few seconds of heavy, guilt-filled silence had passed, Ashen cleared his throat a bit.

“So... You want us to remain a secret for now?” he muttered. “You really want to... do this competition?”

“Yes,” she nodded, “b-but I am not l-letting any other wo-woman have you.”

“I know,” he chuckled. “I swear it’s not going to happen... ever again, as long as you’re with me. I just... want to look forward to when we can truly be together.”

Cessilia nodded and took the initiative to kiss him this time. The King answered her kiss right away, his hands going around her body, caressing her gently. Although they had both agreed on that, she could feel it would be hard to wait... She was feeling hot just from the gentle caresses on her body, and she regretted not staying in that bed a bit longer.

“Your Majesty?” Someone knocked at the door. “My apologies, Your Majesty, but the Counselors and Lords are waiting for you for the meeting...”

Ashen glared at the door, back to his usual White King cold demeanor. Cessilia chuckled and kissed his cheek gently.

“I’ll g-get going first,” she whispered. “...D-do you th-think we c-can... see each other again soon?”

He sighed and caressed her hair, staring at her as if he wanted to capture each of her traits in his mind. His fingers gently followed her curls to their end before he slowly nodded.

“...I’ll come to you,” he muttered. “Believe me, Cessi... I won’t disappoint you again. I promise.”

He gently caressed her cheek, making Cessilia feel even better. She nodded, and they kissed once more, a more candid kiss this time, just enough to say goodbye, although neither of them wanted to part. The King sighed, his fingers still in her hair. When the servant knocked at the door again, he glared.

“I’m coming!” he shouted, upset. “...You should go out after me. Servants will definitely speculate after I asked for women’s clothes to be brought earlier, but they might not see you if I have them all follow me, so...”

“I d-don’t need to g-go out by the d-door,” chuckled Cessilia.

She left another quick kiss on his cheek, and this time, slowly stepped back, grabbing the fur coat that had been left on the chair to wrap it around her. In front of Ashen’s shocked eyes, Cessilia climbed up the window until she was on the edge of it, and gave him a little wink.

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