Chapter 20

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Two years ago.

 

On the train, Denis was reading a poetry book. Tehez watched the passing scenery. She kept her eyes fixed outside the window for hours without getting tired of it.

 

“Aren’t you tired?”

 

“No, I’m fine.”

 

She turned her face to him. 

 

The woman’s face was full of anticipation.

 

It was Denis and Tehez’s first vacation after marriage. 

 

It was their first time leaving as a couple, but it was also Tehez’s first visit to another region since she was born in the capital.

 

They had just transferred from Lubern to the eastbound train from Villefort, the transportation hub. It was a way to escape the summer of Lubern, so wherever she was, she liked it.

 

“Is this your first time going to another province, Tehez?” he asked curiously.

 

“Yes.”

 

“I see.”

 

She blushed and lowered her head. She thought he’d think she was tacky. Recently, overseas travel had become popular in Valloise.

 

However, she had never been around the country properly. In fact, it would have been fair to say that she never had a chance to travel.

 

After losing her mother, she was raised by her father, who focused only on his work. Tehez was brought up solely for a purpose. The purpose was to graduate from Academy with excellent grades when she was young, become a Princess when she grew up and make the family prosperous. Other than that, she wasn’t interested in anything else.

 

So she didn’t enjoy the social presence that other ladies often do, and she didn’t like buying dresses, dressing up beautifully, or socializing.

 

Because those things were not necessary for her purpose.

 

Tehez lowered her eyes and looked at her own outfit. The pure white dress… if anyone who knew her passed by, would have cursed it for being too informal for the Princess to wear.

 

But Tehez didn’t care. 

 

Since it’s summer vacation.

 

It had been a long, long time since Tehez went on a vacation. 

 

A leisurely time when you don’t have to worry about how you look, and what other people’s actions mean.

 

“Then am I the first?”

 

“What?”

 

“The one who travels with you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Tehez replied softly.

 

“Okay, I’ll make it a memorable time for you.”

 

Denis raised his chin and smiled confidently. He seemed to be in a good mood because it’s been a long time since he had this kind of relaxation.

 

 “Yes, I’m really looking forward to it, my Prince.”

 

The landscape began to change. 

 

Buildings and people had disappeared, and they were passing through dense forest.

 

“We’ll arrive in a little bit more.”

 

“Have you ever been to Skane, Prince?”

 

“Yes, when I was young.”

 

Denis added indifferently.

 

“I don’t remember well. It’s the first time since then, and it has probably changed a lot.”

 

She felt the train slowing down. It seemed they had arrived.

 

“Let’s get off, Tehez.”

 

He dismounted her large bag from the luggage compartment, took it in one hand and went out into the train aisle. Tehez followed him out. The platform of the train station was crowded with people.

 

The platform was crowded with people who wanted to catch the train, people seeing their families off, people waiting for someone, people who sold fruit, drinks and snacks, and pickpockets.

 

“Huh? First prince?”

 

“It’s the First Prince!”

 

Someone recognized him getting off the train and shouted loudly. In a flash, people gathered. Denis glanced behind him among those about to chase after him like a swarm of thieves.

 

Tehez also turned her head to look behind her. A massive crowd of people was coming, and she felt like she was going to miss Denis in the crowd. Gradually the distance between Denis and her widened.

 

Tehez opened her mouth to call him.

 

At that moment, a warm body temperature grabbed her wrist.

 

A familiar hand.

 

It was him who came against the crowd.

 

Denis grabbed her wrist and suddenly started running. Tehez also ran after him. Trying to keep her feet running to keep up with his muscular body running was beyond her power.

 

She wondered how much they ran. As they ran between corridors, past the platform, through the station, they came to a narrow alley behind the train station. 

 

A carriage was parked at the end.

 

“Hurry up.”

 

He added before she could answer back.

 

“Before people come after us.”

 

He pushed her into the carriage and shut the door. Soon the carriage began to run.

 

“I called in the carriage in advance. We are going to ride this to the villa.”

 

He said, tossing his sweaty hair. His straight forehead could be seen through his blue-black hair. He unbuttoned his shirt, soaked in sweat and clinging to his skin. She could see drops of sweat running down his neck and between his collarbones.

 

At the palace, Denis was dressed to perfection for all four seasons. 

 

Shirt, tie, vest and coat. 

 

But today, he was on his way to vacation, so he was only wearing a wide shirt.

 

Perhaps it was hot, he opened the window and flapped his shirt with his hands. She could see his chest through the loose buttons. 

 

She repeated to herself that she did not see anything.

 

When Tehez saw the scene, she swallowed saliva without realizing it.

 

Seeing her sitting blankly, Denis asked, wondering if she was in any pain.

 

“Where are you hurt?”

 

“No, no.”

 

“But why.”

 

Tehez felt her face flush red in an instant.

 

“It’s because it’s hot.”

 

“Really?”

 

Denis stared at her. She was more relaxed than usual, but she wore a long dress.

 

“Then take it off,” he said with a smirk. It was the expression he made when he teased her.

 

“That’s all right.”

 

“Oh. Do you want me to take it off for you? Do you want that?”

 

“It’s really all right, Prince.”

 

Denis was looking at her playfully. “Ah, really. My wife needs a lot of help.”

 

Dramatically speaking, Denis pulled the end of the ribbon on the front of her dress. The ribbon slipped loose, and the front of her dress opened, revealing her collarbone.

 

“Prince, it’s all right. Really.”

 

“What?”

 

He began to unbutton her, regardless of Tehez’s resistance.

 

“It won’t be hot this way, Tehez.”

 

He was smiling with great delight.

 

Tehez distorted her expression. He was in the mood to make it happen. She wanted to reject him, but at the same time, she didn’t want to. Her heart was pounding with tension, and she could hear the sound of her heart.

 

He stared at her, untying the front of her dress. The ribbons and buttons were undone, revealing her plump breasts through the sheer undergarments. He gave her a satisfied look as he looked at the condition he had created for her. Then he came up to her.

 

She could feel something burning in Denis’ eyes looking at her. He put his lips between Tehez’s chin and neck, where her pulse was beating, and breathed in. He left a deep kiss.

 

“Your smell, I like it.”

 

He went back to his seat with a light touch. 

 

He clasped his chin and looked out. 

 

A cool breeze blew through the loose dress. She was burning to the ears, and her face was about to explode.

 

“We’re here.”

 

When the coachman stopped the horse, Tehez hurried to the front. Trembling with tension, her hands kept slipping, unable to lock her buttons. Denis, staring at her, took one of the white bundles from his own bag and tossed it to her.

 

“Put this on.”

 

It was his shirt.

 

Tehez took it silently and put on his shirt. She didn’t know when she took it, but it was as big as a child wearing adult clothes when she put it on.

 

“Is it okay now?”

 

“Yes.”

 

He opened the door and got off first. 

 

He waited under the carriage to escort her. Tehez stood still and saw his eyes waiting for her to get off, and her heart throbbed again. She grabbed him by the arm and stepped down the carriage.

 

“Wow.”

 

Raising her head and looking straight ahead, she saw a small villa built in the middle of the forest. There were only pine trees all around the cottage built of logs, and the foot of Mount Skane could be seen behind the cottage. Tehez witnessed a beautiful natural landscape that she had never experienced before.

 

“This is-”

 

“Yes, this is where we’ll spend our summer.”

 

When Tehez finished admiring them, an old couple appeared in front of them and greeted them.

 

“Welcome.”

 

“I’m Laurent Colaro, who manages this villa…”

 

The man with a kind face said his name, and the old woman next to him took over.

 

“I’m Aida. Thank you for coming a long way.”

 

“Thank you for coming to meet us.”

 

Denis politely greeted them.

 

“No, I was going to go out to the train station…”

 

The man who introduced himself as Laurent was at a loss for words. Dennis said with a smile.

 

“I told you not to come out. Shall we go inside now? I wonder if it will be the same.”

 

Under the guidance of the old couple, Denis and Tehez entered the villa. As soon as they opened the door to the villa, she could see a pine forest spread out through a large window.

 

Tehez swallowed the admiration that was about to burst out of her mouth without noticing it. Seeing Tehez’s curious face, Denis smiled a little.

 

The space they entered was a small living room. On the left wall was a large stone fireplace. And there was a red carpet in front of it, and two single-seater sofas were placed around the fireplace.

 

Across the fireplace and beyond the door on the right was a small room with a dining table for four and a kitchen. It was small, but it had a seating area and a dining area separated.

 

“It looks pretty much the same.”

 

Denis said as if lost in old thoughts.

 

“You have a very good memory, Prince.”

 

“Take a look around the second floor.”

 

When they went up the stairs, there was a bed with cozy-looking bedding on the second floor. Behind the head of the bed was another window overlooking the dense forest. Tehez looked out the window and saw the foothills of Mount Skane.

 

“It’s a really nice place,” Tehez said after a long time.

 

“Right? Lady Charlize loved this villa very much.”

 

Tehez asked in surprise.

 

“Are you talking about Queen Charlize?”

 

“Yes. Was it when the Prince was 4 years old at that time? He has stayed in this villa before.”

 

Aida said, reminiscently.

 

He never mentioned Queen Charlize during his coming to Skane. 

 

Tehez’s heart became heavy in an instant.

 

“It was when I was young. Now that we’ve looked around, shall we unpack?”

 

Denise turned around.

 

“Oops. You must be tired, but it’s been a while since I talked excitedly.”

 

Laurent scratched his head in embarrassment.

 

“Let’s hurry up and go. Honey, my Prince. Then I’ll see you at dinner time.”

 

“Yes, thank you, Aida.” Aida stabbed Laurent in the side and quickly disappeared downstairs.

 

In an instant, two were left alone in the villa. 

 

Tehez was still confused. 

 

She didn’t know if she could ask him about Queen Charlize.

 

“Tehez, change your clothes.”

 

“Yes, Prince. I…”

 

“Don’t worry about what Aida said. I’m here to rest.”

 

“Yes, but-”

 

“You also want to get some rest.”

 

“Yes. All right, Prince.”

 

Tehez did not bring up the story of Queen Charlize. Instead, she decided without a second thought to follow his advice, saying that he wanted to rest.

 

“Would you like to change clothes and go outside?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Okay, change and come down.”

 

(To be continued in the next episode.)