The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

41 : Song of Priority

Since it will cause an uproar to the whole Empire if what happened comes to light, Duke Esteban carried out the Crown Princess' duty, appearing that it is her command. He had only told a few people about the disappearance of the Crown Princess such as the Emperor and all trusted subjects. The Emperor made a command of searching Darya with just a few knights to remain unnoticed by the public and other nobles who planned on laying their hands to the Crown Princess. Knowing that Captain Theobarlt was with her, Emperor Oswald was not too worried about his granddaughter. He still remembered that day he called for him in his office. As soon as he saw Captain Theobarlt, he just looked at him for a few seconds and let him leave without saying anything as he was rest assured that Darya will be in good hands.

After two days, the subjugation of the monsters in Vamono was successful as Captain Quira, Captain Urgos, and Duke Esteban returned with victory. People are confused as to why the Crown Princess did not attend the parade of victory but everyone was so happy to have heard that the Empire is free from monsters.

Meanwhile, a day before their victory, Darya woke up from sleep after feeling the cold run through her feet. She opened her eyes to see massive trees above her. She can hear the tweeting of birds. So then she immediately realized what had happened and looked around to search for Captain Theobarlt. He was not there but his Captain uniform was covering her. There was even a stain of blood and two cuts on the back of his clothes. This made her worried and tried to stand up to look for him, only to stop after seeing him coming from the woods.

Her eyes went wide upon seeing him covered with blood while he was holding his sword. He had no garments on top and his hair was messed up. She immediately ran towards him as he took back his sword to its hilt after seeing her come.

"Are you alright?" Her hands trembled in worry. She reached for his cheek to look straight at his eyes. She then ran her hands to touch his small wounds on his chest.

Instead of replying to her question, he is more concerned to see her looking fine. "I'm glad you're alright, Lysandra."

She stopped upon feeling his right hand being wrapped gently around her as he pulled her close. She felt like all her worries faded as their bodies touched. She put her arms around his waist to embrace him, not even feeling bothered with the blood that will stain his garment and face.

"I'm glad you are alright as well. Thank you for protecting me while I was unconscious."

"I am untidy, Your Highness." Captain Theobalrt could not help but say that because he does not want her to get dirty with a monster's blood.

"Is it because you are covered with blood?" She looked up to him, her face stained with blood.

"Yes." He met her eyes as he touched her cheek to erase the blood but his hands were also covered with blood. So he found himself just melting in the depths of her eyes.

There it is again. That look in her eyes is very affectionate. He could not help but question himself why Darya looked at him like that. Does he deserve such affection? After looking at each other's eyes for a few seconds, he gave up and just lifted her up, carried her and started walking.

"Where are we going?" Darya casually put her arm around his neck to not fall.

"I discovered a river nearby. It seems that the river across the secret passage had a stream down here."

"Are we going to take a bath together?"

"Yes."

"How wild." Darya could not help but think of something else especially that there were only two of them alone.

He stared at her and she looked away with a pout on her lips because she knows that he is questioning whether she is making fun of him or not. But Darya is someone who had a husband before. She is also someone who experienced life for many times and she knows her sexual desires so well. And Captain Theobarlt knows that she is just physically seventeen years old.