A Royal Arrangement: The General's Daughter (Short Novel)

13: Chapter 13

*Warning: the following content may contain sexual content*

Chapter 13

To Yuren,

The leaves have yet to fall, yet the winds have already carried whispers of what is to come. Not long ago, within the palace walls, I chanced upon a conversation I was not meant to hear. It is said that someone wants to get rid of the crown prince using his brothers that are most trusted by the emperor and they have set a plan in motion. Another lady is to be given within the fourth prince's estate-a scheme born of suspicion, getting him as their ally against the crown. Following the failed attempt on the Crown Prince's life, I am named among the suspected conspirators. I cannot talk to no one, no one trust me anymore.

I am not your sister, nor am I your friend. Yet we share a common cause-the well-being of the empire and the future of the dragon throne. I hope this letter finds you, though my hands are tied until I have had a word with my brothers.

Wen Rui

---

Gone was the gentle prince who once catered to her every desire. In his place was a man consumed by possessiveness, as though a dam had burst, releasing a flood of repressed yearning. His touch, once tender, had become urgent, his every caress laden with an almost unbearable intensity.

Yuren trembled beneath him, her body weak from exhaustion. They had been together for hours, and each time she protested, he merely held her closer, his voice rough with desire.

"You belong to me" he whispered, his lips brushing against the sensitive skin of her neck, marking her with each kiss, each bite.

"No escape" words escape from him between heavy breathing, as his mouth trailed lower, leaving evidence of his claim upon her.

Her protests were feeble, her voice faltering as she pushed against his chest, but his hands quickly captured hers, pinning them with ease. She felt overwhelmed by the force of his presence, by the sheer intensity of his need.

"Say my name," he commanded, his voice low but unyielding.

"Zihan," she cried out, her body trembling with a sensation she could no longer resist.

Her hands, finally freed, pressed against his chest once more, but he did not relent. She was helpless against the onslaught of his desire, her own body betraying her as it responded to his touch.

"Do not hold back your cries" he murmured against her skin, his breath hot against her ear as he shifted her trembling legs, one draped over his shoulder. Yuren's eyes widened in surprise, her heart racing as he held her there, his eyes dark with satisfaction.

"You will not leave this chamber," he vowed, his voice possessive and final.

She could do nothing but moan softly, her voice broken by exhaustion and surrender. Tears slipped from her eyes as she buried her face against his shoulder, overwhelmed by the storm he had unleashed. The hours passed in a blur of sensation, her body feeling as though it had been pushed to its limits and beyond.

And still, he did not stop.

When at last he relented, he cradled her close, his lips brushing over her forehead in a rare moment of tenderness. Yuren, too tired to speak, closed her eyes as he held her.

"Rest for now," he whispered, his voice softer than before, though the hunger still lingered beneath the surface. He kissed her gently, as if to soothe the storm he had stirred within her.

But Yuren knew, even in the haze of exhaustion, that this was only a temporary reprieve.

---

The morning light crept into Prince's chambers, but Yuren hardly felt its warmth. Lying in his dark-colored bed, her body was now clothed, her skin cleansed, but exhaustion clung to her like a heavy shroud.

The source of her fatigue sat before her, his lips curled into a faint smile as he watched her with a quiet intensity. His gaze was unwavering, predatory-she could not meet his eyes for long, not after what had transpired the night before.

Her limbs ached, as though she had been made to bear a great weight. Every movement was an effort, but Yuren forced herself to rise from the bed.

"I need food," she murmured, the realization dawning that she had not eaten since the previous day.

The prince, ever watchful, set a small table before her, laden with an assortment of dishes. His smile persisted, though the hunger in his eyes remained-a different kind of hunger, sharp and unrelenting. Yuren wondered briefly,

'Is this what it means to make a child?'

The books she had read before their marriage had not prepared her for the reality of it. The man also looks okay and satisfied, how is he okay and her barely walking?.

"Finish all of this," he commanded, his tone firm but not unkind. "You will need your strength. I shall return shortly."

When the prince finally departed, Yuren called for her servants, but no one came. Frowning, she pushed herself to her feet, her body protesting with every step.

She made her way to the door of the chambers, finding the hallways eerily empty. Even the guards were absent. A chill ran through her as she wondered where everyone had gone. But before she could dwell on the matter, the gate opened, revealing the prince returning from his errand.

Hurriedly, Yuren returned to her seat and resumed her meal. He joined her, sitting across the table, his eyes never leaving her as she ate. Once she had finished, he informed her that a warm bath awaited her. She nodded silently, and when she entered the bathhouse, her maids were already there, pouring hot water into the tub.

Yuren stepped into the bath, allowing the warm water to envelop her aching body. Her exhaustion was the only thing in her mind and dismissed the worry that servants might see the marks of the prince all over her body.

It's a good thing that they just worked quietly, their hands gentle as they helped her wash. The warmth lulled her into a deep slumber, and she slipped into sleep once more.

When she awoke, the sky darkened. Night had fallen, and the prince was nowhere to be found. Her servants were busy arranging her evening meal, their eyes cast downward as they went about their tasks in silence. Yuren's gaze lingered on them, but none dared meet her eyes. All she could do was eat what had been laid before her.

"The prince were summoned in the palace again, Madam"- Yu said.

"He went here to earlier but decided not to wake you"- she added pouring her tea.

"And Rong Hua?"- Yuren asked.

"She is currently staying in one of the guest chambers"- she answered making Yuren worry.

Rong Hua is still inside this estate with her and already talked to the prince. If he has declined her then why stay?.

Yuren thought that after giving herself to him last night, he would send the lady back to the capital.

That had been her plan, yet the morning brought an unexpected result. The lady was still here.