章 27: NIGHTMARISH TALE
Ivan held my hand in his as he led me all the way to the bedroom. I was grateful he was holding me because I wasn't sure if I could stand upright, not after witnessing what had just happened in the throne room. For a moment, I was scared. I was afraid Ivan believed his mother over me. I can't still forget the rage in his eyes but now I knew the rage wasn't directed at me. He chose me! He chose me again! I thought to myself as I stared up at Ivan who was running a bath for me in the bathroom. I don't know what that makes of us but I surely know one thing, there's no one in this world I'd rather belong to than Ivan.
Ivan came out of the bathroom, his hand dripping with water. "The bath's ready for you." He informed me and I smiled at him.
"Thanks." I muttered as I stood up from where I was sitting on the chair. I took on step towards him my knees gave way and I would have reached the floor if not for Ivan who had crossed the room and had his arms wrapped around me.
"Fuck, I was hoping you'd take a bath first, but now it seems I have no choice than to bath with you."
I looked up at Ivan whose arms were still wrapped around me. The thought of him naked behind him in the same bath flashed in my mind and I decided I wasn't ready for that yet. "Um...no, I think I'll be fine."
"You don't have to be strong in front of me Arianne." Ivan said gently brushing away strands of my hair. "You can barely stand as it is, besides this isn't the first time I'll be seeing you naked."
My gaze flew to his asking him multiple questions with my eyes. What? When? How? I mean I'm pretty sure I'd remember sharing a bath with a man like Ivan. I'd remember those hard chest of his as they were pressed against mine and...I paused when I was suddenly assaulted with the image of warm golden chest pressed against my back as he rinsed the blood of my body.
Ivan was right, he had seen me naked! That night in the woods when I had been attacked by those rogue wolves it was Ivan who had come to save me and apparently he had been the one to bath me. He had seen me naked! I thought to myself as I looked up at Ivan who smiled at me.
"I promise nothing will happen. Just let me take care of you tonight little one." He told me stroking my cheek softly and a contented sigh escaped my lips.
I suppose there was no harm in him taking care of me. Besides I don't trust myself in the bathtub alone, I'll need all the help I can get. I turned to my back to Ivan so he could undress me. Ivan untied the rope to my corset and when he took off the rest of my undergarments. I turned to find him staring at me, his grey eyes had already darkened and there's no mistaking the desire in them. Even covered in sweat and the grime from the dungeon, Ivan still had a way of making me look beautiful.
Ivan slowly brought up his hands to undo the button of his white cotton shirt which were covered in Liam's blood. I watched with interest in my tired eyes as he undid the last button of his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders exposing his golden chest. Ivan then moved to unbutton his trousers and pushed them down his leg all the while keeping his eyes on me. I noticed he was wearing underwear. Ivan was hard everywhere, I could see the muscles on his thigh as he stood before me. My gaze then rose back up to his underwear and I caught sight of something else that was also...hard! I flushed as I quickly brought my gaze back to Ivan whose eyes had completely darkened with desire and he was looking like he was restraining himself from pulling me close to him.
"We should go to the bathroom before the water gets cold." Ivan said in a gruff voice.
Yeah, that seemed like the best idea. Not trusting myself to speak, I turned and headed towards the bathroom with Ivan guiding me and I tried not to think about the warmth radiating from his body. Carefully, he lowered me into the warm bathwater. At first the shock of the heat made my breath catch but within moments the warmth was pure bliss.
I felt myself relax deeper into the water and Ivan soon got in next to me, thankfully he chose to keep his underwear on. Ivan bathed me with care, using the washcloth to clean the grime off my body. He also decided to wash my hair. Using a citrus smelling soap he gently massaged my scalp and his touch felt relaxing. I sighed as I relaxed against his warm hard chest.
Ivan made sure I was clean which I was thankful for because now, I didn't have that putrid smell on me anymore. When Ivan was done he brought me out of the water and wrapped me in a grey fluffy towel, making sure I was dry. Then he brought out a silk flimsy night gown to wear before he lowered me on the bed.
"Thank you." I told him when he laid down beside me, "Thank you for believing in me."
"I'll always believe you Arianne, always." Ivan shifted closer so he could press a kiss to my temple, "I'm only sorry I couldn't get here sooner, you must have been very scared." He told me trailing my cheek with one long finger.
I shook my head at him. "Not really, I knew you'd come." I smiled back at him and he returned it.
"I'm so sorry my mother made you go through all of that."
"Yeah about that..." I trailed off looking up at him, "You shouldn't have treated her that way in court." I stated while looking at Ivan and I could see the rage begin to simmer in his grey eyes at the mention of his mom.
"She touched what was mine, she shouldn't have."
"But still, don't you think that was a little harsh, wicked even." I commented remembering the way he threatened to turn his sword at Dahlia, his own mother.
Ivan chuckled darkly. "I'm nowhere as wicked as she is."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked suddenly curious and Ivan shook his head at me.
"That is a nightmarish tale I don't wish to tell little one." Ivan says with a smile and I frowned wondering what he meant by that. "You should go to sleep little one." Ivan ordered as he reached out to smooth the frown away from my face and I let out a small yawn.
He was right, I was tired but I couldn't stop thinking about what he said about Dahlia. What nightmarish tales had included his mother? I thought to myself and that was my last thought before I fell asleep.
That night, I dreamt that I was back in the throne room. Only this time, it was me kneeling down on the floor and before me was Dahlia, standing with Ivan's sword in her hand.
"You will never be queen!" She roared before she sliced my head away from my body.
クリエイターの想い 
DA_Aloera
DA_Aloera It's dangerous to be a woman in love.
章 28: THE QUEEN AND THE SWORDSMAN
The next day I woke up already knowing the decision I had to make in order to survive in this place. I went outside the castle looking for Kiran, I found him on the training ground where I was told he would be. He was cleaning his sword with a rag and I smiled as I approached him.
"Well, well, well, look who it is." Kiran said looking up from his sword.
I smiled at him in greeting. "Hello Kiran."
"You look well." Kiran observed raking his eyes up and down my body but not in a creepy way. "I heard about what went down between you and my mother and I'm sorry you had to go through it. She can be a bit of a bitch when she wants to."
Oh wow! I thought to myself as I stared at Kiran who had the same rage in his dark eyes like his brothers. It was obvious they both share the same sentiment about their mother and I'm really curious about what it was, especially since Ivan described it as a nightmarish tale. But I suppose I can always ask that another time.
"So, to what do I owe this pleasure of seeing your beautiful face?" Kiran asked waggling his brows at me and I rolled my eyes at him but answered.
"I need you to train me."
For a moment Kiran didn't say anything and I was worried he didn't hear me until he busted out laughing. I frowned a little at him, wondering what was funny. I waited for him to stop laughing but Kiran just continued howling with laughter and it was starting to irritate me.
"What's funny?" I gritted out unable to take it any longer.
Kiran stopped laughing to look at me. "Oh wait, you are serious?" He asked me with his brows raised in surprise.
"Of course I'm serious." I replied still annoyed at him.
"Oh." Was all Kiran said instead of giving me an answer. "Well in that case." Kiran picked up his sword and walked past me, heading towards the castle.
What the? I hurriedly went after him. "Where are you going?"
"Away from you." Kiran answered without sparing me a glance.
"Okay may I ask why?"
"Because you are insane." Kiran stated without looking at him and I was tired of it!
I quickened my pace and planted myself right in front, so he would have no choice than to listen to me. "Will you just stop for a second?" I asked him and he regarded me with a bored look in his eyes but stopped to listen to me. "So, what's the problem?"
"I don't have a problem with you sister in law." Kiran says shooting me a lazy smirk.
I let out an exasperated sigh. "Then want to tell me why you won't answer my request?"
Kiran's eyes widened as he raised his brows up at me, looking like a picture of innocence. "What request?"
I breathed through my nose starting to feel really annoyed by Kiran's games. "I asked you to train me."
"Oh that__" Kiran trailed off on a laugh before his face got serious again. "My answer is no."
I let out a frustrated sigh as I refrained from stamping my legs on the ground like a child. "Why not?" I asked placing my hands on my hips, hoping to look intimidating but Kiran just continued looking at me with that bored look in his eyes.
"Does my brother know of your insane request?"
I let out a scoff of disbelief. "Of course he does!"
Actually Ivan has no idea about my 'insane request' as Kiran puts it. I had woken up this morning to the smell of pancakes with honey, I also had a bowl filled with different fruits. Ivan had taken it upon himself to go to the kitchen and fetch me breakfast. He had also watch me eat everything, his gaze darkening when I bit into the cherry I had taken from the fruit bowl. A guard then entered at that moment to come and call the attention of Ivan to some papers he needed to sign.
As soon as he had left I had gotten dressed and sought after Kiran. He was the captain of the royal guards which makes him the perfect person to train me. I would have asked Ivan but I know he would decline immediately and make a fuss. I needed to learn how to defend myself if I was going to survive in their world, I can't always be depending on Ivan to save me all the time. Now the main thing is to get Kiran to agree! I thought to myself as I stared at Kiran who was staring at me, his arms already folded across his chest.
"Ivan doesn't know, does he?"
Shit! How did he know? I ask but quickly morphed my face into a bright smile. "Well, at the moment he doesn't kn..."
"Save your breath Arianne! My answer is still no!" Kiran affirmed then continued walking.
"Why that cheeky hairy ass...."
"My ass isn't hairy and I'll be happy to show it to you!" Kiran called out to me and I blanched at that.
Shit! He heard me! Of course he could, werewolves have super hearing. With a groan I ran after Kiran stopping in front of him. "Seriously what will it take for you to train me?"
"Absolutely nothing, I just don't want to train you!" Kiran said with a one sided shrug and this time I actually did stamp my feet on the floor.
"Why?" I whined, "Why won't you just train me?"
Kiran let out an exasperated sigh before he answered. "Well mainly because my brother could kill me once he finds out I'm training you and I value my life, thank you very much."
I arched a brow up at that. "So what? You are scared of your brother? That's it?"
"Of course not!"
I smirked at his reply, he answered way too quickly. He was actually scared of his brother but then I can't say I blame him. Ivan can be very scary and last night was the proof. That doesn't mean I was going to back down though, I was still going to get Kiran to train him.
"Oh well..." I sighed heavily. "I guess it can't be helped then and here I was thinking I could be trained by the best swordsman in Egralon." I say then turned to walk back to the castle.
"The best swordsman?"
Kiran's voice stopped me and I smiled, I've got him! "Well yes. Why do you think I asked you to train me? I heard talks about you being the best and I knew that if I wanted to protect my weak mortal self who else would I turn to than the best warrior?" I asked with a wistful look on my face but Kiran just assessed me with his dark eyes but I could see a spark of curiosity in them.
"Very well then, I guess I'll just go find someone else." I turned to leave but Kiran stopped me.
"Wait!"
I turned to look at him with a smirk on my face. "Yes?"
Kiran let out a small chuckle, "I know what you are doing Arianne." He commented giving me a pointed look.
Darn it! I cursed inwardly but smiled sweetly at him. "Well then, is it working?"
Ivan regarded me with a look of amusement before he answered. "If we do this, you must not tell Ivan about it!"
"Yes!" I whooped jumping in glee, "You have my word!"
"And there will be no complaints!" Kiran declared, "You do what I say when I say! And there will be no room for whining! Just because you are a girl and my brother's wife doesn't get you any special treatment, I don't care even if you are mortal! On the training ground you become a man! A warrior! Is that understood?" Kiran asked giving me a stern look.
Yup, I can definitely see why he is the captain of the guard and for good reason! I muse as I nodded my head vigorously. "Yes!" I replied and Kiran arched a brow up at me, "Sir?" I added with uncertainty and that seemed to please Kiran.
"Good!" He answered and I smiled at him, "I'll summon you when it's time."
"I'll be waiting!" I told him with a smile then turned to leave before I remembered something, "Oh I almost forgot?"
Kiran let out an exasperated sigh. "What is it now woman?"
I chuckled at him. "I just wanted to remind you of the summer festival tonight!"
"The one in town?" Kiran asked me in confusion.
I nodded my head at him. "That's the one! And we are all going!" I announced in a cheery tone while Kiran looked at me like I've lost my mind.
"When you say we? Do you mean Ivan too? He's going to attend the festival in town?"
"Course he will! He's their king after all!" I say with a look of disbelief on my face.
Kiran chuckled at me. "You might have been able to win an argument with me but I assure you, it's going to be different for my brother. He's not going to attend the festival."
"Oh but he will, I'll make sure of it!" I countered.
Kiran scoffed at me. "Good luck then, you are definitely going to need it." He told me before he sauntered off towards the castle leaving me to stare after him.
クリエイターの想い
DA_Aloera
DA_Aloera
I definitely love the banter between Kiran and Arianne.
What do you think?
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