Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 86: No Clothes!

Chapter 86: No Clothes!

With an authoritative "Come in" from the Duke, the room welcomed Safie, who greeted the men with a respectful bow before announcing,

"Your Grace, I have come to inform you that His Majesty’s chambers are prepared. I have also drawn a hot bath and arranged fresh towels. And I must repeat that the room itself is still not warm enough."

Yuraon stood up, stretching his body and inadvertently drawing attention to his partially exposed torso which now was even more revealed than before.

"Well, a bath does sound enticing. After all, I have spent considerable time on the road. I’d like to freshen up before joining you and your lovely fiancée for dinner. Please do inform me when the meal is ready, Your Grace."

Tillian nodded to the young King and issued an instruction for the maid,

"Safie, please escort His Majesty to his chambers and assist him if needed."

"Yes, My Lord," Safie responded dutifully.

As Yuraon approached the maid, he could not help but notice the deep crimson blush that suffused her cheeks. He found her bashfulness endearing, a hint of self-awareness creeping into his demeanor, though he remained playful. Leading the way out of the room, he winked at Safie, causing her blush to deepen even further. Adjusting his long, dark blue locks, he silently mused to himself,

’Perhaps I should consider covering up a bit. Ah, well, since my clothes won’t arrive until later, they will just have to endure the sight of my stunning physique a little while longer!’

***

Yuraon opened his eyes, greeted by a space painted in shades of dark gray and black. As his vision adjusted to the dimness of his bedroom and the heavy feeling of lingering fatigue, he propped himself up, his gaze settling on the tall, narrow window behind him.

His guess was correct –– he had drifted off into slumber after indulging in a relaxing, hot bath, and now the evening had already deepened beyond the early hours.

’Well, it seems I did not oversleep since no one came to summon me for dinner... But I’m feeling rather famished,’ he mused inwardly. ’I ought to dress myself up and return to the Duke.’

Rising from the chilly embrace of his bed, he reached for a candle thoughtfully prepared by Safie before she left. As he rummaged for his attire, an unsettling realization dawned upon him –– his clothes were nowhere to be found!

The young man stood in the center of the bedroom, feeling utterly uncertain about his next course of action.

"Well, I appreciate the gesture, of course, but at the moment, I find myself entirely unclothed. The Duke would undoubtedly be displeased if I were to attend dinner in this state."

While strolling through his own palace in the nude posed little concern for him, Yuraon recognized the impropriety of such behavior in another lord’s residence. Thus, he resolved to refrain from exposing his physique, no matter how impressive, to others, opting instead to seek assistance.

With a simple desire to slip back into the Duke’s study and request the loan of some attire, the young man opened the door and ventured out into the corridor, mentally preparing himself for a swift retreat if necessary.

Unfortunately, before he could take another step, his progress was hindered by an unexpected obstacle appearing from out of nowhere.

A young, striking woman with cascading locks of dark red hair, likely on her way to her own quarters, found herself abruptly colliding with a figure entirely devoid of clothing.

"Ugh!"

Initially bewildered by the sudden encounter and unsure of who or what had impeded her path, Aideen found herself pressed against the warm flesh of another, their bodies locked in an unexpected and tight embrace.

As realization dawned, the princess’s eyes widened, and she attempted to free herself from the unwanted intimate contact. Yet, as her hands touched the man’s skin, a potent and searing sensation surged through her, sending warning shivers coursing down her spine.

She recognized him, or rather, she recognized the markings covering his body. The figure standing before her was none other than King Yuraon Davoor, yet this time, she beheld him in full.

The runic inscriptions, ancient tribal symbols, and peculiar adornments –– all arranged in her mind, forming something simultaneously familiar and entirely distinct from anything she had had a chance to learn before. However, what captivated her most was the glowing color of the man’s tattoos. Despite the faint blue aura enveloping everything infused with her mana, Yuraon’s distinctive marks blazed with shades of dark orange and red, as if set aflame.

’What is it? How can I see this? My mana is supposed to be white and light blue, so what is this color then?’

Suddenly, Aideen was overcome by a sharp pain pulsating within her skull, the relentless pounding akin to a heavy hammer striking against her busy consciousness. Ensnared by this potent and agonizing force, the young woman stood frozen in place, her eyes squeezed shut, her heart racing with an unknown sense of desperate urgency.

Concerned for the princess’s well-being, Yuraon placed his firm hands on her shoulders, gently guiding her away from him, and inquired in a raised voice,

"My Lady? Are you alright?"

"Ugh... What is happening..."

Still pressing her cold hands against her forehead, the woman attempted to regain control over her bewildering and uncontrollable emotions. However, before she could even begin to steady herself, another voice interrupted her thoughts, snapping her back to sharp alertness.

"Your Highness?"

Suddenly, all of her distress seemed to dissipate in an instant. Startled and self-aware, Aideen pushed the young man away, freeing herself from his embrace, though doing so only sharpened her perception of him.

Standing directly before him, the princess could not help but realize that the King was not merely partially unclothed as before; he was completely naked from head to toe.

With her face ablaze and her ears burning crimson, Aideen turned to face Tillian, who shared in her bewilderment. His eyes widened, mirroring a blend of frustration and astonishment. She covered her mouth with her right hand before finally uttering,

"Oh my..."