Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 99: A Lazy Day

Chapter 99: A Lazy Day

"You appear unusually relaxed, Your Grace, and quite refreshed as well. I gather the first night went rather successfully?" Stanis asked, his wide grin directed at Tillian.

The Duke, taken aback by his aide’s comment, tightened his grip on the reins of his black horse, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep over him. Stanis’s playful demeanor only served to amplify his own discomfort.

In an effort to dispel the lingering awkwardness, Tillian coughed, slowed his horse, and finally responded,

"I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed it. And Aideen seemed to as well, or at least I hope so. I tried to be considerate and cautious, though perhaps it came off as awkward instead. It wasn’t her first time, but it was mine, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect."

Stanis, though supportive and understanding of his young lord, could not shake the cunning smirk from his face as he replied in a playful tone,

"It seems your lengthy correspondence with your ’love mentor’ has paid off. If you aimed to be considerate, particularly given the princess’s past marriage, then surely she appreciated it.

With time, as you both grow more comfortable, your connection will deepen. You will discover each other’s preferences, enhancing the experience."

However, despite the wisdom of the man’s words, the Duke found himself even more flustered than before.

"You seem quite knowledgeable on the topic, Stanis. When did you find the time to become so close to women? And in this desolate place at that."

Stanis took slight offense, the grin on his lips instantly wiped away as he complained,

"I am hurt, Your Grace! Just because my romantic life became stagnant since I moved to The North doesn’t mean I have never loved before! Besides, your late mother used to enjoy reading romance novels when she was bored. I happened to skim through one or two of them by accident..."

"Right..." Tillian narrowed his eyes, unconvinced by Stanis’s shady excuse.

Undeterred, Stanis smiled again and continued,

"You should have stayed with Her Highness today. It was your first night together, after all; she probably would have appreciated waking up with you by her side. I could have handled the Raven Knights on my own for today."

All of a sudden, the Duke’s expression darkened, seriousness and worry etched into his features.

"I can’t shake this uneasy feeling... Yuraon’s words about bandits keep bothering me. It has been a while since we’ve had traveling bandits lingering around the borders. I cannot help but sense incoming trouble."

"Indeed. Sending our knights as merchants’ guards is straining our forces here. If this goes on, I will have to involve the Black Flame Guild as well and they have their hands full as is."

"Exactly. I’d rather deal with them sooner rather than later. I am responsible for the trading routes between two kingdoms now. If anything happens, there will be hell to pay."

With a nod of understanding, Stanis turned his horse and concluded,

"Agreed. Let’s resume our patrol and address this promptly."

***

Aideen slowly opened her eyes, still enveloped in the heavy embrace of pleasant slumber, unwilling to release her. As her mind gradually focused in response to her mana, she realized that Tillian was already gone.

Slowly, the princess slid her right hand over his empty spot, succumbing to a strange sense of sadness. Today the bed felt truly empty without him.

Closing her eyes again to dispel the distracting images painted by her mana, she brought her left arm closer to her face and took a deep breath, inhaling the enchanting scent that seemed to have seeped into her very skin.

Tillian’s scent lingered, leaving her with a sense of overwhelming loneliness.

Suddenly, like an unstoppable avalanche, the memories of their first night washed over her, drowning her in an intoxicating blend of fervent emotions that lingered in her mind as if they could never fade away.

Overwhelmed by shyness, Aideen felt hot blood rush to her face and ears, prompting her to turn around and bury her blushing face into the soft surface of Tillian’s pillow.

But no matter how hard she tried, she could not shake off the embarrassing memories of their shared intimate experience.

Undoubtedly, it was the best night she had ever had, and this realization stirred a frantic swarm of butterflies in her already tingling stomach.

Burying her face deeper into the pillow, the princess giggled and kicked the blanket with her feet, unable to contain her happiness.

Indeed, she was truly happy.

"I have never felt this way before... It was so good that I am partially scared it was all just a dream. Is this how it’s supposed to be? It was so different, so overwhelming... And I miss it. I already miss being so close to him," Aideen mused, clutching the pillow to her chest, recalling the way Tillian held her closer to him before she drifted off to sleep.

Her reverie was interrupted by a careful knocking on the door, instantly bringing her back to refreshing reality.

"Come in!"

Assuming a sitting position, she welcomed the morning intruder. It was Bella.

"Good morning, My Lady!"

With her usual chipper voice and a slightly cunning smile, the maid entered the room, carrying a big silver tray of hearty breakfast food and a steaming pot of refreshing lemon tea. Placing the tray on the nightstand, she continued in an almost singing tone,

"So, how are you feeling today, Your Highness? Is everything alright?"

Unable to contain another strong blush from tinting her face, Aideen nodded and smiled.

"Yes, Bella, I feel wonderful."

"That is fantastic! It is a lazy day here today, My Lady. The bath is ready for you now. Safie has added some relaxing oils to it too. If you wish to rest for today, I can tell Ahspid to cancel your classes and not bother you at all."

The princess rested her chin on the pillow she was still clutching to her chest, taking a few moments to ponder Bella’s suggestion. Then, she shifted her gaze to the maid and shook her head.

"Please tell Ahspid that we won’t be having our lesson today. However... Instead of resting, I would like to spend the day in the late Queen’s room."