TYPHONE

  Ever since Grimore and I walked to the knights' quarters, he doesn't stop apologizing. I told him to stop, but he just wouldn't. I was so close to wrapping his scarf around his mouth to shut him up.

  "Your Majesty, I just... I didn't know that you and the princess would be in such close proximity and the guards told me where you were and I was careless and--"

  I've had it. I might go crazy if I don't shut him up.

  "Grimore." I turned around and slapped a hand on his mouth. I was holding his face with one hand and he just kept mumbling.

  "Stop. Just... stop that rambling. I told you. It's fine." I said the last words with gritted teeth.

  I remembered how her small figure was pressed against mine. She smelled like roses and peaches. It was intoxicating how our lips are mere inches apart, how I was so close to tasting those tempting pink lips all morning.

  If I could just bring back time, lock the door, and--

  "Your Majesty." I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Leonis' voice behind me.

  I let go of Grimore and he let out a loud breath, as if he couldn't breathe minutes ago. I mumbled a soft apology and turned to Leonis.

  "What's the matter?" I asked, serious and firm.

  "The knights are waiting for your instructions." He simply said and raised a brow at me, curious as to why I was seconds away from killing Grimore.

  I huffed and turned on my heel, "Alright."

  I could hear footsteps behind me. Grimore and Leonis were following behind. I barged into the knights' quarters without knocking and the noise that were so loud a few minutes before was now hushed into silence.

  I noticed that Ynkerthia knights were slimmer, more fit that my own knights who were bulking figures of muscles. Every knight in the room saluted and greeted me with respect.

  Ynkerthia will be mine so it's only natural that their knights should obey me.

  "Listen up. Starting tomorrow, I expect half of the knights to guard the princess during her errands. I will not tolerate anything if the princess has a single hair out of place. Understand?" I announced loudly and with authority.

  "Yes, Your Majesty!"

  "The wedding will be held 3 days from now. I expect all of you to be on guard at all times. Enjoy the rest of your evening." I bid them and turned around.

  However, I stopped a few inches away from the door, turned my head back and said, "One more thing. Guests will be arriving on the second day of the wedding preparations. Be a gentleman and keep your eyes peeled for... rats."

  They were alerted and their auras were menacing. I smirked and finally left the room. I could still feel Grimore and Leonis following me.

  "What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?" Grimore asked.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  "A lot of people will be attending, Grimore. Not all of them are here to wish the King and the princess a happy marriage. Some will try to ruin it." Leonis explained and Grimore replied with a long 'Ohh'.

  Let's see who these rodents are trying to ruin my marriage.

  **********

  The next morning, I woke up to the sun hitting my eyes. I groaned and pulled up the covers. Pink.

  "Rise and shine, Your Majesty. Let's get you ready for your breakfast with the royal family." Grimore happily chimed, pulling the covers away.

  "Fucking pink sheets didn't make me sleep last night. I removed it, but even the fucking mattress is pink." I growled as I sat up, running a hand through my messy hair.

  "Maybe you should ask the princess about it. Who knows? One of her friends must have stayed over and the maids forgot to change them." Grimore tried to look at the bright side, but I didn't believe it.

  I don't think any royal family will forget to change the sheets after a visitor has left.

  "Whatever." I mumbled and got out of bed. I stood by the window, exposing my naked torso to the world. The sun felt good on my skin and I enjoyed the view. The vast forest stretched out over the horizon.

  I bet there's an open space there where I can hide Calagon during the our wedding.

  I looked outside the window and saw Princess Avery commanding servants here and there. I watched her nose crinkle at things she disliked and how her eyes shone at things she loved. Then, she looked up and our eyes met. I smirked when I saw how her cheeks turned red, but the tip of her nose were turning redder.

  "Your Majesty?"

  "Yeah. Get my clothes. I'm going to greet my wife to be." I commanded.

  **********

  Grimore decided to dress me lightly, but still elegant and presentable. According to him, the black button up shirt and gray pants match my style really well. He also made me wore the black leather belt that had a skull decor on the buckle. He fixed my hair in a messy yet pleasing kind of way.

  "You look stunning, Your Majesty!" He complimented when I looked at myself in the mirror. I hummed in appreciation.

  "Not bad, Grimore." I nodded and walked out of the room.

  I headed to the rose garden where Princess Avery was, still commanding her servants. As I got closer, I could hear what she was saying.

  "No. No. No sunflowers on the table. Oh. Yes! I'd like the king to try the fluffy bread. It goes well with the garlic oil, but... whatever. Just serve it too."

  Her soft voice was music to my ears and I couldn't wait to hold her any longer so I wrapped my arms around her shoulder. Surprised, she yelped and threw a punch at me. I groaned as she hit my nose.

  I could hear the servants gasping and Avery turned to look at me. She squealed in panic and crouched down on the ground with me.

  "Your Majesty! Oh my heavens! Are you alright?! I'm so sorry! I thought it was an intruder! I am so sorry!" She rambled on, trying to look at my face.

  When you've fought dragons and monsters all your life, this is nothing. Although, the fact that she punched me hard was a surprise and it actually stings a little.

  "I'm fine. Don't worry. It's not that bad." I uncovered my nose and droplets of blood trickled down on the grass.

  The fuck? I'm... bleeding?

  "Oh. No. You're not! Come with me. Oh. Wait." Before she could drag me anywhere, she made me hold a napkin on my nose so that the bleeding wouldn't get worse, according to her.

  She dragged me into the gazebo, her safe place. She asked her maid, Meylin, to bring her a basin of cold water.

  "I'm really sorry, Your Majesty. I didn't know it was you and I punched you out of instinct." She whimpered as she noticed how soaked the napkin was.

  When the maid has brought the basin and left, she started to wipe my nose with the cold water. Her touch was gentle, soothing. I stared at her face. Her eyebrows were slightly knitted together and her lips were slightly agape as she placed a cold towel on my nose.

  Fuck. I want to kiss her so bad.

  "I didn't know you could throw a punch." I said and she blushed.

  "Well... my father asked the captain of the knights to teach me a few tricks for... self defense." She replied, voice soft.

  "Self defense? For what?"

  "I... get out of the palace walls once in a while to... uhm... interact with our people." She admitted.

  "You're too kind, princess."

  "It's not bad once in a while. It... lets me be normal."

  "I understand that feeling."

  She gently placed the towel back onto the basin and asked, "Do you interact with your people, Your Majesty?"

  I smirked, "Hmm. Why don't you go and find out once you became my wife."

  She blushed and started squirming. She got up from her seat and excused herself, saying that breakfast isn't ready. I chuckled and watched her leave.

  I can't wait for the day that I can finally call you mine, princess.