Ever Ever After - Chapter 61

“Next month.”

Ailea nodded, stiffening. “I see.”

Lawrence’s stern gaze seemed as it would pierce right through her. She didn’t know it, but he was irritated. Her eyes kept looking for Clint.

On the other hand, Ailea was afraid that she’d become too much for Clint if she took away his freedom. She was worried. She’s sure he’d end up loathing her like Lawrence. She was that sort of person—the kind people would avoid like a plague. She tried to be strong. She sent him away to another woman. She would allow him to live as he always has. This was her decision, but somehow, her heart ached.

‘I wanted to dance with him first. I wanted to dance with him under the glistening lights and not care for the world around me. At least…’

Clint walked out of the banquets hall, eyes searching for his wife from afar. Ailea noticed his figure from her peripheral view and her eyes widened. He should’ve been dancing with Lady Norton right now.

Lawrence’s face tensed and a scowl was written on his lips. This was not how it was supposed to go. She should’ve cried, falling into despair because he had abandoned her and forced her to become another man’s wife to be thrown around like a rag doll toy. The Ailea that he knew seven years ago was that sort of woman. She was that sort of woman who kept clinging onto him despite stomping her love all over the ground. She was that sort of woman who knew her place.

And now, it looks as if she’d recently walked out of her prison and learned about this little thing called freedom.

“Did you do it with Clint yet? Did he f*ck you?” Lawrence asked coldly.

Ailea hadn’t expected that from him.

“W–we still… haven’t held the ceremony…” Ailea replied, embarrassed.

“Is that so? Clint’s not that kind of guy, though. He screws just about anyone and you’re saying that he won’t touch a woman before holding a ceremony?”

“…”

“It seems that you’re not good enough for him to be his partner for the night.”

Ailea’s face hardened. Her lips parted slightly and Lawrence half-expected her to burst into tears.

“Is he that picky with women, whether their skin is fair or if they’ve a skin condition?”

“What?”

“He often calls me pretty,” she said, her deep blue eyes looking straight into his soul.

Lawrence knew that he would never grow tired of looking at her eyes. It was rare. Her beastly face though… it was a sight for sore eyes.

“I’m his woman until the day I die. He can choose to make love to me anytime he desires, so you do not need to concern yourself with matters such as this, Your Highness,” she said bravely as she passed by Lawrence. She didn’t see Lawrence’s face crumbling in horror.

She had steeled herself to utter those words, but despite that, her heart beat erratically; her hands trembled nonstop. She looked for a solitude place and sat down.

“I wonder if what I said was too much…”

She looked as if she’d soon cry, so she hurriedly rubbed her cheeks and gave it a soft tap.

Clint, who’d been watching, walked towards her.

Ailea had noticed him.

‘I think I’ve become a bit more confident because of you…’ she thought.

***

Clint had been in a hurry and saw that Ailea had been placed in a difficult position speaking to Lawrence in the garden. He regretted leaving her alone.

As he prepared to stand by her side, she walked past Lawrence proudly while the Crown Prince was left dumbfounded. Then she sat at an empty seat and tapped her cheeks with both hands.

Clint had almost smiled. She was adorably cute. But he stopped himself from smiling. Now wasn’t the proper time. She might need comforting.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I’m… calming myself down.”

“Calming?”

When he took a closer look, her hands were shaking. The capital city of the Teniac Empire was located in the north. The night was cold and chilly.

Clint took off his jacket and wrapped it around Ailea’s shoulder.

He sat down next to her and said, “Give me your hand.”

Ailea stuck her out in a daze.

Clint took off his gloves and held her hand, giving her warmth.

“Why–why are you trembling so much, my dear wife?”