Sustaining The King’s Life - Chapter 244

Faustina was rummaging through the contents of the books Orwell brought for her. It was already late, and she was still studying magic. It wasn’t that she was aiming to be a scholar or something—Faustina was just eager to forget what she saw earlier by immersing herself and distracting herself. And the perfect outlet for that is studying. Besides, she couldn’t sleep. And she know even in her dreams she might see that scene again. All she had to do is get rid of that image by continuously resupplying her mind with information.

“Magic as taught by Alte Stadt…”

Faustina was alone in the study.

Orwell was already in his room just an hour ago and fell asleep. He said Faustina should sleep too, and Faustina promised she would after she wrap things up. And she lied. Faustina doesn’t have any plans on sleeping. She prefers to think all night long about different things instead of taking a risk and dreaming about what she was avoiding to see and remember in the end.

Burying her face to the opened book, Faustina finally had enough.

Her brain felt like it was being fried and her eyes were now sore. Her back started to ache as well. If Eula were here, she’ll call this the path to being an old maid, like her.

The king was a person who was considered to be the most important figure in the entire empire. He’s the one who carries the empire in his very actions, and his authority is absolute. He wasn’t within just anyone’s reach. He could get all things—from lands to women—just in a flick of his hand. Even Faustina knows this much. The king could do many things in a heartbeat and none could openly criticize him because he was the king, and an excellent king at that. So, if words were to spread on how he was being passionate with Lilianne while bringing another girl in the sapphire palace, people would not care. In fact, they would only cheer him on because of the possibilities of him taking a wife seem to be higher when he has two women to fancy.

That should be normal.

Faustina’s hand then traveled to the fabric closest to her chest.

“Then why am I feeling this way?”

First, it wasn’t like the king brought her to the sapphire palace with the purpose of turning her into a consort. And it wasn’t like Lilianne had been passionate with Noah, the ninth king. But Faustina saw him with her eyes. She saw him. Faustina finds it hard to draw a line between the souls; although she knew it wasn’t the Noah she knew, she was still remembering his face—kissing Lilianne’s curves and his lips in the delicate parts of her body.

Faustina bit her lips. She exactly couldn’t tell what the king did caress, nor does she want to know. It pains her. But why so? Why does it drives her to this certain feeling?

This should be nothing to her. The king wasn’t in any way involved with her romantically.

Right…?

And as Faustina asked herself that question, she remembered all the things he did. His actions. His sweet smile. His warm embraces. And the night in Magierstadt where he was about to do kiss—

“Faustina?”

Faustina then flinched in response, completely taken-aback from the sudden call. She then reorganized herself and then wore a smile before turning to the one who spoke.

And then, her eyes widened.

The king had now closed the doors—and if it weren’t Faustina’s imagination, he locked them.

“Your majesty.” Faustina then stood up, and then bowed down in courtesy.

“Glory upon the Feuersturm Empire.”

Faustina wondered why the king was here. It was very late. She stared at him—he was now wearing his night clothes, and his hair was dripping wet. Was he out of the bath just now?

Faustina was wearing just a thin white dress and a scarf to cover her bare shoulders. She stared at the king’s sapphire blue eyes. He towered over her. He had ambled close, and stared down to Faustina.

His expression was dim, the room was dark, and the only source of light was the lamp that was dimly-lit on Faustina’s desk.

“Your majesty…?”

Without any word, the king leaned to Faustina and claimed her lips.

Faustina’s eyes widened as the king leaned closer to her, lifting her chin to kiss her deeper. Faustina’s back then touched the table, with the king’s other hand clasping its edges. Faustina couldn’t move, with her mind growing blank at every movement of his lips.

He parted away, with eyes drowned with something else Faustina could easily tell.

Worry.

Anxiousness.

Confusion.

And numerous raw emotions that

Faustina herself had.

“Are you… Noah?” Faustina averted her gaze. She felt ashamed. There was no way that Noah would do this.

“I…” the king gulped. “I’m sorry.”

Faustina’s heart clenched painfully against her chest. Of course. It wasn’t Noah.

“I’m Noah,” he said, and then gently he buried his face to Faustina’s shoulder. ��I’m Noah, Faustina. I’m not the first king, the second, or anyone else. This is the real me.”

Faustina felt more confused than ever. Then why?

“Why… did you kiss me… your majesty?”

He met her eyes again. And without any word he leaned closer until he was claiming her lips once more.

“Open your mouth,” he said as he parted momentarily.

And Faustina obediently did so. The king then glided his tongue inside her mouth. Faustina’s eyes widened as she feels his hand on both of her legs, and then he lifted her up easily to the desk. Their faces now leveled, and the king was easily able to kiss her again.

Faustina felt as if she was burning. The king was kissing her.

“I’m sorry.” He said again.

“I want to remove what you saw earlier.”

Faustina blinked as the king pulled her close. “I want to replace it with something else.”

She stared at the king’s sapphire-blue eyes dizzily. She couldn’t even say a word. Her face was flushed and she was already feeling like she could collapse at any moment. What was happening hadn’t sunk through her.

“Why… why are you doing this, your majesty?” Faustina asked as she pushed the king weakly.

The king was looking at her with vibrant, sapphire-blue eyes. He then tentatively cupped her cheeks, brushing Faustina’s now blacked-colored hair to the side. He leaned to her neck, and gently he licked.

Faustina bit her lips, “No…” And then he bit her flesh softly.

“Hngh!”

The king drew away with a gentle smile on his face.

“I held myself back.” He said as he kissed her forehead. “And just let myself be real this once. That’s all.”

Faustina then averted her gaze.

“Then you used me just for that?”

“No.” The king then smiled. “You’re the only person that made me feel this way.”

Faustina couldn’t help but look into his eyes again.

“Did you hate it?” He asked, with a slightly anxious tone.

Faustina felt all emotions she haven’t felt before, but one thing is for sure—

“I didn’t… h-hate it.”

Nothing about what the king did felt wrong.

Gently he lifted her up, holding two of her legs. Faustina instinctively hold on to his neck as he brought the two of them to the couch on the other side of the room. The king sat down to the cushion, while Faustina to his lap.

“Your majesty—”

The king kissed her again, and this time his kisses are more passionate—and in his passionate kisses Faustina could feel his hunger, and his slight aggressiveness.

It was as if he was yearning for this.

It was Faustina who pulled away from the kiss.

And then, she blinked.

“Y-y-your m-majesty—”

The king chuckled. “Sorry.”

Faustina covered her face. Is that what she thinks it is? Under her…a bulge… in her…

The king then pulled her hand gently away from her face and claimed her lips again. But this time he was a lot gentler, and even in the kiss Faustina was able to tell he was smiling.

“Your majesty—”

“Noah.” He said. “Call me Noah.”

Faustina stared at the king, and then to his parted lips. The two of them had just kissed. Even the king’s face was flushed; and even in this dim room Faustina could tell how hooded his eyes looked.

He embraced her again, but this time it was him who buried his face on her chest.

“I’m sorry.”

His voice sounded strained and apologetic.

“I did something wrong.”

Faustina wanted to pat his platinum-blond hair, but she held back the moment she heard him being honestly apologetic. He sounded as if he committed a grave sin. And it brought a strange feeling to Faustina as she listened to his next words.

“Faustina.”

He now slid her back to the cushion. And gently he lied her down. He had this certain air around him as if he was holding himself back. His expression was pained and strained, and every time she mer her eyes he looked like he wanted to kiss her again.

“If I tell you to stay, will you stay?”

The king asked.

But instead of answering, Faustina asked a question instead.

“What am I to you, Your majesty?”

She asked as a retort.

The king took a long pause before he replied.

“You are the one to sustain my life.” He said. “You are my Faustina.” Faustina stared at the king.

“But I do not belong to you, Your majesty.” Faustina said. The king stared down at Faustina with eyes dim.

“Do I have to make you mine first?” And then, before the king could lean to kiss her again—

The ground shook—but not out of an earthquake.

Rather—

“Your majesty!” Said one of the high knights from the study. “We are under attack!”

**

A/N: Next chapter is to be on the next and last volume of Sustaining the King’s Life—

Volume 5: The Prophecy!