Chapter 128: Start Removing Clothes

Chapter 128: Start Removing ClothesWhen it was time for Arlan to retire to his bedchamber, Oriana had been summoned to attend to his needs. Other attendants were assigned to wait on him during the night, and she was currently in the common area of the servant quarters, eating her evening meal.

"Stop, His Highness is not in his room. He is taking a night stroll in the rear garden," Damien, who passed the message, reminded her just as she was about to head to the second floor.

"Ah? Alright. I’ll go there now."

As fast she could, she went towards the rear of the Palace of Thistle. Just as she arrived, she saw the prince walking back to the building, his expression unreadable. He was alone.

She followed Arlan on the way back to his chamber, but then belatedly realized that neither the butler nor the other attendants were nearby.

For a split second, her heart thumped with worry.

Earlier in the library, didn’t Arlan say he would think of her punishment tonight?

Her mind anxious, each step of hers felt heavy, as if she was dragging her feet. She was reluctant to walk further.

’Damien said I was called because His Highness is going to bed. Am I a nanny? Do I have to read him bedtime stories? Of course not. This should be him making an excuse to punish me. If he has night errands for us, the prince will call the butler. Why didn’t Mister Roman come with us to put this devil to sleep? Why do I have to do it alone—’

One of the knights standing outside the prince’s bedchamber opened the door for them, only to hear Arlan say. "You all are dismissed for the night."

The knights and the servants present outside bowed to him and left, proving Oriana’s guess. The anxiousness Oriana was feeling grew stronger. Her heart was beating faster, her palms turning sweaty.

’Why is he sending them away? What does this pervert plan on doing?!’

Arlan, who could hear her heartbeats, could not help but smile as he entered his chamber.

Oriana quietly followed him inside.

"Close the door," she heard Arlan say.

’What’s the need of closing the door? What evil scheme did he brew in his perverted mind? Ahh! If I knew I’d be punished like this, I would have been less nosy! I should have stayed together with Neil and Damien in the parlor! I should not have attempted to read that document! Ahh!’ she let out an internal cry. Sadly, there was no cure for regret.

She had no choice but to close the door which she had intentionally kept open.

Oriana turned around, only to find him standing with his arms crossed over his chest, looking at her with the same unreadable expression from earlier.

She cleared her throat nervously with her head lowered, waiting to know her punishment.

One second, two seconds, three seconds, a full minute had passed, yet the prince neither moved nor said a word. This kind of waiting was pure torture for Oriana.

Knock, knock, knock!

Oriana—whose nerves had been stretched taut due to the silence—was frightened silly by the sound from the door behind her. Her heart almost leaped out of her mouth, and a small curse slipped past her lips. Her hands flew over her racing heart.

"Your Highness, it is I. May I come in?" the butler’s voice came from the other side.

"You may enter."

Roman came in holding a tray with a long-necked bottle and an elegant wine glass. He moved without glancing at Oriana, and after placing the tray on the empty tea table, he uncorked the bottle. The strong aroma of red wine filled the bedchamber, heavy and intoxicating. Roman proceeded to pour the garnet liquid into the crystal goblet before giving the wine glass to Arlan. He then departed the room.

The prince’s tall figure, under the flickering light of the lamps, gave a strange vibe as he lazily swirled the wine inside the glass. Oriana could not help but stare as he seemingly enjoyed the wine’s fragrance before taking a sip.

As he swallowed, her gaze could not help but land on his lips, before trailing down the way his throat moved.

She did not even realize her mouth was slightly parted at this point.

"Are you going to stand there, or do you plan to start?" he asked after he placed the empty wine glass back on the table.

"S-Start? What start?" she asked, her nerves still frazzled. His ocean blue eyes did not leave her the entire time. From the moment Roman came in, till drinking his wine, his eyes had remained on her. The feeling it gave...

It was strange—it was not her who drank wine, but she was starting to feel a burn inside her. And it scared her.

"Start removing clothes," he answered in a low drawl, as if that was expected.

Her soul left her body.

"C-Clothes, Y-Y-Your Highness?!"

Inside, she was screaming. ’Ahh! I knew it! This dangerous perverted fiend! Ahhhh! I should have trusted my guts! I’m not a man! I’m not a man, you—-’

"Is it that surprising for you, Orian?" His eyes gave off an odd glint. "I thought you would have figured this out by now."

’That you are a pervert who likes pretty boys?!’

"I..." Still, this was her master, a royal prince of the kingdom. They were inside his home. His words were law. Her icy cold hands moved to clutch the fabric of her coat.

’Seems like today, he will know I am a woman. Then, he will be disgusted, right? Since he likes men, he will not be interested to do more–maybe, even dismiss me this very instant. But if he orders his knights to drag me out... Shall I tell him on my own first? It’s better to get punished after admitting my fault than..."

"Why are you still standing there?" he asked, as if her reaction did not make sense.