C73
Zachary knew he must not draw his sword recklessly. Even less so in front of a member of the royal family.
However, despite that fact, Zachary's mood did not calm down, but only worsened.
The cause was obvious.
Jacob's gaze towards Bianca!
He stared at Bianca persistently, without hesitation, even in the presence of her husband, Zachary. Fortunately, the darkness partly covered his face. But Zachary didn't know if the torchlight and moonlight on Bianca would make her even more alluring.
Zachary suppressed the urge to immediately slit Jacob's throat, thinking of how to leave this place without causing much commotion. It really felt like something was about to happen. It's a big problem he can't handle.
Jacob also felt that Zachary's discomfort had reached its limit. He shouldn't provoke him any further. But even knowing that, he couldn't take his eyes off Bianca.
He had the confidence to seduce Bianca in his own way. Even the wife of Prince Gautier, who distrusted him, blushed when she saw Jacob.
Moreover, he thought he could easily hold onto a young woman who was only 17 years old. But Bianca didn't cross the boundaries. On the contrary, she showed clear disdain for Jacob.
Perhaps that's why he was more obsessed. It's because her high walls increased his desire to conquer. Every time Bianca pretended not to see him, his stomach burned in a strange way.
He couldn't compare to the women who ran with open arms, smiling like flowers in full bloom as soon as they saw him.
"Yes. If I act hastily anyway, it will only increase her vigilance. I will approach her slowly, as if taming a little animal... Let's use this tournament first. There, I will capture her heart..."
Seeing her so indifferent as if she couldn't even entertain the thought of an affair, the pleasure and sense of subjugation he would feel when he conquered her would be immense. Because the fruit you obtain after suffering is sweeter.
"If I get rid of Zachary, she will be mine in the end. After losing her husband, she will feel anxious and desperate... she will cling to the person around her to escape loneliness. And that's when I will stealthily approach her!"
Jacob's lips formed a significant arc. His delusional thoughts seemed plausible at first glance, but the problem was that Bianca was being sponsored by Arno and Blanchefort. If Zachary died, the Arno family would belong to the Countess, and if she decided to rule the family alone, Jacob had no choice but to give up.
How should I do it?
Jacob's concerns didn't last long. If Bianca's relationships were a problem, all he had to do was take away everything that supported her.
Jacob looked at Viscount Huegh beside him.
Usually, he was noisy and slow in his actions, not very pleased with him because he was clever enough to take care of himself. But he's Zachary's older brother...
"Yes, it's not a bad idea to use Huegh... If he kills Zachary and gives her the property, he will try to kick her out somehow. Blanchefort might accept her if she's expelled, but if they brand her as shameful and dishonorable, it won't be easy. So she must be expelled for tarnishing the honor of the family. If I take good care of her, she will be forced to open her legs to me..."
Bianca didn't know what Jacob was thinking, but a shiver ran down her spine as soon as his gaze reached her. What an unpleasant man.
Wanting to leave this place quickly, Bianca said as she tugged on Zachary's sleeve.
"Darling, I have a headache."
Bianca rested her forehead on Zachary's forearm, foolishly. As soon as Bianca moved, Zachary's body stiffened.
Darling? She didn't call him darling even when he gave her a horse as a gift. It's nice to hear the nickname "Darling," but he was angry because he had to understand the situation rationally instead of enjoying the joy of this situation.
Swallowing all those thoughts, Zachary bid farewell straightforwardly, as Bianca intended.
"My wife is not feeling well. So, we will take our leave first."
But Jacob was not someone who backed down.
"Oh, yes. She was sick until recently. I will send you a selection of precious medicines that are good for women."
"It's not-..."
"No need to refuse. Because it's my sincerity."
Jacob said as if he were being kind. No matter what Zachary said, he felt the will to force him. It was repulsive to see him taking care of his wife.
But that wasn't the only thing bothersome. How did Jacob know that Bianca had been sick? He must have planted his seeds around Bianca. Or he bought the information with money.
As soon as he returned to his bedroom, he would deal with that.
Unable to hide his hostility, he said.
"Everything my wife puts in her mouth is only what I choose, select, and permit. I appreciate your consideration, Prince, but my wife probably won't speak about whatever you send. So, farewell."
It was an aggressive farewell message. Zachary bowed his head in greeting, then turned around without hearing Jacob's following words. Turning around, Zachary quickened his pace, holding Bianca's shoulder with one hand.
Bianca matched his pace as well. She didn't want to deal with those people anymore. A strong wind blew from behind Zachary and Bianca as they walked forward without hesitation.
Viscount Huegh cursed behind them. He didn't even care if he looked angry or pointed his finger.
"How dare he...?! Your Highness, I apologize for that. He couldn't learn because all this time he was rolling around on the battlefield."
Viscount Huegh bowed to Jacob over and over again. But his apology was only to slander and degrade Zachary.
What the hell did Zachary do to him? Although she was getting tired of hearing it, Bianca, who was curious, gently lifted her head to look at Zachary.
His jaw, seen from below, was as strong and firm as ever. As if he was used to such enemies.
For a moment, Bianca's head spun, and it became difficult to control her body. Perhaps it was because she inhaled too much repugnant air.
Previously, she pretended to have a headache to get out of the situation, but now she really felt a lot of pain. Bianca exhaled. Still, it was nice to be out of his sight.
The first one to notice her faltering body was Zachary, who almost hugged her by the shoulder. When Zachary looked at her bewildered, Bianca's face had already turned pale.
"You must be very sick. I thought it was a lie to avoid the place..."
"It was definitely a lie before."
"I think you've met too many people today."
"Yes, and some of them were not very pleasant."
Bianca was introverted and not used to meeting anyone, so when she talked with more than a certain number of people, she quickly got tired.
Viscount Huegh and Jacob, whom she met today, were enough to surpass Bianca's threshold. That's how reluctant she felt towards them. The idea of meeting them again in the future made Bianca's stomach ache.
Zachary asked, concerned about Bianca's faltering gaze.
"Can you walk?"
"Of course."
She spoke boldly, but her head was spinning. As dizziness increased, her vision darkened, and it was even difficult to take a step forward. Zachary silently observed Bianca's condition and hinted as if he had made a decision after some time.
"I don't think so... What if I carry you?"
"There are too many eyes."
Bianca was startled.
No matter how much a noble wife entrusted everything to others, she always had to keep her back straight and maintain her dignity. Her steps had to be as graceful as a swan peacefully swimming in a lake. If it was uncomfortable to move, she would prefer to sit in a palanquin rather than being carried by someone else. Even if that person was her husband.
Despite Bianca's reluctance, Zachary didn't easily back down. He wanted to grant Bianca most of her wishes, but her health came first.
From Zachary's perspective, Bianca seemed like she would collapse after taking just three steps. Unlike usual, she insisted strongly.
"It's already late. There's no one passing by, and it's dark. No one will see us."
"Even if it's late, we might encounter a noble like the one we just dealt with."
"Then pretend you fainted. I'll use you as an excuse to avoid people."
As soon as he said that, Zachary leaned towards Bianca. He then took her in his arms and lifted her. The process was so effortless that Bianca only felt her gaze shifting, not knowing what had happened. It would probably have been harder to hold a cat than to do this.
Her vision suddenly lifted upwards, and Zachary's face pressed against hers. She could observe his cheekbones as defined as his chin, his double eyelids, and his long lashes as clear as a white deer. These were things she had never seen before.
Standing side by side, the height difference between the two was so great that Bianca's head reached Zachary's chest. So, except when she saw him face to face, Bianca was always forced to look at his chin. As such, when Zachary's face approached, she felt embarrassed. Startled, Bianca moved her arms and legs.
But Zachary's arm holding her didn't move. On the contrary, Bianca might fall, so she gave strength to the hand holding her. To him, Bianca's resistance was nothing compared to the shame of a whining puppy.
Why does she hate him so much? Zachary, who was puzzled by Bianca's resistance, looked at her with concern.
However, Zachary also felt her closeness.
The wrinkle between her furrowed brows. The light green iris that seemed to have moved a spring field. Particularly, he noticed her tightly pressed lips, as if she was desperately resisting escaping.
He immediately lifted his head. His heart started beating strongly. Pretending to be as calm as possible, Zachary said,
"Don't do that because it's dangerous. I'll take you to your chambers in a minute."
"...You should go fast. I don't want others to see me."
Realizing that there was nothing she could do, Bianca stopped resisting and loosened her limbs.
Her weak limbs fell like wet cotton, but Zachary moved forward as if she weighed nothing. He walked quickly.
Bianca's slender legs trembled in the air. With each step Zachary took, her body shook up and down. Bianca, fearing she might fall, quickly reached out her hand to grab Zachary's neck. It wasn't enough to just hold onto his neck tightly, so she buried her face in his neck.
She was afraid someone else might witness this embarrassing situation. And she didn't have the confidence to control her expression if she were discovered.
The musky scent of Zachary permeated the tip of her nose. It tickled for no reason, so she let out a sigh. For a moment, Zachary's steps halted.
In the moment Bianca slowly lifted her head at the sudden stop, Zachary began walking again. Bianca thought it wouldn't be a big deal and buried her face in Zachary's neck again, like a bird hiding its head between the fluffy feathers of its chest.
Zachary's steps were faster than Bianca's. The scenery passing by was like riding a horse. But obviously, it was a bit, just a bit slower than before.
Tags:
TWB (Novel)