CH 7

“Did you not feel any empathy for that flower?”

“…….”

Eloise remained still and bit her lips. She knew exactly what was going through his mind.

“Well, it’s a flower that bloomed in my garden. It is entirely up to me whether to raise it or eliminate it.”

He locked his gaze on her, bristling with a merciless glance.

“Nourishing it, spreading the seeds. Until it bears fruit.”

“…….”

“Everything in this palace is within my command.”

His eyes shone darkly. His other words meant that he wouldn’t be forgiving. Eventually, Eloise lowered her head.

“……I know.”

Eloise nodded several times with her head and eyes lowered. Only then did she realize how stupid she had been.

In his eyes, all flowers are the same.

If it were him, nothing could be enough to express the beauty of a vibrant flower soaking in the rain and mist of early morning.

When she walked into the greenhouse, it was overflowing with beautiful flowers that were all ready to be harvested. So much so that you don’t have to sift flowers in the garden laboriously.

However, there are moments when the sight of those flowers makes her feel as if she’s being strangled. And she doesn’t know why.

She turned frustrated at some point as she watched those flowers receiving nutrients and being watered without flaws in the wonderfully cozy greenhouse—all while she’s feeling suffocated on one side of her chest.

It was unknown when this symptom first appeared. Just vaguely, for no reason, the moment she walked through the imperial palace, arranged flowers, embroidered cloth, or waited for the crown prince, they came and went without warning.

Perhaps this is why seeing the flowers in the greenhouse was more upsetting. Rather than the sunlight penetrating through the glass or water that had to be given, she wanted to touch and smell the freely blooming flowers at least once.

However, there was nothing different about the flowers in the garden. It’s just a matter of being outside or being inside that makes the difference.

The flowers in the garden were also meticulously watered, pruned, and maintained by dedicated gardeners.

She vainly realized that measuring what was more lively and beautiful among those two was meaningless.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t give it much thought.”

It was as if the tail and ears were drooping because they couldn’t run. Almost immediately, he hardened his face. It was so cute to watch her repeatedly blame herself for her sins.

“I will not act recklessly.”

Strength was evident in the hands clenching the sheets.

“You’re begging me again. Why?”

“What……?”

“Rishid, do it.”

“…….”

“Say it.”

He indolently opened and closed his eyes, like a cat desperately wanting to convey something.

Of course, Eloise didn’t say anything like this out loud. Who knows what kind of punishment she’d get if she did. Hence, she decided to just keep it on herself.

“Yes?”

As she hesitated, his hand immediately caught her chest, which was snugly wrapped in a sheet.

“Ah!”

She screamed without realizing it, startled by the sudden descent of his hand toward her firmly covered globe.

But she couldn’t shake his hand. She didn’t have the authority to do so. The choice was always up to Rishid, and she would do nothing but follow.

Rishid, who had been kneading her perfectly formed breasts on the thin fabric for some time, lifted her hand and yanked off the sheet she had been clutching tightly.

Then the milky, soft chest that had been barely concealed came pouring out. One side was swollen red after being tyrannized by his hands and mouth, while the other was mercifully kept intact.

Rishid’s gaze shifted towards her ample bosom, which he had previously bitten and sucked.

Like a peach left after taking a bite, the dark kiss marks he left on her skin were undoubtedly seductive and irresistible. Rishid’s face, who had been watching it unfalteringly, gradually began to glow in excitement.

Eloise’s face turned redder than before while receiving his attention. Regardless of whether it was because of his gaze or not, he reached back toward her front and tasted it.

Slap.

The strength was rougher than before.

“Ah…….”

Eloise gasped a lungful of air and breathed. Tears began to trickle out of the corners of her eyes due to the throbbing on her sensitive chest. Still, she couldn’t resist even the slightest bit.

He continued to squeeze her peach-colored breast harder with one hand.

Eloise has gone red, unsure what to do as she handed him one side of her bosom. Whenever the tip of his thumb brushed against the pointed nipple, a cry of pain erupted on its own.

The sea of flames ignited on her body was beyond being quenched. As soon as his hands descended on her skin, her sensitive body began to flare like a wildfire. In the end, it was Eloise who was defeated.

“R-Rishid.”

As if he hadn’t heard the noise emanating from her small mouth, Rishid continued to knead her breast with a stormless expression.

“Why?”

“Stop, stop…….”

She begged, twisting her body.

“It seems bigger than usual.”

Eloise felt embarrassed—tempted to die—when he talked so casually with his unwavering expression.

“Yeah, it certainly seems big.”

He tilted his head and said it again. In the end, Eloise was forced to fill his curiosity.

“Soon, I’m having it soon…….”

Eloise murmured with her neck burning red.

“Aaah.”

He nodded lightly as if he understood.

“I think it’s a little late this time.”

Rishid’s eyes narrowed a bit.

“Yes, a little…….”

Eloise answered and shook her head.

There wasn’t much about Eloise that he didn’t already know. Her regular monthly visits were among them.

He understood everything about her cycle, even whether it was getting quicker or slower and when it was the most dangerous. He knew everything. So—unless it’s a day like today—he would refrain from holding her on days when the likelihood of conception is high.

Thus, it was unsurprising that he was aware of the most sensitive areas of Eloise’s body.

“There are times when it’s usually irregular.”

“What’s bothering you?”

“It’s normal. It’s not the same…… for each cycle.”

She wished he would stop asking. Even though she had been his woman from the first day she bled on her underwear, she was still embarrassed to discuss such an intimate subject.

Despite his previously vast knowledge of the matter, he even obtained her extensive health reports by affixing court physicians to her.

“Did you not sleep?”

He let go of her bosom and stroked his hand up her face, which was pale and small. His fingers brushed against the slightly darker corners of her eyes.

“No.”

She answered in a rush, but it was difficult to avoid his keen gaze. Her mouth felt dry as her eyes darted at the reason for her sleeplessness.

“Just, a little…….”

Eloise hesitated, unable to finish her words. Regardless of the truth that she hadn’t slept well recently, her heart was pounding and anxious for reasons she didn’t understand.

Even if she has barely any energy left, sleep stubbornly eludes her. She kept tossing and turning around ceaselessly, and when she finally settled and weariness set in, dawn already illuminated the sky.

When she opened her eyes, it was time for the prince’s morning routine to get weaving.

As she hurried to change his clothes and serve him, exhaustion crept up on her as well. If she strings out ’til the middle of the night…….

It was for that reason that she was swoon, deeply asleep in his bedroom earlier on, hugging him until she passed out. He was to blame for both her sleepiness and insomnia. Nevertheless, she couldn’t say that.

“I said it’s not fun being weak.”

“I’m sorry.”

She responded with obedient lips still raw from all the bites and nibbles. When the hand caressing her chin rose and swept the corner of her lips, her lashes trembled in turn.

“Holding a broken body is not a hobby of mine.”

“I’ll be careful.”

He gazed at her silently as she opened her mouth and spoke like a parrot repeating her words.

“Don’t get up until noon tomorrow.”

“But…….”

Seeing her reaction, he wedged in.

“If you serve me with those dark eyes, I think I’ll feel bad all day long.”

Eloise pursed her lips, seemingly wanting to say something as she caught an endless piercing gaze.

“Yes.”

In the end, her response came extremely brief and flat. An answer to which he neither agrees nor disagrees. Dissatisfied with it, he scowled slightly and grabbed her chest again.

“Ugh…….”

Even the simple act of rubbing the tightly opened chest appeared painful. There was a strange sadistic feeling thriving inside him, biting his lower lip as he stared at those eyes shimmering with tears.

The more she endures, the more he desires to torment her.

Even when he was being rougher in the office, he thought her moans were thicker than usual as their affair was particularly risky. However, no apology or explanation was offered—they do not exist in Rishid’s vocabulary.

He loosened the strength of his viciously gripping hand and began to rub the peak of her chest again gently, and an ethereal moan began to trickle out of Eloise’s parted lips.

It was a body committed to the ecstasy of both pain and pleasure in one breath. Rishid was the one who taught it. This is why it was just easier for him to control her every reaction with a single stroke of his finger.