I Don't Want To Be Loved

Chapter 58: Rihannan and Arundell

Basil entered Rihannan’s cabin snappily and ready to drag the black-haired-beast by the foot if need be. This was the best opportune time to gain Rihannan’s favor. She would become Arundell’s queen soon. Once this happens, well… then it was time to switch sides.

Igor, on the other hand, was not finished with Rihannan. He grunted and parted his lips, but Basil quickly shouted, “Your Majesty, if you’re done with your business, let’s go!”

Igor’s sharp eyes immediately flashed a deathly glare towards Basil for his sudden interruption.

At his resentful gaze, Basil clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘I’m just helping you. It will only get worse for you if you stay here any longer, Your Majesty.’

“Your Majesty, please come this way!” Basil said, his tone proud and ever so brave.

At Basil’s repeated urging, Igor was forced to back down. He gnashed his teeth and said to Rihannan, “…..Rest well.”

And so, Igor was driven straight out of the cabin pitifully. As soon as Basil closed the door, Basil tried to quickly escape, but alas’, he was caught by the neck.

“Oh, ha-ha… Your Majesty, it’s you. Just calm down and let me say…”

Undaunted by Basil’s desperate appeal, Igor let out a demonic chuckle and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll listen to what you have to say all night, Basil.”

***

A few days later, the ship reached the port of Arundell. The party of three got off the ship and stepped foot inside a carriage. Rihannan did not bother asking where they’d go. She believed they would head straight to Edirne, the capital city.

Rihannan’s thoughts were seized with mixed feelings as she looked at the scenery passing by. She not only came back to the place she hoped to avoid… and now she could not help but feel frustrated at the sudden thought of the people she would encounter in the palace.

The late queen, though she cared for Rihannan, she was a difficult person to comprehend. She was the only figure in her life who stood by her side and supported her, but Rihnannan found it difficult to keep their relationship well and alive. Rihannan knew that should the Queen turn her back on her, then her life was as good as dead.

And those aristocratic nobles, they’ll become a thorn in her flesh and side, now more than ever before. Her current situation this lifetime was no better than her past life. There was no doubt that she would become their prey should she thread on the wrong path.

‘Sigh… how troublesome…’

Rihannan’s past was full of failed relationships while craving love and affection from others, but this time, she did not wish for love, did not want to be loved, did not want the baggage that came with it. She wanted a break.

‘Will I be able to live a different life here this time…’

As worries afflicted her troubled mind, sleep dawned on her. When she awoke, she felt comfortable. She was sure that she had her head leaned against the carriage wall in an uncomfortable position, but strangely… she felt like she was lying in a comfortable bed.

Someone brushed her hair gently and affectionately. Only one man came to mind.

“…..Dimi?”

The touch stopped right away.

Rihannan, slightly awake, fluttered her eyes open and realized that she was lying on the carriage chair and had something hard propped on her head for support. When she turned her head, purple eyes looked down at her and she immediately rose in panic, appalled to discover that she had used his thighs as a pillow a little while ago.

“How can I…”

Before falling asleep, she rode in the carriage alone, but when she woke up, there was Igor looking down at her.

“I opened the door a while ago to notify you that we’ve reached our destination, but you were asleep. I lent my body to you for a while because you looked uncomfortable. That’s all.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you.” Rihannan bowed, sweeping her disheveled hair over her ear. “Where are we at?”

It should have taken them a few days’ worth of ride before arriving at the capital. The travel was too fast.

“If you’re curious, look out the window.”

At Igor’s remark, Rihannan pulled the window curtain back.

“Ah…”

Her eyes trembled gently. Before her was a scenery so rightfully familiar. It was the garden she played in as a child… the garden of evergreen, the garden of flowers. The long chair resting under the large oak tree where she would often read a book with her mother was still there, and behind it was the mansion.

It was her estate…

“How…”

As she looked at the view with a face full of surprise, Igor said, “You probably won’t see them for a while. It’s hard to get here from Edirne. It’s also a good time to greet your mother. And it just so happens that we’re close to the harbor.” Igor got off the wagon first, then he stretched his hand out to her and smiled lightly. “I can’t give you much time because of our tight schedule. Go and say hello. Your people miss you.”