I Don't Want To Be Loved

Chapter 71: Torturous Beauty

“Your Majesty, we’ll soon arrive at the Countess’ estate.”

A voice entered Igor’s ear. He raised his head and looked ahead. The journey from Chrichton to Arundell was smooth. After two hours of time getting off the port, entering the carriage, and beginning their journey, they had finally arrived at Rihannan Alessin’s estate.

The original plan was to journey straight to Edirne, the kingdom capital, but Igor deviated slightly from the planned schedule and stopped by the mansion. He thought she’d have a much difficult time going back to visit her servants.

“Stop.”

The royal carriage stopped at the king’s instructions as Igor got off the horse and approached the carriage Rihannan was on. For formality’s sake, he knocked on the door before entering.

“Excuse me.”

What he saw after opening the door was her leaning against the window. She was tired and hadn’t gotten a single rest from the port and to here.

After commanding his people to remain quiet, Igor hopped inside the carriage and sat in front of her while carefully closing the door. Rather than wake her up, he intended to wait.

It was slightly dark inside the carriage and silence all around. There was the occasional sound of her soft breathing that he could hear. This was the first time he had gotten a good look at her face. In his past life, though married, he had never found the chance to truly look at her like this. Even in their most intimate acts, all he saw was her white skin.

The sun shone through the crevice of the curtains in the small window. Her silvery eyelashes, which stretched downwards, glowed softly under the light. Her lips parted slightly and a weak breath flowed out.

Igor smiled unconsciously. He looked completely defenseless.

When he looked at her again, he saw that she had trouble sleeping. There was a slight crease between her brows and a fidgeting that looked uncomfortable.

‘That you’re like this, I’m sorry. I caused this…’

Then he frowned at the thought of her drinking the medicine that he thought was poison… though come to think of it, his actions were disgraceful. She must have thought she was dealing with a lunatic suddenly lunging at her out of nowhere.

He too would have been surprised.

What’s worse… was their conversation afterward. His words only angered her further and she hadn’t come out of her room since then throughout the voyage.

Igor looked at her sleeping face, wondering how he should resolve their misunderstanding. Basil advised him that he should be upfront with what he had done, but…

Then her head fell from the window and gradually leaned to the other side. Watching her with a shaky gaze, Igor rushed forward and sat next to her as her body leaned heavily to the side. He had intended to place her head on his shoulder, but she slid straight down.

He could not breathe properly as she laid on his thighs.

Igor clenched his teeth and groaned softly.

‘This is torture…’

He turned his eyes away with his hand wrapped around his face. He felt his blood boiling. He was no adolescent boy, but he could not believe he would react like this. After taking a deep breath, he managed to regain his composure and looked at her small frame that rested on his thighs.