Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 33

Would her involvement with him endanger her? Probably not. She had survived all the “unnecessary” actions up to this point.

However, she needed to secure her position before anything happened to him. If he were to die, she could end up in another marriage where she might not be treated as well as she was now. It was better to solidify this marriage and live out her days quietly at the Celia Palace.

With that in mind, Miesa tapped Eirik’s shoulder.

“Yes, dear?” he responded.

“I want to sit on your lap.”

Raising an eyebrow, Eirik nonetheless pulled his chair back to make room for her. As she settled on his lap, she turned to him and asked, “Is kissing only something we do in bed?”

Finishing his letter quickly, he looked at her in disbelief.

“Wait, what have you been thinking about now?”

“Can’t we kiss here?” she asked, persistence in her voice.

Shaking his head, Eirik reorganized his desk. “You just said you don’t dislike me. Tell me again when you actually like me.”

“I think I like you now,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Honestly, your acting needs improvement,” he replied, narrowing his eyes at her. “Where did your thoughts jump from and to now?”

“……”

Receiving no answer, he lifted her off the desk and carried her to the bed.

“Prepare a proper answer. I’ll be right back after putting away the documents,” he said, leaving her to roll around on the bed.

Burying herself in the soft sheets, Miesa relished the crisp, sun-dried smell and the smooth fabric against her skin. Compared to these comforts, everything else seemed trivial—the painful consummation, the vengeance, the hateful stares.

A while later, Eirik lay beside her, covering himself meticulously with the blanket and even placing a pillow between them.

“Whatever it is, consider this a down payment,” he said, planting a kiss on her forehead, careful to avoid contact beyond that.

“I told you about my great realization today,” Miesa objected, feeling slighted.

“Yes, it was an important statement,” Eirik conceded, then leaned down to pepper her face with small kisses. Seizing the moment, Miesa tried to wrap her arms around his neck but was gently stopped.

“What’s the matter now?”

“……”

“It’s to save your life.”

He drew a clear line. “The king won’t punish us again for the same reason. Doing so would imply his previous judgment was wrong.”

Miesa’s eyes widened. It all made sense now why he had been so composed all this time.

Though she felt a pang of resentment for having worried needlessly, she calmed herself. That was then, and now she has another reason to worry.

As she clamped her lips shut, her wrist held firmly in his grasp, Eirik chuckled softly. “So, is that the end of the conversation?”

“No, it’s just that…”

She couldn’t very well tell him that she thought he might die soon and that they should consummate the marriage. Miesa, now having learned some tact, offered a more palatable explanation.

“…I actually like it when we kiss.”

“You just rolled your eyes. It’s a pity you’re lying.”

Normally, she would bow her head when deep in thought, but in her haste, she had made an uncharacteristic mistake. Miesa grew increasingly frustrated. What on earth is his reason for holding back so much?

“Ow, ow…” Miesa winced as her wrist, held tightly by Eirik, began to hurt.

Seeing her pained expression, he quickly let go. Seizing the moment, Miesa threw off the covers and sat up.

“Wait a minute.”

Ignoring his plea, she tossed aside the boundary pillow and reached for his clothes. But before she could proceed further, his arm wrapped around her like a log, stopping her.

“Why are you doing this? Just tell me,” Eirik demanded, his grip firm.

Trapped in his embrace, anger welled up inside Miesa. So much for her resolve to always smile sweetly in front of him.

“Do you not like my body or something?” she snapped, wriggling like a fish caught in a net. “Is it that important? You could just close your eyes and get it over with.”

A sigh of disbelief escaped from above her head. Miesa paused, and at that moment, Eirik’s large hand cupped the back of her head and laid her gently back onto the bed. His expression was rigid as he looked down at her.

He must be really angry this time, she thought.

Before she could feel the injustice of it all, he rubbed his temples in exasperation. Then, reaching out to her, he said, “How could you think that? Do you really believe that’s why?”

As he unbuttoned her nightgown, revealing her pale skin, a look of incredulity crossed his face. “Not like your body? Really?”

His gaze scanned over her, and though he seemed angry, Miesa felt more confusion than fear. She imitated someone’s voice mockingly, “‘It wouldn’t be satisfactory. Look at all these scars, so thin and unappealing.’“

Realizing how others saw her made Eirik’s expression clouded with a mix of emotions. Taking a deep breath, he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his own body inch by inch. Miesa’s eyes widened at the sight.

His broad shoulders, muscular chest, and slender waist flexed with every movement. The sight was imposing, even more so now that his clothes were off.

“I have just as many scars,” he said, his voice steady.

As Miesa looked closer, she saw his shoulders, sides, and arms were covered in various scars of different sizes and shapes.

“Who did this to you?” she asked quietly.

He pointed to each mark, explaining, “This one was left by the commander of Sidate, the most recent scar. This one is from a few years ago, an axe wound. And this one,” he indicated another, “is from an arrow shot by one of our knights…”

He lifted his head, meeting Miesa’s gaze directly. “So, what do you think? Do you find my body unappealing?”

Miesa looked up at him, feeling more intimidated by his size than his scars, and shook her head. “No, I like it.”

“Liar,” he said softly, bending down to gently bite her collarbone. “But I’ll let it slide.”

His hot breath against her skin made the fine hairs on her body stand up. Instinctively, she wriggled, feeling a ticklish sensation mixed with something else, something she couldn’t quite identify. He didn’t stop, holding her firmly as he continued.

He kissed her as if he wanted to consume her, his mouth never stopping. When he reached her breasts and kissed her there, a moan escaped her lips despite herself. Shocked at the sound she made, she quickly covered her mouth.

Watching her intently, he pulled her hand away and sealed her mouth with his own, their tongues intertwining. Unlike before, this time the sensation wasn’t unpleasant. It was strange, but not bad.

His hand started to caress her breast, and when his fingers brushed her nipple, she gasped. What had only been ticklish before now made her feel embarrassed.

He paused, watching her reaction, then gently squeezed her breast with his calloused hand. The confused expression on her face and the way her soft breast yielded under his touch nearly made him laugh.

She threatened his patience like this, and it was outrageous that not only had her maids said such things about her because of her scars, but she herself had actually harbored her misunderstanding.

Eirik continued to knead her breast, suppressing a groan of admiration. Finally, he began to gently roll her nipple between his fingers.

“……”

Miesa blinked her wide eyes, unsure of what to do, and lowered her gaze. Eirik continued to closely observe her ever-changing expressions as he gently pinched and rolled her nipple between his fingers.

Miesa tried to steady her breathing but every time he touched her nipple, she couldn’t help but let out a moan.

“Ahh…!”

Her once-soft nipple gradually turned a rosy hue under his persistent touch. Eirik lowered his head and took the now small, berry-like nipple into his mouth, sucking it as if savoring its taste. Miesa’s body jolted in surprise, but he paid no mind, continuing to tease her other breast with his fingers.

Soft moans escaped Miesa’s lips. Eirik lifted his head and gazed at her bewildered expression before switching to her other breast. As he nibbled and flicked her nipple with his tongue, Miesa’s thighs tightened and her body shivered.

Noticing this, Eirik slowly lifted himself and studied her embarrassed face and her red, shiny nipples for a moment. He then placed his hand on the small mound.

“My genitals are located here. The male body is different from the female body.”

Applying gentle pressure with his palm, he brushed against her pubic hair, leaving a rough sensation. He took a deep breath, trying to explain calmly.

“When the body is stimulated, sexual arousal occurs. It feels similar to the need to urinate, so don’t be alarmed.”

He removed his hand from the mound and slid his finger between her closed thighs. “First, a fluid will be released from this area…”

His explanation abruptly halted. He hadn’t expected the moisture. His finger traced the delicate slit, feeling the slick wetness of her arousal. There was more fluid than he anticipated.

Eirik withdrew his hand and stared at his glistening fingers.

Miesa, flustered, sat up. “No, no, that’s not it.”