I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 44

(I LIKE YOU)

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I can feel someone's soft touch on my cheek. I wonder who it might be. I slowly opened my eyes.

"Princess…"

Leonus was lying on his right side next to me while supporting his head with one hand. He was wearing a white shirt.

"Leonus?"

For some reason, he looks surprised. 

But soon, he gently smiled and said,

"Yes. What is it, Princess?"

"Am I dreaming? I must be."

Yes. He will never come here. He hates me.

"Who knows? Maybe you are."

Leonus said while kissing a strand of my hair. 

Shaa~

I can hear the sound of steady rain. It's depressing…

"...I want to wake up."

I don't want to stay in this depressing atmosphere. No. More than that, I don't want to see him. Or else, I will become greedy...

"Why? Do you hate me that much?"

"What? I don't dare. How can I hate you…"

Although you have every reason to hate me…

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then do you love me?"

My eyes widened. Love… Love whom? Leonus? 

"Why aren't you saying anything, Princess?"

Leonus said while gazing at me with his bright red eyes. 

He then took a strand of my hair in one hand and kissed it. Then said with a smirk,

"You love me, don't you?"

"That…"

"That?"

My face feels hot. Aghh! What's wrong with me?!

"I don't hate you."

"Just that?"

"And like…"

I like you...

"I didn't hear you."

Leonus grumbled.

"Come on, Princess. It's a dream. So no matter what you say or think, it doesn't matter. No one will know. So tell me."

"I- I like you."

Isabella said while covering her mouth with one hand. Her face was flushed.

Chuckle*

Leonus chuckled and touched my left cheek.

"I guess that's enough for now."

Leonus said with a gentle voice.

"Princess…"

"Yes?"

"Can I kiss you?"

Leonus said while caressing my cheek.

"Nevermind. I don't want to force you to-"

"You can."

"Yes. I apologize. I- What? I can? I think I misheard you."

Leonus asked excitedly.

"I said that you can… kiss me."

Aghh! What am I saying?!

"Sure then. Don't forget that you agreed."

Saying that Leonus put his lips on mine and started kissing. I closed my eyes as it was too embarrassing. 

He was kissing gently at the beginning but soon he started roughly licking my mouth.

"Mmf-"

Huff* Huff*

After a while, he stopped and started breathing roughly.

"Princess… Don't seduce me…"

"What?"

"Nothing... Your face is red. You have to learn how to breathe while kissing, my dear."

Leonus said while kissing my forehead. 

"Sleep now, Princess."

As soon as he said that, I could feel my consciousness drifting away. Soon I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

"...dy!"

"My...y."

"My Lady! Wake up."

Gasp*

"Ella?"

"Yes, My Lady?"

"You are here?"

"Huh? What do you mean, My Lady?"

Ella asked with a confused look.

"N-Nothing… I was just dreaming…"

"Dreaming? About what?"

"About Leo-"

Leonus? I was dreaming about him! Oh my goodness! I even kissed him in my dreams! And did I say that I like him? Do… Do I really like him?

"My Lady? Is something wrong? Your face is flushed."

"Ah. It's nothing."

'Why does my face feel so hot?'

Isabella thought while fanning herself with one hand.

"A-Anyways Ella. What time is it?"

"It's morning, Princess."

"I see. Wait. Morning?"

"Yes."

"You mean I slept the entire day yesterday?"

"Yes."

"And night too?"

"Yes."

Sigh~

"Well, it can't be helped. Help me to freshen up, Ella."

"Of course, My Lady. I have already prepared warm water for you."

Rumble~

A thunder crackled. I looked outside the window.

"It's raining…"

Was it raining yesterday too?

"Yes. It's been raining cats and dogs since yesterday afternoon."

"I see."

After that, I got up from bed and washed my face. Then Ella helped me change the nightgown. 

Soon after, Cande came in with breakfast then I finished eating.

After that, I started working on my study. There was a lot of paperwork about the Castle's management. As I didn't do any work yesterday, I was drowning in the sea of papers.

"My Lady, here's your tea."

Cande said while putting a cup of tea at the side of the desk.

"Thank you, Cande."

"It's my pleasure, Princess."

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Anne for a while."

I didn't see her yesterday either. Is she okay?

"That… She caught a cold."

"A cold?"

"Don't worry, My Lady. It's just a mild fever."

"How is she now?"

"She is resting in her room, My Lady. That's why she is unable to serve you."

Ella said with a calm voice.

"Tell her that she doesn't have to serve me until she gets better."

"Yes, My Lady."

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"It's done! Finally."

So tiresome. It took me all morning to finish all this. So tiresome. I really need to do some stretching.

"I have prepared a warm bath for you."

"Thank you so much, Ella. I really need to take a bath now."

"My pleasure, Princess."

After that Ella and Cande helped me to take a bath. Then they helped me wear a peach coloured dress.

"I want to take a walk."

"But it's raining outside, My Lady."

"Hmm. Where is the Maid's Quarter?"

"It's on the first, I mean ground floor, My Lady."

Cande replied.

"Then let's go there."

"Huh? But why, My Lady."

"Well, I want to take a walk and Anne is sick. If I go there I can both walk and visit Anne at the same time. "

"I see. As you wish, My Lady."

Saying that Ella prepared a shawl and wrapped it around my shoulder.

"Cande, we are going."

"Yes. Return soon, My Lady."

"Yes, I will."

After that Ella took a hurricane lamp in her hand then we started walking in the hallway. 

Shaa~

It's raining heavily. I can smell the wet scent of soil. Frogs are croaking in the distant garden. It's already dark even though it's just evening.

"Such bad weather."

Ella said while looking outside.

"I assume you are right."

After walking for a while, we arrived at the Maids Quarter. Although except for one or two maids the entire place was empty.

"This is it, My Lady. Let's get inside."

Ella stopped in front of a door and said.

She then opened the door and we entered the room. It was a room with four beds and four desks. There was a large window in that room. It's quite large compared to my room in the Loire. 

Anyways Anne was sleeping in one bed. Hmm. Should I call her? I shouldn't bother her as she is sleeping.

"Anne."

Ella called her without any hesitation.

"Tch! What is it?"

Anne replied with annoyance.

"My Lady is here to check up on you."

Anne jumped up hearing that. Her eyes widened as if she saw a ghost. 

"What is it, Anne? Are you not feeling well?"

"Th-That… I apologize for that, My Lady. I am a little sick, that's why I can't serve you."

"It's alright. You can rest until you are healthy."

I said with a smile to reassure her.

"Yes."

Anne said with an awkward laugh.

"My Lady, now that you've seen her, we should return."

"Oh. Okay. Let's go. You can sleep now, Anne."

"Y-Yes. My Lady."

After that, we got out of the Maid's quarter and returned to my room. 

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"Anne."

Ughh! This voice. It must be that wr*nch! 

"Tch! What is it?"

So annoying! Can't she see I am sleeping? D*mn it!

"My Lady is here to check up on you."

Yeah! I get it! So shut up!

Wait… My Lady? You mean that crazy Isabella?! 

I jumped up from bed in surprise. D*mn it! Is she here to beat me up again? D*mn! I am trembling! I can't believe this!

"What is it, Anne? Are you not feeling well?"

Yes, I was feeling terrible, thanks to you. Although now I am totally fine using your ointment. Thanks to me. It was good that I stole one from her.

"Th-That… I apologize for that, My Lady. I am a little sick, that's why I can't serve you."

"It's alright. You can rest until you are healthy."

What the heck?! Why the f*ck is she smiling for? 

"Yes."

Anyways, it's better for me. I don't have to see her face anymore. And I can rest for as long as I want to.

"My Lady, now that you've seen her, we should return."

Yes. Just go away.

"Oh. Okay. Let's go. You can sleep now, Anne."

That's what I am planning to do.

"Y-Yes. My Lady."

After that, those two pests left my room.

"What the hell? Why was she acting so nicely?! Is she possessed or what?"

Wait a minute! Don't tell me! Did she forget everything?!

Hahaha~

That's the only possible explanation. Goodness! Even God is on my side. And here I was scared to death because of that idiot?!

But still. I can't be too sure. I have to check up on her later. She sure got some crazy power.

I can't believe the Royals of Loire don't know anything about it. Or do they know? Is she that big of a deal? 

Nahh! No way. It's stupid Isabella, I am talking about. 

No way.

Yawn~

I should sleep now. Tch! How can they wake me up from my beauty sleep like that? 

Hmph! I hope they die…