Chapter 178

Chapter 178 – Once more

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

Annette opened her eyes with difficulty.

What time is it?

She had burned up all her energy before she fell asleep, and opened her eyes to Raphael’s profile. In spite of the night’s exertions, he looked very handsome. A square forehead, thick eyebrows, a sculpted nose, and full lips. His long black hair was bound back and his muscular torso was uncovered by the blanket.

He looked seductive, like a man from a dream.

Annette didn’t think so just because he was her husband.

His head was turned, his eyes focused on something, and Annette was surprised to see one of the gloves she had knitted in his hand. He was looking at them with an unreadable expression, turning them over and over in his fingers. Like a puppy who had never received a gift before.

Finally, he set them aside on the table and reached to embrace Annette. His warm lips brushed her forehead.

“Were you able to see His Majesty?” she asked, drowsy in his arms. “Did it go well?”

“Yes. And then I met Ludwig,” Raphael added, as if he had just remembered.

“What?”

Annette’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed. At once, she worried that Ludwig had said something strange to Raphael again; it would hardly be the first time. But it seemed that Ludwig had kept his promise to her.

“He has chosen our side. Or so he said, at least. He will pretend to join the King to discover his plans, and will tell us immediately if you’re in danger.”

“The Prince said that?” Annette replied. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Do you think we can trust him, Annette?”

She was silent. Honestly, she wasn’t sure. At worst, Ludwig could be acting on the King’s behalf, and pretending to be on their side. A double agent was always in a perfect position for betrayal.

Annette knew Ludwig, but she couldn’t be sure. He clearly had some loyalty to her; she was his first love and his emotional support, but his father was also important to him. It wasn’t easy to guess who he would choose.

Ludwig had always craved the recognition of his father. The lack of affection between them was the reason he could make this choice.

Maybe it would have been better if Annette were unmarried. Would Ludwig really risk it all on behalf of another man’s wife? In spite of all his promises, Annette’s head began to ache.

“Raphael, I think I will have to visit him again,” she said. There was only one way to resolve this.

“What?” Instant disgust from Raphael. His jaw clenched with the impulse to reproach her, to demand to know why she wanted to see her former fiancé again, but he supposed Annette wasn’t doing it because she liked him.

His heart burned.

“It’s too dangerous,” he said, reaching for another excuse. “If the King finds out…”

“Don’t worry,” she said, determined. “He won’t.”

Raphael opened his mouth to make another protest, but Annette silenced him with a gentle kiss on the lips.

“Thank you for protecting me, Raphael.”

It was very rare for Annette to kiss him first, and Raphael was taken aback, but he wasn’t about to miss such an opportunity. The touch of her small lips against his was so sweet, it softened his heart like cake dipped in honey.

Conversely, his lower body grew very hard.

“My God, Raphael.”

“One more time, Annette,” he said, moving himself over her. “Just once.”

Her white br3asts still bore the marks of their earlier encounter, like cherries on snow. Raphael stroked his hard body against her and spread her legs.