Chapter 5.6

Chapter 5.6

“So you’re not a member of the nobility.”

When Kuhn caught up to Sienna and had finally reached her side, Sienna abruptly spoke.

“You told me that no noble or king had power over you and that you had no place to call home. Were those lies too?”

“It’s the truth.”

“Tell your master that you want your own position. As a king, he can award you a title. If he can’t, he can at least appoint you as a knight.”

Kuhn tried to interpret the meaning behind Sienna’s words. Was she telling him not to appear before her as a man of humble position?

“Then I’ll address you as ‘Sir.'”

“…Excuse me?”

“You have deceived a member of the imperial family. You’ve committed a grave crime, and on top of that, you’re someone of low birth. You have no right to receive any respect from me.”

“So are you telling me that you’ll only treat me properly if I come back wearing a different shell?”

“Your way of speaking is quite crude, isn’t it?”

“It’s because I don’t completely understand. What do my offenses against you have anything to do with whether I am a noble or a knight?”

Kuhn carefully observed her face. As he observed her profile, he could see her bite her red lips. He had seen this expression on her a few times in the past. It seemed to be a habit of hers whenever she was at a loss for words.

He forced himself to keep a straight face. Who else knew this side of the cold Princess? He wanted to be the only one who knew her like this.

“So it sounds like you’ve already forgiven me, but you’re still angry with me, Your Majesty.”

Sienna glared at him.

“Rude. How dare you try and fathom what I’m thinking?”

Even though her tone of voice was extremely cold, Kuhn could see the minute, hidden details of her expression that betrayed her embarrassment. If he continued to analyze her words, the Princess was going to be furious with him. He didn’t want her to hate him.

If the Princess had ignored him, he would have provoked her to get some kind of attention from her, even if it was hate. However, not anymore. Even though he didn’t exactly know how she felt about him, he knew that she was interested in him.

“Don’t you need to go back to your master?”

“You’ve been saying ‘master’ this, ‘master’ that since a while ago. The Iron King isn’t my master.”

“He’s not your master? Then is he your companion?”

“That’s…”

“Nevermind. You’re just going to confuse me by telling me half-truths.”

His excuses wouldn’t serve any purpose, so Kuhn kept his mouth shut.

‘Something feels strange.’

Something didn’t add up. The people around Sienna had high status and had received proper educations. Elegance and grace came naturally to them.

When she compared Kuhn to them, there wasn’t a noticeable difference. Even though he was rude, it could be considered cheeky, not vulgar. It was something she had wondered about ever since the masquerade ball. His dancing style was neat and immaculate.

She wasn’t sure if he was a mercenary or a merchant, but, either way, he was still a commoner. How had a commoner picked up the etiquette and sophistication reserved for the nobility?

In a way, a wanderer who had no country was also someone who answered to nobody. There was no one above him to tell him what to do.

A king.

An independent king who didn’t consider himself to be a subject of the Empire.

Sienna chuckled at the sudden thought that popped into her head.

‘An independent king. How ridiculous.’

Suddenly, Kuhn grabbed Sienna’s hand. He put his arm around her shoulder and began to walk them in the opposite direction.

“What are you…?”

He didn’t give her a chance to finish her question. Kuhn moved them swiftly underneath a big tree.

“Just what do you…!”

“Shh.”

As Kuhn cut her off, Sienna frowned. A moment later, she heard the rustling of leaves and the crunching of twigs. The noises were so soft that she had to perk up her ears in order to hear them.

‘How did he hear this?’

Sienna suddenly looked at Kuhn.

Gradually, the rustling noises became louder.

‘Are the guards looking for me?’

But the movements were too cautious to be them. Suddenly, everything was quiet. Then she heard whispers.

“I think we’ll be good over here. No one can see us.”

“Aah, Mylo.”

“Hazel, I really missed you.”

“Me too. You promised to get in touch with me. Do you know how long I waited for you?”

The secret lovers had come here to have their affair.

“I apologize. There have been many eyes watching me lately.”

“I thought you didn’t love me anymore, so I was devastated.”

“Never. If it wasn’t for my family’s debts, I would never have married into that family. That woman and I live like complete strangers at the house. I only have you.”

The more Sienna listened, the more pathetic it seemed. He was having a mere love affair, but he made it sound like it was some kind of tragic, forbidden love. It was shabby and disgraceful. It would have been better if he just had a lover he kept on the side to fulfill his lust instead of putting on this show.

‘Why do I have to stay hidden here like this?’

The unhonorable deeds were being committed by the couple over there. If they heard a slight sound, they’d be running away for their lives. However, Sienna missed her chance. After their declarations of love, Sienna heard the couple exchange a fierce, wet kiss.

“Ah, Mylo.”

“Hazel. Hazel.”

Sienna heard their breaths gradually become heavier. Their panting breaths turned into moans and fierce groans. It was as if the couple only had one purpose. The sound of slapping skin was followed by a woman’s gasp.

It would be strange if Sienna revealed herself now. It would look like she had been peeping at their intimate act. Just when she was about to express her frustration, it suddenly became silent.

“Uh, mmm. I’m sorry. I was in a hurry. I’ve been drowning in work lately.”

A man’s disappointed voice and…

“It seems that you’ve been very tired.”

The cold voice of the woman.

Pfft, Sienna burst out laughing. In order to hide her laugh, she covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes met Kuhn’s as he attempted to hold back his laughter as well.

“Hazel!”

“Oh my!”

“Give me another chance to redeem myself.”

“Aah, Mylo.”

The lovers became heated once again. With the strange noises in the background, Kuhn and Sienna looked at each other. The laughter had disappeared from their faces.

The lamps didn’t completely illuminate the darkness. Because they were crouched in the shadow of the tree, they couldn’t see each other very well.

Even so, Sienna could clearly draw his features out in the dark with her eyes. His long eyes and his black pupils, his straight nose, and his jaw… She could see them so clearly.

She stretched out her hand. She touched the rim of his eye with her fingertips and slowly began to move them downwards. As if giving her his permission to touch him to her heart’s desire, Kuhn remained still. Sienna became even bolder. She caressed his cheek with her palm. She didn’t know how to explain the feelings that were rushing through her.

This was the first time she was touching another person’s face. She wasn’t comfortable with physical contact with others. Even though Patricia told Sienna that she loved her very often, she had never hugged her. Her ladies-in-waiting were always careful not to touch her.

A person felt warmer than she expected, and this man’s skin felt firm but soft.

Kuhn bit the inside of his cheek. Even though there was nothing odd about her touch, he felt all the blood rush to his lower abdomen. Unable to take it anymore, he grabbed her hand.

Sienna reflexively tried to take her hand back, but his grip was too tight. He placed his lips on the back of her hand. Then he began to kiss each finger. His eyes met hers and he slowly placed a kiss on each of her fingers one by one.

As if she had been bewitched, Sienna merely gazed at him. The feel of his lips on her fingers and on the back of her hand felt so vivid. It didn’t feel unpleasant, and she didn’t feel like shaking him off.

Still holding on to her hand, Kuhn pulled Sienna towards him. She fell into his embrace. She placed her hands on his chest as if she were going to push him away, but she didn’t and hesitated. She couldn’t think of a reason to push him away. Her hesitation only encouraged him.

His arm wound around her, and he lifted her face before pressing his lips onto hers. It was different from the last time when he had been more cautious with her. He swallowed her lips in one breath. He pushed his tongue between her slightly parted lips. Their lips were now completely meshed together.

“Aaah! Mylo! Aaagh!”

“Haah, haah. Hazel.”

The couple’s liaison had reached its peak. Their moans of pleasure pierced Sienna’s ears. She felt that their vulgar groans were no longer irritating. As she heard the woman let out a final gasp, Sienna felt pleasure run through her own body as well.

Her eyelids trembled as she felt him suck her tongue even harder. Her hands placed on his shoulders twitched. She felt ticklish and hot at the same time.

His kiss was greedy and persistent. Their lips pulled apart for a second before crashing together again. He licked and sucked her mouth as if he were tasting sweet honey.

Sienna felt as if she couldn’t breathe anymore. She balled her hands into fists and pounded his chest. When his lips pulled back, she hurriedly spoke.

“Enough.”

As Kuhn’s lips approached hers once again, Sienna frowned. He lightly pecked her lips before pulling away.

Kuhn gazed at Sienna’s panting face and snickered.

“It’s not like I covered your nose. Why are you so breathless?”

“I’m just not used to it.”

“Aha. Is it that you’re inexperienced?”

“Even if I’m a fast learner, I’m not perfect in the beginning.”

Her firm protest was so cute to him. In fact, everything about her was lovable. He felt as if he could breathe now. Even though he felt that it wasn’t enough, he felt relieved for now. He let out a relaxed laugh.

“Then I’ll teach you everything you need to know, so…”

Kuhn kissed her lips with a smack.

“You mustn’t learn this from another man.”

Sienna snorted.

“I might be able to find a better teacher.”

“There won’t be a better teacher.”

Sienna felt that the brazen words coming from his straight face were fun to hear.

“You’re quite confident. It sounds like you have a lot of experience.”

“No, that’s…”

Kuhn was at a loss for words. He finally stopped trying to find the right words and let out a deep sigh.

“I’ve just seen and heard a lot. Second-hand experience is still experience.”

“What is a second-hand experience?”

“Didn’t you experience that for yourself just now?”

Kuhn gestured behind her with his chin. Sienna blinked before letting out an ‘Ah…’ Their surroundings were quiet. She could no longer hear the nasally moans of the woman.

“They left?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

Instead of answering her question, Kuhn chuckled. Sienna felt her face become hot. Being completely absorbed in their kiss, Sienna hadn’t realized that the couple had left.

“D-Don’t act conceited! I…!”

“Yes, yes. It’s because you’re not used to it.”

Sienna furrowed her brow. Whenever she was with this man, she always forgot herself. She didn’t like it and she liked it all at the same time. She couldn’t explain it. Everything in her life had always been so clear, so this unexplainable feeling was incredibly confusing.

“Someone is coming.”

“Who?”

As she asked the question, she heard a noise.

“Your Majesty! Where are you?!”

Sienna stared at him with wide eyes. She wanted to ask him how he knew.

Kuhn got up and pulled her up by her hands. Sienna stood still as he brushed the leaves off her skirts.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, Silver King!”

The voices went in the opposite direction and grew faint.

“I should go.”

“Yes.”

After answering curtly, he didn’t say anything else. Was he acting cowardly just like he did last time? She felt a lump form in her throat. But when she met his eyes, those emotions settled.

She felt that it was harder to interpret the thoughts behind dark eyes than light eyes. But Sienna felt that she could still understand what he was thinking. Something surged in his dark eyes. She felt that if she held out her hand to him, he would dangerously charge after her.

Sienna stared at him before turning around. She took a couple steps away from him before turning back to him.

Kuhn looked surprised as he watched her approach him. When she was right under his nose, she stretched out both her hands. Kuhn flinched. She grabbed his collar with both hands and pulled him in. His face lowered towards hers. But it was still a bit too far up.

Sienna slightly went up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. He looked like he had just been hit across the head. It was a delight to see.

“I said this before, but I’m a fast learner.”

Sienna turned around once again. This time, she didn’t turn back. She walked towards the direction the voices had disappeared to.

When she walked about a hundred steps, she heard the voices again.

“Your Majesty!”

Sienna answered them.

“What’s wrong?”

She stood still and waited. Shortly, a knight appeared. As soon as he saw her, a look of relief flashed across his face.

“As you were on your walk, we discovered a couple people leaving the garden. I was worried about your safety and went inside of my own accord. Please forgive me.”

Sienna realized that the people this knight had caught was the adulterous couple from earlier.

“I will not blame you for doing your job. Your sword was too heavy, so I placed it down somewhere in the garden. I should have returned it to its rightful owner, so I apologize.”

“Not at all. As long as you had some use for it, I am satisfied, Your Majesty. Will you be returning to the banquet hall?”

“No, I’ll go back to my palace Prepare my carriage.”

Yes, Your Majesty.”

Left alone in the garden, Kuhn stood still for a long time. He barely managed to calm his swollen lower half before slowly walking away. He felt that Sienna was quite slow when it came to the relations between a man and a woman. She hadn’t noticed the physical changes in his body at all.

“I’m in so much trouble.”

He let out a sigh. He couldn’t give up. He couldn’t do it anymore.

He placed one hand on the left side of his chest. His heart remained steady even after having climbed a mountain for hours. However, it was still racing right now. He felt that he wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight.

He felt the blood rush down to his lower abdomen once again. He quickly shook his head. His head was full of thoughts of her, and he wanted to shake some of them off.\n