Chapter Nine - Escaped
2101 Words
Venus was pacing back and forth around the room where she and Louis had their first night from the past.
Whenever she glanced her eyes at their bed, the only thing she could think about was Marie Alicia Pheon, moaning while Louis was pleasing her.
The day where she caught those two cheating behind her back and reported them, none of them believed her, especially Louis’ relatives.
She had already finished taking a bath, Hanna left her alone because she told her to. She was regretting the idea that she asked her to leave her in this traumatic room.
Her hands cupped her face before she decided to look for a window where she could catch some fresh air and calm herself down.
Venus almost smiled upon seeing such a beautiful starry night sky. The stars were shining and blinking as the full moon was at its peak.
She gasped when someone hugged her from behind as his chin rested on her shoulders. Venus was disgusted when she realized that it was Louis.
“What a beautiful evening, but nothing compared to your beauty, my wife,” Louis whispered before forcing her to look at him.
He looked at what she was wearing and was immediately disappointed upon seeing that she was wearing such a simple and conservative dress.
Venus almost smiled after noticing his reactions, she really wanted to make sure that nothing happens to them tonight.
She immediately walked away before grabbing the strongest wine she requested Hanna to bring a while ago on the bedside table.
“Can you drink with me, Your Highness?” Venus seductively asked. She raised the other glass in his direction after generously pouring wine into two glasses.
Louis looked like he was pleased with what she just offered before he approached her to get the glass of wine from his hands, “To us, my beautiful wife,”
Venus just watched him drink his glass before he approached her and crashed his lips against her. She responded with the thirst he was giving and she was surprised that he wasn’t affecting her that much.
She was confident that nothing would happen to them tonight because aside from the strong wine, she secretly slipped on some sleeping pills into his glass.
Hanna thought that it would be dangerous if ever someone found out, but Venus reassured her that everything would be alright.
Louis carried her to their bed as he felt that his head was aching, “Ugh damn it, how strong that wine was?” He whispered before planting soft kisses around her neck.
This is one of the plans that she talked to Hanna about and was glad that everything was going according to plan.
Venus tried to act her part as she raised her hands to cup his cheeks and caressed them, “Can you really have me tonight, Louis?”
Louis almost cursed after seeing how seductive she looked with her question, “Ah, of course,” He grunted while holding out his head.
They were about to kiss again when he slowly blinked his eyes and fell on her top, snoring like there was no tomorrow.
Her breathing almost hitched as she felt relieved, harshly pushing him off her, “H-Hanna? Are you there?” She called before rising from the bed.
Venus needed to see someone to calm her well-being. She stepped out of the room and started looking for her lady-in-waiting.
“Your Highness?” Hanna called, forcing her to look at the far corner of the hallway. She lifted her dress before running towards her presence.
“Is everything alright?” Hanna worriedly asked. Venus didn’t say anything as she gave her a tight hug.
She knows how surprised Hanna probably is now, but she was just glad that she escaped the night she regretted from the past for now.
“Everything’s fine and went according to plan,” Venus whispered before breaking her hug against her lady-in-waiting.
Hanna just smiled, “I’m glad, milady, would you like some tea to ease your mind?” She invited her, so Venus just nodded.
“That would be lovely,” She smiled before the two of them casually paced towards the dining hall to look for some tea.
Venus was just relieved that someone was here for her. What she did a while ago terrified her well-being, but she had to do that to protect herself.
Aside from that, Hanna’s company was putting her at ease. She doesn’t ask many questions but always supports her no matter what.
“Milady, what are your thoughts about Prince Arthur?” Hanna curiously asked, so she almost choked on her tea.
They’re currently at the dining hall, sipping into the hot tea Hanna just made, “W-What kind of thoughts?” Venus almost stuttered.
“I just think that he’s a good prince, Your Highness,” She commented before smiling, “Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”
Venus almost frowned because she was doing it again, calling her in formality when it was just the two of them.
“He saved you in multiple scenarios even if you didn’t ask him to,” Hanna whispered, “I-I can only answer to your request, so I apologize if sometimes I just watch if something happens,”
Venus was surprised at what she had just said, “No Hanna, it’s not your obligation to do that,” She firmly said.
“I’m just glad that you’re here beside me when I need you, you always have,” She emotionally whispered.
Hanna didn’t leave her side no matter what happened back then and thought that her death was cruel and she won’t ever let that happen again.
The two of them were silent as they took a sip of their tea to calm her nerves, “No matter what happens, I’ll be right by your side, Venus,”
Venus felt her heart so warm and full by her statement, “I know that you would, Hanna,” She sincerely smiled.
The two of them decided to rest in their chambers after finishing the rest of their tea. When Venus entered her room, she could still hear him snoring.
She made a cautious approach to the bed and realized she had run out of reasons to love this troubled man.
Venus thought about their childhood days and he was just giving her the attention not every man around her gives.
He showers her with gifts, attention, and gestures that could capture every maiden’s heart. She just bit her lower lip before sitting at the edge of the bed.
Just the thought of sleeping beside him haunts her, especially because the only thing that comes into her mind was the time he purposely slept with Marie Alicia in this room just to provoke or hurt her.
She gazed at the top of the ceiling before closing her eyes, “I’ll survive this time around no matter what,”
***
The next morning came by. Venus couldn’t sleep a wink as she stayed awake the whole night looking at the man whom she loved before.
It breaks her heart every time she thinks about that time that she loved him and it wasn’t too much as he looked for some other affections.
She almost flinched when he started moving around the bed, so she waited for him to raise his body before adjusting his eyes from the sunlight that was surrounding the room.
“V-Venus?” He called her, so she gave him a small, cautious smile before standing up to approach him.
“I’m right here, are you well?” She curiously asked, so he slowly nodded his head before massaging his forehead.
“W-What happened last night?” He curiously asked, making her bite her lower lip as she stared into his eyes.
“You fell asleep right after you did something to me,” Venus informed him before walking towards the main door.
She plans on lying to him because, in this way, he wouldn’t find things suspicious, especially for the reason why she doesn't want to do it with him.
“I’ll be having my tea in the dining hall, I’ll see you around night since I have a meeting with Prince Arthur,” She added.
“Venus, wait!” Louis called her once more, so she looked at him intently before tilting her head in his direction.
“D-Did I really fall asleep or did I not do well enough to please you?” She was surprised by his question, which he asked inquisitively.
“Louis, I can assure you that night was unforgettable,” After she said those words, she left to pace towards the bath to catch her breath.
She was panting profusely while clutching her chest. Tears stung her eyes as she silently cried alone in the bath.
Venus wouldn’t forget the night she gave herself back then to him, it was everything to her, but also one of her regrets.
She managed to calm herself down as she composed herself before stepping out of the bath to go to the dining hall.
Hanna was pacing towards her before bowing her head, “Your Highness, you didn’t sleep,” She claimed.
“Is it that visible?” Venus whispered while touching her puffy eyes, so her lady-in-waiting just nodded at her.
“It is, do you want me to fix your look?” Hanna suggested, so she just nodded before proceeding to the room where she could dress up without Louis around.
“Are you alright, milady?” Hanna worriedly asked, which made her sigh before she slowly nodded her head.
“I’m good, Hanna, I’m just worried he would find out about what I did to him,” Venus whispered.
“If that happens, I’ll always be by your side, milady,” Hanna smiled while she was combing her hair.
Venus doesn’t know why she felt relieved upon hearing that, “Thank you so much about that, Hanna,”
They both got caught up in fixing themselves and finally went to the dining hall to have some breakfast.
She peacefully ate her breakfast because she knew that his parents weren’t here yet, they arrived weeks after their wedding had ended.
It wasn’t long until she ordered Hanna to prepare her carriage before packing up some scrolls that she might need to discuss later with Prince Arthur.
“Is everything prepared, Hanna?” Venus curiously asked after she stepped out of the main doors of the Peony Kingdom.
“Everything's ready, milady, are you ready to go?” Hanna bowed her head, so she nodded at her before pacing towards the carriage.
“Venus, wait!” She stopped after Louis started to approach him, so she felt her heart thumping against her chest because of nervousness.
“Prince Louis, is there any problem? I’m just about to take my leave to deal with the proposal Prince Arthur and I have been working on,” Venus informed him.
“I know that you said that we slept together last night, so why am I not seeing any stains?” Louis firmly asked, which almost made her eyes widen.
“W-What do you mean about that, Prince Louis?” Venus doesn’t know why she felt nervous upon hearing that question.
“The signs that you only surrendered yourself to me,” He added while clenching his fists, so could feel the tension rising from her chest.
The stain marks, how could she forget about it? She could feel the nervousness crawling up to her sleeves.
‘What should I do?’ She mentally panicked.
“My lady asked for it to be cleaned, Your Highness,” Hanna bowed at the sight of the Prince, so their gazes were on her.
“The bed wasn’t stained but the blankets were,” She added. Venus mentally thanked Hanna for answering for her.
Louis looked like he wasn’t convinced, but he just sighed deeply, “I see, are you going now?” He curiously asked, which made her nod.
“I’ll be back as soon as you can, you also have your own things to tend to today, right?” Venus smiled.
He just nodded and was surprised when she approached him, planting a kiss on his cheeks and forehead, “See you tonight, Your Highness,”
After she said those words, she left, leaving him starstruck by what she did, “When did she become so cold and sweet?” He whispered with his heart thumping against his chest.
To be continued…
- Writer
