Chapter 73
Not only her face, but her entire body quickly turned as bright red as a strawberry. Rashid pressed his lips to hers a few more times while Rosetta was stunned, unable to find the words to respond.
‘I lost again….’
Rosetta closed her eyes, completely giving in to the temptation. Rashid didn’t kiss her like he said he would. Instead, he continued to gently kiss her lips and cheeks.
Eventually, his lips moved down to her neck and he sucked deeply on the nape of her neck. It was as if he was going to do it there instead of on her lips.
Is this what he meant when he said he wouldn’t kiss me?
The thought lasted for a moment, and as the persistent kiss continued, her mind gradually became clouded. Each time he bit and licked the delicate flesh of her neck, her posture shifted slightly. His lips slid down the nape of her neck until they left a hickey. He scattered kisses across her upper chest, and Rosetta clutched at his clothes in front of her.
Rashid wrapped one hand around both of hers to hold her still, to prevent her from moving any further. Continuing the kiss, he bit down on the collar that now covered her chest and began to pull it down to the side. The thin, loose-fitting dress parted easily, revealing white flesh. Once her breasts were exposed, Rashid took the apex into his mouth.
The next few moments were a blur. It was just hot breath on her chest, over and over again, and a thin moan escaping her. Rosetta was clutching at his hair with her free hand.
When she snapped back to awareness, she was lying on her back on the bed, not in a chair. Rashid climbed up her body and looked down at her.
She was disheveled, leaving everything to him. In her cloudy green eyes, there was no denial, but a burning passion. Her dress was halfway down and her skirt was rolled up on one side, but instead of feeling ashamed, she projected impatience.
“Rashid….”
Rosetta urged him on, though unsure of what she was urging. She tilted her head and let out a moan as Rashid’s hand traveled up her slender calf and stroked the soft inner skin of her thigh.
Rashid knew this was his chance to have her easily. She wasn’t drunk like last time, and she wasn’t resisting. When it was all over, even if she regretted this moment, she wouldn’t be able to blame him. She wouldn’t be able to deny that she wanted it.
So why not just take her and make her mine?
It was a thought that had crossed his mind countless times since he had sent the delegation away. Rashid was the one who grew impatient when they came to claim the woman he thought they’d already abandoned.
He didn’t know what it meant for them to come looking for her when she wasn’t really the daughter of the Basque chief. It meant that she was important. Important enough to be willing to give back the land they’d worked so hard to steal.
Who is this woman?
At the very least, it was clear that she was no ordinary merchant’s daughter. She must be of much higher status.
Most likely a noblewoman. If the Basques were making such a fuss, she must be pretty high up in the nobility.
How did a Lysan noblewoman end up here and get caught up in this?
“…I just wanted to see the sea.”
The sea.
I remembered her words from before. When I asked her to tell me what her desire was, all she said was that she wanted to see the sea.
Perhaps literally, she was traveling to see the sea. And maybe when she arrived in Basque land, she happened to be a substitute bride and was kidnapped.
No, it doesn’t matter. All that’s certain is that whoever she is, I don’t want to send her back, and I’m not going to give her up. Even if her true identity is a Lysan noblewoman.
Rashid lowered his head and planted deep kisses all over her body. The hand that had been stroking her thigh was now groping for the hem of her underwear.
Rosetta soon began to moan hotly at his touch. As he watched her squirm with pleasure at what he was giving her, Rashid realized that he was reaching his own limits.
Yes, let’s have her. It would be easier if I left my mark on her body. Chastity is highly prized among the nobility of Lysa. And if she’s carrying a child, so much the better. A woman with a child is hardly going to go to another man, and her family would have to give up eventually.
That’s definitely the fastest and most effective way….
Rosetta slumped back on the bed with her climax. Rashid watched her breathing heavily, and eventually let out a bitter smile.
He doesn’t want to take her in his arms as a means of restraint. He doesn’t want to take this woman’s first time with this kind of mind.
“…Rashid?”
Rosetta stared up at him with tired, unfocused eyes. Rashid brushed her forehead with his hand, seeing the question “Why?” in her eyes, and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
“Go to sleep. We’ll stay together tonight.”
Rosetta looked confused, but was soon fast asleep.
Rashid pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead, the warmth of her body feeling unbearably comforting.
***
Mark ran toward the castle gate.
People chattered to each other as they saw the beaming smile on his face. Usually, he’s stuck in the stables drinking, but what’s the matter with him today? Had any good news come his way?
Arriving at the gate, Mark stood there, waiting for someone to come. Finally, in the distance, he saw a lone rider on horseback coming slowly by.
[Asion!]
The man on the horse had a small harp strapped to his back. As soon as he dismounted, Mark hugged him tightly.
[It’s been a while! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to come?]
[Man, one would think your runaway wife has returned.]
Mark chuckled. [Even with the metaphor, why the runaway wife? You still have a nasty mouth, don’t you?]
Mark pummeled him with his fists, and each time he did, Asion was pushed aside.
[Ha, stop it, I’m dying of exhaustion. I haven’t rested for days, I’ve been riding horses.]
Not only that, but he stumbled in his steps. He, the usually immaculately dressed and noble-looking man, looked haggard, and it was clear that his travels had been quite arduous.
[Then why did you come here immediately, instead of going home to rest?]
[Riga told me to stop by as soon as I arrived.]
[By the way, did you know? Riga got married.]
[What?]
Asion looked at Mark with wide eyes.
[When? With whom? With one of the elders’ daughters?]
[He got married about a week ago, to the daughter of the Basque chief.]
[Who?]
Mark chuckled, looking at the surprised man.
[When Riga found out that the Basque and Croa were forming a marriage alliance, he went and kidnapped the bride himself.]
[Oh, poor thing….]
Asion felt deep compassion for the unknown woman. Some of the women who were kidnapped and forced to live with men were well off, but many more were not.
[Is she okay? She must have been very frightened and scared.]
[She’s fine. She’s too fine. That’s the problem.]
[Huh? What does that mean?]
Mark narrowed his eyes at him.
[You’ll see when you get there. No, I mean, you’ll see when you see Riga’s face.]
He realized what Mark meant as soon as he met Rashid in his office.
[Asion.]
Rashid smiled at him. Asion realized that his smiling face was very unfamiliar; the Rashid he had known so far was stiff and rigid. He rarely smiled due to the heavy duties and responsibilities of tribal chieftainship that had been on his back since childhood.
But now Rashid was smiling as if he were a completely different person. The corners of his lips lifted as if without burden, and Asion realized that much had changed in the time since he had seen him, and according to Mark, it was thanks to the woman who had become Rigaina.
Asion bowed deeply in greeting.
[It’s been a long time, Riga.]
[Yeah, it’s been a while. Six months, maybe?]
[Yes, it was winter when I last saw you, so it’s probably been about that long.]
[You must be tired after coming all this way. I’m sorry to make you come without rest.]
[No. You must have been looking forward to the news I have to bring.]
[To be honest, I have been, for you are the most accurate source of information about the inner workings of a royal palace or noble mansion.]
Asion. He is the best bard on the continent, and he is also Rashid’s eyes and ears. He traveled the continent, invited by the powerful to sing before them. Everything he heard at the banquets he relayed back to Rashid. He also traveled around the country, sometimes on Rashid’s orders, gathering information from the inside.
When he was invited to a nobleman’s mansion, he usually stayed for more than a few days, and as a singer-bard, he was never suspected of wandering around.
[By the way, I heard you got married.]