Chapter 2
Night had fallen.
I took Charles for a ride. But this wasn't your average horseback session.
I whipped Charles twenty times across his back.
The first whip, he thought it was just some bedroom fun.
By the third, he started to realize something was off.
As I kept going harder, he suddenly struggled, trying to break free, but he was already at my mercy.
The next day, Charles was carried out of my courtyard.
He was drenched in blood, his body sprawled out, looking no different from a pretty boy kept around just for his beauty.
I wrapped my robe around me, teasing the bird as it squawked, "Princess, please stop. Please."
The little thing was mimicking Charles from last night.
Back then, picking Charles as my husband was really just a twist of fate.
He had talent, but no powerful family behind him, just a minor official with no connections.
William made me choose my husband every year.
But most of the proper noblemen wanted nothing to do with marrying me.
I could have forced them if I wanted, but honestly, I just couldn't be bothered.
That day, I was climbing the mountain to pray at the temple when a sudden storm rolled in and my reins snapped.
My guards knew I could handle myself, so none of them stepped forward.
Instead, Charles burst out from the crowd, appearing out of nowhere.
Without a second thought, he threw himself onto the horse, risking everything.
As the horse reared wildly, he wrapped his arms around me, holding me close and shielding me from harm.
Afterward, I thanked him for saving my life and asked if he had a wife.
He blushed and replied, "No, I don't."
I smiled and said, "Just wait for me at home, okay?
"And make sure you stay untouched for me. I don't like guys who've been messed around with."
Charles nodded blankly, still in a daze.
I went to the palace and asked William for his blessing.
At first, he wasn't happy about it, saying I was lowering my status.
William worried I'd marry someone way above my station, but he also didn't want me ending up with someone too lowly and making him lose face.
But after keeping an eye on Charles for a while, he realized Charles was someone with real potential and had no big family behind him.
After that, things just fell into place. Charles was promoted to an official position.
William sent out a royal edict for our marriage.
But he was just trying to mess with me. He sent Charles off to the border the day after we tied the knot.
Before he left, Charles hugged me tight and poured out his heart.
We dragged out that short walk, lingering and clinging to each other for a whole hour.
Five years later, Charles returned to Wrexton, a hero for his service at the border. He was promoted to a general, and for a while, he was the talk of the town.
But whatever little affection we'd had back then was gone, just like a dandelion puff.
Luckily, I'd never expected anything as foolish as love anyway.
These past few days since Charles returned, people in Wrexton have been whispering about me.
They said it was pathetic—a princess who couldn't even get her husband to care about her.
What a joke. Why would I even want something so useless?
After that day, I stopped paying any attention to Charles.
Spring was perfect. I went to the flower viewing party.
My maid came over and told me Charles had arrived.
Charles really was remarkable. Just a few days after what happened, and he was already up and about.
While I was still thinking about it, Charles walked into the garden.
Today, he was dressed in black, standing tall and looking every bit the handsome gentleman. When his eyes met mine, there was a warmth and easy familiarity, like he'd known me forever.
With his long legs, he crossed the space between us in just a few steps.
"Melinda, you haven't come to see me these past few days. Are you still mad at me?" he asked.
He went on to explain, "That day, I just wanted to take Isabel out to see a bit of the world. Who knows, maybe she'd meet a good husband.
"And it was my way of repaying her for saving my life. Don't worry, Melinda. I promise, I won't ever do something like that again."
I barely bothered to lift my eyelids, giving him a lazy glance. "Really?" I replied, my tone flat.
Just as I finished speaking, a clear, girlish voice rang out from outside. "Charles, where are you?
"Charles, Charles," she kept calling, sounding more and more anxious.
Isabel sounded just like a lost child searching for her mother, or a little kitten crying out pitifully.
At her calls, Charles instinctively stood up.
But then he remembered what he'd just promised me and froze in place.
Isabel grabbed a steward. "Have you seen a man who's nine feet tall? I saw him come this way."
The steward tried to reassure her. "Ma'am, please don't worry. Your lord might just be busy with something."
Isabel didn't bother correcting him, just kept insisting, "Go send someone to help me find Charles.
"Charles is so handsome. If some shameless woman tries to latch onto him, I'll wreck this whole place."
The steward broke out in a cold sweat.
Charles looked a bit embarrassed. "She's always imagining things," he explained.
Right as he spoke, Isabel stormed straight into the garden.
I gave a slight nod, and the maid didn't bother to stop her.
"Charles, I finally found you. Why did you sneak off to this place? Wait, it's you," Isabel blurted.
Her eyes went wide, burning with anger and jealousy, like she'd just caught me red-handed doing something unforgivable.
"Isabel," Charles snapped, warning clear in his voice.
Isabel gave a half-hearted curtsy, barely bothering with the gesture, and muttered under her breath, "Princess Melinda, what are you doing here?
"Did you follow Charles all the way? If you keep him on such a short leash, he's bound to get sick of it."
I stayed silent.
Instead, Charles's expression turned cold. "Is that any way to speak?
"I'm happy to let my wife keep me in line. Who asked for your opinion?"
Isabel's eyes went wide, and her eyes quickly filled with tears.
She stared blankly at Charles, on the verge of tears.
Charles froze for a moment.
I watched the whole scene with a half-smile, just taking it all in.
Charles let out a sigh. "Quit making such a fuss all the time. You should try acting more like those refined ladies in Wrexton."
"But Charles, you always said you liked me best when I was innocent and cheerful," Isabel protested.
Charles cut her off. "That's enough."
He waved his hand, calling for someone to take Isabel away.
Isabel turned away, looking completely crushed.
Just then, a maid walked over with an armful of booklets.
Charles looked puzzled. "What are these?"
Inside, each booklet had a portrait of some guy, along with all the details, his family background and what kind of person he was.
I smiled. "Didn't you want to help Isabel find a good match? Well, here's your chance.
"Go ahead, take a look yourself."
Just then, Isabel spun around, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
Charles froze, his expression unreadable. He frowned and said, "Melinda, isn't this a bit much?
""Isabel saved my life, and she's just became an adult. She just got to Wrexton, comes from nothing, and her parents are gone.
"What if she ends up with some jerk who bullies her? We really need to take our time with this."
Charle was just whining nonstop. Just like my brother Harold.
Before he lost his manhood, Harold would always talk like this whenever he was trying to worm his way out of trouble.
For every question, he'd come up with three or four excuses.
Before I could snap and interrupt Charles, Isabel suddenly spoke up.
Her voice was low and sorrowful. "Charles, are you really going to marry me off to someone I've never even met?"
Charles just nodded, accepting it.
Tears rolled down Isabel's cheeks. "Fine. If that's what you want," she said quietly.
With that, Isabel walked off, her back strangely calm.
Her feelings were written all over her face, and Charles definitely noticed.
He stood there quietly for a moment, but didn't chase after her.
Then he looked at me, sounding exhausted. "Melinda, is this what you wanted?"
Spring was bustling and bright, but I was feeling sleepy.
My maid hurried to recite a few lines from scripture, hoping it would help me drift off more easily.
Charles seemed absent-minded, yet he lingered, refusing to leave.
My maid, quick on the uptake, tried to usher him out. "Prince Charles, if you have other matters, you can go ahead. Princess Melinda is about to recite scripture."
Charles shook his head gently. "No need."