68 Chapter 67 (1/2)

”Richard? I wasn't expecting you!” I said in surprise as I opened to door to the knock early in the morning.

Richard stiffened as he looked down at me, and I dropped down my head. A second later, I reestablished the Deception and role play. I had opened the door as myself, having spent the last two weeks avoiding the royalty and the need to pretend. However, I was skilled, and by the time I looked back up, I was already wearing the mask of the princess once again.

”Well, be that as it may, we have a special guest tonight. Father has requested that everyone in the castle attend the ceremony.”

”Really?” my eyes widened, ”Even me?”

Richard sniffed and turned away, ”We may have our differences. The rumors about you… nevermind that, you are a foreign princess. At the very least, you should see how things are done in a civilized court.”

I ignored the slight insult, not feeling like catering to Richard's prickish behavior. Part of the reason for this was that this would be the last day I'd ever have to deal with him. The Harvest banquet was tonight, and after that would be the underground meeting. While Richard fucked dozens of nameless women, Denova would be coming to rob the kingdom.

To be honest, I had hoped that they would ignore me this evening. I was already very stressed by what I had to do tonight. I nodded after a second, offering my arm, which Richard took without another thing said.

As Richard escorted me to the ceremony, the atmosphere between us was particularly tense. I hadn't spoken to him since the previous underground meeting. Although, it didn't feel like the tenseness was caused by the fact that the last time we met, we had sex. At the time, he had acted like my pussy was expected, and despite the fact he was allegedly obsessed with me to the point that he made Sylvia dress in my clothes and call my name, he showed no particular reaction to finally getting what he supposedly wanted.

At first, I assumed it went back to the high expectations in his mind. I had assumed that he had built me up so high in his mind that the real girl could never meet his expectations. For a bit, he had wounded my pride a bit by being so casual about fucking me. However, at this point, I'd consider myself very skilled in the art of sex, and it could go without saying that I found it hard to believe that Richard would find any disappointment in our intercourse.

That then got me thinking that perhaps he takes to the illusion of the mask absolutely. As a woman in a mask, he really did see me as no one. Part of me was tempted to try to seduce him now. I was no longer restrained by magic sense, presuming I could get his penis out. I wondered how he'd react to his wife-to-be if she threw herself at him now.

That was when I realized that we weren't heading to the main doors of the banquet hall but a side area that likely functioned as a storage room. It was connected to the main hall, but it was cut off by thick sound-blocking curtains. He took me into the room, which consisted of a couch, weaved carpet, and a table to the side that contained brewed tea. It was likely some kind of break room for the servants, at least it looked like one to me.

”What is this?” I asked cautiously.

Richard seemed to jump nervously and then nodded his head. ”Yes, right, let's have some tea. I'm sorry to deceive you a bit, but I really wanted to get a chance to talk to you in private. You've been here nearly a month, and it's come to my attention that we haven't really had a chance to talk.”

”So, this ceremony of honor thing?” I asked.

”Ah, well, that is happening in a bit, but we still have some time yet. I'll escort you there… after.”

”After?” I asked as Richard put a cup of tea in front of me and I sniffed it.

The tea was made of a particularly good leaf. I was never a major tea drinker, but in this world, it was either tea or wine for just about everything. Min said she had never heard of coffee before, and I hadn't had any luck finding it in any of the King's books. However, that wasn't what I needed to focus on. The third prince sat next to me, close enough that his knee touched mine, and turned to me with a nervous gaze.

”So, Prince Hyburn, what did you want to discuss?” I asked while taking a sip of the tea, which was only a little bitter.

Richard relaxed for a second and gave a sigh, ”That is… I wanted to apologize for how I have been treating you.”

I rose an eyebrow, amused but also a little surprised at his sudden change in behavior. Perhaps I had affected him at the party more than I realized. However, there was still the manner of my mask coming off.

I turned to him. ”Richard, about the rumors…”

Richard shook his head. ”You don't need to think about that. It's honestly ridiculous that father felt the need to punish you so. As if he doesn't do the same things. A-as if I don't either. He's the one at fault! To think, a young girl like that… and you were forced to take all the blame!”

To suddenly hear Richard voicing my thoughts so absolutely, I fought to contain my excitement. For the first time in the last two weeks, I felt a little better about the whole situation. If Richard was on my side, then things would be easier. I started seeing Richard in a new light. He was a very attractive man, and his only fault was his inability to express himself, well, and Sylvia.

I drank down the last of the tea and then frowned. That was, of course, not really important. I was going to be leaving soon. There was really no need to endear myself with Richard. In fact, I had already earned my first-time experience with him, and so there was absolutely nothing I could gain. However, Richard saw me as his wife-to-be, and role play with Min aside, I wondered what it would be like to be with a man who thought he'd be spending the rest of his life with you. Perhaps it was a cruel thought, but the novelty of being with Richard in a romantic setting was enticing to a seductress like me.

I raised up the glass to my lips, planning to start seducing Richard. ”Ah, um, could I have some more tea?”

Richard jumped a bit, but then grabbed his cup and pushed it to me. ”Oh, fine, here, you can have mine.”

I put my hand out and touched his shoulder lightly, my Seduction skill moving forward in full force. ”Thank you, my prince.”

”Ah, well, it's just tea…” He answered flippantly.

”No, about supporting me,” I said, ”I was concerned that everyone hated me now. I really only went for you. I had thought that the pair of us could have our first time, but it's really not the same with masks.”

”Th-th-that's true.” Richard started to become flustered as I leaned against him, one hand falling on his leg.