Chapter 187: Facing the demon
Emily stopped in her tracks upon hearing Raylen’s words. For a fleeting moment, a sense of relief had washed over her at being allowed to leave the mansion, not expecting him to stop her.
"Me?" Gloria whipped her head around to look at Raylen, who had his eyes fixed on Emily. She chuckled softly before her eyebrows drew together, and she looked at him in confusion. She said, "King Raylen, Emily is the one who wishes to return to the castle."
When Emily turned, her eyes met Raylen’s unwavering blue eyes. He said, "I have something to discuss with her." Then, he shifted his attention to Gloria and offered her a serene smile. "You are an understanding woman, and I am sure you would be more than happy to allow us some time to talk. We can continue our time together later."
Gloria appeared to be at a loss for words, as her mind was still clouded by the pleasure she had received from him a short while ago. And when she continued to look reluctant, Emily spoke up, saying,
"Lady Gloria doesn’t need to leave. I am just experiencing a little headache and need some rest. There is nothing to—"
"Gloria," Raylen uttered the blonde woman’s name, and she promptly retrieved the shawl she had taken off earlier, draping it around her shoulders before exiting the room and the corridor.
"Now, why don’t we step inside and talk about what brought on your headache?" Raylen asked, moving aside from the door to allow Emily to enter. He refrained from mentioning her tears, fully aware that she would vehemently deny them. The princess possessed too much pride to acknowledge such vulnerability in front of others.
Emily was still overwhelmed, and she clenched her hands into fists. She stated firmly, "There is nothing to talk about, King Raylen."
"You are a princess accustomed to attending countless gatherings and meeting numerous people. I find it hard to believe something so simple would have caused you a headache, unless you didn’t sleep well last night," Raylen stated, a subtle twitch at the corners of his lips, and he added, "We can do this all day long, Princess. Right here. So get in."
As she heard footsteps echoing down the corridor, Emily promptly stepped inside the room. When she heard the door click shut behind her, she swiftly turned to meet Raylen’s gaze.
"To avoid anyone eavesdropping," Raylen explained before he walked past her and pushed aside the curtains, allowing light to filter into the room.