#35
After experiencing several heats with Damiel, Enrique had become quite capable of controlling himself. Sex was inevitable, but instances of losing himself completely to it were gradually decreasing.
However, sex with Anture was entirely different. The endless ecstasy, the sense of becoming a completely different being, and on top of that, Anture’s pheromones… No matter how much the current Enrique thought about it, he wasn’t confident he could resist Anture’s pheromones.
It was truly unwelcome to have situations that couldn’t be controlled by reason frequently occurring. Enrique wanted his married life with Anture, and the two subsequent marriages, to be simple. He wanted sex to be strictly limited to acts of procreation. And he was confident it could be that way. But to have his heat triggered by stimulation from Anture’s pheromones… It was really troublesome.
As the carriage door opened, a hand immediately stretched out before him. The large, firm hand had a beautiful structure. Enrique glanced at Pol, who had been pushed aside and wore a dazed expression, then wordlessly grasped Anture’s hand.
“Enrique!”
As soon as he got out of the carriage, his father called out his name loudly and approached. Enrique let go of Anture’s hand and quickly walked towards his father. They embraced tightly.
“You rascal. Making your father worry like this.”
His father said, clicking his tongue while hugging Enrique tightly as if to crush him. Though his tone was calm, deep relief could be felt in it.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
Enrique apologized while tightly hugging his father’s shoulders. His father let out a long sigh, then released the embrace and patted Enrique’s shoulders.
“You are…”
King Shamier’s eyes turned to just behind Enrique. Enrique glanced back to where his father was looking. There stood Anture, firmly planted. He looked quite dirty and disheveled as he hadn’t changed clothes, but the overwhelming aura emanating from his entire body more than made up for it.
“It’s been a long time, Your Majesty. I am Anture, Prince of the Ruben Empire.”
“…Yes. It has been a while.”
The king’s slow response dripped with obvious displeasure. It seemed he already knew about what had transpired between Enrique and Anture in the cabin.
“The wedding is scheduled for spring… How did you come all the way here alone, without any prior notice?”
“I missed Enrique and came running briefly. I only intended to see his face from afar, but I happened to find him in danger, which led to this situation.”
At the phrase “led to this situation,” Enrique noticed his father’s eye twitch.
‘So he did hear everything.’
Enrique clicked his tongue inwardly. No child would want their parents to know about their sex life. Enrique cleared his throat softly, both to shake off the embarrassment and to dispel the tense atmosphere.
Fortunately, his father’s eyes moved to Enrique.
“I heard your head was cut? You bled, are you alright?”
Enrique lightly touched the top of his head where his father’s eyes were examining. A lot of blood had flowed immediately after falling from the tree, but the wound wasn’t as big as he thought. Being in his hair, there was no need to worry about scars.
“It was just a little blood, nothing serious. It’s a great fortune that my limbs are intact after falling from a horse.”
Enrique spoke nonchalantly.
“Still, you should get checked by a doctor. I’ve sent a doctor to your quarters, so go straight there for treatment.”
At his father’s gentle voice, Enrique nodded with a slight smile.
“Let’s go inside, shall we?”
His father led Enrique inside. As they walked shoulder to shoulder for a few steps, his father suddenly stopped and turned his head sharply. Following suit, Enrique saw Anture right behind them.
“Why are you following?”
His father’s question was laced with obvious displeasure.
“I need to hear about the extent of Enrique’s injury.”
“You’re not married yet, so you can’t see such private matters. I’ve had the servants prepare temporary lodgings for you, so go there and rest. Shouldn’t you rest well and return quickly?”
Enrique inwardly whistled at his father’s rather blatant way of telling Anture to get lost. He wanted to applaud and cheer.
“Enrique is my fiancé. We’ll be married in a few months. How can I not know about my fiancé’s injury? And since I’ve already entered the royal palace, I intend to stay until the wedding ceremony.”
At Anture’s declaration, wrinkles formed between the king’s brows. Sparks seemed to fly between their gazes clashing in mid-air.
Though he was an exceptionally kind and caring father to Enrique, he was also an alpha who had successfully ruled a country for a long time. The aura he deliberately raised was terrifyingly fierce. Of course, Anture didn’t back down either. He stood firmly with a calm face, undaunted by King Shamier’s strong presence. His face said he absolutely wouldn’t back down.
“Anture.”
At Enrique’s call, the tension between the two broke. Receiving both their gazes, Enrique spoke to Anture.
“Do as my father says and return to your lodgings. If you’re curious about my condition, I’ll send a servant to inform you.”
“But Enrique…”
Anture immediately protested. But Enrique cut him off without giving him time to say more.
“You’re too dirty right now.”
With those words, Enrique looked Anture up and down. His disheveled hair probably had dry grass stuck to it from rolling around in the cabin. His clothes were dusty and dirty from rolling on the floor without properly undressing. The state of the black cloak he wore on top was beyond words. It was only thanks to his looks and bearing that he didn’t look like a street beggar.
“…”
Anture silently examined his own state. His eyes seemed to harden slightly. Feeling somewhat refreshed, Enrique delivered another blow.
“You smell too. I hate dirty and smelly things.”
“…”
His black eyes hardened. Enrique could feel the second punch had landed properly. It was just the right impact. Enrique suddenly felt in a good mood.
“Let’s go, Father.”
Enrique said, linking arms with his father. The two started walking forward again. There was no sound of Anture following. Enrique felt like bursting into laughter, but he couldn’t quite do that, so he just let out a small chuckle. His father seemed to be in a similar mood, wearing a pleased smile.
The doctor’s examination showed nothing serious. The wound was smaller than expected, and it seemed to have been torn when he hit the tree. He was only prescribed medicine for any potential headaches. His father left the quarters only after directly hearing the doctor’s examination results and feeling reassured.
Enrique could finally enter a hot bath and wash himself.
*
After finishing a hot bath and lying down on the bed, it felt like heaven.
Enrique hugged a pillow and lay down, breathing languidly.
Despite rolling around on the dirty, hard floor of the cabin and doing all that, his body was only languid without a single ache. No, it actually felt much more refreshed than usual. Enrique marveled at the excellent recovery abilities of alphas and omegas as he felt his own body’s condition.
“By the way, you know what? Lord Julian was about to mount a horse and rush into the forest to search for you, Your Highness. His husband quickly chased after him and forcibly pulled him off the horse, but he threw a fit, screaming at the top of his lungs that he had to go find you. In the end, his husband had to throw him over his shoulder and force him into a carriage to send him back to the royal palace.”
At the end of Pol’s endless chatter, Enrique clicked his tongue. He could vividly imagine the scene of Julian making a fuss with his stubborn personality without having to see it.
“Did you inform him that I was safe?”
“Of course. As soon as we confirmed Your Highness’s location, we sent a soldier to inform him that you were safe.”
“Well done.”
Enrique praised Pol’s quick response.
After chattering on for quite a while, Pol hesitated for a moment. Enrique could easily guess what Pol wanted to say. Of course, Enrique pretended not to notice.
“So… with the Prince of Ruben…”
Pol finally couldn’t suppress his curiosity and opened his mouth. Enrique immediately frowned deeply. Pol’s mouth closed tightly.
“Were there no one else from Ruben?”
“Not that I know of.”
Pol shook his head. Someone in Pol’s position would know everything happening inside the royal palace. If he didn’t know, it was safe to assume it didn’t happen.
“So he really came all the way here alone…”
Enrique muttered, narrowing his eyes.
He’s supposed to be the heir of the great nation of Ruben. It was absurd that he would travel such a long distance without even guards or attendants. And not for any great reason, but simply because he wanted to see Enrique. Did he even have any awareness as a prince… His body may have grown, but he still lacked maturity.
