After four hours in the car, it finally halted in front of a big mansion. I got down and stretched my body.
I didn't know the Silver Kingdom was this big, even the Jonas Kingdom isn't small. I looked up at the building. "Wow… so this is Jonas Palace."
"Hmph! Look who made me feel stupid yesterday. Turns out you're the dumb one," Elena said with a smirk. "This isn't their palace, just one of their properties. They're here because this mansion is close to the cave." She pointed toward a huge rock not far away.
"Ohhh." I raised a brow and prepared to leave.
"Idiot! Where do you think you're going? I still have business with you!"
I sighed. "Princess Elena, what is it again?"
"Who do you think you are? Making Prince Thomas chase me down for you?" she said, scanning me up and down with disgust.
"I'm nobody. Happy?" I said and turned to go.
"Hey!" she yelled, following me. I ignored her and followed the guard instead.
"You think I'll chase you? No! I already have my way to deal with you," she muttered with a chuckle.
"Where's my husband's chamber?" she asked proudly.
"Bedroom," I whispered under my breath. The maids around tried to hide their laughter. Judging by their looks and accents, they were from the city.
"What's funny?" Elena frowned.
"Good afternoon, ma'am," one maid said politely. "My name is Raine, head of the maids in this mansion. Let me know if you need anything."
Then she smiled gently. "And, um, there's nothing like a 'chamber' here, but we do have many presidential suite bedrooms."
I burst into laughter. I couldn't tell if Raine said it on purpose or not, but it was enough to make Elena's face twist.
Elena's face turned red. She folded her arms. "So you're saying I'm an idiot, huh? Is a chamber not a bedroom? We're royal people and we call our bedrooms chambers!"
Raine still smiled, calm and respectful. "I didn't say that, ma'am. I just meant the palace bedrooms are called chambers, but this isn't a palace."
"Oh, so you mean it's because you're from the city…"
"No, miss," Raine interrupted softly. "Your kingdoms have names like Blessing, Jennifer and Susan too, right? It's just that our city is a bit more advanced. The main difference is that your kingdom runs under a monarchical system."
Elena suddenly burst out laughing and clapped mockingly. "You're hilarious. See this foreigner, trying to educate a princess. Not your fault though. I've never heard the nonsense you're spouting, so keep your knowledge to yourself! Now, where is my husband's chamber!"
I rolled my eyes and followed a guard upstairs. "Please, don't put my room next to hers," I whispered.
The guard smiled and shook his head. I sighed in relief, I couldn't imagine waking up to her face.
He stopped in front of a room and pressed something that made a soft sound. Then he bowed and left.
"You're going?" I frowned, glancing at the door. Then, it slowly opened and there was Ethan, shirtless!
I gasped and quickly turned around to leave, thinking it was my room. But he grabbed my waist and pulled me inside.
"Oh, stop, Ethan! Elena's also here!" I panicked.
He shut the door and set me down, his eyes locked on mine. He brushed my hair gently. "I've missed you so much, my queen."
I smiled shyly and tapped his chest. "I missed you too Ethan, but…"
Before I could finish, his lips crashed on mine. He wrapped his arms around my waist as he deepened the kiss. Only God knows how much he missed me. We didn't meet last night, only the night of…
Yes! I remember!
"Wait…" I tried to stop him, but he didn't listen. The next thing I knew, he lifted me while still kissing me.
"Ethan, stop! I want to ask you something!"
But instead, I found myself on his bed and him above me. I quickly cupped his face. "Stop that, we need to talk!"
He smiled and gently pulled my hands away. Then he kissed my forehead. "You already found out, huh?"
"Ohhh! So you…." I gritted my teeth and pointed at him.
He burst into laughter, and honestly, it surprised me. This was the first time I'd seen him laugh since becoming crown prince. Everything about him now felt… different. More mature.
"Why did you do that without telling me?"
"Would you have let me mark and mate with you if I told you?" he raised a brow.
"No!" I yelled. I would never have allowed it. In fact, I would've found a way to cancel the contract or even run away! But since he already did it… what can I do?
"Please, how can we break the ritual? Our love isn't possible."
"When I die," he said simply.
"Ahhh! What kind of joke is that, Ethan? I'm serious!"
"You can do your research. I'll have to die before the ritual breaks."
I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. Fine. Maybe there's still a way to cut it off later.
"We're on our honeymoon now," he continued seriously, "and we must stay together for four nights to strengthen the bond."
He was right. I even asked my mother last night. She said that after the honeymoon on the seventh day, the wife sits on the throne for the first time. Everyone bows, and she's officially crowned as queen. That's the final part of the ritual.
And that's what Ethan is doing right now.
But what's he even thinking? Completing the ritual?
No!. I'll never let that happen.
"I'm not interested, Ethan! I decline!"
"Who said I'm asking for your permission?" he smirked.
I glared at him and tried to sit up, but he grabbed my wrists and pinned them above my head with one hand.
"What are you doing!"
He looked down at my neck and smiled with satisfaction. "I never knew my mark would look this beautiful on the woman I love."
"You just enjoy making me uncomfortable," I groaned.
"After we return to the palace, you'll stop working as a maid," he said coldly.
My eyes widened. "What?"
"You'll move to another room."
I shook my head hurriedly. "No, please, Ethan. I… I don't want that. I love my maid job. I'm happy with it."
"It's an order."
I trembled at his tone, staring at him sadly. "Fine! Do whatever you want! You said I'm your queen, but I can't even make my own decisions!"
"All decisions are yours," he said calmly, "except running away from me or refusing to be mine."
I suddenly remembered what Prince Thomas told me, Ethan isn't the type to hide relationships. He'll claim me both in private and public.
"Ethan, please. Give me one more month to think about it. After that, I'll do whatever you want, even if you want me to sit beside you."
Ethan looked at me with a complicated expression.
"What?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he pressed his lips back on mine.
"I thought you said night?" I murmured, glancing at the bright sunlight outside the window.
"I know," he whispered against my skin, then started kissing my jaw. His lips are hot and wet.
He kissed my mouth again, his tongue finding mine, deep and demanding. His other hand began roaming my body, and his hips started moving slowly. I tried to pull away, but his grip didn't loosen. Each second made my body feel weaker, hotter, wilder.
Even though we were both still dressed, I was only wearing thin pants, and his soft home trousers made it too easy to feel him.
"Ahh…" I couldn't help but moan. "Stop that…"
Then suddenly, the door opened. My eyes widened when I saw Elena standing there, staring down at us in horror.