Chapter 248
Courtney tidied up the tentacles and smoothed out her skirt, then quietly looked down at the result of what she’d done.
A beautiful body, covered in sweat and bodily fluids. Even after seeing such a debauched scene, she felt no regret, only a sense of lingering disappointment.
She felt like she could do even better if she tried again, but there probably wouldn’t be another chance.
Richard, sprawled on top of the fluids he had spilled, finally managed to regain his senses and roll himself over. His vision was entirely yellow, and his breathing was still ragged, but it was his mind, rather than his body, that was truly worn out.
Was what had just happened even real? Maybe he really was freezing to death out on the snowy plain, and this was just a ridiculously happy dream?
He turned his head and met Courtney’s gaze as she adjusted her clothes. For a moment, the two simply stared at each other. Was it just his imagination? Even though they’d only been together once, he felt an inexplicable certainty that they were thinking the same thing.
Courtney looked away first. It was nothing when they’d been wildly tangled together, but now that the heat had faded, she was terribly embarrassed by the words and actions they had exchanged. As Richard showed signs of getting up, she hurriedly turned away. But he strode over and blocked her path.
“Master, Princess. No… Courtney.”
Courtney glared up at him with a sulky look. Along with the corrected title, he had somehow regained his perfectly princely face.
For some reason, Courtney felt annoyed. She didn’t like how the man who had been begging with his rear end in the air just a moment ago was now pretending to be an unruffled prince. After all, she was still just a shabby princess of a ruined kingdom, nothing more than a witch cursed by a dragon.
She had no splendid crown. But on the other hand, he stood there with his g******s exposed, and yet he was strangely full of dignity.
The naked prince whispered in a charming voice.
“Marry me.”
“What?”
Courtney’s eyes grew wide at the sudden proposal. Was he insane? Had he completely forgotten what had just happened?
But Richard was more clear-headed than ever. No matter what anyone said, his resolve was unwavering. He would never again close himself off, pleasuring himself alone and spending the rest of his days thinking back on today as a mere memory.
He spoke again, with the most earnest face he had ever worn.
“I am traveling to find the best bride. And now, I think I’ve found her.”
He had no intention of playing along with his father’s foolish game. He had no interest in the throne, anyone who wanted it could have it.
But he had grown weary of the dull court life. Since he was already on this journey, he had intended to wander to his heart’s content, seeing places he’d never visited before, and return late. That was all he’d thought when he left his kingdom.
Yet, as if by fate, he had met the person he’d never even dared to dream of. Richard absolutely did not want to lose Courtney. He wanted her to be his Master. If possible, forever.
Courtney’s face flushed bright red at the grand confession. Richard took her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it. She jumped and shook off his hand in surprise.
“A-Are you insane?”
The woman who had been so composed even as she dominated him was suddenly flustered and panicking.
Richard even found this unexpected side of her endearing. His dignified Master was actually cute, too. What more could he want?
Courtney, unable to believe any of this, was left speechless, just blinking her eyes.
A long time ago—before her kingdom was utterly ruined—she, too, had once dreamed of a romantic marriage to a foreign prince. But now, even to call it a memory was embarrassing. It was a faded, worn-out dream.
Now, she was not in any position to indulge in such a foolish fantasy. Before her mind could decide, her lips moved first.
“I, I…”
Boom!
A heavy footstep made Courtney stop mid-sentence. Both of them turned their heads at the sound. With a tremendous crash, the outer wall of the building was torn away. The dragon thrust its head through the hole. Courtney covered her mouth in shock.
The dragon snorted a hot breath. With blazing eyes, it glared at Richard, looking ready to tear off his arms and legs at any moment. Courtney hurriedly stepped in front of him.
“Poppy, no. Don’t kill him. I’m not going to leave…”
Regardless of her own wishes, she couldn’t leave this place without the dragon’s permission. In truth, Courtney couldn’t even die as she pleased. But Poppy spoke totally unexpected words.
[Leave, Courtney.]
“…What?”
Courtney furrowed her brow in confusion. The dragon, after glancing at Richard again, declared in a majestic voice.
[The curse has already been lifted. Your time will start flowing again.]
Courtney looked dazed. Even hearing it with her own ears, she couldn’t bring herself to believe it.
The prince melts the princess’s frozen heart with the power of true love. The condition for breaking the curse, which she had laughed at for being so childish, had come to pass. And it also proved that Richard’s proposal had been genuine.
Her heart fluttered, as if it really had started beating again after having stopped. But Courtney couldn’t be completely happy.
“Then you… you’ll be left alone.”
