361: Kiss Me

Kiss Me

His question, accompanied by that earnest gaze, momentarily left her spellbound. She couldn't help but ponder: Was she prepared to distance herself from him? The response was etched within her, known better to her than anyone else.

Meeting his gaze steadfastly, she responded with composure, "I shall not, Your Highness." Though her demeanor remained composed, her eyes radiated unwavering resolve.

"Why?" She heard him ask again, his eyes as if trying to see through her, wishing to hear something that he yearned for deep down in his heart. 

'Why? its because of you, Your highness. It's because I wish to stay by your side and shield you from the harm you are facing. I must protect you. I can't seem to imagine not being around you, not being able to see you. You seem to have grown on me, Your Highness.' She wanted to say it and many more things in her heart but she could not. What right did a mere servant possess to utter such words to her master?

She collected her thoughts and answered instead, "After living in the villages and only on outer parts of the kingdom, now I wish to live in capital which is more lively and bustling with people. Also my master is here so I can learn more things from him and he can also check on my family member which will help me greatly."

Disappointment cast its shadow upon Arlan's expectant eyes. 'I am not a factor in her decision,' he realized with a heavy heart.

Arlan emptied another glass of wine to drown the sadness inside him. Oriana wished to stop him but it was too late. Instead she watched him looking back at her, his eyes looked little lazy due to the intake of that such strong liquor. 

"What if I were to insist that you remain in Wimark?" he inquired.

Now, it was Oriana's turn to experience disappointment. 'Is he truly contemplating sending me away? Could my earlier mistake have been so grave that he no longer desires my presence by his side?'

Suppressing her unease, she replied looking back at him, "If Your Highness were to insist on my departure from here, then I shall return to my humble life as a herbalist and embrace the nomadic existence of a wanderer who never lingers in one place for long. I cannot bring myself to accept employment at Duke Wimark's estate."

His unwavering gaze never left hers, absorbing each word she uttered.

"So, you are prepared to defy my command?"

Oriana was determined and was not willing to give up. "I have been living on my accord all my life and I wish His Highness to not control my wishes. If the day arrives when I must face the consequences, even if it entails a sentence of death for defying your orders, I shall accept it willingly. I refuse to endure a life within the confines of a cage, akin to a captured bird."

What she said, she was true to her words. When she had entered the palace and continued to reside there, it was entirely of her own volition, driven by her personal motivations. Were it not for those reasons, she would have departed long ago, engineering her escape under various pretexts. However after coming to the palace, her priorities had evolved, extending beyond the care of her grandfather alone. There was one more person now she cared for.

Arlan let out a light chuckle. He believed each word she said. He had come to understand her well enough to know that no one could compel her to act against her own will, and she wouldn't hesitate to become a rebel if necessary. 

'I have no other choice but to keep her by my side instead of forcing her to leave.'

Arlan extended his hand to refill his glass, not requesting Oriana's assistance this time. Wordlessly he continued to drown the great quantity of wine.

Observing that he had nearly emptied the entire pitcher of potent wine, Oriana felt compelled to voice her concern. "Your Highness, You should consider stopping now."

"I like to live on my accord as well," he spoke, clearly ignoring her worry. She had said the same thing to him a while ago. 

Oriana could only purse her lips in silence. He was evidently not inclined to heed her advice. Then, an idea occurred to her, presenting itself as an opportune moment. She sipped her wine while watching him consume his, it became apparent that he was gradually falling to the effect of wine, close to lose his mind soon.

"Your Highness," she ventured as gently as possible.

Looking at the glass of swirling wine in his hand, he responded with a subdued "Hmm?"

"Is there something that troubles you?" Oriana inquired, her gaze brimming with anticipation, hoping to glean some useful information.

He chuckled and pivoted his head to face her. "You," he admitted with a mischievous grin, taking her by surprise.

Bewildered, she blinked several times, struggling to find the right words. Her inquiry had been sincere, yet he seemed to be in a playful mood.

'He is certainly drunk.' she concluded, reaching a decision to ask once more. "Your Highness, I asked...."

"And I have already answered," he interrupted, extending his hand toward the pitcher. His fingers moved to grasp another pitcher, as he had already emptied the previous one.

However, before his hand could make contact with the second pitcher, a delicate hand clamped onto his wrist, bringing his movement to an abrupt halt.

He cast a displeased gaze upon her, only to hear her determined words, "That's enough, Your Highness. You cannot consume any more alcohol."

She was a physician and she knew it more than this would cause harm to his body. She could not let it happen.

Opposite to her resolute manner, his behaviour softened, "But I want to. My throat feels thirsty."

"I will fetch you some water," she offered, moving to retrieve it, but he restrained her with a grasp on her hand. "I don't want water. I won't drink it."

"I cannot permit you to continue drinking wine, either," she declared, her resolve unwavering.

"Then find an alternative. I am thirsty," he insisted.

To Oriana, he now resembled a spoiled child, obstinately intent on testing her patience.

"Name something you want other than wine, I will bring it to you," she said firmly.

"Kiss me," he requested with a mischievous smile.

Oriana was taken aback by his sudden and unusual request. It sounded so absurd that she wondered if she had misheard him. "Your Highness, you appear to be quite intoxicated..."

"I am not," he cut her off. "I want you to kiss me, so I won't feel thirsty anymore."

She frowned inwardly.  'What the hell. What kind of logic is this? Can a kiss really replace the need for water? It seems the alcohol has gone straight to his brain instead of his stomach.'

Seeing her troubled, the inebriated man casually rested his elbow on the table and supported his tilted head with his hand, lazily studying her with a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

She was ready to decline his unreasonable request. "Your Highness...."

"You punishment is to comply all my wishes tonight," he reminded her, stopping her from refusing.

The rest of her words of rejection remained unspoken as she attempted to reason with him. "I understand, Your Highness. But to quench your thirst, you truly need to consume a liquid."

"I have no desire for that. All I want is for you to kiss me," he insisted.

Oriana clenched her teeth, struggling to maintain her composure. "But kissing won't quench your thirst."

He assumed an innocent expression, challenging her, "How can I be sure unless I try?"

Seeking to convey her point gently, Oriana spoke, "Your Highness, as a physician, I am well aware that your body requires fluids..."

"And I am equally aware of what my body desires," he countered.

His words deepened her frown as she observed his flushed, wine-tinged complexion and heavy-lidded eyes. 'Is he genuinely intoxicated or merely putting on an act? Could he be attempting to take advantage of me by feigning drunkenness? But then again, he did consume an excessive amount of alcohol. It's implausible for anyone to remain entirely rational after such indulgence. He is not himself. I can't get angry at him.'

"Your Highness, how about I fetch you some fruit juice? I'll prepare it myself, alright?"

In response, his intoxicated eyes simply stared at her, her reluctance appearing to displease him.

Seeing that he didn't voice any outright rejection, she made a move to rise from her seat. However, before she could do so, a strong arm seized her hand, compelling her to stop. His disapproving gaze seemed to pierce through her.

"Are you attempting to evade your punishment?" he inquired sternly.

"No, Your Highness. It's just that you're not in the right state of mind," she replied, attempting to free her hand. But in the next moment, a forceful tug on her hand pulled her closer to him, taking her by surprise.

The cushion she had positioned between them was swiftly discarded, and now Oriana occupied its space. She regarded the man with a shocked expression, his alcohol-laden breath enveloping her senses. Were it not for her hand, which sought support against his chest, she would have collided with his body.

Her heart quickened its pace at their proximity, and anxiety gripped her. "Your Highness, you can't force me or I..."

"I am thirsty. It feels terrible," he confessed, his demeanor marked by distress, his voice tender, and his eyes appearing to seek solace in her.

Oriana who wished to scold him just now, swallowed her words back. He looked troubled and his words felt more like a plea rather than demand. 

Her heart softened in response to his words, and with a troubled expression, she shifted her gaze from his eyes to his slightly parted lips. She swallowed nervously, telling herself, 'It should be fine. Not like it's first time for us. He won't remember it anyways.'

She once more glanced at his expectant eyes, signaling that he still awaited her compliance. With her heart pounding like a drum, she made her choice and turned her gaze to his lips, resolute in her decision.0

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