Chapter 76: Exclusively yours

Chapter 76: Exclusively yours Windows rattled as the ice-chilly winter breeze came inside the room. It whispered incoherent eerie words. The ever-busy streets of Swamp Creek seemed to have finally gone quiet. It was very late. The candle lights flickered disturbed by the breeze. It was very quiet and peaceful. She shuddered as soon as the cold breeze from the window grazed her skin. How long has she been in the tub? Did she fall asleep? she wondered. The water dipped as soon as she was out and her eyes fell on the side profile of his face. The second time she was seeing it without a mask. Cedric sat her on the dressing stool and wrapped her with a towel that was folded on the dressing table. "What were you thinking about falling asleep in a bath in the middle of winter? Did you forget your poor tolerance for cold?" He berated her, but weirdly, his voice was not harsh. As if on cue, a squeeze escaped her mouth. "Achoo," Abrielle nervously laughed, rubbing her nose. "Why did Evelyn leave you alone?" He asked, sounding mad this time with his palm on her forehead. Luckily she didn’t have a fever. "I asked her to leave because I wanted some time alone. I didn’t expect I would fall asleep. Stop reprimanding me like my nagging mother about the cold. She would always be like Abrielle, don’t go out. It is cold. Make sure to wear more layers of clothes. We don’t want you to catch a cold. Don’t go out in the snow if they find out how weak your constitution is. No one will marry you." She ranted on and on based on Abrielle’s memories. It felt like she was truly Abrielle and not someone borrowing her body. "Sounds like she loves you. It must be nice having parents that love you." Cedric said with a sad tone picking up another towel to dry her hair. Abrielle went silent for a bit knowing what he went through growing up in a royal harem without a mother. "Yes, they did." She muttered, unlike the villain, the villainess was a spoilt daughter. Despite lacking talent, it didn’t reduce her parent’s love for her. They were ready to move to heaven to grant her every wish, including getting her engaged to the man who ended up killing their daughter. She wondered how her parents felt after her death, knowing if they refused to grant her wish, she would still be alive. "You don’t have to help me; just get Evelyn, or I will do it myself." She stopped Cedric, she wasn’t used to being completely bare in front of him. "I already asked Evelyn to retire for the night. I had no idea she was waiting hours for you to call her in. How does the spoilt daughter of the Nightshade plan to dress herself when she has never brushed her hair before?." Cedric clicked his tongue. Abrielle felt a taunt in his tone. Abrielle might be a spoilt noble lady, but she was once Hazel, a broke college student who started writing mostly for money rather than passion. "She should have just come in.." Abrielle stated; Cedric’s fingers gently wove through her ginger hair that seemed redder once soaked with water. "Doing that would be disrespectful. It is against her etiquette." He explained causing Abrielle to press her lips into a thin line. Her eyes trailed to the mirror, where she could see his reflection. His gaze was focused on her. A blush crept on her face but she didn’t understand why she felt shy. "You seem very skilled at this; I thought your only skills were on the battlefield," she mentioned, observing how delicate his actions were. His eyes left her hair for a short while and glanced at the mirror, meeting her gaze, but she quickly averted her eyes. Unable to hold that sharp gold gaze that has an indescribable feeling in it. "I started caring for myself as far as I can remember my name. I wasn’t among the Queen’s favourite stepchildren, considering I was older than her son, so my caretaker was not ideal, but she taught me how to survive on my own, a skill you lack, my dear." Her heart was struck by another stray bullet. She wondered if Cedric hated Abrielle because she was spoilt, selfish and dumb. Sigh, she was no different from the original Abrielle; she might even be dumber. Ever since she came to this world it seemed like she lost a good fraction of her IQ. "Besides, I have a lot of talent exclusively for you to experience." He teased she had an idea what he was talking about. She tried her best not to blush. It was just a one-time thing that would never happen again. Although not all his abilities are exclusive to her, like how he is a ruthless tyrant meant to kill her. He killed a lot of people before and after her. After drying her up, Cedric helped her delicately get ready for the night. His hands were very gentle like he had done this a thousand times. His hands teased her at every opportunity he had but she refused to give in. She would not fall for that trap twice. Remembering the night in the cave and how he spent his time at war he might not be so different from Alfonso. "How many women have you helped like this?" Abrielle mentioned stepping down from the stool to wear her lacy nightwear. Cedric chuckled hearing her words which puzzled her about what was so funny. She reluctantly turned around to let him tie her lace. . "What is so amusing about my question?" She asked, be withered. "It’s amusing because you sound like a jealous wife. Don’t worry you have me all to yourself." he chimed close to her ears. His ticklish breath fanned over her skin. "I am not jealous," she argued, her face flushed with anger. Why the hell would she be jealous? Cedric was delusional. "You don’t mind if I have a couple more wives." He mentioned. Abrielle nodded without thinking twice. "Go ahead, you can have multiple, as I have said before, as long as they do not bother. If possible they can have all your children. I am sure you don’t want your royal blood to be contaminated by the blood of a talentless spoilt ....." Before she could finish her statement, the room temperature plummeted to an all-time low, and his handsome face, despite being gorgeous, was scary. She shuddered in fear. What did she say wrong? Most noblemen were more than happy to have a first wife that is accepting of polygamy. She parted her mouth, but no words came out. The next thing she knew, her lips were sealed by his.