The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 22: Same Tricks

Chapter 22: Same Tricks

’Damn. I failed to kill him. I’m doomed. I’m going to die in his hands now.’ Eve shut her eyes, her heart thumping so hard against her chest. She waited for the impact, expecting Alaric to slit her throat or stab her heart.

"Why?" Alaric’s deep icy voice sent a shiver down her spine. His tall figure loomed over her small frame, his hands gripping her shoulders tightly as he pressed her firmly against the wall. "Why did you attack me? Do you want to kill me?"

There was a trace of sadness and pain in Alaric’s eyes as he stared at her, clenching his teeth. ’Eve tried to kill me. She wants me dead.’

Eve’s body trembled in fear, trying her best to hold back her tears. ’You tried to kill me first. And now, Annie is gone because of you...’

She wanted to yell at him but she chose to keep her silence. She didn’t want Alaric to know that she could speak now.

"Open your eyes and look at me!" He demanded while lifting her chin.

Eve mustered up her courage as she slowly peeled her eyes open, meeting Alaric’s fiery gaze. She almost forgot to breathe. Alaric looked so mad at her. But surprisingly, he didn’t lay a hand on her.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Alaric asked her through his gritted teeth.

’Don’t feign ignorance. You made me do it! It’s your fault for making me resent you!’ Eve pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes on Alaric.

Meanwhile, Alaric’s heart constricted as he could see the hatred being reflected in Eve’s emerald eyes. He couldn’t understand why she was looking at him with such hostility and disgust.

’Where is the woman who is afraid to get divorced? Her temperament suddenly changed.’ Alaric mused to himself as he continued observing her facial expression.

"Whether you like it or not, I am still your HUSBAND!" he declared to her.

She flinched once more because of his heated gaze. Before she could react, Alaric lowered his head, smashing his lips against her in a fiery rough kiss.

Eve tried to push him, punching his chest with her trembling fists. But Alaric held her in place, dismissing her attempt to avoid his kiss.

He nibbled and bit her lips as if he were punishing her. She could taste her own blood in her mouth.

’No! Stay away from me!’ Eve continued to struggle against his firm hold.

Her resistance fueled Alaric to be more aggressive. He pinched her jaw, forcing her to part her lips as he plunged his tongue inside her mouth. He sought her own tongue greedily and violently sucking it.

With her continuous pounding on his chest, Alaric had no choice but to catch her wrists, pinning her arms above her head. Then he pressed his lower body against her parted legs, restraining her movement further.

The difference in strengths was evident as Eve’s desperate struggle failed to fend off Alaric’s forceful advances. Both her hands were restrained by his strong arm.

He pushed his tongue deep into her mouth, ravaging her as he tasted her in every corner.

Eve folded her fingers into fists, cursing Alaric in her mind as tears streamed down her face like a flowing river. ’I hate you, Alaric! I curse the day I married you.’

When Alaric noticed her tears, he suddenly stopped, breaking the kiss.

’Damn it! I made her cry,’ he murmured inwardly. His sharp eyes softened upon seeing her cry.

He realized he had been too rough with her. Unintentionally, he had hurt her as he was carried away by his raging emotions.

Taking a deep sigh, Alaric finally released her hands. He stepped back, concealing the guilt in his eyes.

Eve reflexively crossed her arms, hugging herself in a protective gesture. Her legs grew weak, prompting her to sit down while leaning on the wall for support. She avoided looking into Alaric’s eyes, unable to bear the sight of his face. She hated him!

On the other hand, Alaric stood silently in his spot. Seeing Eve in her vulnerable state, he started to regret his actions. But his pride prevented him from apologizing to her.

"Eat and drink your medicine. You can’t kill me if you are too weak. You have to get stronger before you can get rid of me," Alaric said in a stern cold voice. But deep inside, this was his way of telling her to recover quickly and take good care of her health.

After looking at her for one last time, Alaric turned around and left. He didn’t confront Eve about the issue of infidelity because he already got the answer. Before returning to Lotus Pavilion, he met his Knight Commander, Caleb.

Caleb reported the result of his investigation to him. The man who claimed to be Eve’s lover was Lyle Owen. It turned out that this man was a gambling addict and there was no way he had met Eve in person. This cleared Alaric’s doubt about his wife.

However, he didn’t expect Eve to suddenly attack him upon entering her chamber. He didn’t know why she wanted to kill him.

*****

Meanwhile, in the dark alley of the town center of Averion, a group of five men were gathered together. It did not take long before three figures wearing a robe joined them. The person in the middle was none other than Princess Thalia who was accompanied by her two guards.

"Oh, you came at the right time, Princess Thalia. We’ve been waiting for our rewards. Did you bring it?" The leader of the five men shamelessly asked her.

But Thalia looked dissatisfied with their performance. Without hesitation, she slapped the leader, catching him off guard.

He was about to retaliate but the guards immediately intervened, drawing their swords and pointing the tips at his neck.

"How dare you ask me for a reward?! You failed to kill her!" Thalia yelled at them in frustration.

The five men exchanged glances with one another. They couldn’t refute that. But the man with a scar on his face stepped forward and spoke on behalf of his comrades.

"Princess Thalia, just calm down. Don’t blame us. We didn’t expect the Black Hunter to intervene. It was out of our control when he suddenly appeared, protecting the ugly princess. We couldn’t defeat him," he explained to her politely.

"You don’t have to worry about this matter. Even though we failed to kill her, we made her believe that it was her husband who hired us. If you could only see her frightened face at that moment; she was too dumb to believe our words. This will sow discord between the husband and wife. We’ve just planted a seed of doubt in her."

The five men burst out laughing as they recalled Eve’s expression when they told her some lies about her husband, Alaric.

Princess Thalia hissed at them, still not satisfied. "She might confront Alaric! What will you do if Alaric denies her accusation?! They can easily clear this misunderstanding!"

But the leader let out another chuckle. "Have you forgotten, Princess Thalia? You also framed her for having an affair with another guy. Do you think General Alaric will still talk to his wife? I bet he is still mad for her unfaithfulness!"

"From that moment alone, their relationship has already become strained," he added with a sinister smirk.

They had used this same trick a year ago. They were also the ones who attacked Alaric on his wedding night, making him believe that Princess Eve had ordered them to do it.