The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 26: Jealousy

Chapter 26: Jealousy

Alaric walked ahead as he escorted Eve back to her quarters. The princess just followed him from behind, silently watching his tall figure. She held his knight robe tightly around her body, her mind still in shambles.

’Why did he help me clear my name if he would be disappointed like this? He looks angry and displeased.’ Eve pondered to herself.

Alaric suddenly halted on his steps, causing Eve to bump her face on his back.

’Ouch!’ Eve grunted silently as she rubbed her nose.

Alaric turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. "You are so clumsy, Princess." he mocked her.

Eve frowned, glaring at Alaric. It was his fault for making a stop, not hers.

Alaric stared at her for a long moment, observing her. Eve swallowed hard as she suddenly felt conscious under his seething eyes. However, she didn’t look away, meeting his fiery gaze with equal defiance.

"Do you have something to tell me?" Alaric asked her. He had done his duty as her husband so he wanted to hear some appreciation and praise from her.

Meanwhile, Eve bobbed her head frantically, grabbing Alaric’s hand as she pulled him inside her chambers. Upon entering the room, Eve quickly searched for her quill pen and pad to write her thoughts.

Alaric just stood there, his gaze following her every movement. He had been expecting her to express her gratitude toward him for protecting her earlier. He was glad he came on time, preventing the executioner from flogging Eve fifty times.

Eve scribbled on her pad. After a few seconds, she showed her notes to Alaric.

The young general pursed his lips and crumpled his face in disappointment upon reading her message.

[ Please... release the hunter! He saved my life. He is not a criminal. He deserves to be rewarded. ]

Eve’s message was related to Gideon, her savior. She felt more indebted to him than to Alaric. Because of that, Alaric’s mood turned sour once more.

’She chose to acknowledge a stranger’s help, rather than her husband’s effort to protect her. I’m really nothing in her eyes.’ He balled his fingers into tight fists at that thought.

Eve reached out, gently tugging Alaric’s hand as she gave him a pleading look. She was willing to humble herself before the man who wanted to kill her just to protect her savior, Gideon.

Alaric yanked his hand, freeing it from her grasp. Because of his jealousy, he hesitated to comply with her request. However, he knew from the start that Gideon was the one who rescued his wife from the bandits.

He just captured him because he was so pissed by Gideon’s provocation. He got annoyed by the hunter’s arrogance. He was still enraged whenever he would recall how the hunter refused to hand Eve over to him.

Alaric’s animosity toward Gideon was fueled by his jealousy. But a part of him felt grateful to the hunter for protecting Eve on his behalf.

"I’ll think it over. I still need to investigate whether he is a good man or not." Alaric gave her a response.

Eve was about to plead once more but Alaric had already turned around to leave. If he stayed there any longer, he feared he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself from pinning her down on the bed and punishing her.

He had the urge to claim her over and over again, to remind her that she belonged to him alone. His burning desire and possessiveness started to consume him.

Meanwhile, Eve was left alone, staring at the door where Alaric had disappeared from her sight. Alaric didn’t give her another chance to plead for Gideon’s freedom. She just took a deep sigh, striding toward her bed.

She sat down and picked up the jade necklace under her pillow. She held it close to her heart, slamming her eyes shut while making a vow.

’Mother, I promise. I will stay alive and reclaim everything you have lost. I will fight for my freedom. I am tired of being weak and bullied. I lost you and Annie. But I will use your deaths as my motivation to stand on my own and protect myself so that your sacrifices will not be in vain.’

Her train of thought was disrupted when she heard a high-pitched crack in the direction of the window.

Eve peeled her eyes open and searched for the source of that sound. It did not take long for another rattling sound to be heard, as a stone struck her glass window.

"Eh? Who is throwing stones at our window?" Eve murmured as she frowned in puzzlement.

She stood up, making her way to the window. The second-floor balcony was there.

Eve opened the window to peer at the balcony.

To her surprise, a figure suddenly jumped before her. Eve’s body involuntarily moved back to avoid getting hit by someone. Because of that, she lost her balance.

However, before her body could hit the floor, a strong arm caught her, supporting her back.

"Hello, Princess," a familiar husky voice greeted her.

Eve gasped, her eyes widening in shock when she recognized the man who suddenly showed up on her balcony.

"Gideon?" Eve uttered his name, her gaze was drawn to his mesmerizing blue eyes.

Gideon was staring at her with a faint curve on his lips. "Yes, Princess, It’s me."

Eve’s heart skipped a beat at their close proximity. Gideon held her body in his arms as he prevented her from falling to the floor.

"W-What are you doing here? I thought you were captured and detained in the royal prison fortress?" she softly asked him, confusion resurfacing in her eyes.

Gideon let out a husky chuckle and responded, "Well. I escaped. I told you... I’m not an ordinary man." He smirked proudly.

Eve was at a loss for words.

Gideon chuckled once more, amused by her adorable reaction.

"Honestly, Princess. I thought you were in trouble, that’s why I escaped from prison. I was planning to take you away from the royal courtyard earlier. However, the hero showed up, saving his wife." Gideon let out an exasperated sigh. "Tsk. Your husband beat me today."

Shaking his head helplessly, Gideon supported her to stand. He kept her close to him, his hands still holding her waist.

Meeting her gaze, Gideon’s expression turned serious as he asked her. "Do you wanna run away with me, Princess?"

Eve: "..."

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.