Page 11 of The King’s Bodyguard (Catkin Trilogy #1)

Landis

“ W here is Princess Erellia?”

That was the common question these days.

Almost every single day, I overheard one courtier or maid asking where Esteria’s trouble-making princess had gone.

Ever since the princess had arrived on horseback posing as a scout, she had proved herself to be quite a handful for Madame Rathe and my royal household.

And nobody said a peep. At least, none of my servants, guards, or courtiers openly did.

It was imperative that Sumarene, vulnerable as it was, should maintain civil relations with its southern neighbors.

Everyone bit their tongue and carried on.

Meanwhile, if I were to show up with the wrong tunic on, tongues would start wagging about whether the king was taking his responsibilities seriously or not.

Sometimes , I mused, I don’t know whether I want to laugh or cry. If I was honest with myself, I had to admit that even I was driven to frustrated tears on more than one occasion. I had little to no desire to marry, but I was attempting to make an effort.

Every morning, I would rise, put on the clothes my valet laid out for me, and then break my fast alone in the empty dining hall.

The princess apparently rose earlier than I and would often pack her food before disappearing on some jaunt or adventure in the countryside.

Meanwhile, I was stuck attending meetings concerning state affairs all morning long.

And if I so much as look at a window, Cousin Morne is ready to accuse me of daydreaming or some such nonsense. I frowned crossly as I stomped down the curving stairs from the upper floor of the royal castle down to the great receiving hall. I am trying to make an effort. Surely he can see that!

Usually, after a morning packed with state meetings, I was allowed an hour and a half of respite. If I had my way, I would spend the time eating my luncheon in my private garden with Corrin. Alas, like all Munni, Corrin was sound asleep during the mid-day, and so I ate lunch alone.

The afternoons were a little more diverse.

Some days, I would spend time with a variety of tutors who were intent on cramming as much information about the kingdom into my head as they could.

There was a dancing tutor, a stiff madame, who was overseeing my education in courtly dances.

Sometimes, I would have meetings with staff to handle, with public law officials, with jewelers, with artists seeking a patron, or with tailors.

Before dinner, if I was lucky, there might be strategic meetings dealing with matters of state security.

During those periods of time, Corrin would be present to lend his experienced voice alongside the rest. No matter how Lord Elthorne droned on, I found myself invariably more awake and invested during those meetings.

Even now, as he walked behind me to the dining hall where my breakfast waited, Corrin provided me with his ever steadying presence.

I imagined Corrin remaining at my side all day long.

Princess Erellia should have been the one whose presence I pined for, but someone else had already captivated my heart. Corrin was the one I wanted.

Not that Rilla is a terrible person , I reminded myself.

She’s a lark... when she’s around. There’s a wild energy to her that I admire, but she’s never around .

I sighed. If we could meet more often, perhaps without her elderly companion, something could blossom between us.

Respect and care at the very least. Respect and care.

Like two pebbles dropping into a still pond, the two words sent a ripple through my thoughts.

Despite the difference in our station and the professionalism that Corrin worked hard to maintain between us, the dark-haired Munni embodied those two virtues.

If I could be half as respectful and kind as Corrin to Rilla, I was sure to be a good husband to the princess.

Even now, as I sat down before my breakfast, I could hear him debriefing Ser Anderson who was to take his post. My heart sank.

Ser Anderson had arrived early for once, and that meant that Corrin was relieved of his duty.

He couldn’t possibly remain with me for much longer. His bed was no doubt calling him.

“I will depart,” Corrin was saying civilly.

He approached the table and offered me a deep bow.

I noted how his unruly black hair was already unthreading from its green tie.

Corrin rose. His green eyes met my own briefly.

I couldn’t help but allow my gaze to wander freely over him, noting his relaxed posture despite his eight hours of standing guard.

Corrin absently rubbed his chin, where a little bit of stubble had begun to show.

I hesitated, wanting to ask him to say, but recognizing the futility of such a request. I forced a smile and raised my chin.

“I suppose it is time for bed,” I said gravely.

“Perhaps,” Corrin replied easily. “I might need to get a shave first though.”

“Oh.” The words popped out before I could stop myself. “Must you?”

Corrin chuckled.

“You like it?”

“Well.” I stopped and then fought the blush that was rising to my cheeks. “I-It doesn’t look bad. I mean, it’s rather...”

“Rakish?” He finished my sentence and quirked an eyebrow at me while offering a wink.

My heart stopped in my chest. I wondered if Corrin could tell how flushed I felt, whether he noticed how throaty my voice had become.

No matter how hard I fought it, my gaze inevitably drifted to those firm lips that were now curved in a boyish grin.

I wet my lower lip and struggled to find an answer to his question.

“I mean-well,” I stammered. “Yes. Rakish. Like a pirate.”

“Providing my king with his heart’s desire is my primary duty,” Corrin said. He added with a sigh, “But I fear that the Commander would be less appreciative were I to report for duty looking like a pirate.”

“Oh.” I echoed his sigh. “You are right, I suppose.”

A pity. My ears wilted a little at the realization. Corrin really couldn’t afford to flout convention in a Sunna-dominated space. It would bring his Munni kin a bad name that they could ill afford to garner.

“Well,” I said. “I suppose I ought to let you get to your, er, ablutions.”

“Good fortune hunting, Your Majesty,” Corrin replied with another bow.

I watched him leave and sighed. Respect and care.

Even now, Corrin tried his best to cheer me up.

Whenever he told me that he wanted to make me happy, my heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

Unfortunately, Corrin was also married to his duty as a Munni and as my bodyguard.

Even if it meant that he couldn’t be himself or couldn’t do everything I wanted, he was always thinking about what was best for me, my reign, and my kingdom.

The other night Corrin had proved himself yet again to be a catkin of honor.

If only he hadn’t been, though , I mentally groaned.

The memory even now filled my mind—of his hard muscles braced against my back and thighs.

I had taken the liberty of feigning deeper sleep, burying my head in his shoulder, inhaling the scent of oiled leather, citrus soap, and smoke.

Then he had laid me down, and my body had cried out for his touch once more.

As usual, he had divested me of shoes, stockings, jacket, and vest. Beneath, my white cotton shirt had been carefully unbuttoned.

That was when he went completely still. I could smell it then, the scent of his desire—pine and winter mint and cold snow, the mountains of Sumarene.

It drove me wild, and my body reacted of its own volition.

From beneath my eyelashes, I noticed then that Corrin had not been unaffected.

I caught a glimpse of his arousal tenting his breeches.

Yet, he made no advances. When he moved, I caught his hand, and I could tell that he was a little amused at my ploy.

But he did not stay. He had left me there with a twin ache between my thighs.

When I touched myself, I pretended that my hand was his. I imagined how warm and calloused his palms might be, unlike my own. He would use oils, I was certain, and touch me just so. As my fingers stroked up my cock and flicked the head, my heels ground into the mattress.

With a curse, I flipped over and stroked harder, imagining Corrin’s weight on my back, whispering in my ear. The thought had me coming with a hissed breath. I sobbed his name into my goose-down pillow as I spent myself.

In the end, though, he wasn’t there. Feeling already fatigued and not a little lonely, I rose from the silent breakfast table and made my way to the stateroom where Lord Elthorne, Lord Berran, and the others waited. Whether I liked it or not, I had a full day ahead of me. I just had to survive it.

I just barely made it through dinner. After a long annoying day of debates, arguments, and discussions, I was finally able to see an end in sight.

Behind me, Ser Andersen waited patiently for the guard who would relieve him.

Corrin. Corrin. Corrin. I repeated to myself over and over. There was no sign of Corrin, though.

Eventually, I managed to work my way through dinner.

Ser Andersen escorted me to my bedchamber.

Outside the door, a troupe of maids was leaving in the wake of my valet, Karl.

They had no doubt been preparing my evening bath.

Corrin and another Munni tomkin, Rolf, were also standing guard already.

At the sight of Corrin, my heart skipped a beat.

While Rolf, Ser Andersen, and Corrin discussed the events of the day, I slipped in and began to prepare for my bath.

Karl knew that I preferred to spend these moments alone.

After a long day of being with people, I needed quiet time.

However, this evening, I felt even more lonely than ever.

If only I could rest a little with Corrin. ..

As I contemplated the dark, steaming waters of my bath, an idea hit me.

Grinning to myself, I carefully stripped down and then threw my clothes over my washcloth and scrub brush.

I slipped into the water and waited for the talking to die down outside.

When the clomp of Ser Andersen’s boots faded, I allowed myself to relax in the warm water.

Attempting to release the tension that had been building, I imagined the weight of the day slowly easing its way off my shoulders.

Still, there was an ache in my shoulders that would not fade.

I cracked open an eye and stared up at the wooden beams overhead.

Would my plan work? Before I could start second-guessing my sanity, I called out softly.

“Corrin?”

It was almost miraculous how Corrin could hear my voice through the thick wooden door, but within moments, he had rounded the wooden screen about my bath and was hovering at my side.

I drew my knees up and shifted a little.

The now thin layer of soap suds parted a little, but despite rising shyness, I somehow managed to meet his concerned gaze.

“Your Majesty?” asked Corrin. “You needed help?”

“It’s my washcloth and brush,” I said, wincing at the sudden high pitch of my voice. “They’re over there...”

Corrin fetched them quickly. Too quickly. Already I was scrambling to figure out what to say next. Unconsciously, my hand rose to rub at the tight muscle that bunched along my shoulder and upper back. I froze as Corrin’s hand suddenly covered mine, gently nudging my fingers aside.

“That looks painful,” he murmured. “Lady of Night, Landis, the stiffness of the muscle! Tell me this has not been going on all day!”

“It’s... not been going on all day...?” I tried to humorously lie about the tension I’d been struggling with since the morning.

“That bad, hm.”

Corrin’s other hand, now also divested of his gloves, was massaging my right shoulder.

I leaned back, allowing him to gently knead my muscles.

Just as I guessed, Corrin’s palms were more calloused than mine, but not painfully so.

They were muscled and strong, roughened by the use of bow and arrow, by the sword, by the reins of his horse.

Strong and yet gentle, rough and yet comforting.

I sighed loudly as my muscles slowly unlocked one by one.

A tingle ran down my spine as Corrin’s thumbs slowly drew circles at the base of my neck.

It made me wonder what it would feel like if he were to massage the base of my spine where the fur running down to my tail began.

Gods. If only he would. My second sigh must have ended more on a noisy moan because Corrin’s hands stopped immediately. Oh, Gods. He stopped.

“Don’t stop,” I said, half-begging, half-commanding.

“You seem to be enjoying this too much,” Corrin murmured in my ear, closer than I expected. “If I didn’t know any better, I would guess you are wanting something else besides your missing cloth and scrub brush.”

“Only you,” I breathed.

At that, I half turned to him. Our noses brushed each other, his breath warm against my cheek.

My gaze fell to those lips that were turned up in a half smile.

His hand then rose, tugging my hair tie free, releasing my golden curls to fall about my neck.

Long pale fingers then threaded through the strands, cupping the back of my head.

My hand rose then to cling to the edge of his surcoat.

I was desperate, never wishing to let him go.

As if responding to my unspoken fear, Corrin’s arm wrapped around me, bracing me even as his lips closed in. The first brush of his lips felt so foreign and yet familiar. The first touch was soft, barely there—a gentle tug on my bottom lip. A short pause. Why was he waiting? I wanted more!

Before I could stop myself, a mewl of need arose in my throat. I wanted Corrin, and Corrin leaned in again. This time, I found myself assaulted with a string of soft kisses. Each kiss felt like another revelation, another push into foreign territory.

If Corrin was a king, I was his country, claimed bit by bit, until I was entirely his. Still, I needed more. Soon. All too soon, I was to marry someone I truly did not know. I would share the marriage bed with another I had never chosen... but this, right here, right now, I chose.

I choose you, Corrin. I said it with every returning, desperate, ill-practiced kiss. I am yours to claim. If only for this time. I am yours.