Page 88 of Wicked Prince of Frost

“We were confused at first, too…” I send a quick glance over my shoulder at the demon. “Until I recognized them.”

Iseul throws her hands in the air. “Oh, well, why didn’t you say so? Knowing a wild demon is entirely different than letting one you just met sleep in your bed,” she says mockingly.

Though I would love to tell her everything, I must censor myself from saying anything that could lead to questions I can’t answer. She needs to believe I was chosen before drinking the frost bloom tea, rather than because of it.

I miss Talya and the way I could share everything with her. I miss having that closeness and honesty with someone. And Iseul has been more like a friend looking out for me instead of a handmaid. I want to confide in her.

“Back home, I did a lot of research on healing injuries and conditions. I would frequently make trips into the forest to gather herbs and roots for poultices, teas, salves, ointments, incense…” I tick each thing off on my fingers as I list them, stopping when I notice Iseul’s incredulous stare. “During my last trip, this one fell out of a tree and landed head-first in a pile of snow and got stuck. I felt bad leaving them there like that.”

“You felt bad for a demon?” Iseul asks, rubbing her temples. She is clearly questioning my sanity… or perhaps trying to gauge my level of insanity.

“I thought they were a baby,” I offer weakly.

“Demons don’t have babies, Violet.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I look away. “Well, I know thatnow,” I mutter, then motion to the demon. “Look at them—it was an easy mistake. Anyway, Joon said to keep them near me.”

Iseul blinks, dumbfounded. “He must care a lot for you to let you keep a demon.”

I choke on air at the bluntness of her unexpected comment.

Joon might feel friendship toward me, perhaps a slight attraction, but that is all it is. The lingering moments after he siphoned, me on his lap, my body begging him for more until his cock hardened, straining against my hip, was nothing more than a purely natural physical reaction to the intimate moment we shared.

Whatever affection there is beyond friendship is solely on my end.

“It’s not like that between us.”

There’s a knock. We freeze and turn toward the door. A second passes before it slides open. I exhale a relieved sigh when Joon enters, rather than someone else who would be less understanding about a demon.

Did he hear us talking?

Iseul jabs a finger in the demon’s direction and glares at Joon. “You allowed this?”

He chuckles.

“You could have warned me,” she snaps.

Joon shrugs. “I suppose I could have.” He turns to me, a smirk playing across his lips. His eyes darken as he takes me in. “I wanted to let you both know that starting today, Iseul will give you lessons on palace customs, protocol, and decorum. I will personally oversee these sessions when I can, if necessary, give notes.”

Iseul and I exchange a glance.

“Any particular reason, Your Highness?” she asks.

From the uncertainty in her voice, I think it’s safe to assume that this is out of the ordinary.

“It is merely a precaution and mostly for the sake of appearances.” There’s a pause, then to Iseul, he adds, “It seems a few officials have a lot of spare time on their hands. I hope this will prevent unnecessary complications from arising.”

She seems to understand what he means by that. However, I remain in the dark.

Hearing that I lack in ways his previous wives did not stings more than I want to admit.

I start to lower my eyes, then stop when I realize how ridiculous it is to let it get to me. I am not here to win the approval of anyone. I am here to help Joon break this curse so he can free the Winter Dragon’s victims from their frozen prisons.

The prince looks as if he wants to say something more about it, but instead, he says, “Others will be here in a few hours to move you to the Western Court.”

Joon dips his chin and takes his leave.

Iseul pierces me with her narrowed gaze.