Garden Of Poison-Chapter 263: It has been long...

The soiree hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz stretched into the evening, during which Emily and Raylen enjoyed each other’s company. The Princess noticed how the same people who had previously badmouthed her were now singing her praises.

When a yawn escaped Emily’s lips, Raylen asked her, "Do you want to head back to the castle? We don’t have to stay until midnight."

"Yes, I think it would be nice to head back," Emily replied as she felt her muscles beginning to ache. During their carriage ride back to the castle, she inquired, "Did you hear any news from Balor?"

"Nothing so far. They haven’t been able to locate my mother’s soul, and Viktor has been on a rampage. I don’t think he’s ever lost a soul he made a deal with before," Raylen replied. "We are currently focusing on searching for people who are missing or those who have recently died."

Emily gave him a questioning look, as she didn’t quite understand.

"A soul removed from Hell or Heaven cannot float around without a body without it beginning to deteriorate. It’s like an infection that renders it powerless," Raylen explained to her as the carriage continued to move.

"Wouldn’t it be hard to find a missing person?" Emily asked, considering the countless number of people inhabiting the living realm, where death is an inevitable part of life. However, when she saw Raylen continue to stare at her in response, her mouth went dry. She said, "You think that was why Julia’s body was dug out of the grave?"

Wait a minute... If it were true, it would mean that her stalker was the one who released Raylen’s mother’s soul from Hell, wouldn’t it?

But that didn’t make sense, Emily thought to herself. Turning to Raylen, who remained silent, she inquired, "Is it possible?"

"Probably not," Raylen replied. "The body needs to be fresh. Even though the current weather conditions would help slow down the decay, it isn’t fresh enough for a soul transfer to occur."

It would be so strange if all of it was connected, Emily thought, and she rubbed her neck. If only all of this could come to an end, maybe then they could make a trip to Versailles. Her eyes moved back up to meet his gaze.

"Something you have on your mind, My Queen?" Raylen asked, his head resting against his knuckles.

"How long has it been since I arrived in the Storm Kingdom?" Emily asked him.

"Not more than two months," Raylen replied. "I overheard your conversation with Janelle. About the wedding."

Emily’s cheeks warmed at his words. "I thought you were busy talking to others."

Raylen couldn’t help but chuckle. "I don’t think it is possible for me not to listen to your voice. The bond is making it hard for me to leave you alone even for a second," he said, lowering the hand that had been supporting his head. Then he inquired, "Do you have any specific ideas in mind about when or how grand you would like it to be?"

"I don’t want a grand celebration," Emily murmured with a thoughtful expression. "It is meant to be more for others than for the couple."

Raylen gave a long hum. "I didn’t peg you to be someone who thought that way, Princess."

Emily smiled at Raylen’s words, looking at her hands resting on her lap. She said, "I mean, one can be married, but it doesn’t guarantee that it will last until death."

Her parents had been married before God, and yet neither her mother’s heart nor her relationship could be protected. It made her question the true significance of weddings. The grand pomp and festivities that came with it—wasn’t that all there was to it? She continued,

"I am not saying I don’t want one, but it isn’t mandatory, is it? I mean, in a way, we are already married, our souls..." Her voice trailed off.

"Who knew that the reserved princess was this forward? And here I have been holding myself back since we aren’t married," Raylen teased with a hint of truth in his words, which didn’t go unnoticed by Emily.

Once they arrived back at the castle, they returned to their room. Emily, who hadn’t stopped applying pressure to her shoulders, sat on the edge of the bed. As she stretched her ankles, she caught sight of Raylen sauntering over to her before kneeling down on the floor. He gently picked up one of her feet.

"Ray?" Emily asked. frёeωebɳovel.com

"Let me take care of you," Raylen replied, his eyes focused on her foot. He began to unbuckle her shoe, and she heard him say, "I have been wanting to do this for a long time now. To take care of you."

Emily’s heart skipped a beat at his words. She watched him as he dropped the first shoe to one side before moving to pick up her other foot. There was something both elegant and intimate about the action. She was perfectly capable of removing her own shoes, but it was simply that she felt a little tired, as it had been a long time since she had left the castle and interacted with so many people. Raylen, seated at her feet and holding her ankle, looked up for his gaze to meet hers.

"Are your feet sore?" Raylen inquired as he dropped the other shoe to the ground. She felt him pressing his fingers against the sole of her foot, and when he brushed it, it made her instinctively want to pull her leg back due to the tickling sensation.

"No," Emily whispered.

Raylen’s grip on her, though gentle, was firm, and he pulled her foot back towards him. His unruly blue eyes seemed to hold a storm within them. His action made her shudder. Having noticed her massaging her shoulders and arms earlier in the carriage, he suggested,

"Let me draw you a warm bath. It should help relax your muscles; otherwise, it will keep you up at night." Back at the soiree, Emily had told Raylen to be himself, and it appeared he was now allowing his emotions and thoughts to take the lead.

"Now?" Emily asked, concerned that it was nighttime and that the water would turn cold quickly due to the freezing weather.

"Don’t worry about the temperature. I will keep it warm," Raylen assured her.

During moments like these, Emily couldn’t help but feel as if he could read her mind, and if he could, she wondered what embarrassing details he might have picked up on. But more importantly, his words stirred butterflies in her stomach.

"You will—keep it warm?" Emily repeated his words and saw the corners of his lips curl into a smile.

"I don’t suppose you will like the icy cold water. It’s like a bite to the skin, my Princess. I am sure you will do much better with warmth," Raylen teased with his words, causing her imagination to run wild. "Stay here. I will be back."

Emily felt him gently place her foot on the ground before he stood up to tower over her. Turning, he made his way to the bathtub and turned the faucet on. And while the ice-cold water began to fill the tub, he returned to her as he had promised.

"Are you going to take a bath too?" Emily inquired, her head spinning slightly at the thought of sharing the bathtub with Raylen’s naked body.

"Do you want me to?" Raylen asked her, extending his hand to her to take.

Emily took his hand and rose from the bed. She said, "You said you would keep it warm."

A mischievous grin appeared on Raylen’s lips. He had intended to use his ability to heat the water, but with Emily’s invitation, he couldn’t resist taking the opportunity. His voice took on a sultry tone as he asked, "Will you be able to handle it?"

Emily struggled to contain the blush that threatened to spread across her face, but it was hard to do it when the handsome man before her looked at her as if she were the most beautiful person in the world. She had encountered many suitors in the past, but none of them could hold a candle to this archdemon, albeit partly because she had allowed him into her heart.

"We should get you out of your clothes," Raylen stated, and it was enough to cause Emily’s heart to leap with anticipation.

"I—I can do that." Emily’s fingers fumbled with the buttons of her dress. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had metaphorically stuck her hand right into the dragon’s mouth, which was about to swallow her whole.

Raylen’s hands gently took over for her fumbling fingers, pushing them aside with a reassuring touch so that his steady hands could finish the job. He skilfully took off her outer dress before removing the inner pieces of her attire, including the inner vest. Then he bent down, and his hands disappeared beneath her white petticoat.

Emily felt Raylen’s fingers deftly find the band of her stockings, hooking his fingers along her undergarment. Their eyes remained locked onto each other, and he paid close attention to her racing heart, her rhythmic breathing, and the beautiful flush that graced her skin.

He lowered his eyes as he tugged down the fabric, slowly peeling it down her legs. She didn’t have to be instructed, as when it was time to remove it completely, she obediently raised her feet one after another.

"Nervous?" Raylen asked her, and Emily found herself momentarily tongue-tied.

"A little," Emily confessed, and Raylen hummed. He then revealed,

"So am I."

"You are?"

Emily was genuinely surprised, as she didn’t see any sign of nervousness in Raylen. The man seemed to exude confidence from every one of his cells, and right now, he was oozing with seduction. He knew precisely when to smile to put her at ease and when to let it fade when he was serious. Emily saw him give her a nod and heard him say,

"If I had a beating heart, I would have let you feel just how fast it was racing right now."

And he was good with words, she thought to herself.

"Do you think a heart might miraculously appear inside you one day?" Emily asked him with curiosity.

"Who knows. Anything is possible in this world that we live in." Raylen offered her a charming smile, and he caught her hand before leading her to the bathtub, which had finished filling with water. He dipped his hand into the water as if checking its temperature before pulling it out. "Feel free to get in," he said, before walking over to a cupboard and rummaging through the various small bottles inside.

Considering Raylen hadn’t removed her petticoat, she wondered if he had intended for her to take the final step herself. She was terribly nervous, and even though there were bubbles in the tub, this was a big step for her. It felt like they were taking a giant leap. Or perhaps she was the one leaping, while Raylen was already there, patiently waiting for her.

Taking advantage of Raylen turning his back to her, Emily quickly slipped out of her petticoat and got inside the bathtub. The bubbles were quick to cling to her skin and burst as they touched her.

"When I left Hell, I took some of the potions from there with me. They will help you relax," Raylen explained as he returned to her side and poured a blue liquid into the bathtub.

Emily watched Raylen as he placed the empty bottle to the side, and then came to the end of the bathtub where her head was located. When he sat down beside it, she stared at him intently, catching his attention.

"Hm?" Raylen inquired with a coy smile. "Waiting for something, Princess?"

"I thought you were going to get in with me," Emily replied, then quickly added, "I mean, you said..."

Raylen loved seeing her flustered, trying to find the right words, as if she didn’t want to come off as a wanton woman. He turned his body to face her and licked the corner of his lips. He remarked, "Don’t be disappointed, Princess. Let us relish things slowly; there is no need to rush and hasten things." He was aware that the soul bond was beginning to exert its influence, compelling her to submit, but he wanted to give her time to get comfortable. Emily wasn’t any woman, and he intended to treat her the way she deserved.

Before Emily could respond, Raylen leaned over and kissed her temple. He said, "You are the most precious thing I have."

Raylen’s patience and tenderness towards her only deepened the warmth in Emily’s heart. The fluttering of butterflies had begun to take flight within her, and she couldn’t help but fall for him further. She was grateful. She couldn’t believe he had given her such a hard time at the beginning when he was capable of being so caring beneath that annoying demeanour. The warm water did feel good, gradually soothing her sore muscles and dissolving the fatigue that had clung to her.

"I think I now understand why all the women gave me those glares," Emily remarked, pulling her knees closer to her chest and letting her hands rest on them.

"Who dared to glare at you?" Raylen asked, playfully pouring water over her shoulders.

"Women who wish you were theirs," Emily murmured in response.

"Are you praising me, Princess Emily?" Raylen’s eyes sparkled with mirth. It wasn’t something she expressed often. "Suggesting that you are lucky to have ended up with me, hm?"

Emily remained quiet for a brief moment and then replied, "I am." Raylen’s eyes subtly widened before softening in response to her words.

When it was time for her to get out of the bathtub, Raylen held a towel for her, spreading it wide.

Emily stepped out of the bath, her body shielded from Raylen’s gaze as he used the towel to create a modest barrier before wrapping it around her form. He then fetched another towel for her wet hair. She remembered that Raylen had the ability to remove moisture, yet on this occasion, he chose not to use it this time and opted for the manual approach to assist her.

With every delicate stroke of the towel through her hair, Raylen stood before her, his touch tender and soothing. In that moment, Emily came to acknowledge that being cared for by one’s soulmate was a gift in itself.

As the towel gently lowered, it unveiled Emily’s face to Raylen, her features bathed in soft light. Her gaze met his, and their eyes locked.

"You know what I’ve come to realise?" Raylen whispered, his fingers letting go of the towel from her head.

"Hmm?" Emily inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Raylen’s hand curled around her neck, and he whispered softly, "It’s been far too long since I tasted my cake." Leaning in, he closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a soft kiss.