Chapter 291

Vorbuk took Princess Isis back to the main palace with him. They were both filthy causing the servants to panic upon their arrival. Baths were set up quickly and orderly as the servants were not willing to let their king look as if he was a poor beggar.

There was the soft trickling sound of water in the bath as Princess Isis sunk lower. The warmth of hot water felt uncomfortable after the things that she'd experienced. She made sure the maids had made her bath water cool. If she was bathed in warm water she feared she might feel suffocated from the memories of the fire.

When she was finished bathing she was brought directly to the king's chambers. Every step along the way she took while looking down. Embarrassed by the way Vorbuk brought her into the palace, it was difficult to look at the servants directly. Most of the servants in the palace were new as they were brought in after Vorbuk took the throne. However a few who submitted during the war were luckily able to maintain their positions in the palace.

"How are you feeling?" Vorbuk's voice filled her ears as she entered the room. A servant had gracefully opened the door for her to enter as she'd arrived.

At the sound of his voice her eyes were brought back up to directly make eye contact with Vorbuk, "I feel much better."

"You will need a temporary place to remain until a new palace is ready for you. I will have you remain here in the main palace until things are resolved." Vorbuk explained to her while pondering where to place her. There were empty rooms in the palace that she could reside in. It would be best for her to remain close by until the culprit is dealt with. Many things were needed in consideration of the situation.

The princess's face flushed at his words, "Pardon?"

The princess's mind momentarily wandered into a different direction. Vorbuk summoned a servant while she stood there with a flushed expression. She knew instantly that she had thought in the wrong direction when he summoned the servant inside the room.

Vorbuk spoke to the servant while ignoring the reaction she'd given when she misunderstood his words, "Have a room set up for the princess close by and ask Daryl to set some guards outside her room. I wont have a repeat of earlier."

The servant left quickly to take care of the king's commands. Leaving Vorbuk to notice the flushed expression on her face.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Vorbuk asked her while observing her closely.

"N-No!" Princess Isis jumped suddenly at his question and tried to quickly detour him from realizing her mistake, "What are you going to do about Grand Duke Heket?"

Vorbuk paused as he thought about her question, "How do you know that he was involved in the incident?"

It was not that he did not believe the princess. He did trust her. The problem was they had no proof that he was involved. He needed to know how she knew the grand duke was involved. If they judged him without reason in front of others it would cause problems. Drethia could not be dealt with currently so he had to avoid a war until later when he would be better prepared.

"The Grand Duke came to my palace." The princess's statement chilled him to the core.

Vorbuk turned his gaze away from the princess so that she could not see the glint of anger in his eyes, a feint red glow flashing briefly, "What did he want from you? Surely he had gave a reason to visit you at your palace."

"He asked me about you and the prince." Isis replied without hesitation. It was clear that she was not lying to him. He could see the honesty in her gaze. There was no reason for her to lye about it. Someone had tried to burn her alive and it was unreasonable for her to try and do something such as covering it up.

Vorbuk did not know what the grand duke was after by pulling such a stunt in his kingdom and to those closest to him, "What did he want to know about us?"

The princess seemed to hesitate as she found it strange, "He wanted to know if you were bound to the prince.. When I told him no he tried asking questions about it."

"He must have known you wouldn't simply hide this information..." Vorbuk could not understand the grand duke's motive for asking such questions. They seemed harmless on the surface. However when he thought more deeply about the questions they seemed dangerous.

What did the grand duke need this information for on me? He thought to himself.

Isis walked up to Vorbuk and placed her hand against his arm, an attempt to calm his mind a bit, as she spoke, "He probably assumed I would not be able to tell you. After you took the throne many nobles would presume I would not be able to converse with you..."

Vorbuk glanced at the princess in the eyes, "Not only the nobles wonder at times whether you distrust me after what happened to your father, Princess."

"What are you-?" Princess Isis was interrupted before she could respond to him.

Reaching out to touch her, the palm of his hand brushed against the princess's cheek. His hand gently grasped her by the back of the head. Pulling her in closely, Vorbuk leaned in and kissed her. Closing his eyes as he felt her body tense up from his sudden action.

Isis felt her body shiver slightly in his grasp. Her mind wanted to push him away in embarrassment. The body seemed to have a mind of its own. She could not find it in herself to push him away as her hand grasped his clothes firmly against his chest. Kissing him back as his body felt cool and refreshing up close. It made her body weak as she gave in to that feeling and enjoyed it.

Sweet... Vorbuk thought to himself as he slowly pulled away from the princess. Continuing to hold her in his arms he said shamelessly, "However, if I am wrong you are welcome to remain here while they prepare your new palace."

"Y-you!" Princess Isis's face flushed deep red at his comment as she struggled to speak, she struggled to remove herself from his grasp, it seemed as if she took his words more deeply then he had meant to happen, "How could you suggest such a thing?"

He chuckled to himself as he watched her reaction, causing him to be unable to focus, he resorted to turning his gaze away in order to gather his thoughts before speaking up, "I promise to refrain from bothering you while we rest. I can not maintain human form as long as I'd like to. Also I can not sleep in this form as you know."

Princess Isis thought about his words carefully before responding again, "If I remained here... What would happen with the prince? I know you sleep together."

It is to the point I do not understand why he hasn't become bound to the prince. Isis thought to herself as she spoke.

"He can sleep elsewhere." Vorbuk stated bluntly to her without a pause.

Princess Isis stood there in silence. Thinking about how to respond to him left her with a headache. She struggled to decide what she wanted to do. Considering it seriously left her confused. It was not as if she had not thought of Vorbuk fondly at times.

Her face flushed as she knew how she felt about him. That was not the part of her that struggled with letting him close.