CHAPTER 274: CHIEF ROYAL CHAMBERLAIN

In no time, they arrived at their bedroom.

Seeing the guards pretend not to see anything while lowering their heads, Rowaine felt better.

Fedor dismissed the guards before opening the door.

Rowaine barely had time to protest before Fedor carried her inside and kicked the door shut behind them. The heavy oak door of the royal chambers clicked shut.

He didn’t put her down immediately. Instead, he simply stood there for a moment, holding her, his gaze softening. The mischievous glint in his grey eyes dimmed, replaced by something warmer and steadier.

Gently, he put her down on the bed.

"You should see yourself," he lowered himself to her height and murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You look so flustered."

"That’s because my husband is reckless," Rowaine muttered, though her tone lacked real anger.

Fedor smiled, and his voice dropped lower. "Then I’ll take responsibility."

"Fedor..." she said warningly, but he kissed her before she could say more.

The rest of her words faded away and she forgot what she wanted to say.

His warmth enveloped her and his scent filled her nostrils.

Her hands came up to his collar, but she didn’t push him away, instead, she pulled him closer.

Fedor deepened the kiss, then pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips, "You can scold me later."

Rowaine replied breathlessly, "You’re unbelievable."

He didn’t reply, instead, he kicked his shoes off and pushed themselves down until she was lying on the bed with him on top of her, his hands coming to rest on her waist. The velvet of her gown felt cool beneath his palms unlike the warmth exuding from his body.

"Rowaine," he murmured. His voice was a low rumble that vibrated through her. His gaze felt smolderingly hot.

They had been married for almost nine years, but each time, Rowaine could never stop feeling butterflies from his gaze.

Fedor didn’t wait for a reply, instead he dipped his head to capture her lips again. It wasn’t a gentle kiss like the kiss earlier. It was hungry, possessive, and she met it with equal fervor.

Her arms wound around his neck to pull him closer, her fingers tangling in his hair as she parted her lips for him with a soft sigh, the sound lost against his mouth.

His hands roamed, tracing the curve of her spine before finding the laces of her gown. He worked them with practiced ease, the material loosening.

He raised their body until they were sitting, and the dress pooled around her waist.

He stepped back for a moment, his eyes dark with desire as they swept over her.

The air was filled with burning passion.

He helped her take off her dress and then her inner clothing, his fingers brushing against her calves, her knees and her thighs, each touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake, before he lifted her up like she weighed nothing.

In a short time, their clothes already lay spewn on the floor.

Laying her on the bed again, he explored her with a devotion that bordered on worship, his lips and hands relearning every curve and hollow, every sensitive spot that made her gasp and arch against him.

***

Hours later, while the couple was still entangled together with no signs of stopping, a knock echoed faintly against the heavy door.

The both of them froze, exchanging gazes before looking towards the door at the same time.

"Your Majesty?" came a hesitant voice. It was one of the palace maids. She probably knew what was going on, judging from the way she sounded so flustered even speaking from the other side of the closed door.

"Forgive the interruption, but the princesses are looking for the Queen... Should-should I tell them she’s resting?" She stuttered out the question.

Fedor exhaled softly through his nose, amused, while Rowaine went rigid with embarrassment.

Rowaine opened her mouth, trying to keep her voice steady when Fedor moved, thrusting lightly.

"Tell them I’m—mm!" Her hands flew up to her mouth at the sound that left her mouth, and she glared at Fedor while praying the maid hadn’t heard.

"Pardon, your majesty?" The maid asked from the other side.

Rowaine sighed in relief.

"Yes," Fedor replied instead, his tone composed. "Her Majesty is resting. No one is to disturb her."

"Y-yes, Your Majesty!"

The footsteps retreated quickly.

Fedor looked down at her, his lips curving innocently. "What?"

"What do you mean ’what’?" Rowaine asked.

Fedor leaned forward and captured her lips in his, her questions disappearing down his throat.

They only stopped in the early hours of the morning the next day.

Meanwhile, in a certain corridor in the palace.

A group of young maids squatted in the corner, obviously gossiping. They were keeping an eye out for anyone who could approach so that they wouldn’t end up in trouble.

"Oh my goodness, the king and queen have been going at it for hours. Who knows when we’ll have another prince or princess."

"I know, I-I heard them." Another maid said. Her whole face had turned a deep shade of red.

This was the same maid that had informed Rowaine and Fedor of their daughters’ intention to see their mother.

"Really?" Another maid gasped. "Quick! Tell us what you heard."

"I-I didn’t really hear much..." The maid replied.

She felt flustered.

It wasn’t only her that felt that way. There were also some just like her who felt shy to discuss such things.

The other maids rolled their eyes at them.

"Why are you acting all shy? When you find a man, you’ll understand."

"Speaking of finding a man, how is that knight of yours?" A maid asked in a teasing tone.

The maid the question was directed at burned red.

"He’s such a gentleman. He always asks me how I’m doing and buys me things."

"Has he bedded you yet?" Another maid asked.

The maid quickly shook her head. "No. H-he said he wants to marry me first."

"Such a true gentleman." The other maids said.

"Indeed he is." Another person said.

The maids were just about nodding when they all froze.

Wait. They recognized that voice.

Slowly turning around, they came face to face with the young Chief Royal Chamberlain.

"R-Royal Chamberlain!"

Their eyes widened in horror. They had all been watching to make sure no one caught them, but they had become too carried away that they failed to notice someone coming, especially since there wasn’t much people going through this particular corridor at this time.

And it had to be the Chief Royal Chamberlain! What was he even doing here?

Who was the Chief Chamberlain? He was one of the king’s most trusted people, second only to the king’s beloved brother.

He was young, had a handsome, eye catching appearance, and didn’t speak much, but when he did, his words were cold and harsh.

He had made many maids and even manservants cry, and there wasn’t a servant in the castle who wasn’t scared of him.

He carried out his duties efficiently and effectively and didn’t tolerate it when the servants didn’t do what they were supposed to and gossiped or slacked off, which was why the servants were trembling like leafs under harsh winds at this moment.

It wasn’t like there hadn’t been maids who had been caught slacking on duty, or gossiping, or both. It was just that...

It would have been better if they had been caught by any other Chamberlain, but it just had to be the Chief Chamberlain.

The eyes of the Chief Royal Chamberlain scanned their faces, making sure he knew which maids were slacking so that they wouldn’t escape.

"Chief Chamberlain, please spare us!" The maids begged.

Other maids passing at that moment looked at them with pity and sympathy, but moved quickly so as to avoid the Chief Chamberlain’s attention from turning to them.

At this moment, each one in this group of maids wished that they weren’t in the group and instead were among the other maids passing by.

The Chief Chamberlain turned and left, not sparing the maids any other glance.

Before the maids could relax in relief, his next words made them regret gossiping instead of carrying out their duties, and made their faces turn ashen.

"Servants shouldn’t ignore their duties, and it’s an even greater offense to gossip about their masters, most especially about their activities inside their chambers. Go to the Hall of Punishments and receive your punishment after you’ve completed your assigned tasks." His voice was cold as he ignored the maids’ pleading faces and turned away from there.

Seeing him leaving without anymore words, the maids dropped their shoulders in resignation.

They knew that he had captured their faces to memory. If they didn’t listen to him, their punishments would be worse.

Their appetite for gossip was no longer existent. They quickly scrambled off to complete their work, not wanting to incur more trouble on themselves while also cursing their luck.