CHAPTER 195: THE QUEEN WHO HATES TO BE TOUCHED

Primrose finally decided to sit up. Edmund immediately reached out to help her, concerned the ride might shake her too much.

But to his surprise, Primrose gently pushed his hand away and steadied herself by grabbing the seat instead.

That small gesture confused him because it wasn’t like her to push his hand away.

He wanted to ask why, but Primrose spoke first. "Can you send a message to Lady Solene? Ask one of your soldiers to tell her to come to the palace once she’s done with her business here."

Edmund glanced down at his own hand in silence, still wondering why his wife didn’t want him to touch her.

In a soft voice, he finally replied, "Sir Vesper already promised to bring Lady Solene to the palace once she’s finished."

Primrose raised one eyebrow. "Oh? When did he say that?"

Just remembering how Salem left her yesterday made her blood boil again. She really wanted to grab him by the collar and shake the smugness off his face.

"Last night," Edmund answered, pausing a bit before continuing. "He came to me to tell me where you were."

Primrose blinked in surprise. "He came to you?"

Edmund only nodded, but that small gesture was enough to calm the fire in her heart.

So Salem hadn’t just left her behind. He had gone to find Edmund first ... and told him where she was.

If Salem hadn’t gone to find Edmund, it might’ve taken him much longer to reach her.

Primrose knew she owed that honey badger an apology for thinking such terrible things about him when all he did was try to help.

Once she heard that Solene would be coming to the palace later, she lay back down and pulled the blanket up to cover herself.

Turning to face Edmund, she softly said, "Since Sir Vesper won’t be at the palace for a while, would you ... be my poison tester?" But right after she said it, she immediately shook her head. "No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be asking a king to taste my food for poison."

"I’ll do it," Edmund replied without a hint of hesitation. "I may be king, but I’m also your husband. Don’t forget that."

[Why is she suddenly acting like this?] he wondered silently. [She used to ask me for anything without a second thought.]

[Whatever happened yesterday must’ve really shaken her. She even pushed my hands away ... like she couldn’t bear to be touched.]

Was she really acting that differently?

She didn’t mean to push him away. It wasn’t about him, it was just that right now, the idea of touching someone made her feel sick.

Even though she trusted Edmund with all her heart, she still found herself pulling back.

The worst part was that she didn’t fully understand why, but somehow, her mind kept linking touch with something sexual.

No, of course Edmund would stop the moment she said no. He would never force her.

But still ... something in her just couldn’t handle being touched right now. She just wanted to stay wrapped up in a warm blanket, protected from the world, for a little while longer.

But then again ... if she really hated being touched, why didn’t she stop Edmund when he held her yesterday?

Maybe ... she was simply too tired to stop him at the time.

But still, it didn’t make sense. Why didn’t she want to be near him now? He was her husband. Shouldn’t his touch bring comfort?

[That bastard,] Edmund growled inwardly, his heart burning with rage. [I’ll make him suffer so badly until he begs for death.]

[What if ... what if my wife never wants to be touched by me again?]

The thought hit him like a punch to the chest.

’Of course he’d be devastated,’ Primrose thought to herself.

He wouldn’t be able to fulfill his desires if she couldn’t stand his touch, but surprisingly, sex wasn’t the first thing that came out of his mind.

[What if she has nightmares and doesn’t want me there? What if she’s scared and doesn’t reach for me like she used to?]

[Didn’t she always hug me when she felt frightened or wanted to cry?]

[It’s not her tears that scare me ...] he thought bitterly. [What I’m truly afraid of is seeing her cry and not being able to hold her.]

Primrose bit her lower lip, tears welling in her eyes as she listened to his thoughts. She hadn’t expected the first thing on his mind to be about how to comfort her, not about what he might lose.

"Edmund," she whispered, her voice so soft it almost disappeared. "I just need a little time to be alone, that’s all. But I promise... it won’t last forever."

She smiled gently, though sadness lingered in her eyes. "I’m sorry for brushing your hand away, but don’t worry, I don’t hate you. Actually ... I feel safe when I’m with you."

She just didn’t want her husband to misunderstand and think she hated him. Because the truth was, she didn’t feel anything like that. Not even a little.

As soon as she said those words, Edmund’s thoughts went completely silent, like his heart had paused for a moment.

Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke. "I understand, my wife."

[She said it won’t last forever,] he thought. [So I’ll wait. I’ll be patient until she’s ready to let me hold her again.]

Primrose kept looking at him, saying nothing. She didn’t try to hold his hand or hug him for comfort, but just being able to look at her husband was enough for her.

As long as he was there, she felt safe.

Without realizing it, Primrose drifted off again, this time into an even deeper sleep. Even when the carriage passed over rough roads, she didn’t wake up at all.

Since they didn’t stop to camp or rest at an inn, the carriage made it back to the palace faster than their trip to Moonshadow.

But even after a long journey, Primrose still needed time to calm her thoughts and rest without hearing the minds of everyone around her, including Edmund’s.

That’s why she gently asked him not to sleep beside her that night.

The Lycan King looked a little heartbroken.

Primrose could almost picture him as a sad little puppy, left behind and not sure what to do.

She felt bad—of course she did—but for now, her own comfort had to come first.

The sooner she calmed her mind, the sooner Edmund could hold her again.

"Your Majesty, are you sure you don’t want to see Dr. Silas first?" Marielle asked softly as she tucked the blanket around Primrose.

Primrose stayed quiet for a moment, then let out a long breath. "I’ll see him after I wake up."

She knew the time had come. It was time to let go of Silas ... and make him pay for what he did in the past.