CHAPTER 239: BETWEEN SWEET SMILES AND ROTTEN INTENTIONS

The journey back from the capital to the palace went smoothly.

Dante didn’t suddenly take off running; instead, he walked rather sluggish, probably because he’d stuffed himself with too much food and now couldn’t move properly.

Still, it was better like this than having him run around like a lunatic.

Once they arrived at the palace, Edmund asked the soldiers to take Dante for a walk around the palace grounds. It was supposed to help him digest everything he’d eaten, or in simpler terms, Edmund just didn’t want his horse getting fat and too slow to run.

Primrose shook her head and chuckled softly. "I honestly can’t believe he’s supposed to be a warhorse."

She watched as the soldiers tried pulling Dante, asking him to keep moving. However, the horse was too lazy to budge.

Every time they encouraged him to walk, he flopped onto the ground like a spoiled child refusing to do chores.

"He’s completely different on the battlefield," Edmund explained. "But for some reason ... every time we come back to the palace, he gets ridiculously lazy. It’s like I have two completely different horses."

Then again, weren’t people like that too? People tended to become lazy when they had nothing to do, even Primrose was the same.

"Maybe you need to motivate him a little," she suggested with a shrug. "Try scattering food along the way."

Unexpectedly, Edmund let out a soft chuckle. "I should try that." He then lowered his gaze to her feet, which were hidden beneath her skirt. "Are your feet still hurting? I can make you feel better ... if you want me to."

Primrose was about to answer, but her words died in her throat when she noticed Silas and Hazelle strolling around the palace grounds.

What were they even doing out here at this hour?

Was Silas deliberately doing that to catch her attention?

After all, she hadn’t seen him again and had refused every one of his requests for a regular check-up, always saying she was busy or just didn’t feel like seeing anyone.

He must be frustrated that his plans weren’t working. Even though Salem was gone from the palace, word had spread that Edmund had become her personal poison tester.

With that kind of protection, Silas probably didn’t dare try anything sneaky.

Kind of funny, wasn’t it? He hated the Lycan King so much, yet didn’t have the guts to go against him.

"I think I’ll ask Dr. Silas to examine me," Primrose said casually, her eyes still locked on Silas, who had just stopped walking and was staring back at her with his usual fake, polite smile.

"Dr. Silas? But ... but I think you’d feel better faster if I was the one healing you," Edmund said in a softer tone, but Primrose could tell he was really hoping she’d change her mind.

Seriously? She still didn’t understand why her husband was so obsessed with licking her feet.

Sure, she could clean them until there wasn’t a speck of dirt left, but still ... they were feet. They were supposed to be the dirtiest part of the body. Why would anyone want to put their tongue on that?

No matter how much Edmund begged, she was never—ever—going to let him do something that degenerated.

"Husband, you really don’t need to worry about it." Primrose smiled softly. "I believe Dr. Silas has some kind of medicine that can help my feet feel better. Besides, didn’t you say you still have work to finish from earlier today?"

Edmund’s eyes were still fixed on her feet as he gave a reluctant nod. "But I—"

"I said don’t worry about me," she gently interrupted.

Primrose wanted to kiss him on the lips, but now that he’d returned to his usual height and appearance, she’d have to ask him to bend down first. So instead, she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his chin and neck.

"I don’t want to bother you again tonight," she whispered.

She had already kept him busy all day, so the last thing she wanted was to stop him from getting his work done now.

"Good night, husband." She stepped back a little, smiling sweetly at him. "My bedroom door is always open for you, so you can come in if you want to sleep beside me tonight."

[I’m not even sure if I’ll sleep at all tonight,] Edmund thought. [But since my wife said I could come in anytime ... maybe even an hour before sunrise still counts.]

If that was the case, Primrose had a feeling he’d pretend to be asleep from midnight onward just to keep her from worrying.

Honestly, it was a bit concerning. He hadn’t slept since the night before, yet he didn’t look tired at all, not even after climbing a thousand stairs and then carrying her all the way back down on his back.

If Primrose had stamina like her husband, she would’ve used it to walk around the shopping district from sunrise to sunset without stopping.

"I probably won’t sleep until late, so don’t wait for me," Edmund said, giving her a quick kiss. "But if you need anything, I’ll come to you right away."

After exchanging goodnights, Edmund headed to his study, while Primrose turned and walked toward Silas.

"Dr. Silas," she greeted calmly, "Isn’t it a little late for a walk around the palace?"

The corner of Silas’s mouth lifted in that familiar, gentle smile, the same one that used to bring her comfort. But now ... now she just wanted to rip his mouth off every time she saw it.

"To tell you the truth, I was actually waiting for you to return, Your Majesty," Silas said politely. "The maids mentioned that you and His Majesty went to the capital today, so I figured you’d be exhausted by the time you got back."

If she couldn’t hear his thoughts, Primrose might’ve found that oddly sweet.

But unfortunately, her mind-reading ability had already torn open the perfect mask he wore, exposing the rotting thoughts underneath.

[That bitch ... Why has it been so hard to meet her lately?] Silas’s inner voice oozed with malice. [I haven’t even had the chance to give her a single drop of the poison I worked so hard to make. If I knew it’d be this much trouble, I never would have agreed to stay here.]

[She looks way too happy these days. It makes me sick to my stomach.]

[It’s time this little traitor learns what real suffering feels like.]