CHAPTER 324: THE KING’S SHAMELESS FANTASY

Primrose suddenly remembered what Edmund had written in his diary, something about his obsession with her feet.

She still couldn’t understand it. What was so special about them? And why on earth did he want her to step on his face? Was that even normal? Or was it some kind of strange sickness of the mind? Maybe she should ask Salem for advice ...

Speaking of Salem, she hadn’t seen him again since he gave her the poison for Dr. Silas. He seemed far more interested in spending time with Raven before she left for Moonhaven tomorrow.

"Edmund, what are you doing?" Primrose asked when she noticed her husband lowering his head toward her feet. She had washed before coming to the royal living room, so her feet hadn’t been trapped in her shoes for long, but still, they were dirty!

"Nothing." Edmund pressed his lips together in a thin line, then straightened his back stiffly. "I just ... wanted to make sure your feet weren’t sore after walking to the training ground this afternoon."

Primrose chuckled. "The training ground isn’t even that far," she said with a smile. "I’m fine."

But when her eyes lingered on Edmund’s face, she couldn’t shake the memory of that odd line in his diary. Could it really be ... would he actually feel happy if she stepped on his face?

The thought made her cheeks warm. It was such a shameless, ridiculous act, something that felt humiliating to even imagine. However ... there was a small part of her, curious and daring, that longed to try it.

Maybe ... just once. Just for a second. It couldn’t hurt, right?

"I think my ankle feels a bit sore," she said, though it was only a lie.

"Which ankle? This one?" Edmund asked gently, taking hold of her right leg and lifting it slightly so he could massage it. But before he realized it, Primrose had raised her leg higher until the sole of her foot pressed lightly against his face.

It felt as though time itself stopped.

Primrose’s breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering wildly. What if he was offended? What if she had gone too far?

But Edmund said nothing. The silence only made her nerves grow tighter until she blurted, "H-Husband, I’m sorry, I—"

[My ... my wife stepped on me!] Edmund shouted joyfully in his head, cutting her apology short.

He sounded like a man who had just witnessed his wildest dream come true.

[MY WIFE STEPPED ON ME!] he cried in his mind. [[Is this real? Am I dreaming?]

"Husband," Primrose broke into his thoughts, her voice trembling. "Are you ... alright?"

At the sound of her voice, Edmund’s entire body stiffened. He swallowed hard, trying desperately to compose himself, to bury the secret his heart had screamed so loudly.

But no matter how much he tried ... his thoughts had already betrayed him.

Edmund slowly lowered her foot from his face, his movements careful, almost reverent. His expression remained calm on the outside, but Primrose could see the slight tremor in his hands as if he were holding back something.

She bit her lip, unsure what to say. Her heart raced as embarrassment and curiosity twisted inside her. "You ... you really don’t mind?" she asked cautiously.

Edmund’s blue eyes flickered toward her, his lips pressed into a line. "I’m not," he replied in his usual deep voice, but his ears had turned crimson.

Did he really like her feet that much?

Primrose swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "Edmund ... Do you actually like feet that much?"

"It’s just yours ...," Edmund muttered so quietly she almost didn’t hear him. "I don’t like all feet."

[Why is my wife suddenly doing this?] he thought nervously. After all, Primrose usually wouldn’t even let him touch her leg.

Then, realization struck. Edmund widened his eyes as he remembered that Primrose could read his thoughts and she had gone into his office earlier this afternoon. "Did you—"

"I read your bad diaries," Primrose cut him off quickly.

The guilt of sneaking into his private diaries kept Primrose from lying to him. Besides, beyond his strange obsession with... feet, there were still other things she needed to talk about with Edmund.

On the other side, Edmund’s jaw dropped. He spoke with fear in his voice, "H-How much did you read?"

[I swear I hid them properly!] Edmund panicked in his thoughts. [I didn’t even leave those books on the bookshelf anymore!]

"I’m sorry ..." Primrose whispered, her voice filled with guilt. "I ... I couldn’t help myself after you mentioned those books back then."

It wasn’t really his fault for keeping his diaries in his office. The only one to blame was herself for barging into her husband’s private belongings.

"I promise I won’t do it again," she added quickly. "And I ... I swear I only looked a little." She bit down on her lower lip, her cheeks warm with shame.

Edmund narrowed his eyes, studying her flushed face. "A little?" he repeated, his voice low and doubtful.

Primrose nodded quickly. "Just ... a page or two."

His lips pressed into a thin line, as if he didn’t believe her at all. But instead of scolding her, he looked more panicked. "You ... you shouldn’t read those." He suddenly rose from the bed, taking a slow step back. "I wrote so many shameful things! Even ... even about you!"

[Damn it! Why did I have to write such shameful things about my wife? What was I thinking when I wrote that? Is she angry with me? No ... the real question is, does she feel disgusted and violated by me?]

Edmund’s gaze was filled with horror as he looked at her. "I’m so sorry," he blurted. "I never meant to use you as my ... fantasy. I—"

"No, no, it’s fine!" Primrose quickly interrupted, still sitting on the bed. "I’m really fine! It doesn’t bother me at all ... well, maybe a little, but I don’t hate it!"

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment when she remembered the things he had written, but that didn’t mean she was disgusted or angry with him.

If anything, a part of her secretly wanted to try those very things he had scribbled down in those cursed pages.

Just ... maybe not now.

"I should be the one apologizing!" Primrose finally stood and walked toward him, her voice trembling. "You must have written all of that because I couldn’t satisfy you!" she cried. "I’m sorry ... I’m so sorry!"

"What? No!" Edmund immediately shot back, his tone fill with desperation. "I’ve always been satisfied with you. Why would I ever not be?"

[I already feel honored just to be allowed to touch you, my wife!] his thoughts cried out. [The only reason I wrote those shameless things is because I love you so much that you’re always in my head, even when I’m working!]

Which meant ... he had just confessed that he often thought perverted thoughts about her while he was supposed to be working.

Was that the reason he sometimes struggled to finish his work on time?

Primrose’s lips twitched, caught between laughter and exasperation. Maybe her husband really did need professional help.

"But husband... there’s something more important we need to talk about." Primrose’s expression grew serious as she continued, "Why have you never told me about the situation in my homeland? Or ... perhaps about the political issues in the Vellmoria Empire?"

Edmund’s embarrassment faded at once, his expression hardening. He observed her carefully, his blue eyes darkening as if weighing how much truth he should give her.

[So ... you also read those things.] Edmund’s voice echoed through his thoughts.

"I did." Primrose nodded firmly. "I also know what you did to the spy the Emperor sent ... to watch me."

Edmund’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. For a moment, he said nothing and let the silence grow between them. Then he finally asked, his voice low, "And ... do you hate me for it?"

Primrose let out a soft sigh. "Why would I ever hate you?" she whispered. "That spy had already crossed the line, and all you did was protect me."

A chill ran down her spine at the thought. If she had walked into her own bathroom only to find a man hiding there, the memory would have haunted her forever. It would have scarred her heart as deeply as the cruelty she had endured from the tiger tribe in Moonshadow.

Before Edmund could say a word, Primrose threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. "If anything," she whispered against his chest, "I’m grateful you were there before he could do something bad to me."

Edmund froze, his body tense for only a second before his arms wrapped around her, pulling her even closer. He buried his face in her hair, his heart pounding.

"I’m also glad I was near you at that time," Edmund murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "If I had been a moment late ... I don’t even want to imagine what could have happened."

"But husband," Primrose said as she rested her head on his chest, "I don’t like it when you keep something this important from me. I deserve to know too, whether it’s good or bad."