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Chapter 3


Giovan’s POV

As I stripped down, I couldn't help but notice the terror etched on Crema's face. It was apparent that she was suddenly afraid of me, leading me to question if she fully understood what was about to happen. I had assumed she was in agreement, so why did she seem so frightened now? I briefly registered her fear, but my desire for her was too overpowering to give it much thought.

The heat between us was palpable, and I was irresistibly drawn to her warmth. Her lips were soft, just like the rest of her!

I moved closer to her and gently pried her hands away from the tightly clutched robe, slowly revealing her in all her glory. "You're beautiful!" I couldn't help but blurt out.

Her cheeks flushed at my words, and she quickly tried to shield her breasts with her hands. I stopped her and claimed her pink lips in a passionate kiss. This time, I didn't heed her protests.

I locked eyes with her again, becoming more forceful with my actions, not taking into account how she might be feeling.


Crema’s POV

After Giovan had explored my body, I felt sore all over. The pain in my intimate area was accompanied by a numbing sensation throughout my body. I hadn't expected such an intense experience from a married man; how could it have happened so suddenly? I was scared it might be too much for me to handle.

When I woke up the next day, Giovan was absent from the room. I had fallen asleep without covering myself, using only the blanket for warmth. I slowly rose and made my way to the bathroom, struggling due to the pain in my body. It was morning, and I needed to get dressed in case the king or someone in power summoned me.

What usually took me a few minutes to shower and dress now took almost an hour due to the pain. I was hesitant to let the water touch my numb body, fearing it might intensify the pain.

I looked at myself in the large mirror in front of our bed, reminding myself of my duty as one of the princesses in our kingdom to always appear presentable. It was a lesson from one of the training sessions that my mother and I had attended.

A few moments later, there was a knock on the door. When I opened it, I saw the maid who had led me to this room the day before. "What's happening?" I asked her, and she smiled and replied, "It's breakfast time, and the King is summoning you." I nodded and informed her that I would follow.

As I entered the dining area, I was surprised by what I saw. Giovan, the king, and Janine were already seated. I couldn't quite comprehend their intentions, and my frustration only added to the pain in my body.

I headed straight for an empty seat, but my eyes remained fixed on Janine and then shifted to Giovan. I needed one of them to explain why my cousin was here in the highly esteemed palace of our kingdom.

"Your cousin is here; I asked her to assist you in all your activities," the king explained with a smile. His words felt like a sudden splash of cold water over my entire being. Was he joking? Why Janine?

Being new to the palace and unfamiliar with the king's behavior, I opted to remain silent. I planned to discuss the matter with Janine later or persuade Giovan to replace her. In reality, I didn't need an assistant, as I was fully capable of managing my affairs independently.

"Thank you for choosing me as my cousin's assistant. It's only appropriate since I'm the only one who genuinely understands her, being related by blood. I assure you, dear king, that I will execute my duties diligently, so as not to disappoint you. I will undertake this role with pride and honor."

"I'm glad to hear that, Janine. You are now the servant of my daughter-in-law, and I expect you to fulfill your duties adequately."

I held back my irritation at Janine's words, aware that I was in no position to challenge the king. I didn't comprehend the situation fully, but I noticed a different look on Giovan's face, as if he was testing me. I couldn't yet decipher the message he was attempting to convey, but I was resolved to understand it in the hours to come.

After breakfast, I retreated to my room in silence. I had no intention of doing anything else that day except rest, given the aching of my body. I could sense Janine trailing behind me, but I decided not to speak, waiting for her to initiate the conversation. "Thank you for accepting me as your assistant. I promise not to disappoint you or do anything to upset you. I'm here to serve the palace and follow my own dreams. You have no reason to worry, as Giovan is no longer part of my plans. I pose no threat to you."

I listened to her words, but I paused for a moment before responding. I chose my words carefully, aware that the walls around us could have ears. "Janine, I know you better than anyone else in the kingdom. I'm aware that you have ulterior motives for being here. Whatever they are, tread carefully, because I won't tolerate any harm coming my way. You know what I'm capable of when provoked."

Having said that, I quickly excused myself from Janine's company. I didn't want our conversation to drag on, fearing it might lead to undesirable consequences. It's crucial for me to maintain a positive image in front of the king. Janine isn't the only one who could tarnish my reputation.


As Crema walked away from Janine, the latter's face twisted into a malicious grin. Crema was correct in her suspicion that Janine harbored ulterior motives. Janine sought revenge for being locked up the previous day and planned to use her pregnancy to win over Giovan. The identity of the baby's father was uncertain, but that was no longer significant. What mattered was coaxing a confession from Giovan about their affair.

A confession from Giovan would be sufficient to make Crema retreat. Janine understood her cousin's disposition well enough to know that resentment alone would lead Crema to abandon their marriage.

Once she was sure Crema was out of sight, Janine quickly made her way to Giovan's home office. Giovan was engrossed in his work, which involved liaising with the human world. Living dual lives had become a trend for them, blending in with humans to ensure their survival. Most of them lived as ordinary individuals, only revealing their true nature when necessary.

Janine cautiously approached the door, ensuring no one was watching before gently knocking. "Come in," Giovan's voice responded. She quickly stepped in, closing and locking the door behind her. Giovan was initially startled by her presence but regained his composure, waiting for Janine to speak.

"I apologize for the surprise. I had to resort to this method to get close to you. Were you aware that Crema's parents locked me up last night, preventing me from attending your wedding? Why didn't you come looking for me? I thought you favored me over Crema, yet you proceeded with the marriage due to your father's wishes."

"If you're here for that, then leave. I don't have time for this. I have a lot of work to complete. Why did you even think of coming here in this manner? Don't you think my father might already know the truth about your character? Why are you here?"

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