The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 139: When It Is You

Louis didn’t respond, his grip on her wrist tightening as he pushed forward. He didn’t mind the guards and servants of the household looking at them with their mouths agape. He didn’t stop when Cordelia’s mother rushed to them in her nightgown, face filled with panic.

Louis couldn’t believe Cordelia had said she wanted to be friends. Friends? They were never just friends. Never once had he thought of her in that way. She was always more to him. He wanted to have her in his arms for the rest of their lives. For years, he had waited for her, been patient, all while hoping to win her heart. And what did he get in return? An invitation to be her friend. Friend!

How easily she could say that she wanted to be friends with him! He wanted to teach her a lesson. With steady steps, he walked in for all eyes to see them. He was surprised Cordelia didn’t try to get out of his hold anymore. She followed him along, matching his pace.

When her mother called out to her, she asked her to be calm and assured her that she was safe. Louis might have looked like an agent of death with his scowl, prompting some of the guards to step forward and protect the young lady of the house. But Cordelia ordered them to stay back. Even when he loosened his grip, she didn’t try to break free and stayed by his side.

This made his heart waver. He observed her face: the fear he had seen earlier in the forest was no more and had been replaced with a peaceful trust. She even had a bashful smile. He couldn’t understand what she was thinking.

He climbed up the stairs and walked through the hallway. The maids, who had been checking the commotion, parted their ways with their eyes wide and hands over their mouths, seeing the crown prince walking in with the messy young lady of the house.

Good! Now everyone knows! he thought. He opened a side door and pulled her inside. It was her room, he knew. He had always wanted to get in there but was never allowed to. His propriety as the crown prince had denied him access to a lady’s bedroom.

It was ironic when he thought about it. His propriety had never stopped him from entering other ladies’ rooms without their permission. She had always been special to him.

He dragged her in and locked the room. There were only a couple of small candles burning that lit the entire room. He couldn’t see much.

He thought he would hear her sob as he treated her like that. But she looked at him with a wide smile. In the warm light of the candles, her skin glowed like gold.

Her smile caught him off guard. Louis had expected anger or tears, but not this. The flickering candlelight danced across her features, making her look almost ethereal.

"Cordelia," he began, his voice softer now, the anger draining away. "Why are you smiling?"

"Because," she said, taking a step closer to him, "You still remember my room. I’m surprised."

"I..." Louis gulped as a wave of shame washed over him. He was trying to teach her a lesson and do what he did to the other ladies, but here she was... calm and collected as if she liked him there. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"I’ll light more candles," Cordelia held his hand and brought him to the armchair. "Sit here. Shall I ask for snacks and tea? You must be parched..."

"No," Louis refused immediately. He noticed the jug of water beside the chair and poured himself a glass.

Cordelia by now had started to light up the candles. He let her, although he liked the ambiance with the dim lighting. It was enticing to be in a dark room with her.

She was humming a peppy tune and her lips were curled up. If she were putting out the candles instead of lighting them, he would have thought that she was preparing for them to go to bed. That thought made his heart race with excitement.

What was she doing?

"We are in your room, together, alone... with no chaperone... Do you realize that?" he asked.

Cordelia’s hand lighting up the candle paused, the matchstick burning and leaving a beautiful glow on her face.

"Yes, I did," she said, her voice calm and steady. "And it doesn’t bother me. Not when it’s you."

Her words sent a jolt through him. The intensity of her gaze, the sincerity in her voice—it was all so unexpected.

"Cordelia..." he started, but his voice faltered. He didn’t know what to say. All he knew was that being here with her, seeing her so at ease, made him feel things he had long buried. "People are going to talk...about you."

Cordelia bowed her head, a wave of thought flickering on her unblemished face. She then looked at him. Her eyes glowed as the fire of the candle reflected in them. "I do not care."

Louis’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t expect her to say that. "Because we are... friends?" he probed.

Cordelia smiled, hiding the volcano of emotions rising in her heart, and sat on the bed. She hoped he would look around her room; it was the reason she lit all those candles and lamps. Her room was a testament to her heart.

Louis stood, closing the distance between them in a few quick strides. He took her hands in his, his grip firm yet gentle. "You’re pretty relaxed..."

Usually, when he did this to other ladies, they would shout, scream, try to escape, or cry sitting in the corner. Cordelia was the only one who remained calm.

He was surprised, but more than that, her calmness in this situation made him think that she had surrendered herself to him. Was she really fine with whatever he did to her?

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, she smiled. She bowed and kissed his hand. "I thought I was going to die tonight. And here I am... I must be lucky..."

Louis’s breath hitched at her words, the sincerity in her eyes cutting through his defenses. He pulled her closer, his hands trembling slightly as he cupped her face. "Do you know what you’re..." He couldn’t finish his sentence as his eyes fell on her parted lips, red and plump.

His throat went dry, and he swallowed. Before he knew it, he was leaning toward her. She was right in his arms, defenseless, awakening his innate desire that he had tried to rein in for years.

"What?" she said, her voice coming out in a short gasp. Her lively eyes darted between his eyes and lips.

"Do you know what you’re doing to me?" he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.

Cordelia’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding against her chest. She could feel the tension between them, a magnetic pull that was impossible to resist. "I..." Her voice trembled with a mix of fear and excitement.

Louis closed the distance between them, his lips hovering just above hers.