The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 29.1

Rather than feeling any sexual intent, Ejnar’s actions seemed almost… affectionate, causing Elfreda to hesitate for a moment.

This was her first experience like this, and she had no idea how to react. While she was frozen in place, he slowly pulled away from her, expressing his dissatisfaction without any intention of pouncing on her again.

“About that apology…”

“….”

Elfreda unconsciously pressed her lips together to suppress the words that threatened to escape. When the man in front of her began teasing his own lips with his tongue—lips that had just kissed her tenderly—she felt a strange sensation.

If their usual kisses felt like being consumed by a predator, this one felt truly intimate, as if they had connected on a deeper level. Despite how she felt, she had promised herself to speak as little as possible in Ejnar’s presence, and that still seemed right.

Yet…

“You’re quieter than before.”

Now, he was making this remark again.

Elfreda looked at Ejnar, feeling confused. He wore the same displeased expression he had at the beginning.

“You were chattering so much earlier.”

“….”

What was this? What was he trying to say? Elfreda found herself completely lost.

Was this a new form of torment? Was he trying to emphasize that he simply didn’t like her? Her brows furrowed in confusion. Even though she usually tried to comply with his wishes, she couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke up.

“I think I was too chatty earlier.”

“And?”

“I got the impression that… you don’t particularly like that.”

Elfreda asked, genuinely curious.

‘…Did I misunderstand?’

…Ejnar was momentarily taken aback, having seen her accurately.

He had never expected her to be so attuned to his feelings, and after realizing his own duplicity, he felt doubly embarrassed.

‘…He clearly found my chatter annoying earlier.’

But he didn’t hate the sounds she made. He had thought it was simply her voice he couldn’t stand. Yet now… it felt unsettling when she was quiet. However, the idea of her talking about Illene again didn’t leave him entirely pleased either.

What a confusing situation this was.

Elfreda wouldn’t blame him if he thought she was crazy. In fact, he was just as perplexed by his own unpredictability.

Noticing her flustered expression, Elfreda’s face grew equally red with embarrassment. Rather than finding clarity, she felt even more confused, and he seemed to feel the same way.

She cautiously opened her mouth to the now-silent Ejnar.

“…I want to be a little less annoying to Your Majesty.”

It was the first time she had expressed such sincerity. She thought this much should be acceptable.

Ejnar turned his gaze to her.

Elfreda felt a bit nervous, but she stood firm and continued.

“So if there’s something Your Majesty wants, I’ll follow it.”

This felt more certain than trying to read his mind and act accordingly.

Elfreda looked at him with calm eyes, though this only stirred up more irritation within Ejnar. It was a childish sort of mood swing, and he worked hard to conceal his feelings.

Suddenly, he didn’t want her to read his emotions. If she did, she would begin second-guessing herself, appearing even more timid—and that would annoy him. What he wanted, as a ruler, wasn’t that kind of submissive behavior.

“So, if you could just tell me what I should do…”

“Just do as you please.”

Ejnar’s tone sounded oddly resigned as he cut her off. Elfreda looked confused.

“It’s ridiculous that I’m forcing you to speak or not speak. Such things won’t make me hate you any less or more.”

The voice she inherited from Gunnar was hardly a big issue compared to the fact that she was Gunnar’s granddaughter.

Ejnar thought this to himself.

Today…. his mood swings might be due to her being overly attentive to his feelings. While gentle reminders were pleasant to hear, excessive ones became irritating.