Chapter 993: Rowena Takes Initiative
"Do you really think I am beautiful?" Rowena asked Raphael sincerely. "Was it my beauty that attracted you in the first place?"
"Well, I can ask the same thing to you," Raphael replied with a small laugh. He knew Rowena was probably struggling with her low self-esteem despite being the most beautiful and interesting woman he had ever met. He raised an eyebrow. "You told me I am handsome. Is my good looks what attracted you to me and made you decide to accept my love?"
Rowena couldn't answer this question. She liked Raphael a lot and perhaps she might even love him, but if it was up to her, she wouldn't accept his love and proposal of marriage. She would stay as far away as possible from him because she liked him so much.
However, she was forced to accept his proposal and marry him because, at first, it was for her father who threatened her, and now it was for herself. She realized he was powerful and could give her whatever she wanted. And right now, she just wanted to be free from her father's clutch and at the same time take Julian with her.
So, why couldn't she just tell Raphael the truth? She didn't want to risk him falling out of love with her after he knew who she really was and leaving her to fend for herself from her father's wrath.
Besides, she could tell that Raphael was jealous of Julian. So, why would she tell her fiance that she was seeing Julian everywhere and now she was trying to commit a crime for Julian's sake?
Yes. She would kill her father. It was the only way for her and Julian to be free.
And when other people found out about what she did, they would ostracize her, but that didn't matter anymore. Their opinion didn't matter to her. Perhaps, by then Raphael would also leave her.
She was ready for that to happen. No... in fact, she would leave him before he could leave her.
If she wanted to be honest with herself, she knew Raphael deserved a much better woman than her. Someone who wasn't broken and filled with so much resentment in her heart that only killing her father was the key to her peace.
Raphael didn't need someone like Rowena.
So, even though it pained her...
"Rowena, sweetheart." Raphael suddenly cupped Rowena's face and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
A certain glow and warmth seeped into Rowena's body and made her feel better.
"W-what did you do?" Rowena blinked uncertainly.
While it didn't erase her terrible thoughts, she was able to feel much nicer.
"You were so lost in your thoughts that I was getting a bit lonely," Raphael joked lightly as he let his thumb graze gently across her cheek. "What I did was a simple healing spell for migraine. It's nothing special, I am simply doing my best to become the next God of Healing. Perhaps by that time, I'll be able to soothe more of your worries, frets, and concerns once I obtain a better grasp on it."
Rowena's heart pounded wildly in her chest.
Did... did he really just start learning and apprenticed himself to become a God of Healing because of her? No. That probably wasn't it, was it?
Raphael seemed to be the type, Rowena remembered him taking care of her in the valley.
"You don't have to hesitate about telling me anything, Rowena." Raphael reminded her again with a calm and gentle smile. "I'm here for you and I love you."
It took a lot of effort for Rowena to hide the despair that entangled its way through her heart as she chose a less serious answer.
"I think marrying someone who you didn't love would be quite a problem, Raphael," Rowena said seriously. "I mean, if we're both going to be immortals and spend an eternity together... you would have to be with a person you love."
"You know I just wanted to hear it come from your lips, Rowena." Raphael chuckled as he drew in closer to her. There was a twinkle in his eyes. "The thing I would love the most to hear from my future wife is three simple words, I love you and you'd make me the happiest man in all seven realms."
His words were sweet like honey, so sincere and honest, that they touched Rowena's cold heart. At this very moment, none of her worries and anger seemed to matter anymore.
Why was it always so good to be around him and bask in his affection?
Rowena's lips slowly curved up to form a beautiful smile. Well.... she would leave this man when the time came, but today she would be selfish and pretend that she was really this sweet and amazing girl he was in love with, and enjoy the love between them.
Slowly, her head tilted to the side as she reached out and tugged the man closer in for a kiss. Raphael's eyes bulged at her initiative and he was dumbfounded when Rowena's lips touched his, and she planted a sweet, sweet kiss on him.
The young prince may have joked about them being undisturbed earlier, but now he was happy that Rowena actually took the initiative this time. Well... Rowena did take initiative the first time, but now, Raphael's lips tasted the fiery passion in the way that Rowena shared a steamy hot kiss with him.
Rowena turned out to be someone who knew what she wanted.
A certain extent of her knew this from the lessons that she received from Lady Mary and Liz in the past, on what it meant to be a good wife, but now, she was doing this for her own selfish desires.
Rowena hated the fact that she was drugged by her father into sleeping with Raphael, but now as she pulled away from Raphael and breathed deeply, she decided to consummate their relationship for real this time.
.
.
.
_______________________
From Missrealitybites:
I am back and will work hard to end Harlow's story as soon as possible. Thank you so much for being so patient. xx