Rebirth: The unfavored Princess is the Tyrant King's favorite-Chapter 108: Who would you save first?

Luciana felt she needed to do something about Nick’s odd behavior and whispered quietly to him,

"Nick, please."

Her meaning was clear; ’He should let her go,’ but Nicholas stubbornly refused. He missed her. He missed hugging her so close to him. He felt as if it’s been years since he had felt such warmth.

Luciana lowered her gaze, trying to hide the unease in her eyes.

’They were all going to say she was a vixen and it was her fault Nick was acting so out of turn. After all, this wasn’t the first time an "innocent wife" was accused of pillow-talking her husband and wrapping him around her little finger with no fault of the woman.’

"Would you stop acting so unreasonably and listen to what I have to say?" The emperor retorted, his face showing he was about to reach his breaking point.

"Nick, please let me go. I’ll do whatever you want when we are alone, alright?" She whispered again, and he finally let her go, seeing her unease.

She silently got up and tried to make herself appear smaller because even though she couldn’t explain it, she felt like the Empress dowager was glaring at her with a displeased gaze.

It instinctively made her remember the older woman’s dislike for her in her previous life, causing her to shiver. She was sure Evelyn had made her out as an evil main wife in front of the Empress Dowager.

But before she could move away, Nick held her hand and intertwined them with his fingers and gently, protectively squeezed her hand.

"She stays. You can say whatever you want to say in front of her," he said; his voice had a hint of finality in it.

The emperor and the empress dowager exchanged glances again; a silent conversation passed through their eyes.

’It seemed the eldest prince had genuine affections for the princess consort. This was the first time they’d seen him show such strong emotions towards someone else apart from his mother, the empress.’

The emperor, in particular, recalled David’s words about wanting her and felt increasingly uncomfortable.

"She doesn’t need to leave since it involves her also," the emperor said through gritted teeth.

"I have realized letting you princes stay out of the palace wasn’t the best idea. So after deliberation with the empress dowager and ministers of court, I have decided that all of you must move back to the palace where you are all supposed to stay in the first place," the emperor added.

Luciana’s heart skipped a beat at the emperor’s words.

’The palace? Why did they have to move there so soon? In her previous life, they had moved to the palace after she had given birth, but why were things being sped up this time around?’

’Life in the palace wasn’t for the faintest of hearts. The Noble Consort Margaret was there, plus the Empress Dowager, combined with the emperor and all his concubines. Luciana felt that living in the palace was more suffocating than when she was a princess in Serenevale living under the strict supervision of her parents.’

"I think we’re fine where we are; I don’t need you monitoring my every move," Nicholas said flatly.

"I’m not asking for your opinion; it’s an order, and you must obey," the emperor said in the same commanding tone.

Before Nicholas could refute his words, the Empress Dowager spoke first.

"It’s tradition, my dear prince; you understand that, right?"

Empress Dowager stared at her grandson and gave him an understanding motherly smile. She already knew how stubborn Nicholas was. He would want to have his way the more you forced him.

Nicholas wanted to argue and stand his ground, but he realized living in the palace wasn’t so bad, minus the prying eyes and the meddling elders. Luciana would be better protected there in case he sets out to find answers regarding what he found out in his dreams.

"Fine," he reluctantly forced the words out through gritted teeth.

The empress dowager smiled and nodded.

"I hope you can move over before my birthday," she said, and Luciana inwardly panicked.

’Before her birthday? It was less than a week. What was the woman planning exactly?’ She thought, inwardly panicking, but outwardly, she maintained her serene and calm smile.

"We will put things together and move as soon as possible," Luciana responded.

"Yes, quickly come over so that the imperial physician can check on you. With the eldest prince doting on you so much, it seems I will soon hear news about the arrival of great-grandchildren," the empress dowager said, staring at her thin frame.

Luciana tensed at her words; she had heard about how imperial physicians examined women in the palace to check their ability to bear children. They also checked if you can birth healthy children fit to be heirs.

Luciana tried to maintain her fake smile amidst her discomfort. Nicholas saw how she visibly tensed and instantly knew she was worried.

He wanted to say the examination wasn’t needed, but he knew they were going to use the "it is tradition" card against him again and kept his thoughts to himself.

He decided to make sure and be present on the day the physician was to do the "checking." He wanted to see who would be so bold as to touch her inappropriately in his presence.

Seeing no more protests from Nicholas, the emperor threw a glare in his direction and said stiffly.

"Since you’re fine, that will be all for now."

The empress dowager also nodded and advised.

"We’ll leave you two alone to continue what you were doing. The eldest prince should try and control his stamina with the princess consort. You have other wives to aid you; if your strength is too great for her to bear, she looks too thin."

After those words, the emperor and the empress dowager made their way out.

Luciana shyly lowered her gaze to look at the ground. She didn’t expect the empress to be so straightforward. Nick was indeed a beast in bed.

"What is my wife thinking about that is making her blush like that?" Nicholas asked with a teasing smile on his face.

Luciana stared at him innocently, trying to mask her shyness, but he pulled her onto his lap and chuckled.

"Could you be thinking about something naughty, little wife?" Nicholas’s voice was husky, and he had a mischievous smirk on his face.

"I didn’t," Luciana denied his words. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Kiss me," he said, and Luciana stared at him as if he were crazy.

"You didn’t miss me?" He asked, an overbearing expression on his face as he lifted a brow at her.

Luciana saw he looked displeased and hurriedly tried to salvage the situation.

"Of course, I was worried about you, okay?" she said with a fawning smile on her face.

"Then why don’t you want to kiss me? You already said you’d do anything I wanted," Nicholas said, and Luciana stared at him in disbelief.

’Why was he thinking about kissing her as soon as he woke up?’

"What? You don’t want to?" Nicholas saw her absentminded expression and asked, feeling more displeased.

"I think your men have been very worried about you, and you should speak to them first," Luciana said and gestured to the people standing close to the entrance.

Nicholas lifted his gaze and saw they weren’t alone. When did they appear? He hadn’t even realized they were standing there.

"Greetings to the eldest prince," James, Adam, Amirion, Dora, and Esther greeted the prince at the same time.

"What are all of you doing here?" Nicholas asked, not understanding why they were there.

"You have been in slumber for five days, so we were worried when we heard the emperor was arriving. We are here to give the princess consort our support," Adam shamelessly said even though that wasn’t what he was feeling.

’Five days? He had thought he had slept for some two days, and the emperor was making a fuss.’

"Oh, okay, I’m fine. You can return to what you were doing; I will get updates about what happened in my absence later," Nicholas said, and Adam’s face looked like a neglected wife when he heard the prince’s words.

Luciana saw his expression and inwardly felt happy. She felt like pouring salt into his wounds for his cheekiness the past few days.

"Nick, tell me, if Adam and I were to fall into a river, who would you save first?" She asked in a coquettish voice.

Adam’s steps paused at Luciana’s words as his ears perked up, waiting for Nicholas’ answer.