Tyrant's Obsession With The Heiress-Chapter 81: Sharing An Inn Room Together

Of course the Van Merikh knights, who were born and bred to war, could easily survive a night out in the cold, but that didn't mean that they should. Just because it was what they adapted to, it didn't mean that they should continue their lives that way.

"It does not matter whether they are knights or mercenaries or if they have lived their lives out in the cold; they are still human," Lady Karina argued, her expression pensive. "They have spent one night out in the cold; it would not be wise to let them spend another."

Orpheus didn't quite understand what she was getting at. Most of the men with him were born alongside him or a few years after him at the Frosthowl Peaks. The cold was in them, in their bones and in their soul.

What did it matter?

However, he had no desire to keep arguing with the lady. He did, after all, say he would make some compromises to his lifestyle when it came to her.

"Very well," Orpheus conceded, releasing a huff of breath. "Since they are armed to the teeth and you did not want them to enter Haleville in consideration of the villagers, I will tell them to return to Moonveil, with the exception of Lyall and three others."

Lady Karina smiled, pleased that the man was able to see reason and understanding in her view.

"Thank you, my pet." She reached out and brushed a few unruly curls away from his forehead.

Orpheus was growing weak in the knees again. The lady certainly knew when and where to strike a man to get him to do her bidding.

He simply nodded and summoned Lyall over, relaying the message to his second-in-command. Lyall had been yet again surprised that his liege showed any consideration for the sleeping arrangements of his men, but he suspected that it was no doubt because of the lady's influence.

"Aye." Lyall nodded, casting a brief glance at Lady Karina, but he did not let his eyes linger for too long, lest his liege gouge them out.

And by the time his second-in-command was gone, Orpheus guided Lady Karina to another inn in the area. It seemed far more decent and polished than the tavern one.

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On her insistence, he simply waited outside with the packaged boxes of her fabrics on his shoulder while she handled the bookings. Apparently, it seemed there were only three rooms available and with six of them needing accommodation, they would need to share.

Lady Karina could have simply demanded that she required a room all to herself, but it wouldn't be fair to let grown, burly men share a cramped space.

When Orpheus finally entered the inn, meeting her at the oak-polished registry front desk, she turned to him. The man could tell there was something on her mind, and it immediately made his eyes soften.

"What is the matter, my lady? Are you having trouble with the innkeeper?" His gaze hardened again and shifted to the rounded, ageing man behind the registry desk. The old man flinched and shook his head frantically.

"Nay," Lady Karina answered. "There is simply a slight problem. There are only three rooms available so it would seem...we would have to share."

And why exactly was that a problem? Orpheus didn't see one.

"You and I will share," he said casually. "The other four can discuss the arrangement between themselves, so I don't quite see where the issue is in that."

Lady Karina sighed.

"I am an unwedded lady and it would be improper for me to share a room with a man who is not my betrothed or my husband," she explained, trying to maintain her cool. "I require my privacy."

"Then, I will take the floor and briefly leave the room whenever you need it."

Lady Karina did not expect such an answer from him. She was sure he would insist that there be no boundaries between them, but with that sort of arrangement, she could manage.

She nodded, not quite sure what to answer to that. And with that settled, the innkeeper handed them the key, receiving a message from Orpheus to hand the other two keys to his four knights when they arrived.

They both ascended the stairs to the second floor, and Lady Karina could see Orpheus struggle not to break anything along the way. The man was quite enormous; hence, he hardly fit into the narrow hallway leading to their room.

It made her chuckle whenever he bumped into something; it was a sweet sound so the man wasn't even angered by it.

Their room was somewhat small, but it was clean with polished wooden floors and a thick sheep-wool rug near the bed. There was a stone fire hearth in the corner, its flames already lit and warming the space.

Orpheus set her boxes of fabric on a wooden table that stood by the window, where two chairs were tucked in. And Lady Karina, who was exhausted, plopped down on the bed that was wide enough for two, covered in fresh linen and a heavy wool blanket.

The air smelt faintly of pine and smoke, and a simple oil lamp hung on the wall, giving off a soft amber glow to light the room.

While the room wasn't anything grand, it was quiet and warm enough to feel comfortable and safe for the night. Well, when one had Orpheus Van Merikh with them, they could sleep in the middle of a battlefield and still feel safe.

And then it suddenly occurred to her: did she feel safe with this man? When he mentioned she would naturally share the room with him, she had no fear that he would do anything, only that it would be improper for them to be together.

What had she been thinking? Feeling safe with her enemy? The man who slaughtered her people and claimed dominion over her castle and lands?

She had thought to stand up again, but Orpheus was already on his knees before her. She was surprised to see the man, a beast and brute of war, carefully removing her shoes from her feet.

"Orpheus... what are you doing..." Her voice was low as she watched how meticulously he handled her right foot, as if it was the most fragile thing he'd ever touched.

A/N: Hi all! Thank you for reading this far. I will be setting some milestones to achieve in exchange for bonus Chapters!

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