Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: The Mate Bond (4)

When Ahcehera woke up, the warmth of the sun’s rays filtered through the hospital room’s curtains.

She blinked, adjusting to the light, and was immediately startled to find herself lying beside Richard.

She sat up quietly, careful not to disturb him, and her gaze softened when she saw him still sound asleep. His expression, usually so guarded, was peaceful, almost vulnerable.

Without a word, she slipped out of bed and carefully pulled a blanket over him. As she adjusted it to his shoulders, her mind raced with questions.

Did he move me last night? But why would he?

She stretched her arms and rolled her neck, wincing at the stiffness from sleeping in such an awkward position.

How did I not wake up when he moved me? she wondered, frowning slightly. And why did I sleep so peacefully in a bed with someone who still believes I killed his brother?

Ahcehera sighed and summoned a neatly packed meal into her palm, the golden glow of her energy flickering faintly as it materialized.

She placed the box on the small table beside Richard’s bed and lingered for a moment.

She looked at him one last time, her expression unreadable, then turned and left the room without a sound.

Richard woke much later, the sun already high in the sky. He blinked against the brightness, rubbing his eyes, and instinctively reached out to the space beside him.

It was cold.

Did she leave so early? he wondered, a pang of disappointment settling in his chest.

She hadn’t woken him.

A sad smile tugged at his lips, unbidden and unrecognized by himself. Who am I in her life to expect that she’d wake me?

He shook his head, frustration and resignation swirling within him.

I’m nobody to her.

But… this bond… I can’t deny it anymore.

She’s my mate.

As his gaze wandered, he noticed a box resting on the small table beside the bed. His brows furrowed in confusion as he reached for it.

What is this? Did she leave it for me?

He opened it carefully, and his eyes widened in shock as steam rose from the contents. The unmistakable aroma of fresh, natural food wafted through the air.

How did she… His thoughts trailed off as he stared at the meal.

It wasn’t something one could easily come by, real and without radiation, this untouched food was rare, a luxury.

Why would she leave this here?

Richard’s mind raced with possibilities. Does this mean… she cares?

For the first time in a long while, a flicker of hope lit within him. Though unspoken and uncertain, her gesture had planted a seed of something he couldn’t quite name.

It looks delicious.

Before Richard could even take a bite of the steaming meal, the door to his room burst open. His mother, Duchess Lotisia Mors, stormed in, followed closely by his father, Duke Ricardo Mors.

“Richard!” his mother exclaimed, rushing to his side and pulling him into a tight embrace before he could react.

Startled, Richard raised his free hand to protect the meal, ensuring it didn’t spill.

“Mother, why are you here?” he asked, bewildered.

“I received a message saying you’d been admitted to the hospital,” the Duchess said, her voice filled with worry and accusation. “What happened?”

“It was an accident,” Richard explained, his tone steady but uncertain. “Honestly, I’m still trying to piece it together myself. The last thing I remember is falling into the academy lake.”

Duke Mors frowned, his expression grave. “The journey from Agartha to Sirius is highly unusual. How did you end up here, unconscious, and not in the academy’s infirmary?”

“I… I don’t know, Father,” Richard admitted.

“We’ll have your brother investigate this immediately,” the Duke declared, his voice firm.

“Hold on!” Duchess Mors interrupted, her sharp gaze fixing on Richard’s collar.

Her hand darted forward, and before he could stop her, she pulled down the fabric to reveal a faint, glowing mark etched into his skin near his neck. Her eyes widened in shock.

“The royal family’s mate mark!” she gasped, her voice trembling with a mix of astonishment and alarm. “How did you acquire this? What did you do?”

Duke Mors stepped closer, his brow furrowing deeply as he examined the mark.

“This is unmistakably the royal mate mark,” he confirmed, his voice low and heavy. “Richard, have you found your mate?”

Richard froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn’t noticed the mark before, but now it pulsed faintly as if reacting to their scrutiny.

“Who is it, son?” his father pressed.

His mother’s piercing gaze bore into him, her worry laced with the weight of expectations.

Richard opened his mouth to respond but hesitated, his thoughts a chaotic swirl. Should he tell them?

Could he admit that the mark likely tied him to Ahcehera, the princess who was both his savior and the one he’d spent years resenting?

“I…” Richard stammered, his voice faltering under their intense stares.

His mother’s grip tightened on his arm. “Richard, answer us. Who bears the other half of this bond?”

The room felt suffocating, the weight of their expectations pressing down on him.

Ahcehera… The name lingered on the tip of his tongue, but something deep within him hesitated to speak it aloud.

“Why are you so hesitant?” his mother asked, her tone sharp, eyes narrowing as she studied his expression. “Is there something wrong with your mate?”

Richard opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, his father interjected, his voice steady and laced with an unsettling certainty.

“You’re worried about this person,” Duke Mors said, leaning slightly closer. “Is it the princess?”

Richard’s head snapped up, his eyes widening in shock. “Father, how did you…”

“The royal family’s mate mark is unmistakable,” the Duke explained, his tone firm.

“And considering the circumstances, the only woman in the direct royal bloodline of your generation is the princess.”

“The others are either too old for you or already married. Unless your mate belongs to the royal lineage of another planet, which is unlikely, the princess is the most logical answer.”