17. Astor Meets His Future Queen

Reality struck Frederick in an instant, leaving him stunned by his own actions as he pulled away from Selene, as if his very body were aflame. The king's gaze remained fixated on Selene's swollen, reddened lips. He swallowed heavily, and if it weren't for the faint knocks on the door, he might have stayed there all night, watching her sleep.

The king exited the room after hearing one of the guards' calls, who had approached to inform him that the inn had been checked and secured. Frederick felt his cheeks flush in embarrassment, fearing discovery of his indiscretion. "She's my betrothed," he reminded himself mentally, trying to calm down and feel less ashamed of his actions. He hurriedly made his way to his own room, paying no heed to its small size.

Meanwhile, Selene lay still on the bed, her fingers caressing her lips. What had happened? What had led her to remain motionless, prolonging Frederick's kiss? The truth was, she didn't know, and no matter how hard she tried to find a log