Chereads / The Crown's Mind Reader / Chapter 14 - CH 14 : Horse Racing

Chapter 14 - CH 14 : Horse Racing

In the warm sunlight of the Duke's racing grounds, the buzz of excitement was in the air as horses trotted across the field, their riders preparing for the upcoming race. Alistair and Emilia stood under the shade of a tree beside Duke Rhys, exchanging pleasantries while observing the riders. The girl gazed out at the racetrack and spoke, her eyes following one of the horses in the field.

"It seems like you have quite a few hobbies, Your Grace. Not just an interest in jewelry, but sports like horse racing too." Emilia smiling.

The Duke let out a low chuckle and shook his head slightly.

"Oh, I'm afraid not. Horse racing, it's not for me but for my son. As a parent, you do your best to support your child's passions, whatever they may be."

While they watched the racers warm up, the Duke pointed toward a young man in colorful racing gear. "There, that's him. My son, Kieran. He's wearing red."

Duke's face clearly showed his proudness. "You'll see, he's got quite the talent with horses. He's been riding since he was a boy, and this is his third race of the season."

Emilia smiled at the sight of the Duke's joy, admiring the way he spoke so highly of his son. She glanced at Alistair, wondering how he might respond to the Duke's sentiment about children.

"When the little prince is born, Your Highness will know exactly what I mean. There's nothing more fulfilling than giving your son the best, as long as it brings him happiness." Duke Rhys glanced between the couple. 

At that, Alistair turned to the Duke, his expression thoughtful, and Emilia could sense that he was about to share something deeply personal.

"Why does it have to be a son?" Alistair interject.

"For me, whether it's a son or a daughter, it's still my child. I won't complain either way. What's most important to me is that the mother and child are healthy. That's all that matters." Alistair replied calmly but with conviction.

His words carried a weight of sincerity, and Emilia found herself silently agreeing, her heart swelling at his clear priorities. Alistair looked at Emilia briefly, then back to the Duke. He continued with a steady but firm voice. 

"In many kingdoms these days, daughters are ruling as sovereigns. They've brought prosperity and peace to their nations, proving that the ruler's competence should matter more than their gender. A child, no matter if it's a boy or girl, can lead if they're given the right guidance." 

The Duke, though surprised by Alistair's perspective, listened with respect. The man's words made it clear that he was not just thinking of tradition, but of the future and what truly mattered.

Duke Rhys nodded slowly, "You've got a point there, Your Highness. Times are changing. Competence should certainly come before anything else when it comes to ruling."

Alistair smiled faintly, but his gaze remained serious. Emilia, meanwhile, stood beside him in silent admiration. It wasn't just his broad vision that impressed her, but the deep care he displayed for family in particular.

After a moment of quietness, the Duke cleared his throat, steering the conversation toward lighter topics. "So, tell me, who are you two betting on for the race?"

Emilia with a playful grin answered, "I'm betting on your son, of course."

Alistair with a chuckle, glancing at Emilia, "I'll just follow my wife's instincts on this one."

The Duke laughed heartily at that, clearly pleased with their choices. "Well, let's hope Your Highness's instincts are right. Kieran's been training hard, and he'd love nothing more than to make me proud today."

While the race preparations continued in the field, the conversation shifted to the details of the race, but Emilia's thoughts remained on Alistair's earlier words. His clear and forward-thinking attitude, his refusal to be bound by tradition, and his concern for his wife's well-being. This makes her more certain than ever that the man will be a good husband and father for whoever the woman is, that he will share the future with one day.

It was unfortunate, she may not be able to witness it when it happened. By that time, she might not even be Alistair's side anymore. Then, all she could do was wish the man happiness from a very distant place.

As everyone was busy with the final preparations before the race, Duke Rhys left Alistair and Emilia to accompany his son. Suddenly, her attention was drawn to Isabella, who was standing not too far away with other maids chatting about the young boys on the field in front of them. They seemed quite excited, giggling while they pointed out which one among them was the most attractive. 

Emilia didn't want to interrupt their fun at first, but she knew her mission was more important and now was the perfect time to carry it out. She called out to Isabella, raising her voice slightly to be heard over the noise of the crowd and the outdoor setting they were in. The young girl quickly made her way over to the couple, standing and waiting for the instructions. 

"I think I left my handkerchief in the carriage, could you go get it for me?"

Isabella nodded once and hurried off towards where their carriage was parked at the front entrance, a bit of a distance away. Emilia watched when the young girl disappeared into the mass before turning back to Alistair, wrapping her arm around his and giving a mischievous grin.

The young girl returns to find Emilia and Alistair gone from their spot near the large tree. She starts moving around, trying to navigate through the sea of people. In the midst of the chaos of the horse race, Isabella decides to escape to a quieter area, possibly where the couple went.

She arrives at the deserted stables, all the horses having been taken to the racetrack so the place was a bit empty. When Isabella turns to leave the large grassy place filled with various equipment, she suddenly stops in her tracks. Curiosity piqued because of a familiar voice coming from the far end.

When she approaches the small office-like room, Isabella hears Alistair's low moans growing louder. Her heart races, and she debates whether to leave, but she can't move. Then, the voices become clearer.

"Em… you're driving me crazy. Just like that."

Isabella's cheeks flush while she hears Emilia's soft laugh, followed by the wet sounds of her pleasuring him further.

"You like that, don't you? Tell me how much you want me to keep going." Emilia says playfully.

Alistair with a deep groan answered, "I want all of you… every bit of you, Em.. You make me lose control."

Isabella presses her hands to her burning cheeks, unable to believe what she's hearing. The intensity of their passion makes her heart thud harder. She shifts nervously, torn between leaving and staying rooted to the spot.

"Faster, Em… I need you to make me come. I can't hold back." Alistair's voice was heard again, more urgent this time.

Isabella bites her lip, her breath catching in her throat while she imagines the scene inside the room. Even without seeing the full picture, she can visualize Emilia's movements based on the noises and Alistair's desperate words.

"Mmm, I want to taste all of you, Al.. Don't stop until I've had everything." Emilia's voice grows softer but filled with desire.

The young girl's body tenses, her pulse quickening while her legs refuse to move. She feels a strange heat rising within her, conflicted between her duty to turn away and the magnetic pull of the moment. Isabella's embarrassment only deepens when she hears Alistair's breathless wail of climax, mixed with Emilia's low, satisfied howls.

Finally, there's a lull when the two lovers seem to catch their breath. Isabella can hear them kissing, soft and intimate sounds that make her feel like she's intruding on something sacred. The young girl knows she should turn away and pretend to hear nothing, but the intensity of what she overhears leaves her peculiar.

Isabella's imagination fills in the gaps, visualizing the scene inside even though she can only see part of it through the window. Alistair's deep, lustful whimpers and Emilia's teasing responses create vivid images in her mind that make her face burn. When the lovers laugh and share a final kiss, she feels her heart hammering in her chest. 

While Isabella stood outside the room, Emilia, with a teasing smile, decided to throw a comment at Alistair. Her goal was to make Isabella anxious, to give more proof that things between the couple were progressing beyond the young girl's imagination.

"What do you think our children would look like?" Emilia, still basking in their recent pleasure, leaned closer to him, her voice a mix of sweetness and playfulness.

She expected him to catch the teasing tone in her voice, maybe brush off the question or make a playful remark in return. After all, this was just part of her game to keep Isabella on edge. But Alistair's face softened in a way that took Emilia by surprise, and instead of dodging the question, he answered sincerely.

"Our children, huh? I think they'd be beautiful, strong, smart and definitely stubborn, just like their mother." Alistair chuckled gently, releasing Emilia's hand that was holding his cock and reaching out until their fingers intertwined. "I imagine a little girl who has your fiery spirit, and maybe a boy who's just as curious as I am." 

Emilia blinked, her teasing smile fading vaguely as his words sank in. She hadn't expected this, certainly not the genuineness in Alistair's voice. But he wasn't finished.

"I'd help you with them, of course. I wouldn't want you to handle everything alone. I'd teach them to ride, to read, to understand the world around them." Alistair says thoughtfully. 

"When you need rest, I'll take care of the sleepless nights." He paused, looking into Emilia's eyes apparently he could already picture this future. "We'd raise them together, as partners and parents."

Alistair's voice was filled with a calm certainty that made Emilia feel a little uneasy. This was more than just a hypothetical conversation now, it was something Alistair seemed to be seriously considering, imagining their future with children, imagining a life with her beyond their complicated arrangement.

Emilia's teasing bravado faltered. She had meant to fluster Isabella, but instead, it was she who was thrown off balance. Alistair's honesty wasn't something she had planned for. 

She had expected him to play along, maybe say something witty or flirtatious. However, he was painting a picture of a life she wasn't sure she could handle, at least not yet.

"You… you really thought about all that?" Emilia replied quietly, almost awkwardly.

"Lately, I think about our future more than you know. I want to be the kind of man who can give you everything, support, love and even a family, if that's what you want. I'd do whatever it takes to make sure you and our children are safe and happy." Alistair smiling faintly, his fingers tracing the curve of her face. 

The room fell into a strange quiet and Emilia felt her heartbeat quicken, unsure how to respond. She had always been the one in control, the one who manipulated situations to her advantage. But now, Alistair's vulnerability had shifted the dynamic, making her feel something unfamiliar.

From outside, Isabella still listened, her heart racing, but for a different reason. The tender and authentic tone in Alistair's voice caught her off guard, she wasn't expecting such frankness, and it only made her more confused. She had always assumed their relationship was superficial, yet the way Alistair spoke made her wonder if there was more to it than just lust and manipulation.

"You really know how to catch me off guard." Emilia after a pause, regaining her composure, but softer.

"You're not so easy to surprise. I'll take that as a victory." Alistair snickered warmly, pulling her closer.

They shared a brief laugh, but the atmosphere between them had shifted. What started as a playful tease had turned into a moment of unexpected sincerity, one that left Emilia both unsettled and intrigued.

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