After some time, Rose kissed her best friend goodbye with a nod, as if reminding her of the plan they had made earlier. Naomi finally felt happy; her once gloomy mood had lifted ever since Rose arrived. The mansion, though grand and full of professional people, often felt isolating. Rose's presence had been a welcomed break from the monotony, but now that she had left, Naomi was once again alone, boredom threatening to creep in.
Deciding to find something to do, she wandered into her room, her eyes scanning the bookshelves that lined the far wall. It was an impressive library corner, with an array of books that likely covered every topic imaginable. As she searched for something to read, her gaze fell upon a particular book. Its cover stood out from the others—sleek and eye-catching, drawing her in. Naomi reached for it, running her fingers over the title embossed on the front: My Daring Princess.
Curious, Naomi settled onto her bed and flipped open the book to the first chapter, her fingers brushing the smooth pages.
"You're so daring, Princess," Prince Marcus's voice was described as low, almost a growl, as if he were daring the princess to prove herself.
"Watch me," Princess Elle replied, her gaze unwavering as she stared up at him. Without hesitation, she reached out and pulled down his pants, and—
Naomi's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as she slammed the book shut. Her heart raced, and her breath quickened as her mind struggled to process what she had just read. She had never encountered anything so bold before, and the sudden intensity of the scene left her reeling. Rolling onto her side, she pressed her face into the pillow, embarrassed by her own reaction.
"Oh my, what was that?" Naomi whispered to herself, as if speaking the question aloud would help her make sense of it. She had never imagined she'd come across something so daring and risqué in one of the mansion's books.
She rolled onto her back, trying to shake off the embarrassment that still clung to her. The scene kept replaying in her mind, and no matter how hard she tried to push it away, the words from the book echoed back to her. Just as she was about to roll again, a voice startled her.
"Miss Naomi, are you okay?" Rhea asked, concern clear in her tone. Naomi, caught off guard, jumped up from the bed, her heart still racing. When had Rhea entered the room?
"Oh, nothing," Naomi replied, her voice a little too rushed. She quickly pulled the duvet over the book, hoping to hide it from view. The last thing she wanted was for Rhea to see what she had been reading.
Rhea's eyebrows lifted, her curiosity clearly piqued by Naomi's flustered behavior. "What are you reading?" she asked, her tone light but inquisitive.
"Nothing!" Naomi answered again, her voice slightly higher this time, betraying her nerves. She kept the book securely hidden under the blanket, determined not to let Rhea see.
For a moment, it seemed like Rhea might press the issue, but instead, she smiled knowingly and let it go.
"It's lunchtime," Rhea finally said, turning toward the door.
Naomi blinked, suddenly aware of how much time had passed. She had been so engrossed in her time with Rose and also the book that she hadn't even noticed the hours slipping by.
As Naomi sat at the dining table, she ate in silence, the atmosphere in the large dining hall peaceful and quiet. She was grateful that Zylan wasn't around. His presence always made her feel uneasy, as if she couldn't fully relax or be herself. Without him here, she could eat freely without feeling scrutinized.
But as she took another bite, the words from the book slipped back into her mind: "You're so daring, Princess." Her eyes widened, and she immediately covered her face with both hands, trying to shake away the memory. Why was that scene the first thing that came to her mind?
The dining hall remained silent, but she could feel the eyes of the chefs on her, likely wondering why she was acting so strangely. Naomi peeked through her fingers, glancing around and hoping no one would ask questions.
"Miss Naomi, are you sure you're okay?" Rhea's voice broke through her thoughts, causing Naomi to quickly drop her hands. Her cheeks felt warm, the embarrassment clear as she tried to compose herself.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Naomi replied, forcing a small smile as she continued to eat, hoping Rhea wouldn't pry further.
After finishing her meal, Naomi quickly stood up, eager to retreat to the privacy of her room. As soon as she entered, her eyes immediately searched for the book, which was still safely tucked under the duvet.
Why am I thinking about this? she wondered, a mixture of confusion and curiosity swirling in her mind. It was unlike her to be so distracted by something so... daring. But she couldn't deny that her curiosity was piqued.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Naomi opened the book again, determined to continue reading. But each time she reached the part where it said, She pulled down his pants and…, she found herself pausing, hesitant to move forward. It was as if she was too afraid to know what came next, even though part of her was eager to find out.
In a moment of frustration, Naomi grabbed a pen and tore a piece of paper from her notebook. Writing notes to herself had been a habit since high school, a method she used to stick to plans and keep herself motivated.
"After your bath, please read. Don't be shy," she scribbled quickly before placing the note on top of the book. Maybe a little encouragement would help her push through her hesitation.
Determined to follow through with her plan, Naomi entered the bathroom and decided to unwind with a long bath. The warm water helped soothe her nerves, allowing her to relax after the unexpected events of the day. Once she finished, she slipped into a long, silky white nightgown, the fabric soft against her skin as she stepped out of the bathroom.
Her eyes immediately went to the bed and the book resting on top of it. She was ready to give it another try. But first, she needed to set the atmosphere, as she always did when she wanted to focus. Naomi stood and switched off the lights, letting the room fall into darkness before she moved toward the window to grab her reading lamp.
But just as she reached for the lamp, she froze.
Sitting on the windowsill, with his legs casually crossed, was a figure—one she instantly recognized.
"Z... Zylan?" she stammered, her heart pounding in her chest. What was he doing here?
Her room was on the top floor of the mansion, far too high for anyone to easily access. But there he was, calmly sitting on the window ledge as if it were the most natural thing in the world. A mix of fear and confusion gripped her as she stared at him.
"Y... you shouldn't be in a... lady's room," Naomi managed to stammer, her voice shaky.
Zylan smirked, his expression unreadable as he shifted his weight, swinging one leg down from the window. His calm demeanor quickly faded, replaced by something much more serious.
"This is my mansion," he said, his voice calm but authoritative.
"You still don't have a... any right! This is my room!" Naomi retorted, trying to muster as much confidence as she could, though her voice wavered.
Zylan chuckled, the sound low and dangerous, sending a shiver down her spine.
"So daring," he murmured, his eyes fixed on her.
Naomi's eyes widened in shock, her heart racing as his words echoed in her mind. Why had he chosen those words, of all the things he could have said? Naomi's cheeks flushed deeply.
"A… I'm n… not," she stammered, trying to deny it, but her voice faltered under his intense gaze.
Zylan stepped through the window, his movements graceful and deliberate as he walked toward her, his tall, imposing figure towering over her. Naomi couldn't help but notice how the dim light accentuated his sharp jawline and the intensity of his deep-set eyes.
"Yes, you are," he said, his voice low and chilling, sending shivers down her spine. Each step he took seemed to draw her in closer.
Naomi's body froze in place. Was he going to pull her… but she was not wearing any pants.