I Will Be the Greatest Knight-Chapter 471: Sleepy Satisfaction

Irene could have sworn there was something wrong with her by the way she wanted Henry so badly—almost as much as she wanted to be the greatest knight the kingdom had ever seen. She should have found his self-control admirable and made it allow her to practice her own self-control, but it did much of the opposite.

While she knew she was inexperienced, she still threw herself at him whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Although this time, he was the one throwing himself at her the moment he got her permission after cleaning her off.

It was becoming a bit more dangerous to be in the room with the door shut as she found herself pressed into the cushion that covered the couch and the knight she desired so much with his arms wrapped around her.

They had begun the embrace with his lips connected to hers, but to her breathless surprise, he gave her a moment to breathe while he paid attention to her neck. His mouth first hungrily attacked her skin, but when he made it to where the fabric began at the center of her chest, he knew that he was getting ahead of himself, and he pressed his face against her neck as he squeezed her body with his arms.

There were places beyond the material he was dying to explore, but he also knew that he was the one who said he wouldn’t ever lead her astray or taint her honor. He was determined to uphold this promise.

Irene kept her arms loose and around him, her eyes were on the ceiling far above them as she enjoyed his loving touches and the shivers they elicited when he touched more tender parts of her skin. Never once did she expect that her life would lead to this path. She would enjoy it while life was in this season, because she couldn’t imagine it would be this way forever.

No matter what, Henry wanted to make this woman his wife, but he could understand how his life could complicate hers, and he also didn’t want that for her. He wanted to protect her from the ridicule he constantly faced.

"How will I resist you for so long while we’re touring the duchy?" he uttered into the top of her head as he calmed himself down and merely lay beside her rather than crushing her as he was before—although he still had his arms tightly wrapped around her waist.

Irene had turned to face him, and it was her turn to enjoy the feeling of his chest and shirt against her face as she nuzzled into it. One of her arms lay lazily over his side.

The reality that she had been up all night was starting to hit her. Even though the sun was getting brighter in his room, she didn’t seem to notice it.

"You’ll find a way," she uttered. "I’m going to have to."

"Because you don’t want me nearly as much as I want you," he half-joked, but half wanted to say it to tease her. These sorts of words didn’t always come to her easily, but he loved to coax them out of her.

"That isn’t true," she argued, albeit tiredly. "I have plenty of dreams that tell me otherwise, Henry."

His face felt hot even though it was the desired response from her. He looked down at the expanse of red hair below him as she used his arm as a pillow. Everything about her he found so enjoyable, whether it be her appearance or personality.

"Are you going to elaborate on that?" he muttered his question.

However, he had waited too long to ask for more because he noticed that her breathing had slowed, and when he gently moved her head, her eyes were shut.

He internally sighed, but he couldn’t be mad at her. Normally, they didn’t spend time with one another after she finished her nightly duties because he knew how exhausting it could be.

Since there were things he needed to attend to that day, he decided he ought to let her sleep somewhere more comfortable.

The Commander lifted her up and walked her to the bed he hoped to share with her for the rest of his days. He placed her down and made sure she was covered to her shoulders with his blankets. They were thinner than normal, so he wouldn’t overheat during the summer. He felt she wouldn’t be too hot if he left the windows open a bit.

She stirred a little bit, turning her head and rolling onto her side.

"Goodnight," he whispered. "Have more dreams about me."

He crouched on the floor and watched her for a few moments as he resisted doing more to annoy her and wake her up just so he could see her breathtaking green eyes. Before he met her, he wasn’t aware that someone could have a favorite color. It turned out his favorite was the same emerald he saw whenever she looked at him.

So she wouldn’t worry too much, Henry left a note beside her bed that read:

"I have told the maids to leave my room alone, and Eira will bring you clothing from your barrack. I hope you rest well and have dreams of us. You’ll have to elaborate a bit on that later. - Henry"

As he left his room feeling more lighthearted than when he started the day, he quietly closed the door. Luckily, Ingrid wasn’t far, and when he found her, he said, "Please make sure the maids stay away from my room until this evening. Irene is sleeping there after night watch."

"Of course, Your Grace," the head maid easily responded.

As the knight walked away from her, Ingrid couldn’t help turning to watch the young man move with a bit of something extra in his step. It was nice to see him in lighter spirits. She had a sense when he first moved there that he was lonely without his usual knights around.

There were plenty of rumors about him and the Princess having a tumultuous relationship and her unwillingness to go north.

But to the north, Irene was their Princess and Arthur was their King. If Henry decided to take his life in a different direction, he would be met with much support.

Ingrid went on with her duties, daydreaming the possibility of their Duke getting married to a knight who had such deep rooted history with the north. She had protected the young woman’s secrets since she was a child. They heard she had almost died in battle and were petrified by that reality.

The head maid wished that happiness and prosperity would be all that the younger generation of Chemoians would ever have to face. Only time would tell.