Chaos' Heir-Chapter 1133: Ruse

Rachel's faint hopes were shattered. Disappointment seeped into her brain, but she remained composed enough to prevent any unbecoming reaction. A warm and understanding smile even made its way onto her face once she reviewed the refusal and its possible reasons.

"I know," Rachel whispered. "I wouldn't like you if you were that kind of man."

Rachel remained in her position despite the refusal. She actually leaned on Khan a bit more after it. Now that the tension from her offer was gone, she could relax, exploiting that intimacy to her heart's content.

"I can't ruin another good woman," Khan helplessly sighed. "I just can't allow myself to do it again."

"I'd be a great and understanding wife," Rachel pointed out.

"I'm sure of that," Khan responded, "But I won't become your husband unless I can promise you happiness, and I can't."

"Few Princesses marry for happiness," Rachel commented. "Even fewer achieve it."

"But you aren't a Princess to me," Khan stated. "You are a friend, so I want you to have that. I'll fight so you can have that."

Rachel had accepted the refusal, but Khan's statement tried to make her go back on that. She opened her eyes, looking up at the handsome face resting on her forehead, feeling annoyed but also incredibly warm.

"You are quite unfair, Prince Khan," Rachel jokingly complained. "Did anyone ever tell you that?"

Khan also opened his eyes, and Rachel smiled playfully. She felt she had finally managed to tease Khan back, but he didn't give up so easily.

Khan snorted, letting go of Rachel's hand to move it to her waist. Meanwhile, the other rose past her cheek, reaching her nape and gently seizing her hair.

Rachel couldn't oppose the process at all. She was completely in Khan's power once he decided to use it. He even turned, pushing her toward the interactive desk to trap her.

A gasp escaped Rachel's throat when she realized where she had ended up. The desk's edge pushed on her lower back, preventing her from retreating. Meanwhile, Khan forced their waists to adhere to each other, gently pulling Rachel's nape to keep her face lifted and pointed at him.

Rachel couldn't help but hold her breath. Khan was on her, and she was powerless about it. His glowing eyes also illuminated the evident desire on his face, and Rachel didn't know why her body reacted positively to seeing it.

Khan lowered his head, seemingly in the process of kissing Rachel. She fell into a daze watching Khan's face drawing near, and her eyes eventually closed. Yet, nothing touched her lips, and peeking past her eyelids revealed a cocky smirk.

"Before you overthink anything," Khan declared. "I would have taken you here and now. I want nothing more than that right now. I'm only holding back because it wouldn't be fair to you."

Rachel gulped but still held her breath. Part of her brain heard Khan's words, but most of her attention remained on his lips, seemingly hypnotized by their movement.

Khan leaned back, carefully straightening Rachel before letting her go. He also turned, voicing a loud snort while seizing the glass he had left on the interactive desk.

"You come here all cute, sexy, and ready to go," Khan cursed, gulping down a mouthful of booze, "Taking my hand, talking about marriage, throwing yourself at me, but I'm unfair for putting you first."

Khan wasn't actually angry, and Rachel sort of realized it. However, her brain still hadn't recovered from the experience and went into autopilot. She instinctively tidied her military uniform before placing a hand at the center of her chest. Her heart sounded on the verge of exploding and showed no signs of slowing down.

"I didn't even doll up," Rachel muttered, responding to the first thing her brain managed to absorb.

"As if I couldn't see what's under that," Khan scoffed, turning to gesture up and down at Rachel with the hand holding the glass. "I swear, did you have to be this hot? Can't the universe make it easier for me to behave?"

Rachel blushed coyly, but a frown ruined her cute expression when her brain updated her on the rest of Khan's previous line.

"I was not ready to go, Prince Khan!" Rachel cried. "I'm not that shameless."

"Please," Khan voiced, turning again. "One kiss, and you would have melted."

"I-" Rachel gasped, her cheeks reaching the boiling point. "I do not melt."

"Stop saying that," Khan cursed again, rubbing the corners of his eyes. "Don't make me imagine it. I'm already having a hard time here."

Rachel opened her mouth but didn't speak. Part of her wanted to scream, but only a sigh escaped her lips. They also curved to form a faint smile, knowing Khan's intentions.

Khan didn't want Rachel to think his refusal had anything to do with her persona or beauty. He wished to take all the blame for that development, sparing Rachel from eventual inferiority complexes or dejections.

Rachel fixed her gaze on Khan's back, which was hidden by his thick cape. Her eyes grew wistful before turning resolute. Finding a suitable man as caring as Khan would be hard, if not impossible, so she felt she had to make another honest attempt.

Khan sensed Rachel getting closer and let her place her hand on his cape. He emptied his drink, sighing before leaving it on the nearby table. The Princess was showing uncanny tolerance to Khan's innately heavy aura, but he was also to blame due to the peaceful, funny situation.

"Khan," Rachel timidly called. "I don't have to ask anyone's permission anymore to hug you, do I?"

Khan didn't expect Rachel to recall that past conversation, but she was right. He had no real reason to refuse her except for his dwindling self-restraint.

"You don't," Khan admitted, complying with the pulling force from his back. He turned to find Rachel with her head lowered, and she took a furtive glance at his face before stepping forward.

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Rachel hid her face in Khan's neck while wrapping her arms around his torso, under his cape. She sensed his exposed abdomen but chose to ignore it since she was too shy to waste any brain matter on that appealing detail.

Khan sighed again and studied the long, flowy blond hair under him before immersing a hand in those silk-like strands. The other went on Rachel's back, caressing it a bit before replying to the hug.

"Your best would already make me far happier than all the other options," Rachel claimed, her tempting, warm breath spreading over Khan's neck. "You know that, right?"

"You won't make it easy for me," Khan cursed.

"I thought I'd appeal to your weakness toward women," Rachel giggled. "Am I getting closer?"

"Come on, Rachel," Khan exclaimed. "I'll find you a good man, someone who will treasure you for who you are instead of your status."

"The only good man you knew got married months ago," Rachel pointed out.

Khan diverted his gaze, temporarily finding himself at a loss for words before coming up with something. "What's your stance on alien men?"

Rachel laughed and relaxed the hug, remaining clung to Khan's torso but retreating enough to lift her head and look at his face.

"I know," Rachel announced. "I'm joking, but since you are in this magnanimous mood, could I ask for a favor?"

"Of course," Khan nodded.

"I know it's my role," Rachel explained, "And I have mentally prepared for it, but I don't exactly jump for joy at the idea of marrying a stranger or purely for political reasons."

"My solution to that would be pleasant," Khan commented, "But I told you I'm holding back for your sake."

"Stop," Rachel pouted, failing to suppress her laugh. "I'm saying you refused me, so I'm guessing you don't plan on having anyone. Am I correct?"

"That's the plan," Khan confirmed. "We wouldn't be talking otherwise."

Rachel glared at Khan before continuing. "I was thinking. I could tell my family it's too soon for you, but I'd be the first option once you are ready. That would save me from suitors while improving my standing in the family."

"Look at you," Khan teased. "Trying to use my name and fame already."

"Rejecting me can't come cheap," Rachel played along.

"And if enough time passes and we are both still alone?" Khan wondered.

"I guess we could have this conversation again at that point," Rachel responded, diverting her coy gaze.

"I don't want you to think you should wait for me," Khan said, dropping the jokes to use a serious tone.

"You should pursue anyone that might make you happy," Rachel shook her head. "I'll do the same and probably ask for your support if it really happens. I'm just saying this might help me in the meantime."

"Public announcements?" Khan asked.

"I'll obviously keep this within a small circle in my faction," Rachel reassured, showing a more serious face. "It's in my family's interest that the other nobles waste time pursuing you anyway."

Khan diverted his eyes in thought. Rachel wasn't asking for an engagement or promises. Her plan was a ruse to buy herself time while improving her position. It would give her more freedom and relevance inside her family without affecting Khan or anyone in his sphere.

"Fine," Khan agreed. "Though I'll tell anyone exactly how you tempted me today if they ask."

"Thank you!" Rachel exclaimed, ignoring the joke, hugging Khan tightly again. The Princess showed no sign of letting him go, so he sighed, indulging in that innocent affection until she had her fill.