Villainess Becomes The Knight

Josephine pov.

I looked at the white blank room with grumble. "I said i am fine and i did not need to stay here.'' This was the third time I was repeating myself as the man who always listened to my every order was not even looking at me, much less hearing and following my commands.

The knights had covered the whole room and were not letting me go. 

"Leo, i said i want to go" i said through gritted teeth, while all the time he was busy talking to the physician.

Finally he turned to look at me, "your royal highness, you are badly injured. Your hands have wounds, your legs, thighs, shin and the most prominent injury is in your ribcage. You are not allowed to even sit until you will be fine and the orders are given by his majesty. So no one will let you go." he said with the same respect as he bowed his head, and my hands clenched.

"Who is he to decide what am I allowed to do or not? I am the one who decides what is good for myself.`` I declared as I tried to sit but the pain hit me like a strong wave in the silent sea and I swear I felt bile rise up in my body. It  was too painful yet I did not let my facial expression change.

I could not let the world see that I was weak. I was the strongest person in the whole empire, I am and I would always be the one, no matter what.

"I beg you, your highness. Do not be so stubborn, you need to lay down and rest" he said in a pleading voice and for once i felt bad for him.

He was the one who always bore the brunt of the fight between me and his majesty.

"I will only rest in my chamber not at this nasty place which is filled with pungent smell.'' I snarled in my cold attitude that I always show to the world. I could not show them how vulnerable I was never.

"If that is what you want then i apologise in advance for my insolence." he said and I frowned as he had never done anything wrong. He was the best aide anyone could have but then I saw him moving closer towards me and wrapped his arms over my shoulder and his other hand gently held my thighs.

My eyes widened as he took me in his arms and stood up.

"What are you doing?'' I asked with my eyes wide, shock filled my face.

"I am just fulfilling your wish, your highness. I am taking you to your chamber." and with that the man started walking out. His steps were slow and precise and his hold on me was so gentle as if he was afraid that a mere pressure would crack me.

This was the first time any man had come close to me. Except kissing my hands and holding my arms no man had  ever touched me. I tried to stop myself but my embarrassment got the better of me and my face flushed.

Instead, no matter how strongly I tried to depict myself, he was the only one who had passed me some warmth in my life, and I could not help but feel embarrassed by the proximity he was sharing with me.

"I can walk by myself" I declared, finally getting hold of my emotions and my voice. And he chuckled.

"It is too late to complain, your highness, we are almost there." he said with amusement and only then did i look around only to see that i was already at the entrance of my garden. 

So we have crossed three chambers already and I was in a daze all that time.

I want to dig a hole and bury him and everyone else who has seen me like that. My image was ruined in a second by him.

"You know you can be punished for touching me indecently. Your hands could be cut or if i ask you will be hanged.'' I said in a colder voice and the man nodded.

"I am very well aware of the punishment I can get for touching you, your highness. But I can not see you forcing yourself to walk when you were not even in the condition to sit. You can punish me as you please once you reach your chamber safely." he said in a solemn voice as if we were just talking about being bitten by an ant and not about the death penalty.

I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath but all I could smell was him. His musk smell filled my nostrils and for a moment I wanted to beat myself for behaving like a teenager who was held by her first crush.

He laid me softly on my bed and covered me with the blankets. His eyes fell on my every injury as if making sure that I was not hurt and only when he was assured he did take a breath, I never knew he was holding. 

He kneeled on the floor after that and bowed his head, "I am ready for my punishment, your royal highness," he said in all seriousness. I knew that I needed to punish him but my heart never thought of it. 

I could not, I didn't want to. I closed my eyes as the innocent girl whom I had killed so many times surfaced again. And when I opened them my eyes were cold again. 

"10 whips by yourself" I said coldly and he nodded and left. After sometime he returned with the whip and started whipping his back. His shirt torn and bloody marks could be seen on his body. Even when he was the one who was whipping himself there was no mercy that could be seen with the mark that his body was forming.

  I was sure they would left marks there permanently and at that moment i hated myself more, i hated to be princess.