CHAPTER 252: THE HONEY BADGER’S REGRET

As soon as Edmund left her chamber, Primrose let out a sigh of relief. It was comforting to have her husband by her side since morning, but for some reason, his presence had also made her feel a little on edge.

She just didn’t want him to think she wanted to die so badly that she willingly stepped into a poisoned bath.

"Your Majesty." Primrose’s thoughts immediately shattered the moment she heard Raven speak. "I was supposed to stay home for a full month," she said with a shrug, "but I can see you’re not really the traditional type."

Primrose held her breath for a moment. She remembered how widows were usually expected to lock themselves away for an entire month after their husband’s death to honor their late husbands.

But since she’d been dragged out by soldiers, people would surely say she was disrespecting both the widow’s mourning period and her late husband.

Well ... that part was true. Who in their right mind would mourn the Marquess?

Still ... was Raven upset about it? Even if she didn’t seem to care much about her own late husband, she was still expected to follow the tradition for her family’s honor, at least.

Before Primrose could say anything, Raven spoke first. "I’m not someone who strictly follows tradition either," she said, pulling off her black mourning veil and tossing it aside like it meant nothing. "It’s kind of ridiculous, honestly. Telling a widow she can’t leave the house?"

[Wouldn’t it be more fun if I took a vacation to some faraway land after my husband died?] Raven thought. [What’s the point of having a husband anyway? Once they die, their living wives finally get a taste of freedom.]

Primrose let out a soft hiss under her breath. Sure, if a woman had suffered in an abusive marriage, of course she’d celebrate her husband’s death.

But if her husband had been a good man ... then stepping outside the house might feel impossible.

For Primrose—although she knew it was impossible for Edmund to die before her—she felt like if he ever died before her ... she wouldn’t be able to leave the house for years.

She would cry until her tears turned into blood.

"That’s why you don’t have to worry, Your Majesty," Raven said. "I’m actually glad you called me. You’ve done so much for me, so now it’s time for me to return the favor."

Standing next to her, Salem rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "I’m not exactly thrilled to be here. I was hoping for a long vacation."

Primrose let out a soft laugh, but there was no warmth in it. It was the kind of laugh people made when they were barely holding back frustration.

"Sir Vesper ... didn’t you say I hired you to be my poison expert?" she asked, tilting her head. "Doesn’t that mean you’re responsible if I end up poisoned like this?"

She hadn’t even brought up how Salem had abandoned her when the tiger tribe was after her.

Yes, she knew Salem had gone to Edmund and told him where she was, which helped save her. But still ... It hurts. She was upset—or maybe even heartbroken—that the one person she trusted most had left her behind.

"And yet here I am, Your Majesty," Salem said with a heavy sigh as he walked toward her. "Well ... even if I was kind of forced to be here, it’s still good to see you again."

Primrose rolled her eyes. "I thought you didn’t want to see me again after ... you left me alone, if you remember."

Honestly, she had expected him to brush it off with some smug excuse like, ’You didn’t pay me enough to fight tigers,’ or ’You’re not a child, I don’t have to babysit you.’

But to her surprise, he didn’t act nonchalant or make light of it. Salem, who had been about to sit down beside her bed, suddenly stopped halfway. The smirk on his face faded, replaced by something softer ... something heavier.

He looked genuinely guilty and maybe full of regret.

But why? Primrose had never seen Salem look this serious before.

"I remember," he said quietly, letting out a heavy sigh before sinking into the chair beside her bed. His head hung low as he added, "I still remember it clearly."

Why was he suddenly acting like this?

Where was the snarky honey badger who always acted like he didn’t care about anyone except Raven? Where was the Salem who would usually roll his eyes and crack a sarcastic comment by now.

"I shouldn’t have left you that day," he said at last, lifting his head just enough to meet her eyes, but the moment their gazes met, he looked away again.

"I thought you’d be okay. Sir Callen was with you, and I figured the palace soldiers would arrive in time to help, but ..." His voice faded, softer now. "I shouldn’t have left you."

Primrose didn’t say anything right away. She hadn’t expected this side of him.

Honestly, she just wanted to bicker with him, to release the bitter feelings still stuck inside her. But now that he was sitting here, so sincere and full of regret, it didn’t feel right anymore.

"I ..." she paused, biting her lower lip as she thought about what to say. "... I’m not mad at you anymore. My husband told me you gave him my exact location, so ... I guess you did the right thing after all."

She thought that would ease his guilt. But instead, he looked even sadder.

"That was actually a miscalculation," he said. "I thought His Majesty would reach you in time, but I didn’t know the Marquess’ twin was hiding not far from where you were."

Primrose’s brow furrowed. "How ... did you even know about that?"

As far as she knew, only the soldiers who were in the forest at the time had any idea Thevan was involved, and even then, they didn’t seem to know what he had actually done to her.

So how did Salem sound like he knew every detail?

"I heard it from a skunk who saw everything in the forest," Salem said simply.

[Those skunks are pretty gossipy, if I may say,] Salem thought to himself. [They can spread a juicy story across the entire region in less than a day.]