Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Indeed, the next day, Primrose's condition had improved significantly, and her temperature had returned to normal. When she woke up, she mentioned to Joel that she wanted to go to the company, but it was evident that Joel didn't agree.

Despite that, Primrose was still feeling weak, so she decided to rest for another day to fully recover. Furthermore, the company was under Joel's ownership now, so she didn't need to exert herself unnecessarily.

Finally, Primrose lay on the bed, casting a frustrated and resigned glance at Joel, leaving him feeling somewhat bewildered about how to respond. After a momentary internal struggle, Joel gently stroked her soft hair, now lightly scented with the fragrance of lavender.

"Alright, fine. I'm concerned about you, so I don't want you to go to the company and tire yourself out. It's only seven in the morning, get some more sleep."

Since her request had been denied, Primrose didn't want to show a favorable expression towards Joel, so she turned her head, seemingly intending to tease him.

"But I can't sleep."

Primrose's voice sounded deliberately slow, like the gentle tolling of a silver bell on this early morning, causing Joel's heart to melt. In his usual manner, he continued to caress Primrose's hair, his fingers moving tenderly over her slightly furrowed forehead.

"So, what do you want me to do for you? Or should I just lie down next to you and sleep?"

Joel's response carried a teasing yet uncertain tone, but for Primrose's vague anger, he didn't know what to say to calm her down. These words didn't seem to placate Primrose either, as she lay, turning her back to Joel, beginning to sulk.

"I want to hear a fairy tale. You tell me one, maybe it will help me fall asleep easier."

This request was clearly intended to put Joel in a difficult spot, and he understood that Primrose wanted to vent her frustration. Without protesting, Joel adjusted her covers for comfort and then spoke softly.

"But I'm not good at telling stories, and they're not interesting either."

Being a boy, Joel hadn't been particularly interested in the gentle fairy tales and their profound moral lessons when he was young. In general, he could barely remember those literary works. Primrose generously responded, not minding, and she only wanted to hear a story to make falling asleep easier without paying much attention to the content.

Hearing her response, Joel relied on his memory and imagination to tell a fairy tale, as Primrose wished.

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a grand, luxurious castle with her parents. The king and queen doted on their little princess, granting her every wish and fulfilling her every demand."

"One day, the queen fell seriously ill and passed away. The king, heartbroken, organized a funeral for the departed queen. However, not long after that, because the kingdom couldn't be without a queen, the king married another woman, and the little princess gained a stepmother."

"Nevertheless, this stepmother, though appearing kind on the surface and buying the princess extravagant clothes and jewelry, would scold and berate the young princess whenever they were with each other."

"The unfortunate princess tried to confide in her father many times, but he didn't believe her. Instead, he warned her not to try to defame her stepmother."

"In the end, when the king passed away, the stepmother assumed control of the vast kingdom, subjecting the young princess to constant mistreatment."

Joel continued to gently stroke Primrose as he spoke in a soothing tone. However, Primrose pursed her lips and countered.

"Is this a story you're making up? I've never heard of a tale like this before."

"Furthermore, it doesn't seem like I'll be able to sleep hearing this plot. By fabricating something so illogical and disrespectful to the listener, I'd probably get so angry that I'd wake up completely."

Joel merely chuckled, trying to win her over, and lightly patted Primrose's back before responding.

"You said the content of the story didn't matter, right? Besides, fairy tales are products of imagination."

Primrose continued to listen reluctantly, her eyes closed. The plot was beyond her imagination, causing her to turn her gaze toward Joel with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

"So, the young princess had to do chores like a servant under the rule of the stepmother, who was in charge of the kingdom. She had to do laundry and clean the house, and she was no longer allowed to wear beautiful clothes. Even during lavish balls, she wasn't allowed to participate and had to stay alone in her room. When she reached the age of marriage, the wicked stepmother forced her to marry an ugly, black cat."

Primrose had been trying not to protest, but this storyline was truly beyond her imagination. She tilted her head to look into Joel's eyes, a sparkling gaze filled with both submission and indignation.

"Why would a princess marry a cat? You're making up stories without any basis."

From start to finish, Joel patiently consoled Primrose, and now he calmly explained.

"This is a fairy tale. Listen patiently; there might be surprises for you."

Primrose sighed and continued to listen, reflecting on how she had been foolish to use this childish method to tease Joel. This wasn't a way to punish him; it was a way she punished herself for being impulsive and thoughtless, she thought, feeling regretful.

If time could turn back, even if she wasn't allowed to go to the company, she wouldn't have been so submissive, wanting to provoke Joel and making such a difficult demand. She would have obediently gone back to sleep without any complaints.

"Although the young princess was initially dissatisfied, she couldn't resist. She felt that the black cat was innocent, just like her, so she treated it kindly. Then, one day, during dinner, while she was feeding the cat on a full moon night, it suddenly transformed into a handsome, gallant prince."

As Primrose listened, her eyes widened in surprise. Joel was indeed skilled at creating stories. The fairy tale he was narrating took her from one surprise to another.

"It turned out that the ugly black cat had been the prince of a neighboring kingdom all along. Because when he was young, an evil sorceress cursed him to become a cat. He could only transform back into a human prince on a full moon night when he found his destined love. Thus, the kind-hearted princess found herself a handsome prince to protect her. Together, they overthrew the wicked stepmother and ruled the kingdom. They lived happily ever after."

"So, is this story unique and meaningful, sweetie?"

Joel seemed quite proud of his imaginative abilities and was eager to seek Primrose's approval as soon as he finished the tale. However, he was met with a moment of silence, as Primrose had drifted off to sleep without him realizing it.

Joel slowly adjusted Primrose's sleeping position for added comfort and also fixed her disheveled clothes after moving her around. Finally content with the arrangements, he gazed at her serene, smooth, and beautiful face, now sound asleep. He softly murmured a remark.

"Hmm, and you said my story wasn't interesting. Apparently, it was captivating and imaginative enough to lull you to sleep."

Whether Primrose's continuing sleep was due to the captivating story or Joel's deep, soothing voice, it no longer mattered. Joel, at the moment, was rather proud of his storytelling skills, as he turned away and left the room, heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast so that when Primrose woke up, she could have something to eat.