Chapter 178: I Feel Cold [Bonus Chapter]
The presence of the poor Sir Rulf was forgotten by both royals, and nobody had noticed him immediately lowering his head. At this moment, he was torn between quietly leaving the room like a good subordinate and gawking at the strangely intimate sight to share with his fellow knights over drinks later. His king had been giving him shock after shock since the day they arrived in Abetha. He had long understood the reason, and today, it was merely another confirmation of a single fact—that the devil-like young king had already been thoroughly conquered by the Queen of Megaris.
Not knowing the impact his gentle action towards his wife had given his knight, Drayce looked at the captain of his knights. "Take Dusk with you, Rulf."
With his head still lowered, Sir Rulf replied, "Leave everything to me, Your Majesty."
Drayce and Seren left the guest room with Sir Rulf following them while carrying Dusk in his arms.
Outside the main residence of the Loyset Manor, the royal entourage was ready to leave. Drayce helped Seren get into their carriage. As usual, he sat with her while Dusk was carried into another carriage.
The royal entourage traveled towards Karlin, the capital of Griven. After taking a break at one or two places along the way, the royal entourage reached the capital of Griven at midnight.
The main streets of the capital were deserted as it was past midnight. Only the city guards could be seen patrolling around. They were aware of the royal entourage reaching the capital and were ready to welcome them.
Although the dark sky made it difficult for Seren to appreciate the true majesty of the Royal Palace of Griven, she found the large outline of the palace similar to the architecture she had seen in her books before. While the palace where she grew up was built near a great river, this palace from a foreign kingdom was backed by mountains.
The royal entourage soon entered the huge iron-wrought palace gates attached to the tall protecting walls made of white stone.? Seren looked around to see and compare how different this palace looked compared to the one in Abetha. Though it was night, the buildings and gardens along the way were visible due to lamps and fire torches inside.
The royal entourage stopped inside one of the side palaces where the Second Prince of Griven was present to welcome them along with his knights, royal guards, and palace servants.
"Who would have thought the first face we'll see on our arrival is you?" Arlan grinned as soon as he left his carriage.
"Our royal family does not care about you, but we cannot afford to be disrespectful to our important guests," the young man in formal attire shot back as if on instinct, already used to the older prince's casual attitude.
Arlan went to his brother who shared somewhat similar features to him, the same ash brown hair and sea blue eyes, only Lenard looked younger and thinner compared to him. Just from one glance, anyone could tell they were siblings.
The Second Prince of Griven turned away from Arlan to approach the couple who had just stepped out of their carriage.
"Second Prince Lenard Cromwell represents the royal family to welcome the King and Queen of Megaris to the capital of Griven!"
Though Lenard was Arlan's brother, he was not as close to Drayce to be able to address him by name. Though he had accompanied Drayce many times with his brother, he always maintained the line of respect with Drayce, unlike how his elder brother treated Drayce as nothing but only his friend. Everyone in the Royal Family of Cromwell was aware of the kind of friendship Arlan and Drayce had—a relationship forged out of trust, not with status and politics.
Drayce accepted Lenard's greetings with a light nod, while Seren remained silent and motionless.
'Do I bow or curtsy? Maybe I should copy His Majesty and simply nod?'
It was the first time she was visiting another royal family, and she didn't know how to react or talk like a queen. In the end, Seren did none of them.
Lenard did not seem to mind this as he gestured for the couple to follow the older man beside him. "This side palace has been prepared for Your Majesties to use. Please rest well. The chamberlain will see to your needs."
As it was late into the night and everyone was tired from their travel, Drayce and Seren were guided by the chamberlain towards their chamber, while Arlan went to leave with his brother. The others were guided towards the quarters for the servants and soldiers.
Her personal servants, Eva and Marie, followed Seren to help her with her needs. After helping her with a bath and getting her to change into her night clothes, Drayce entered the chamber, causing the two females to immediately excuse themselves.
Seren looked at him questioningly. 'Is he sleeping in the same room with me today as well? Before, I can still believe that those inns and the Loyset Family residence didn't have enough room for both of us, but it can't be that this place also lacks rooms. This entire side palace is provided for us! I saw many empty chambers along the way.? Besides, what kind of rule forces a husband and wife to sleep together? Don't they know it's uncomfortable to sleep and wake up with another person? I hate the one who made this rule. I can't even have some time alone. Does he have to stick with me all the time?'
Drayce looked at his queen and could guess she was not happy seeing him there. Not minding her, he removed his robe and went towards the side room where a bath was already prepared for him by the servants before leaving. Seren was now used to seeing him like this and only averted her sight from him.
When Drayce returned to their chamber, she was already tucked in bed, seemingly asleep with her back facing the side of the bed where she guessed Drayce would sleep.
After dressing into the night robe that was arranged for him, Drayce went to sleep next to his wife who didn't even give him a face.
Laying on his side, he stared at her back. 'When will she stop feeling scared? Not like I will eat her right away.' Drayce had a sudden thought that made him smirk lightly. 'She needs to get used to me more.'
The next moment, he moved his body towards her.
Seren was not sleeping, and she was aware of his every movement in bed. When she felt he was shifting closer to her, her body subconsciously shrank away. But before she could move even an inch, a strong hand surrounded her stomach and pulled her back. She felt warmth against her back, which could only belong to a man's strong and muscular chest.
"There is no more space left for you to move further, my Queen," she heard him say in a low voice, as she felt his hot breath touching the back of her neck.
Seren flinched as the hot breath on her nape made her heart skip a beat. Feeling the strength of his hand, there was no way she could get away from that strong hold. She felt scared by his unexpected action, but there was something more to it, something that was out of her understanding.
She could not understand why she's responding like this. Her interactions with men all boiled down to a single person her whole life, and that was her brother, Cian. She never felt this kind of uneasiness with her brother, ever.
Being close with this red-eyed man always made her heart race, making her feel a complex emotion that made her feel anxious. It did not seem to be the fear she initially thought it was the first time, but something altogether different. They had been traveling together for several weeks, and she had understood this man had done nothing that would not harm her. In fact, he had treated her well whenever they're together, but something was there that made her wary of him. Especially his sudden actions like this, this kind of closeness with him, it made her want to push him away on instinct.
With her heart beating as if it wanted to escape her chest, she could only draw the conclusion that, perhaps, this was not a simple fear or anxiety, but a higher level of complex emotion similar to those, one she had never experienced in Abetha. That's the only reason she could think why her heart beat faster all the time in his presence.
'What emotion can be worse than fear?' she could not help but wonder. 'I wish Martha was here to tell me what this is.'
Not being familiar with any feeling other than fear was of course not Seren's fault; the young queen was never taught there were other reasons to make someone's heart turn and twist like this.
"Y-Your Majesty..."
"Hmm?" she heard him questioning her with a hoarse voice.
"The bed is wide enough for both of us to sleep comfortably and separately," she replied in a? hesitant voice that was barely above a whisper.
"Having you in my arms is more comfortable to me," he replied. His eyes closed as he held her closer. With their bodies separated with nothing but their night clothes, he could equally enjoy the sweet smell and warmth coming from her tiny body.
"But…"
"Are you not comfortable like this, my Queen?" Drayce asked, interrupting her.
"You are too close, Your Majesty,"
Drayce smiled despite himself. "This is how a husband and wife sleeps. Haven't they taught you about this in Abetha?"
'That day, he said a husband and wife should sleep in the same bed. But now, he is saying they sleep like this. Is he telling me the truth? How uncomfortable. I can't even move. Now, what to do? I don't want to anger him...'
Her mind scrambled to find an excuse for him to move away on his own. "I move and toss around when asleep. It might disturb His Majesty's sleep."
"That is not a problem since I'm holding your body. Besides, I feel cold and wish to get warmth from my Queen."
'Cold?' she couldn't help but inwardly criticize. 'Your body is warmer than mine!'
Drayce continued to talk, his warm breath brushing the curve of her ear. "I hope my Queen won't let me shiver in the cold. We will be officially meeting the monarchs of Griven in the morning, and I can't be sick."
Seren sure didn't want him to be sick, or he might blame it on her.
'Wait, he's slightly warmer than me. Could it be because he's running a little fever? I remember when I was sick before, I felt cold as well even though my body was hot. Will sleeping like this really help him? Won't it be better to call a physician?!'
Seren was internally panicking. Though it was uncomfortable for her, she decided to allow him to sleep while holding her. If he's still cold tomorrow, maybe she would tell Eva or Marie to fetch a physician.
Seeing his queen so obedient and submissive to his demands, a light smirk painted on Drayce's lips until he fell asleep. After staring at the empty space in front of her for a long time, not having any other option, Seren also drifted to sleep.
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This Long Bonus chapter is dedicated to the reader "RMehrotra" for gifting the first-ever SPACECRAFT to the novel and reader "DnIsha" for gifting the seond CASTLE? to the novel.
Writing more is the only way I can repay the love you guys showed and I ended up writing this long bonus chapter equal to two chapters.
Thank you so much for the gifts. It means a lot. Much love from me.
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