Chapter 246: I Don't Like Lies
Keeping the flute back in its box, Seren turned to go towards Drayce who was sitting on the cushioned sofa next to the study table, resting his hand at the hand rest and was busy wondering about his Queen and her existence.
Seren felt his intense gaze on her and she felt awkward but little did she know that he was just immersed in his deep thoughts. With slow steps she walked towards him, not knowing what he was thinking and why he was staring at her.
She stood in front of him at a distance and thought to say something as she couldn't bear with the way that pair of red eyes was staring at her.
"Your Majesty, is there something you want to say?" Her voice was low and hesitant.
It pulled Drayce out of his thoughts and he offered her a light smile. He patted the place next to him on the sofa, "Have a seat, My Queen."
With a cautious mind, she walked towards the sofa and sat at the other corner of it while leaving enough space for one more person to sit between them.
Drayce observed her cautious behavior. 'Wasn't she just comfortable with me when we were in the greenhouse? Why is she suddenly so distant again? I don't remember doing anything to scare her,' He frowned inwardly and asked, "Is someone going to sit here between us, My Queen?"
"Huh?" Seeing how displeased he looked, she immediately shook her head, "No, Your Majesty"
He narrowed his eyes, "Then why not sit here when I clearly patted the place next to me?"
"Ah! I thought it's more comfortable like this," she replied immediately. She couldn't come to say that the way he looked at her, almost scared her.
He still had those same cold expressions on his face and said in a firm voice, "I remember, My Queen feeling so comfortable when every night I sleep holding her."
It startled the young Queen as suddenly embarrassment took over her, "I…" She had no words to retort as what he said was the truth.
Seeing her flustered, he smirked, "Or should I think, My Queen likes to be closer to me only at night and likes to snuggle in my embrace?"
"That's not….what…" again her mind went blank at his domineering self and she heard him again, "I am at fault."
"Huh? N-No, Your Majesty…."
Drayce immediately moved closer to her and leaned towards her. In reflex, she moved back as her back leaned on the hand rest of the sofa and her startled-looking eyes blinked as she tried to figure out what he was doing.
He held her by the chin to not let her move away from her face, "It's indeed my fault, My Queen, to not make you get used to my presence and having me closer to you during daytime."
She felt speechless with not getting any meaning out of his words and only stared at him but that closeness reminded her of the moments on that boat when she was close to him just like this. Her eyes moved to his lips subconsciously.
"Should I make my Queen used to it?" he asked as his thumb traced her veil-covered lips.
Her innocent heart melted right away the moment he touched her lips and looked at him as if she was anticipating something. Last time she had touched his lips and she liked it and felt her heart picking up the face at the memory of it.
He smirked teasingly, "My Queen's tiny heart is always so noisy." He had already noticed her gazing at his lips and asked, "May I ask what my Queen is thinking about?"
She finally moved her sight from his lips to his eyes, "Nothing, Your Majesty!"
"Lies? I don't like lies," his tone was full of warning as his face moved closer. She could feel his hot breath fanning against her skin even under the veil.
She gulped under his gaze and replied honestly, "That day on the boat…" she stopped.
He didn't stop staring into her eyes and asked, "What about it?"
She didn't know how to say it but she had as he was almost scaring her, "When His Majesty did that…."
"What?" he asked, not willing to back down.
Not having the words to explain it due to the embarrassment, what she did next was unexpected for Drayce. Her face covered that little distance left between them and repeated the same thing she did the other night; she touched her lips with his and parted away and said, "This."
Though Drayce was surprised, his heart was jumping with happiness and he said, "My Queen, you sure are so bold."
Seren felt as if she had committed a sin and spoke, "I didn't mean to do it, Your Majesty insisted on it."
He had nothing to guard against her innocence which made him crave for her even more and asked, "Out of all the things, why did My Queen remember only this?" He could finally feel at ease that she didn't remember the biting incident and asked, "Did you like it when I did it, my Queen?"
She remembered his words- 'I don't like lies.' Then, thought about what Martha said - 'Lying is a bad thing.'
She nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Drayce grinned inwardly and just as he thought to do something, he frowned and rubbed his ears.
It puzzled her, wondering if she had done something wrong again and heard him, "Those two started again," and looked at her, "My Queen, I have to leave. Something came up."
Seren could only nod and Drayce pecked on her lips as he closely gazed into her eyes, "We will continue it later."
She nodded lightly and Drayce moved back. He stood up and Seren did the same to see him off. Drayce looked at the books kept on her study table, "Till my next visit, I believe my Queen would have finished reading at least one book."
"I will, Your Majesty."
Just as she lowered her head to bow him lightly, she felt the strong gust of wind and he was already gone.
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Drayce reached the sword training ground where he was welcomed by the noise of two swords clanking.
His Guardian knight and the Royal Adviser, both were indulged in a sword fight, where one was angry and aggressive while the other one was calling for Drayce.
When Drayce was busy with Seren, he heard Jasper's voice calling him again and again, "Dray, save me from this beast. Dray, where are you? You promised me."
Drayce didn't care about it as these two fight like this often when he had to help Jasper. Hearing him calling him again and again, he was sure he wouldn't quiet down until he reached there and had to leave Seren.
Drayce stood by the border of that wide square-shaped sword battleground and pinched his nose bridge. His two friends were acting like kids even though they were the Royal subjects and represented him, the King of Megaris.
Slayer looked aggressive and from the look of it, Drayce was sure this time he didn't look like showing any mercy on Jasper. His sword moves were ferocious while Jasper could only manage to dodge them.
"What are you doing Slayer? Are you even my friend?" Jasper said between the loud noise made by their swords clanking together.
His words didn't affect Slayer as if those words didn't fall on his ears.
"Damn Dray, where are you?" Jasper Cursed. Though Drayce was a king, they were friends too.
While busy dodging and protecting himself from Slayer's ferocious attacks, Jasper didn't see Drayce standing at the other side of the ground.
Slayer continued attacking as Jasper had to kneel on the ground to stop his sword with his as he held it over his head. Finally, Jasper's sight caught Drayce standing at the other side of the ground and he shouted loudly, "Why are you just standing there? Didn't you say you will save me?"
"He didn't kill you yet to save you," Drayce replied.
"Are you waiting for me to die?" Jasper asked while moving and dodging Slayer's attacks. He covered the distance closer to Drayce and said again, "If I die, you will be the one at loss, Dray."
Drayce didn't budge as he just stood there to let Jasper learn his lesson to not say vulgar things to Slayer, who hated it.
"Fine, let me die. When you will be busy with Her Majesty and then busy with looking after your little devils, I will see from above who will look after the kingdom in your absence."
Hearing it, Drayce seriously thought for a moment and Jasper's words did make sense.
"Enough Slayer!" Drayce ordered.
Hearing it, the sword that was about to attack Jasper, stopped in midway even before it could touch Jasper's sword. Though Drayce was his friend, Slayer always obeyed his words as a king. One word from Drayce was enough for him as a Royal Decree.
Slayer immediately put his sword back in the scabbard and bowed to Drayce, "Your Majesty!"
Jasper was happy as usual and went to Drayce as he commented looking at Slayer, "What a loyal knight!"
Slayer glared at him, "Next time I won't go easy on you."
"Do you think you were going easy on me until now? It was my skilled swordsmanship that saved me till now."
"Really?" Slayer was ready to pull his sword out again but Jasper hurried towards Drayce and mumbled, "He is getting ferocious every passing day. We need to get him married or it will turn worse. He doesn't even visit the courtesan house when I ask him to…."
"Have you decided on dying today itself?" Drayce interrupted him.
Jasper felt wronged, "Can't you see I am just worried about him?"
"If he drags you back to the battleground, don't expect me to save you. You have already disturbed my visit to the Queen."
"Did I call for you at the wrong moment?" Jasper asked curiously.
Drayce looked at him with a warning gaze, "Next time I will be the one with the sword instead of Slayer."
Jasper immediately bowed, "Apologies, Your Majesty."
Drayce looked at his lowered head and ordered, "You are not visiting the courtesan house for one month."
Feeling shocked, Jasper looked at him, "Dray, this is unfair….."
Drayce glared at him as he touched his sword handle and Jasper bowed his head again, "I can't dare disobey Your Majesty."
Slayer caught up to them and the three walked out of the battleground.
"Your Majesty, should we continue our visit to knight's Quarters?" Jasper asked.
Drayce nodded and they left to the Knight's Quarters.
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