For days now, she continued reading 'Heart of Fire', finding it hard to put down, taking it everywhere and not paying so much attention to everything or disturbing her servants with questions as she used to. This wasn't just because of how interesting the book was but because of the King's comments that was thrown here and there in the book.
Those were the ones that kept her the most interested.
Some of the comments she would argue against, some she would laugh about, and some she would nod her head in agreement, like he was right there in front of her, talking to her as they read the book together.
Another thing was that reading his comments made her feel like she knew him. Through the comments, she grew to know some of the things he like, a few things he had done in the past and fewer of the things he hated. Not just that, each of his comment usually ended with him asking about her opinion on what he had discussed and she would reply. Talking on and on like he was right in front of him.
Most times, she had imagined that he was, even heard his voice and felt his warmth.
She felt that close to him.
She tried to stop herself so many times, but it was far too wonderful and she couldn't help herself but enjoy the moment.
Besides, if she was to snap herself out of this, she might just slip back into crying and hurting about how her family had betrayed her.
So, she read.
'You don't get it, Yahya. I wish to fly,' the book read.
'Fly? What does that even mean?'
'And one would think the humans were more knowledgeable."
Her eyes brightened as she saw a small folded piece of paper glued at the end of the word knowledgeable.
A comment from him? Finally!
His last comment was five pages ago and already, she had missed it.
She unfolded the paper and read his comment.
"I don't agree with Zuba. I think humans are knowledgeable."
She frowned.
Something about the way that comment was written made her feel like he wasn't part of humans.
Like he was something else, some other being.
She would have lingered more on the thought, had something about his next comment not stand out to her.
'I will tell you a little secret. I don't like flying..."
But he had a dragon! And she had seen him fly his dragon every now and then.
'...I know what you might be thinking but I only endure it. Do you like flying?'
She closed the book, looking up the ceiling, as the shadows of the candles on the large dinning table danced on it.
Flying?
The feeling of being lifted off the ground while one moved in the air.
She wouldn't know if she liked it or not.
She had never experienced it.
She opened the book again, reading more.
'My guess is that you don't know."
She smiled, how was it that he always guessed right.
"Once I return back to the castle, I promise you a ride on my Dragon. For you, my Bride, I promise wonderful memorable experiences. If only, you will let me. Will you?"
She staggered up from her chair in excitement, making it fall back with a thud, on the floor.
A ride on the dragon?! How wonderful!
A guard came over and adjusted her chair.
Somehow, these guards always managed to disappear into the shadows and appear only when they believed they were needed. It had taken sometime for Belladonna to get used to the fact that the guards were always there and that they were everywhere.
She sat down, trying to calm her nerves. She opened her book once again only to realize that was the end of his comment. She wanted to keep on reading but her stomach grumbled.
She remembered that she has come down for dinner but sometime had passed, yet she had not touched her food.
She put her book away hesitantly and opened her plate. The vapour that had now turned into liquid dripped from the cover plate.
Her food was now cold.
"If you want another---" one of the guards started saying but she shook her head quickly.
Although the guards were back in their shadows and she couldn't see them, it felt like they were closely watching her every step, her demeanour, her facial expression, every now and then in order to always do things that pleased her.
It almost felt unnerving.
"No, thank you, this will be alright."
She smiled, then started eating.
Despite how cold it was, it still tasted delicious.
She quickly finished her meal.
When she was done, she picked up her book once again, and hurried upstairs to the King's chambers. She couldn't wait to lay on the pillows that she would throw on the floor, so that she could continue reading her book once again.
Last time she had tried that though, she had woken up to the candle burnt out in its stand, her hair all over the place because she had once again forgotten to twist it out and the book over her face.
It was only by a miracle that the candle hadn't caught the room on fire.
As she bade Raquel goodnight hurriedly, then proceeded to drop the pillows on the floor, she assured herself that this time around, she would be more careful but if things go wrong, this book was worth getting burnt for.
Just kidding.
She settled on her fluffy pillows and started reading once again. Hours and hours passed.
The sun was slowly raising in the sky, her eyelids were closing from sleep.
Slowly the book slipped out of her outstretched hand, knocking down the lantern, making the oil spill on the floor before fire lit a small part of the rug.
While the fire slowly started spreading, and the smoke slowly starting clouding the air, she fell more and more asleep.