Twenty-Six

Tatiana “My queen, pleasant morning is it not?” Garnet said in a loud voice as she woke me up and all I did was to bury my head deeper in my pillow, groaning in annoyance and wondering how was she always so chipper in the morning. That kind of morning spirit should be outlawed.

“How would I know, you disturbed my sleep, and it is looking to be unpleasant now,” I answered Garnet with my words muffled and unclear since I talked into my pillow.

Garnet laughed and placing her hand on my shoulders, she gently turned me until my head was facing up again. “We do this, almost every single day, and your reaction is always the same, someone would think you should be used to waking up around this time, but you still grumble.”

“There is no way that I would wake up this early and any person would think it is normal.” I retorted and that was when I heard another laughter in the room, I raised my head to see Chandler sitting in a chair and taking a light breakfast.

“Your majesty.” I gasped as I quickly sat up, almost head-butting Garnet's chin in the process. “What are you still doing here? I thought that you would have left?”

While I was saying this, my hands were busy patting down my hair and cleaning the sides of my mouth to see if there was any drool and, in a bid, to make me look more human and less of a monster. Chandler laughed at my action before he shook his head.

“No worries little lamb, you are still well put together.” His words stopped my hand's movement. “Besides, I sleep next to you and even then, you look pretty,” Chandler said and although my heart warmed at his words, I knew I must not have been a pretty sight when sleeping.

“For you to be here, my king, it means that you are jobless today… Sorry, I mean less busy?” I corrected the mistake I made on purpose and I watched as Chandler's eyes sparkle with humor.

“Yes, you could put it that I am less busy today, but I also have a lot to do, still I wanted this morning moment for the two of us.” He responded with a half-smile directed at me before he went back to his food and I tried to calm my racing heart.

Opening my heart to the fact that maybe Chandler was evil but he would use his evilness to protect me and provide for me so it was okay for me to like him has left me in big trouble because it was not up to a day a made that statement as I cried in the night that he was already making my heart to flutter, Maybe in less than a month, my heart will be his.

“Do you have any plans for the day?” he added.

“Yes, I plan on getting dressed and making a visible effort to make this place home,” I answered his question with a smile.

Chandler was quiet and his tone was serious when he eventually talked. “I am glad that you want to make this place your home, I better leave you to it. Although I would like it if you kept your afternoon free for me.”

Since he has been wooing me or doing his own version of apology by taking me out to learn more about his kingdom, he has been making requests like this for every outing or private time he wanted with me, so I nodded. It was something familiar. “Of course, your majesty,” I responded and with a nod, he pushed himself off his seat, and after kissing my forehead, he turned and left the room.

I look at Garnet who had her mouth opened in shock, staring at me like I was someone whom she had not seen before. I shrugged in reply to her look, but I could not hide my smile.

Yes, things were different between my husband and me.

*********

“My queen?” Garnet said softly as she did my hair, after I made a sound to inform her I was aware she called my name and she should continue with what she wanted to say and instead of her to say anything, she dropped a letter in my laps and without another word, I knew who it was from, I needed to reply too, I looked at Garnet who continued with her words.

“Your Stationeries are already laid on your table, after you finish writing and sealing the letter, I can go and post it while you go ahead with your daily plans.” She offered and when I nodded, Garnet left my hair to give me some privacy and I tore open my father’s letter and after I was done reading, I provided him with the information he wanted even though I did it with a heavy heart and a guilty conscience because I believed in that particular second that what I was doing was not fair to my husband.

The guilty conscience remained with me until I was with Chandler that evening who decided that the best way for a king and queen to have a picnic was alone and without help, I was not too happy with him for that thought.

“Come on my queen, you cannot be angry with me because I did not want others to intrude on our private moment.”

“There is nothing private about this, we are in an open field, Chandler.” I retorted and Chandler nodded like he was aware of that fact.

“I like it when you say my name.” Chandler changed the topic, and I immediately rolled my eyes, not willing to answer any words from him although I did not have to. My cheeks were red, and the man laughed at the response I could not hide, and of course, I remained angry with him and acted like he was the bane of my existence. I pushed the thought of being guilty to the back of my head, telling myself that he would keep things from me too.

I really did not expect that two months later, that was what he would do and that it would hurt me the way it did. Learning about it from the kitchen maids who gossiped openly while they were in the kitchen hurt me but still, I kept the hurt shoved into a corner like I always do and focused on the rage. It was the rage that fueled me to march to Chandler study only to see Thann there.

“Where is my husband?” I asked him only for him to raise an eyebrow at my words and the way I was panting.

“Is something wrong?’ He asked in return and I glared at him.

“Where is Chandler?” I asked instead of replying to him.

“Not here?” He voiced with a question and then I felt like hurtling something at his head.

“I know he is not here, tell me where he is.” I gritted out and when Thann did say anything, I lost my temper. “Damn it Thann, you two had to right to keep the fact that he was having issues with other kings because he refused to tell them the reason why Anthony had to die and why he told Anthony’s father to prepare for war.”

“Oh, it is for that reason?” Thann breathed with ease. “Your husband is in the garrison, practicing.” He smiled at me.

I looked at Thann suspiciously. “I find it difficult that you gave up his location that easily.”

“Because I want him to regret keeping it from you even though I told him multiple times that couples are not to keep secrets from each other. He chose to ignore my words, so I do not get to protect him from his wife's wrath” Thann shrugged.

I breathed out heavily, turned on my heels without another word to Thann, and went to find my husband while holding on to my anger. He would really feel my wrath.