Chapter 95 Side Story. Chapter 2

Chapter 95 Side Story. Chapter 2
"I would appreciate that," Maya mumbled, a grin adorning her features. He nodded, his eyes fluttering shut. Maya rested her head upon his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as he drifted into slumber. Her greatest worries weighed heavily upon her, but she refrained from sharing them in his weary state. However, she resolved to broach the subject once they had ample time together.

With that determination firmly planted in her mind, she closed her eyes and soon succumbed to the embrace of sleep.
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Two days had passed since Maya's discussion with Rosa, and finally, all the necessary preparations were in place. After adorning herself for the day, Rosa lingered behind once the other maids had departed, eager to share some news with the queen. Maya sat patiently, awaiting Rosa's words.

"My Queen, I have some news," Rosa announced, her head respectfully bowed.

"Please, go ahead," Maya encouraged.

"I scoured the surroundings in search of suitable herbs for your condition, and this is what was recommended to me," Rosa explained, reaching into her pouch and producing a bundle of dried leaves. She placed them carefully before the queen. "According to the doctors, they advised me to brew a tea with these leaves. It is believed to prepare the body for pregnancy," Rosa concluded.

Maya gazed at the herbs before her, taking them into her hands to examine them closely. Satisfied that they were genuine and potent, she nodded, her eyes turning to meet Rosa's.

"Well then, I have heard what you have to say. I sincerely appreciate the time and effort you put intp searching this for me. I will request the tea to be prepared this evening. Will you be the one to make it for me?" Maya asked.

"Yes, my queen," Rosa replied with a respectful nod.

Just then, a gentle knock resonated through the door, followed by its swift opening without waiting for a reply. In walked Dexter, his presence bringing a radiant smile to Maya's lips. With a quick motion, she rose from her seat to greet him, feeling a rush of anticipation. Dexter drew her into an embrace, planting a tender kiss upon her forehead.

"Hello there, love," he greeted warmly.

"Hi, yourself," Maya replied, her cheeks tinged with a blush. Rosa bid the royal couple farewell with a respectful bow of her head before departing the chambers. Dexter watched her exit before turning his attention back to Maya.

"What were you discussing?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, nothing serious. And what about you? Why are you here?" Maya asked, curious.

A mischievous smile played upon Dexter's lips at her question. "Well, I came to take you out."

Maya's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

"Yes, indeed. But there's also a surprise," Dexter whispered, his voice filled with excitement. The door opened once more, revealing another set of maids entering with heads bowed. "We will be altering our appearances," he murmured into Maya's ear, his grin widening.

Maya stared at him, comprehension dawning upon her, and a delighted chuckle escaped her lips. Her heart fluttered with anticipation as she sprinted back to the mirror, eagerly awaiting the maids' assistance in exchanging her extravagant gown for a more suitable peasant dress. Her hair was braided into simple pigtails, creating a modest and unassuming look, yet a hint of regality lingered around her like a faint cloak.

Once she was ready, Maya's gaze fell upon Dexter, who had undergone a similar transformation. His usually neat black curls now cascaded freely over his face, lending him a more youthful appearance. In recent times, he had let his hair grow out, and she relished the moments spent combing through its strands. As always, he looked dashing.

"I'm so excited!" she squealed, unable to contain her joy as she approached him. "Thank you!"

"Anything for my beautiful queen," Dexter whispered, his voice filled with affection, before brushing his lips against hers. With their guards discreetly positioned in the distance, they stepped out of the palace and into the kingdom, armed with nothing but a basket filled with delectable snacks and a bottle of wine.

Since no one could recognize them, they were free to walk around as they liked. Though it was kingdom, the fact that this outing was one for fun instead of duty, it made everything more exciting. Devon took her to all the notable parts of the kingdom, showing her more of the way of life of his people as well as his exploits. It made her see just how hard he was working and she was fell more in love with him.

They stopped at the dress makers shop, where they wndow shopped before heading to the blacksmith to get in more materials. They didn't buy anything, but made a mental not to come back after the day is over. During lunch, they decided to have some street food and Dexter purchased a kite from a vendor which he promised to fly once they got to a less crowded place. They spent the rest of the afternoon, watching a small fair at the market square before Devon decided that they should check out the lake that was near the palace.

He rented a horse and helped her in before climbing in after and riding it out of the kingdom. The warm breeze blew past Maya's facd and she closed her eyes against it, unable to help the little squeals escaping her lips. Her heart felt light, excitement still thrumming through her veins. It took a while before they reached the lake and dismounted from the horse. Luckily, there wasn't anyone there so it granted them some privacy.

Maya immediately laid her scarf on the ground, placing her basket on it when Dexter came to join her after tying up the horse. Once he was seated with her, she passed him a sandwich, putting up a bottle of wine. He muttered his thanks before taking a huge bite from his sandwich. They ate quietly, watching the serene lake.

On an impulse, Dexter drew her close, making her sit on his laps while they ate. Maya giggled but she didn't try to push away, loving the warmth that was seeping into her skin from the close body contact.

"Thanks for bringing me out today. I needed it." She muttered, staring at him. Dexter took a swig from the wine bottle before passing it to her. She accepted it from him and had a sip instead.

"Noticed. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. We need a break once in a while." He murmured.