Just for a moment, she wanted the world to stop, or at least slowdown, and it did. Everything froze in its place and went silent. No more cool breeze, no more breathing Malphus, no more muffled chatter coming from the room below. No, well, anything.
Now, all had stopped, she could think. She could think about her feelings for her childhood best friend who is now, by some miracle, her boss.
She loved him, that much she knew, she just wondered if she was loving him the right way. There were so many different types of loves, like the way a mother would love a child, or a tourist would love seeing attractions. There are economists who love the entire world, there are loners who love to be on their own. Valerie knew she was stuck in between best friend love and lover love.
She wanted the best for him, and for his social status that meant to stay far away from him, but she also wanted to be there with him for everything. Moreover, she wanted him to love her too.
She knew he loved her of course, via her being on this 'date' with him right now, but she wondered what kind of love he held towards her.
Players love to play, so maybe he thought of her as some kind of game. That's what this is, nothing but a part of the game. He didn't want to be on a date with her right now, and if he did he probably would have asked first, instead of just taking her here without her permission.
Time, it's slowed down for her, now she wanted it to speed up, but that was unreasonable. She thanked it and everything started up again.
Malphus went back to eating and things seemed normal, they weren't. The rest of the 'date' was spent in silence. If Malphus tried to start a conversation she'd brush it off with a nod or a 'hm'.
He knew it wasn't because she didn't like the food, or the date, or him.
He knew she made herself to believe something or remembered something someone told her to make her hate him.
While that happened miles away from the castle, Mary found out that Valerie and her King toy were being pretty distant lately.
"Hey, have you heard about Malphus and Valerie?" A maid behind Mary who was dusting some nicknacks said to another while Mary was mopping and slowed down to listen.
"No, what's up now? I bet they're getting married." The other maid said with sarcasm.
"Nope, they've actually been pretty distant, they think Valerie's mad at the King or something." The first maid replied.
"What? Is that thing crazy? If Malphus was half as in love with me as he is with Valerie, I'd have me marry me instantly." The second maid threw up her hands.
"She's so spoiled, I mean she comes from a rich husband to the castle and the Kings loves her and she has the audacity to be mad at him? I would poison her if I could." The second maid blew and dusted harder.
"Why not? I mean then we'd probably get paid a scent or two more, but it's still more money." The first maid nudged the second one.
"And more labor?! Plus, he'd somehow find out and behead me." The second maid said.
Mary quickly finished mopping, blocking out everything else the girls had to say.
'This is my chance! I can go to the King in comfort and get back on good terms with him.' Mary thought as she speed-walked to Malphus' study. When she got there his study was empty- empty except for a kid, Alan.
"Hi, Alan!" Mary approached Alan and he stood up.
"Hello, Ms.Mary." Alan greeted Mary.
"Do you know where Malphus is?" Alan shook his head.
"He's with mommy somewhere. He should be coming back now." Mary almost fainted, with Valerie, alone? Wasn't she supposed to be angry at him?
"Where were they last, do you know?" Mary bent over and put her hands on her knees.
"We were at the lake having a picnic and fishing and swimming," Alan said with glee in his eyes, while our annoyance struck Mary's.
"Wasn't Valerie angry at Malphus? She was right?" Mary asked looking the boy straight in his eyes searching for the answer she wanted to hear.
"Nope, mommy wasn't angry at papa. She wouldn't need to be, papa is great!" Alan threw up his hands and smiled widely.
"He is, isn't he? Well, tell Valerie I stopped by and that I'd like her to meet me in the garden, and to wear something casual, at 1:30 pm." Mary ruffled Alan's hair and gave him a sweet smile, true she didn't like Valerie, but that didn't mean she couldn't like Alan. He was a great help to her when she needed it.
Now, all hope had been lost, she had to come to her last option.