Malphus, having heard Valerie and Oscar's heated, yet muffled, argument, smirked to himself.
Yes, he admits that he's a selfish, horrible person, but then again, who isn't?
He made it perfectly clear to Oscar that Valerie was his. First, he warmed him, then he told him with a broken nose.
Nevertheless, Oscar decided to walk the path that screamed 'danger'.
Malphus heard muffled sobs and tsked. He'd never been good with crying women.
Although he didn't know exactly what was wrong, he knew that anytime he was upset, he'd dive head-first into work so that he didn't have time to be upset.
He knocked on Valerie's door.
"Oh, um, yes? Malphus?" Valerie answered only after having dried her tears, yet her eyes were still puffy and swollen.
"What are you doing in that attire? Never mind that, no time to change. My shelf has been collecting dust and Alan's toys are everywhere. I've yet to be served my morning tea and you know how I am without it," Malphus complained. Though to Valerie, he sounded less grouchy and more or less concerned.
"Oh! Yes! Of course, my apologies," Valerie dashed down the hall to the kitchen to get Malphus' morning tea.
Malphus chuckled, seeing Valerie scurrying away like a scared bunny.
She'd always been cute, when she was younger she was almost irresistible with her chubby cheeks and big round liquid blue doe eyes and her long curly brown hair that stopped just above her waist.
He imaged his daughter, 3 years old, with the chubbiest cheeks and the stubbiest little body. Hair that reached her waist just like her mama's, only she'd have Malphus' black hair, but she'd keep the curliness of her mom's hair, her big blue doe eyes, and pale-ish skin.
"Malphus?"
He imaged her gurgling, reaching up to him and Valerie while being held by Alan and snuggled by Saphora and Arlo.
"Malphus!"
He saw as Valerie picked up their sweet daughter and pampered her cheeks with kisses and all little Estella could do was giggle.
"Malphus?!"
"Just a moment! Can't you see I'm busy with my family?!" Malphus snapped irritably and turned around to face the person who dare interrupted his daydream.
"Your.. family?" Valerie asked, confused, as she had not seen the Grand Queen or King at all that morning.
"Ah, never mind," Malphus mumbled, ashamed to be caught daydreaming in front of the person the daydream surrounded.
"Your tea," Valerie offered the cup that wasn't hot to the touch, but just as warm as Malphus liked it.
"Yes, thank you," He took his tea and had a sip, before turning on his heels to go back to his study.
Valerie stood dazed for a while, not sure what had just happened. Valerie had never seen Malphus blush and when he did, it was as if her brain stopped working. Not only was she confused, but seeing Malphus blush also cause her to be flustered.
She recollected herself and went after Malphus to his study. There she cleaned as she normally did and before long, she had forgotten all about her request to divorce Oscar.
Malphus, however, was slightly taken aback when he saw Valerie without her ring on. It made no difference since she'd already cheated but Valerie had never taken her ring off before.
Had their argument earlier pushed her to do so? The screams he heard earlier sounded more masculine than feminine so he was sure Valerie wasn't the one screaming, though, Valerie had never been one to speak her mind when angry.
As far as Malphus was concerned, this was about Oscar missing from his guest room at night, he could only conclude Oscar was found cheating and that's what sparked the argument.
"Where's your ring?" Malphus asked.
"My ring?" Valerie mumbled.
"You're married, are you not?" Malphus lifted his eyebrow but didn't take his eyes off his paperwork.
"Currently, yes, but Oscar and I are divorcing," Valerie explained calmly.
"Oh is that so?" Malphus asked. While there was no smile on his face, it was evident in his voice.
"I've decided it for the best," Valerie grumbled then returned to her work.
---
A couple of years later Malphus and Valerie got married and had a daughter named Estella.
Okay, I tried. I really did, but this was just going nowhere. I mean, I started it for fun and I never saw or thought about the end. So we're just gonna end it like that and continue something else. (Not K&E I can hardly stand to write it anymore)