After spending more than a week at the cottage, enduring Drayce's relentless demands for intimacy, Seren finally broached the subject.
"Dray, when are we returning to the palace?" she asked quietly while eating. She was relieved that he allowed her a reprieve at least during meals. She wished her stomach were bigger so she could spend more time eating, the only time she felt free from his constant attention.
Drayce served more food onto her plate. "Are you bored here, my Queen?"
"No. I was just thinking you have been away from your duties for more than a week. You already had too much work to do after our visit to Othinia. I think you should resume your duties or our people might feel neglected by their King."
He stared at her for a moment, making her lower her gaze like a guilty thief.
"You're learning to make excuses, aren't you?"
"I was just worried about your image as a King. I don't want anyone to doubt my husband's capability as a king."
