Jack noticed Ave's weird expression. He would often glance at her to make sure she was okay. After all, she had never taken such a long journey and he wouldn't want her to get sick.
"Avi?" He asked her with a frown on his face.
"...yes?" Aveline replied hesitantly. She wasn't sure if he was mad at her. Or he realized something strange about her.
'Will he slash my throat? Or execute me? Wait, what's even the difference?!' She put her hand on her throat and gulped anxiously.
"What's wrong? You're acting weird."
"I just..."
'Did the original owner had the chance to get an education? What if she did, and I ask him to teach me. He might get suspicious... What do I do?' She struggled to try to find another excuse.
"Your majesty, we arrived at the palace." Zain notified them.
"Alright. Let's go out, Avi." Jack smiled briefly and walked out of the carriage.
'Ouf! I'm saved.' Ave sighed in relief.
Aveline took Jack's hand and stepped out of the carriage.
The palace in front of her was splendid. It was a white imperial building she saw only in pictures online before. She never had the chance to visit them in real life in her past. But now, she was standing in front of it, and will live here!
Aveline smiles brightly.
"This place is so beautiful!" Her eyes shone as if stars were reflected on them.
Jack smiled as he stared at his beloved. He was glad she liked the palace he created for her over the years he took over the kingdom. It was his dream to live with her ever since they were kids. Now it had become reality.
"Welcome back, your majesty." The place maids and servants bowed down to their king and queen.
Jack took Aveline's hand in his and headed inside the palace.
Aveline followed him without a word since she was busy looking around the magnificent building.
The decorations were so pretty. But it has a colour she didn't like, red. It had red flowers, a red carpet, red clothes on the dining table, mostly everything apart from the walls and the original colour of the types of furniture.
Aveline's face changed as she stepped further inside.
Jack glanced at her and noticed her change of expression.
"What's wrong, Avi?" He stopped and looked at her.
"I don't like this colour... can we chan it?" She asked as her happy expression dropped.
"But you said you loved red." The male in front frowned.
'What?! She liked red?! I'm dead! AVE FIND AN EXCUSE! FAST!'
"Ah. No. It's just... it reminds me of blood now..." Aveline looked away.
'Blood?.. Ethan!' Jack gritted his teeth in anger.
"I understand. I'll ask them to change." He put his hand on his forehead and sighed. "I'm sorry... I almost got mad at you." He patted her head with a gentle smile.
Aveline nodded.
"It's fine. Thank you." She smiled at him again.
Jack was relieved she didn't get mad at him as she would usually do. He led her to her room next.
He opened the door and entered a big room.
"This is your room from now on."
"This is... ten times bigger than the one I had before!" Ave exclaimed in joy.
Even though she had become a famous businesswoman, she didn't have time to buy anything and enjoy her money. As for the real owner of the body she took over, she had a small and average room. Not like a princess at all.
Jack who knows about how she was treated felt bad. He hugged her tightly.
Aveline was shocked and trembled without knowing what to do.
"J-Jack?" She asked as she tried to push him away.
Jack only held her tighter as she tried to push him away.
"Avi. I promise I won't let you suffer like that again." He swore her holding her in his arms. "But don't leave me. If you do, I can't protect you."
"I-I won't... calm down." She replied as her heartbeat increased with each second passing by.
After some minutes, Jack let go of her finally.
Aveline coughed and took a deep breath. She felt like was being choked to death.
'He's so strong... I thought I had to give up my life at this point!'
"Are you okay?! I-I'm sorry. I didn't control my strength." He hurriedly went to fetch the glass of water on the night table beside the bed.
He gave it to her.
The blonde girl took it and drank in one go.
"Thanks."
Jack was surprised by her behaviour. The Aveline he knew would never do that. Or she couldn't because she valued ethics a lot.
'She was probably too thirsty.' He thought and rubbed his hair.
"You take some rest. I have to handle some things."
"Alright."
Jack walked away and closed the door behind him.
Aveline sighed and laid on the bed.
"Ahhh... finally! I can rest."
***
Jack went to his study room to check on the affairs he missed for the past month.
"Your majesty." Zain walked towards him.
"Hm?" Jack glanced at him.
"Duke Glaid is here to discuss a matter with you."
"Where?"
"He is inside the guest room."
"Alright. You go check on the knights. I'll go meet him."
"Yes, your majesty." The man bowed and walked towards the training grounds.
***
Jack opened the guest room's door as he saw a man sitting on the couch and sipping on his tea. He had black hair just like him but with a slight blue. His eyes were grey with a mix of blue. He has a sharp jawline with a mole at the corner of his left eye. He glanced at Jack and posed his tea on the table in front of him. He stood up and bowed placing a hand on his chest.
"Greetings to the sun—"
"Shut up. What is it?" Jack spoke as he sat on the sofa designed for the king.
It had a red cover on it and a crown-shaped design on top.
The man sighed and sat back.
"You didn't change a bit." The young man sighed.
"Go ahead, Artes. Why did you come here?" Jack ordered with a cold expression on his face.
"Don't be so mean. Weren't we friends?" Artes said with a friendly smile on his face.
"If it's nothing, I'm going." Jack was about to stand up when Artes grabbed his hand.
"You should hold a party for the queen, don't you think?" He asked with a smirk on his face.
Jack frowned and pulled away from his hand.
"What I do doesn't concern you." The young king walked out of the room and slammed the door.
"Show the way out to Duke Glaid." He ordered the guards outside who nodded.
After Jack went away, the guards opened the door and asked the man inside to leave.
Artes laughed at his behaviour and went away. "When will he stop being so stubborn?" he muttered before leaving the palace.
***
After working for a whole evening, Jack thought to check on Aveline. He hasn't seen her for a whole afternoon.
He stood up from his chair and put away the papers on his hands and headed towards the queen's chamber.
After arriving in front of the room, he stood there for a second.
"How is the queen doing?" He asked the maid who had come to check on the queen.
"She hasn't eaten yet... she's been asleep for the whole day. I'm worried about her, your majesty..." the maid looked away nervously. No one ever dared to speak about anything to him for more than a few seconds. He would either cut them off or ignore them. For the first time after being king, he listened fully to someone.
"Alright. You can go." Jack ordered as he opened the door.
He watched Aveline sleeping on the bed. Her posture wasn't a good one. It's as if she laid down and fell asleep straight away without even knowing. Her legs were still on the floor. Jack reached out to her legs and put them on the bed carefully.
He then remembered how she slept for a whole month straight because of the poison her stepbrother gave her
"Ethan!" Jack punched the wall in anger.
"Hmm..." Aveline moved in her sleep. She was trying to open her eyes. As if she was having a nightmare.
"N-noo... d-don't kill me... I'm begging you... I didn't mean to..." she mumbled as tears fell from her eyes although she was sleeping.
Jack rushed towards her and wiped her tears. He patted her head softly.
"No one will kill you. I'm here to protect you." Jack whispered those words against her ear over and over again.
Aveline finally opened her eyes. She only was a blurry face in front of her at first. She blinked to clear her vision as she saw Jack in front of her.
"J-Jack?" She got up in a rush and sat on the bed.
"Sorry. I thought you were going to sleep for another one month..." he said with a pained voice. "I'll ask the doctor to come and check."
Jack grabbed a bell and rang it.
A maid opened the door and came after a few seconds.
"Yes, your majesty?" The maid asked as she bowed down.
"Call for the imperial doctor," Jack ordered as the maid nodded. She exited the room and went to notify the imperial doctor.
"Jack.. y-you know..." Aveline hesitantly said.
"Yes?"
"The imperial doctor... of the castle... she tried to kill me with my b-brother." She said in fear of how he would react. Also in fear, he was with them. Nevertheless, she wanted to believe in him. The love he showed her, to the old owner of this body. She wanted to trust his love for her.
"Ethan! I'm going to kill him!" Jack stood up instantly.
Aveline grabbed his hand to stop him.
"Not now. Let's wait for a little. You can kill him after." Aveline smiled softly.
'Thank god, he is on her side for real. I could have lost my head if he was with them.'
"Your majesty, the imperial doctor is here." The maid notified them.
"Come in," Jack said.
"Greetings to his majesty the king of the country and the queen of the country." A man with long light brown hair until his shoulder bowed. He had his hair tied with a white ribbon. He was wearing glasses which made his brown eyes like chocolate paler. He was wearing a white dress with the imperial design on it.
"Check her body," Jack ordered the man who nodded and came towards the young woman who was sitting on the bed.
"Excuse me, your majesty." He took her hand to check her purse. He dropped her hand with a shocked face. He quickly checked her eyes. Her pupils were so small.
"How is this possible?!"
"What's wrong?" Jack impatiently asked.
"There's so much poison inside her! How can she still be alive?! Her heart is barely beating! And her pupils are so small!" The man pushed back his glasses who almost fell.
"What?!" Jack exclaimed.
"I..." Aveline didn't know what to say.
'The real Aveline already died. What if he knows about it??' She nervously thought.
"You better cure her as soon as possible!" Jack ordered in an angry tone.
"I'll try my best..." the man nodded.
'You can't just order that! I need to work for days to find the cure!' He thought getting depressed.
"Take your time." Aveline smiled softly. "I have a strong body." She reassured the agitated black-haired man.
"No, Avi!" Jack contradicted instantly.
"I said I'm ok, Jack." She glared as she repeated.
"Alright... you can go." Jack sighed as he let the doctor leave.
The doctor was glad Jack let him leave.
'Thank you, your highness! You saved me.' He rushed out to his lab to find a cure. 'I'll do it because at least you are kind!'
***
After the doctor left, the room was silent for a few minutes.
"Ahem." Jack coughed to break the silence.
'Is she mad?' He gulped as he glanced at her.
Aveline looked at him when he coughed.
"What?" She asked.
"Are you... mad?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"Of course! Why do you abuse your power as king to rush people?! Do you think they can do it just because you order them too??" Aveline lashed out her anger on his.
She rapidly put her hand on her mouth.
'Ahhh.... stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I yell at him?! I'm dead meat now!'