"Reginald, prepare an extra room for me. We will stay the night and continue our journey by morning." Xavier informed, walking out of her room.
Edgar, who was standing beside Reginald, heard his words and couldn't help but get infuriated by his choices.
"Your Majesty," Edgar called out, following after Xavier. "I must warn you that's not a great idea. Her Highness is in exceptional health and can continue her journey if that's what you are concerned about." Edgar argued.
Xavier stopped his pace and turned back to face Edgar. He knows he was the king and all but he doesn't wish to take any carelessness. She had died before, her unmoved body laid before him and he can't live in a world without her.
The world was worthless without her in it to begin with and the fact she might be dead in a decade from bad health scares him. Xavier thought if he got a second chance with her but he can't control his greed, he wants a life with her. The urge to take her away from people, just him and her alone in their world was hard to control.
"I am staying because I am tired. I don't think I have to explain my choices to you, doctor." Xavier proclaimed, almost raising his voice.
Edgar gritted his teeth, going silent at Xavier's words, "Yes, your majesty. I apologise for crossing my line." Edgar gave a polite bow and left.
Xavier heaved out a deep breath, pressing his temple to calm himself down. While Reginald left to do what Xavier asked him.
By nightfall, a maid lights the candles in her room, as Agatha takes off her clothes for a bath. As another maid helped her to take off her undergarments, Agatha saw the maids taking a glance as they helped her in the bath.
"Is there something on my face?" Agatha couldn't take it anymore of their peeks and questioned directly.
" N-no, your highness. It's just that today is your… first night." One of the maids gathered courage and answered.
Agatha scoffed hearing her. First night… can a person have two first nights in one lifetime even and that too with the same person. Sleeping with him was her last concern. Agatha knew she had to sleep with him, as much as she had the fact that she had to share the bed with her killer, she can't deny the fact that her killer was also the father to her child.
If in their decade-long marriage, there was anything that was a blessing to her. It was their son. If he was never born the crumbling marriage would have fallen long ago. In her lonely darkness, he was the warm sunshine bringing a ray of hope into her life.
"Your Highness?" Agatha snapped out of her thoughts once she heard her maid calling her.
"Huh?"
"Are you alright? Is your foot in pain?" The maid asked in worry, helping her get out of the bath.
"No. It's fine. I am just nervous… " Agatha came up with an excuse on the first night for her getting lost in thought.
The maid glanced at her smiling to herself, "His Majesty really cares for you. You don't have to worry." The maid tried to affirm her, as she put her in a nightgown.
Agatha went silent, if they know the same person they think cares, kills you in future would they say the same? Can you trust a man who broke her trust? A broken heart can be fixed with love but what can fix a broken trust? Agatha never loved that man; he was no more than a stranger who she called husband but what about the trust that he betrayed? How can she forget the pain of the dagger of betrayal he stabbed her in the back with? The pain seems to grow with each passing minute.
Once the maids were done dressing up they left her in the room. Agatha laid down on the bed in hopes he never visits and she gets to sleep alone like usual. It was not strange for her to wake up on an empty side of the bed, it was a familiar feeling for her.
Suddenly a knock on the door caught her by surprise. She prayed with all her will that it shouldn't be him.
"Are you awake?" Xavier queried before he opened the door.
Agatha didn't know whether to laugh or cry at her rotten luck. Of course, it had to be him. Agatha put her head on the pillow, put her back towards the door and acted asleep.
Xavier peeked through the door and saw her back facing the door. He sighed, it seemed like she was tired from the wedding and journey and fell asleep. Xavier slink in, trying to be as quiet as possible.
He put down the glass of milk on her bedside table, sat down by her side taking a look at her sleeping face.
"Sorry, I had to disturb your sleep but I don't want any more rumours about us." Xavier apologised to her, stroking her cheeks gently and laying down beside her.
Xavier tried to put his arm underneath her for her to place on it. Once he was satisfied that she didn't wake up from his gestures, he blew off the candle, resting by her side.
Agatha opened her eyes once he put off the candle, her body denying to move an inch. She felt his arms under her head and the puzzled feeling grew once again.
What does she take these strange gestures as even? Why can't he be cold and a stranger to her like before? Now everything was more confusing. Why now? What was he planning? Did he want to stab her heart? What did he even want? Agatha felt her heart was knotted into something she can't unknot and the more he acts like that the harder the knot gets.
The strange feeling felt warm and strange. Like the flower that blooms in the spring, her heart felt stuffed, beating like crazy and everything else. As if someone was trying to make a stew and decided to pour everything into it. The stew of her heart!