The morning sky was clear and beautiful, with a gentle breeze flowing through the open window. As I woke up, I felt a sense of relief, knowing that my relationship with my husband was in a good place. I got out of bed, and Ciara was already in the bathroom preparing the bath.
"Good morning, my lady," Ciara greeted me with a smile as I approached the bathtub.
"Good morning, Ciara," I replied, returning the smile as I took off my towel and stepped into the warm water.
"You seem really happy today. Any good news to share?" she asked while washing my hair.
"Not anything specific. I just feel happy. Do I always have to be sad?" I questioned with a slight pout..
"No, my lady, of course not. You deserve all the happiness in the world. I was so worried about you, especially after hearing your father's conversations. I thought you were in danger. That's why I had to run away and search for you. I would risk my life just to make sure you were safe. But thankfully, it was all just my imagination," Ciara explained.
"You're so sweet, Ciara, but risking your life like that is not safe. What if you were caught? I can't bear the thought of losing you. Who would scold me like a kid and take care of me like their own child?" I scolded her, feeling a surge of emotion. If my father caught her trying to escape from the palace, he would not spare her. He saw the maids as nothing more than servants, born to serve others.
"I'm sorry, my lady. I just needed to be sure," she apologized.
"It's alright, just don't do something like that again. I'll be fine as long as I know you people are there, looking out for me," I reassured her, and she nodded in agreement.
After a moment of silence, I called her name again. "Ciara."
"Yes, my lady," she responded, ready to listen to whatever I had to say.
"What do you know about people with black veins?" I inquired. The thought had been bothering me all night, and I couldn't keep it to myself. I needed answers.
"Black veins?" she repeated, furrowing her brow in confusion.
"Yes."
"I haven't seen anyone with black veins, my lady. But I remember reading about something similar in a book," she shared, piquing my curiosity.
"Tell me more," I urged, wanting to know what she had read.
"I don't know much, my lady. They were described as special people with certain abilities. The book mentioned that they can sometimes be dangerous," she added, and my heart skipped a beat. Dangerous? Special abilities? What did she mean?
"Okay, that sounds quite scary," I replied, trying to dismiss the topic.
"Why did you ask, my lady? Do you know someone with black veins?" Ciara inquired.
"No," I quickly responded. "I overheard a maid mentioning it, and I was just curious to know if it was real," I lied, hoping not to sound awkward.
She looked into my eyes, and I averted my gaze to avoid her scrutiny. "Alright then, if you say so," she smiled. Thank goodness she didn't ask further questions. I wouldn't have been able to keep up the pretense. But I had one more thing to ask her.
"Ciara?" I called out.
"Yes, my lady."
"What is it like the first time?" I asked, taking her by surprise.
"Oh, so you finally decided not to be innocent anymore, my lady," she smiled, and I nodded. I didn't trust Ellena. I wondered what she was up to this time. With her hesitation to say something, I already knew what was her mind. It might be painful, and I won't like it. But the worst was being naked. Just the thought of being naked in front of a man sent shivers down my spine.
"Don't worry, my lady. I'm sure His highness will be gentle. He seems to care a lot about you," she reassured me.
She was right. He never refused me anything and treated me well. But there was still this knot in my stomach that I couldn't shake ever since our marriage. I was afraid of him, or maybe afraid of how I felt when I was around him. I don't know. It's like I lose control of myself and my thoughts when he's near. Just his gaze alone make me feel things.
After the bath, Ciara helped me get dressed, and she left the room. Lisa came to announce breakfast, and everything felt good. I ate more than usual.
Before I knew it, evening came. I had dinner and returned to the room. I wondered why Regan hadn't come back yet. Well, it had only been a day since he left. Maybe I would have to wait longer, I thought as I lay on the bed, covering myself with the sheet.
****
Five nights had passed, and Regan still hadn't returned. I wondered why it was taking him so long. They had just announced the masquerade ball, and I hoped he would be back by then because I missed him a lot. He had promised he wouldn't be gone for too long, yet it was already the sixth night without him.
During the days, the maids and guards talked about the upcoming masquerade ball as usual. As time went by, night fell upon the land. A guard came to announce that Regan would be coming back tonight, and I couldn't wait to see him again.
I put on a beautiful white nightgown made of smooth fabric. I applied some oil to my skin and let my hair down, allowing it to flow down to my waist. Then, I added a little bit of makeup to enhance my appearance. When I finished, I looked at myself in the mirror and felt satisfied with my efforts. Tonight, he wouldn't deny me his rights as my husband, would he?
I sat on the bed, gazing at the twinkling stars in the night sky. I wondered why he still hadn't returned. Was he not planning to come back?
I let out a frustrated sigh, feeling impatient. "Regan, where are you?" I whispered, and to my surprise, I heard the door open and he walked in. How did he appear so suddenly?
I quickly got out of bed and rushed to hug him. He hugged me tightly, and I breathed in his wonderful scent. Oh, how I had missed him.
"I'm sorry for not coming back on time," he apologized quietly as he let go of me.
"You owe me for that," I said, taking a seat while he removed his armor.
He had the same aura as the last time I saw him, or maybe even scarier. His eyes seemed darker, and there was a calm yet menacing look on his face.
I refused to let his appearance scare me. I was prepared for whatever was going to happen tonight. I brushed my hair behind my ear and looked at him. "How do I look?"
He glanced at me for a moment, then looked away as if avoiding something. "You look beautiful," he said, and my cheeks turned red.
Then, he put on his sleeping robe and lay down next to me, facing upwards. I wondered what I should do next. I felt lost. I hadn't thought much about what would happen tonight. I nervously bit my lip and stole glances at him from time to time.
"You're not afraid of me anymore?" he asked, surprising me.
"Should I be, Your Highness?" I questioned.
He sighed and closed his eyes. "Just go to sleep, Nora. I'm tired."
I covered myself with the sheet, feeling angry at myself. I should just sleep and stop bothering him. He didn't want me, after all.
****
Regan sat up, gazing down at Nora who was peacefully asleep. He had been watching her for a while now, and he didn't feel tired at all. She looked incredibly beautiful, just like an angel.
He let out a sigh and turned his gaze away. He hated himself for putting her in this situation. But he couldn't give her what she wanted tonight, especially when his beast was at its most intense. He had caused so much destruction, witnessed too much bloodshed and suffering in the past few days. He needed to find the right moment to be with her, a time when his inner beast was under control.
If only she knew that he was avoiding her not because he didn't want her, but because he was afraid of hurting her.
He breathed a heavy sigh, and quietly took off the sheet, then left the room.