Yukie is staying in her room while recovering from her sprain. The queen decided that she would write lesson plans and proposals since her spouse had given her a chance to teach and be a community worker. She plans to report and inform Alexander about hiring some staff and she'll be the one who is in charge of making documents and about the contract for hiring some staff and personnel, but she almost forgot what his spouse's vacant house looks like that she is supposed to teach children.
Even so, Yukie cannot help but fall from Cloud Nine, as she cannot wait to meet the children and be with them, even if she will not be a full-time teacher like she did on Derora. She completely understands when she becomes a queen and it gives her butterflies in the belly, afraid that she'll fail a lot since she is not getting used to working in monarchy services and jobs.
A faint knock from the door disturbs her concentration on doing her paperwork thus she jolts.
"Come in." she replied.
The door was open and she saw a man with round-shaped eyeglasses, blond grey unkempt hair and black orbs. He is in a formal suit, blue and white color, a laboratory coat and a brown leather doctor bag.
"Greetings, Queen Yukie. I am here to check your ankles, I am the private doctor here in King Alexander's palace. My name is Dr. Bliant Cromwell and will be here to serve you."
"Glad to see you, Dr Cromwell, I hereby apologize that you are supposed to be on day offs like what my husband announced last night that all of the employees and staff here in the palace are supposed to take a break." Yukie said in a guilty tone, thinking it was her fault for being careless.
"Your Majesty, we understand that it is only an injury and not a serious one like fractures. And about the day off, that doesn't exist in my vocabulary. I don't take the day off even His Majesty gave me to. I get sick and restless if I won't do anything."
Bliant is a workaholic man just like Alexander, but he is a gentle, kind and friendly person. She finds him a good-looking man and neat. She'll be surprised if he is a single man as he is the type of man who makes women swoon over him by just his simple actions. Even though she finds him good-looking, her heart beats at a crazy fast pace when she's with her spouse.
"Uhm Dr. Cromwell, are you married or not?" She asked with curiosity which made him stunned to speak, asking about his love life status but he gave an honest response.
"I am not, Queen Yukie. And I am terrible at dating 'cause I am a busy man."
Yukie is surprised at first because he is single, not until he tells his reasons why.
"I thought you were married or dating someone actually so that's why I am curious. I apologize if I keep asking you questions."
Bliant treated her right ankle and carefully checked it as he prepared an ice pack and placed it on her injured ankle then he replied.
"No, Queen Yukie. There is nothing wrong with asking me that actually. And I assume you're younger than me since King Alexander and I are the same age."
She remembered that Alexander became a king at the age of eighteen and Yukie was thirteen years old, she was surprised as she did not expect Bliant to be in his thirties.
"Seeing your reactions, Your Majesty, you find it hard to believe my words. But it is true, I am already thirty years old."
"EEEEEEEHHHHH!!!!" is the only word she can say with her mouth slightly open.
Bliant looks very young, she thought they were the same age or younger than her around Sophia's age.
He changed the bandage wrapped a clean and sterilized one and elevated her legs.
"Queen Yukie, I will visit you later to check your injuries and one of the maids will be visiting here too, so you'll be in care under King Alexander's orders."
She felt weak and giddy when she heard that her husband ordered them to take care of her while he was busy even its Sunday. Bliant notices that Yukie's expression is lightened and glowing when it comes to her husband. He realized that Yukie was excited that her spouse would be back soon.
"Oh, Queen Yukie, he'll be back for a couple of hours to check on you, you are his spouse after all. Normally, you need his presence after all. Well then, I shall take my leave now."
Bliant said with a smile and left her room. She felt her body temperature and face blush in deep red, completely caught off guard when Bliant indirectly knew she had feelings for Alexander.
She instantly lay down in bed, covered her face and groaned in embarrassment.
"Am I that easy to read?! Why he can decipher my secret about my spouse?!"
Cried in embarrassment as she was aware that maybe her husband would know her secret towards him and she couldn't handle the pain and rejection just like how Viktor was distant and hated her after he found out that she had a big crush on him and their friendship did not go well.
"Yes, we are married but he'll hate and disgust me if he finds out that I slowly develop feelings with him?"
She won't let Alexander know her feelings. Afraid that it'll affect their relationship and their alliances. But she trusts her husband even if he won't reciprocate love and feelings towards her. She will do anything to not let him discover her hidden affection for him.
Her eyes went heavy, trying to fight the urge of drowsiness then she yawned, decided to take a rest and she was sleeping soundly.
**********************
Alexander went back to the palace and he instantly went to Yukie's room. As he opened the door of her room, he saw her sleeping peacefully with papers and books beside her. His inner desire is growing and badly wants to spoon her while she is sleeping.
Gently stroking her hair, missing the soft and silky feeling of her hair. He is frustrated, wanting to give her innocent physical affection but he is restraining himself, afraid that Yukie will see him as a creepy obsessed man.
He badly wants to touch her but he remembers something important, he finally overcomes his pain as it is hard for him to control his inner desires except one. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, admiring her while her eyes closed and resting.
The sound of leather black boots creates a loud tap in the mop-cleaned marble floor, walks fast and with a serious expression.
He opened the door and saw a man with red hair and a bobcut black-haired woman waiting patiently for his turn.
The two servants kneeled before him on one knee.
"Pleasantries, Your Majesty, your order for summoning Mr Fisher is finally here, as you wish."
Angelica said.
"Pleasantries, King Alexander, I have no idea why you needed me and my presence but I am eager to know and will accept your orders and command, as her majesty, your wife's butler."
Heine said as he respected Alexander. He is just doing this for the sake of his job and concern for Yukie.
"Thank you, Ms. Florencia. And yes you are right, Mr. Fisher. I ordered my secretary to summon you since I'll give you an assignment aside from protecting my wife when I am not around."
Heine raised his eyebrows in confusion about what the king's said.
"I am humbly to ask of what are those, your Majesty? I am willing to follow your orders."
Alexander does not fully trust Heine as he knows his family and Yukie's father's connection are too deep, both political and friendship relationship.
Yet he wanted to test him if he was a reliable servant and people here in this kingdom.
"Do you know the Grand Prince of Derora, Prince Viktor Evangelion? Any idea or brief background information from him?"
Heine was shocked since he did not expect this outcome after all. He is curious about why would Alexander ask him about Viktor, but he doesn't trust Viktor even though they're friends with Yukie.
He feels a heavy ambience towards him and it grows deeper when he publicly shames and rejects Yukie and chooses Sophia instead of her.
"I do not really know a lot about Viktor even though we first met and became close with Queen Yukie the moment we met at the University.
However your Majesty, aside from being the only child of the Evangelion Family, he is the future king and husband of Princess Sophia Lynn Assfrior."
Heine gave a fact about Viktor even though he just barely knows about him since he is a secretive man.
Alexander, on the other hand, is not satisfied with Heine's answers, either he is defending Viktor or he didn't know him so well.
But now he understands why King Harry suggests he should marry Yukie instead of Sophia.
"Mr. Fisher"
"Yes, your Majesty?"
"The reason why I summon you here is about Prince Viktor. My order here is to help Ms Florencia to do a job which is digging information. Your assignment is to dig an information about Prince Viktor. Whatever that information is, gather it all and report it to me"
Heine's eyes went wide, did not expect that this was his first assignment given by Alexander. The red-haired man cannot help but ask for curiosity.
"Uhm, your Majesty, may I ask why would I do this?
"Simple, I do not trust him and he keeps staring at my wife numerous times, because of that, I am completely suspicious of Prince Viktor."
Alexander said bluntly, not even having a minute to think before he spoke.
"So the reason for this, your Majesty is because you are worried to Queen Yukie?"
"Yes, I am. And another assignment is to protect Yukie no matter what in case I am not always with her. Do not even let her see, talk and maybe communicate with Prince Viktor. He is a threat to me. Understand?"
Alexander added in an authoritative tone.
Yet Angelica sensed it was why Alexander acting like this, and she couldn't blame her boss.
Heine agrees with Alexander, and Viktor is suspicious of him but what he finds more surprising is that his tone is different when it comes to Yukie, the first word he ever thinks to Alexander is 'PARANOIA', however, he feels a bit thankful because he is concern to his best friend.
Heine paused a bit, analyzing Alexander's paranoia tone even though he acts as a fearsome king, Heine felt suspicious too about Alexander, his assumption was he cares about Yukie more than a wife only in papers but Heine also didn't want to misunderstand things yet he is quite sure there is a deeper meaning behind his orders given to him.
Thus,
"Your wish is my command, your Majesty."
He accepts Alexander's order, and also he'll observe him too since Queen Kateleryn entrusted him so much before she passed away. He knows how jerk is Viktor when he dumps and humiliates Yukie thus their friendship is instantly over.
Angelica knows already Alexander has feelings for Yukie. She noticed how he acted differently before Yukie came into his light. But she rather keeps her mouth shut as she doesn't want to mess with Alexander. She needs the right timing to tease her boss.
Angelica wasn't sure if Yukie felt the same way, she noticed some of her gestures and the way she reacted with Alexander but it confused her sometimes cause she also thought that Yukie was a nice and kind-hearted woman.
But one thing for sure about Yukie is that she is a clueless one.
Suddenly, thunder crashed as the rain started to pour on Sunday afternoon. The roaring sound deafened them, and Heine suddenly realized this.
Heine stood up with a little panicked tone and frightened expression while Angelica screamed in surprise at the sound of angry roaring thunder.
"Your majesty, I am sorry to say this but where is Queen Yukie?"
Alexander is surprised at Heine's restless and nervous state, but why he is looking for his spouse?
"She is in her bedroom, why?"
Alexander asks with curiosity as he waits for his reply. Heine's reply is making him surprised.
"Your Majesty, your wife had afraid of thunder, no but rather, a TRAUMA. And I am worried about her."
He did not wait for Heine's additional words as he left his office in a rush, not even telling them that they could leave.
Alexander didn't have time for that, as the tapping sound of his boots echoed in the hallway loudly.
The rage scream of thunder keeps booming with a visible yellow flash of lightning that blinds him at the palace glass window.
He doesn't understand why he panics, but after knowing from Heine that Yukie was traumatized by thunder, he instantly searches for her.
His heart was pounding like a jackhammer, almost lost his breath as he ran as fast as he could until he finally managed to reach his spouse's room.
He pulled the grip handle and opened her room. His expression softened as Yukie hid in her blanket.
Another rage thunderstorm booms which makes Yukie tremble in fear with a high-pitched piercing cry.
Hearing her shrieking reminds his past about his weaknesses and cowardness.
"Yukie" he calls but doesn't receive a response.
He sighed first, then he went closer to her, slowly pulled up the blanket and saw her crying and terrified, it broke his heart to see Yukie battling her fears and defenceless.
This is a torture in his eyes.
"Yukie, my wife." says with a gentle voice, trying to calm her down, Yukie saw Alexander when she heard a familiar warm voice.
Yukie almost responded to him but a roaring sound of thunder ruined their moment thus she instantly hugged him even her right ankle was still painful to bear.
Alexander caught him off guard about her actions but she gripped the embrace to him, face buried on his chest while sobbing loudly.
"Do not leave me" she pleaded, her ocean-azure orbs bawling in tears. Yukie needs security and presence from him desperately.
"Do not go, Alex, I am afraid of thunder. Please please."
He pushed Yukie gently into bed, letting her be clingy to him like a koala as they lay down together. They're fully covered in her blanket, as Alexander hugged back Yukie tightly while his free hand rubbed her back forming a circle to comfort her.
"Ssshhh.... I am here now, my wife. It's okay, it's okay. Hug me and cry all you want, you're safe with me."
A faint memory suddenly played in his mind, about their honeymoon last night. His huge fingers gently stroking her wavy hair, his touch on her scalp is therapeutical on her nerves as it slowly calms her down, even the thunder is giving her trauma.
A trauma about her mother's death during the war.
Until now, she is not completely healed of her mother's death.
The scenario is still fresh in her mind like that raging sound of a thunderstorm giving Queen Kateleryn's signal that this is her last day as an exchange of saving her and Sophia Lynn.