Rex walking over to Ella sitting reading the book in the far part of the house. Rex sits beside her in silence, hoping to start a conversation but doesn't know how. In their relationship, Ella has always been the one to start the conversation even when she doesn't have something to say, but she will do everything to involve Rex in her day-to-day activities. Ella sits quietly reading her book like Rex is not present there. She doesn't care anymore and just hopes this contract marriage is over, so she can move on with her life. At first, she wanted to enjoy it while it last but the conversation she had with Martha, her grandmother, who told her not to put her hopes up only to gets heart broken again. Currently, all she feels is hatred and betrayal for what he had done to her. "Are we going to sit here and pretend we don't know each other?" Said Rex. "What do you want" replied Ella? Rex, facing her, "why this strange behavior all of a sudden, do we have a problem?" Ask Rex. Ella closes the book. "When I got married to you, I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted, but when I had a conversation with my grandma earlier on. I realize my fantasy is short live, and I'm stealing you from another woman. The moment Julia appears here, I will be the site chick, even though married to you. All I wish is this unfortunate event with the kings gets over, so I can pick what is left of my miserably life and move on, never to see your face again. My innocent world of fantasy is over. This right here is facing reality for once" said Ella and she opens the book to continue reading. Rex is confuse what came over her? Why is she behaving like this? He gets up and walks away, and Ella feels guilty for talking to him as such. He has put his life, his love, his everything on the line to safe her by getting married to her. The least she can do is appreciate him and enjoy it while it last but the thought of losing him, knowing this will end tomorrow and what her grandmother said is what is stopping her from calling Rex back.
Rex walking away hoping Ella will call him back as before, when they endorse in an argument, before Rex could move a step Ella will holds him, stop him and apologize to him. But he is almost reaching the house and Ella is not calling him back, and he doesn't know how to let go of his ego and turns back to her. Holds her and makes her feel better. These are rare moments in their lives. They are supposed to be happy, but pride is also on their minds.
Ella sleeps with her grandmother that night just to stop herself from going to Rex's room, and Rex sleeps alone in her room, scenting her perfume and everything about her in that room. The whole night, he can't sleep because he wanted to talk to her and wipe the pain he saw in her eyes, but Ella had decided to distant herself from him. Making things difficult for him now, how could Ella always brings down her pride to come to him whenever he needs her is something he needs to learn. On how to go to her when he requires her too.
Rex finally falls asleep in the early hours of the morning, and the voice of Ella wakes him up when she calls her grandmother to collect water for her. Rex looks at the time is almost 10 am. This is the first time he has sleep above 7am in the morning. He quickly gets up and brushes his teeth, puts on a simple shirt and allows the trousers of the pajamas on while leaving the room. His bread fast is on the table, and he hears Ella taking to her grandmother outside the veranda. If it were one of those early mornings, the first thing will be for him to eat his breakfast, and prepare for work while Ella will be talking to him and arranging his belongings together. She will be the one to wake him if he sleeps after 6pm, but she just allows him on the lonely bed alone while she moves with her daily activities like he isn't present. This Negligence attitudes of Ella is getting on his nerves, and he is not finding it funny anymore. Ella raises her head from selecting maize and sees him standing at the door, staring at her. Ella smiled at him and continues with her work like he didn't matter. If Rex is doubting her behavior, she has just confirms, she is definitely angry with him, and he doesn't understand why how to pacify her. Rex goes and eats his food. "Since she wishes to ignore me, I am master of such. I will ignore her too, what is wrong with her?".
Ella dressing in the room for the presentation at the palace in the afternoon hours. Her grandmother is ready and walking up and down making sure all is in place. Ella, standing in front of the mirror, putting on her makeup. Rex walks into the room, and she pretents he isn't there. She continues her makeup in silence. Rex closes the door, walks and stands behind her, so she can view his face in the mirror standing behind him. Ella continues with her makeup even thought in her mind, she desperately wants to hold him, kiss him and for second forgets all the manners her parents have bestowed on her as a kid.
Since Ella keeps on as if he isn't present, Rex turns the sits of Ella for her to face him and backing the mirror. "What do you want?" Said Ella bend to pick her chain that falls on the floor. Rex realizes he hasn't made up and excuse yet for why he was in the room. "Why have you been ignoring me" said Rex bluntly, not caring how stupid it sounds to himself? His closeness and she sitting down is playing on her sense of decency, Ella gets up, walking to the other side of the room. "What makes you think, I'm avoiding you" said Ella nonchalantly. With two strikes, Rex is behind her, so close but not touching her. Ella can feel the heat radiating from him to her body. Making her nerves stand still. Ella walking fast out of the room. "I need to talk to my grandmother ". Before Ella can open the door and finds her way out, Rex jumps the door in front of her. "You are not leaving until I know the reasons why you are giving me this cold shoulder". Ella knows there is no escaping Rex, Rex's worse scenario is when he is being ignored and Ella has been doing that intentionally and is working because he can't stand it. Ella goes and sits down in front of the mirror. "I'm not ignoring you, Rex, am just been practical about us. Today, after the presentation, you will be traveling back to Sanila city to continue with Julia. The love of your life while we start the divorce proceedings next week ". Staring at him through the mirror knowing what she is saying is true, and it hurts both of them to know, this union right here will come to an end and none can't bring themselves to fight for it. "Rex, it is not easy knowing you belong to another while here with me pretending to be my husband". Rex walks towards her to hold her, but Ella gets up, so he will not touch her. "Please Rex, not now, don't touch me". She faced him squarely. "Do you know how I felt seeing you ontop of her? It will take edges to wipe that image from my head. I had to borrow you from her to save me. When have you ever borrowed me from another to attend to your needs?" Ella is getting angry and Rex doesn't like the direction of this conversation. "Please, Ella, stop talking". I?
Grandmother walking towards the door "Ella where are you" said grandmother. Is almost time for us to leave". Ella opens the door and walks out while Rex is still talking. "Let go, Grandma", said Ella, bypass her grandmother walking away from her. Rex walks out of the room and joins grandma "I am ready, let go" walking away from Grandma too. The distance from Martha's house to the palace is not that far, and Ella is walking on the road in silence while Grandma is explaining things to Rex about the culture and some signs they meet on their way. When they view the splendor of the palace, Martha exchange position with Ella, "both of you have to perform the act of a perfect, loving couple in front of the king. Now Rex holds Ella's hand, and please can both of you smile for God's sake.
To be continued