Kalix Noah's POV
Everyone praised the food that was served at their tables. They didn't expect that every ingredient and dish came from the rich food culture of this region.
My wife really did her research and promoted the beauty of this region. After dinner, everyone starts to dance with their wives, partners, and dates and flirt around.
I look around. I didn't see her again. "My goodness. She better not be with another man again," I murmur.
I walked around and tried to find her. Why do I keep losing her?! Someone suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from the crowd.
I turn around and see who the fuck is when a beautiful smile captures me. I was being dragged to the balcony.
She chooses the side far from the door. "That was close," she says.
My wife was laughing smoothly. She raised her two fingers, making a sign of peace. "It's just draining me. I want to have some fresh air when I notice that Lady Leticia is walking towards you. I dragged you away."
She leans back on the porch. Wait. Lady Leticia? I didn't notice her. "I know you like her, but if Prince Lukas notices it, it'll be a problem," she stated.
She looked away while telling me those words. "I've been looking for you. Can you stop running away or leave me out of sight? If you want to breathe fresh air, just tell me," I remarked.
She looks at me. My wife was confused because my reply was far from what she said. I held her hand.
"Can we dance? We didn't get a chance on our wedding day because of what happened," I say.
I pulled her closer, and we stood in the middle. We can still hear a bit of the music inside the venue hall. I held her other hand and placed it on my shoulder, then it fell on her waist. I start moving.
"Thank you for this wonderful ball. You set it up perfectly, even in such a short period of time. We're already tired from what we did in Easton, but you still prepared a beautiful and detail-oriented ball. Everyone was impressed," I remarked.
I let go of her waist and let her twirl around. I let go of her completely, made a step forward, and caught her waist.
She bent backward and looked at the sky. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her up. We almost kissed when she stood straight again. My wife's hands held my face and met my gaze.
"I'm happy that you appreciate our efforts. Your servants are very helpful to me. Is it okay if they'll have three days off and I'll give them a bonus? They can have time for their family after they didn't make it tonight," she suggests.
"No problem with me," I replied.
She smiled. We continued dancing for more minutes until I noticed that her feet seemed to be tired.
"I didn't know you could dance gracefully," I utter, leaning on the porch next to her.
Kassandra shook her head and sighed. "Arida and her mom teach me. They're quite scary tutors," she says. That made me laugh.
"It's a success ball, Kassandra. I owe you a lot, my duchess. Congratulations," I remarked. She held my hand, and we both laughed because of how cheesy this talk was.
The party ended around two in the morning. My wife tells the servants to rest after they put all the utensils, plates, and drinking and wine glasses in the huge basins.
She said that everyone should take their rest. I'm already in my room but I am still looking at my palm. I can still smell my wife's scent on my skin and hands.
"Ahh, she smells great," I whispered.
I smell my hands. That sweet, orange-scented perfume she used. Her look is really different from what she portrays when she's still in the borderlands.
'Daniel Argus… that man. I saw how she looked at my wife. I knew something was wrong. He looks at her too gentle.'
I closed my eyes and decided to go to sleep. I hope I'm just being too dramatic about it. Just in case Daniel falls in love with Kassandra, what am I going to do? She's my wife, right?
…
The next day, it's almost noon when most of us wake up. The hall is already cleaned, and the things we used last night were the same either.
I wonder if everyone had their lunch. I'm already hungry. I was finding my mother and father when Leticia suddenly appeared from a corner.
She smiled and looked at me. "It looks like you're enjoying your married life, your majesty," she said. I continued walking and acting civil. I don't want to be rude to Lady Leticia.
"Hmm? What did you mean by that, Lady Leticia?" I ask. She shrugs her shoulder and walks next to me.
"I just saw it last night. Her vice general was also flirting last night. She didn't even care about her master's safety. They just talk a little, and that's it," she said. I stopped walking and looked at her. I feel like she's been watching my wife since last night.
"Lady Leticia, I think your eyes were looking at my wife's movement too much. I wonder why," I directly ask.
She looks surprised because I've spoken frankly. Leticia hides her embarrassment by laughing. I continue walking and look around, finding anyone from the three people I'm looking for.
"Your majesty, I feel like you told me that I'm your wife's stalker. Why would I do that?" she softly asks.
I hide my irritation. "I don't know. Maybe she's interesting to you because her actions were far from what we expected when we met her for the first time, right?"
I use my peripheral vision. I saw how her expression turned sour. "I don't think so. She still acts a little off for me."
'What kind of feeling is this? I am irritated when she talks badly about my wife. She's making me mad!'
I smiled when I saw my mother and my two younger sisters. They're with their personal servants. I walk faster. I saw my third big brother and Leticia's betrothal, which hates me.
I think my parents are somehow right about something. "Mother," I called.
They stopped. They're heading to the main garden, where the fountain and gazebos are. "Son, you're awake. Have you eaten your lunch? You should look for your wife. She hasn't eaten yet because she's waiting for you," mother says.
That made me smile. I knew it. My sister Celeste speaks. "Look who we have here—it's Big Brother and that general," she says.