Dalia did not think that Adum was serious with her words. In fact, she did not heed what had been spoken before, but now it seemed that Adum was totally serious.
"No, I cannot do that," Dalia shook her head, instantly refusing the offer. Why should she have to work that hard in this marriage when the king was the one who married her? Why must she have to make him want her?
"The king will call for me if he must," she twisted her mouth, clearly uninterested.
"You are his wife," Adum came next to her and sat on the stool placed in front of her. "He cannot reject you if you enter his room."
Dalia shook her head, clearly not listening. No one had entered the king's room; she had been told that herself. Why would the king be pleased that she entered his room? "You know quite well that I cannot seduce him; he will see through it."
"You are not there to seduce him," Adum narrowed her eyes. "It is likely possible that the king would refuse if you try to take him to the terrace. The first step is to walk into his room and speak with him."
Her gaze traveled to the marble wall behind Adum. She could not even look at her face. Clearly, Adum was not sending her to her doom. "I will think about it," she said with a sigh. "I will rest for now."
"Certainly, my queen," Adum smiled, stood up, and left.
Dalia sat alone in the tiny room, her hand traveling on the soft pink mattress. Why must the husband and wife be separated unless he clearly has a huge secret he was hiding and why does no one ever enter his room?
She was curious just like Adum, but she wouldn't be so foolish to enter the king's room without his permission.
She clearly feared the king, she was constantly reminded about the rumors of the people he had killed and the kingdoms he had destroyed. This alone brought intense fear inside of her, leaving her uncertain about Adum's suggestions.
But even though she feared him, he was still her husband, and she must get to know him.
It was during dinner that he arrived; he strode towards his usual seat at the table, but for the first time, she noticed that he wasn't looking at her.
His gaze was solely fixed on the plate of food in front of him.
What happened? Although his face was still covered with his mask, she could feel a menacing aura coming from him. That was enough reason to gulp and and look away from him.
"Do you still fear me?" he questioned, his voice on the edge as if he was fighting the words out.
She blinked, turning to him swiftly. Her mouth was slightly parted as she could not think of what to say. Why had he suddenly asked that?
He looked up at her, his gaze traveling over her. "Answer me," his voice was gravelly enough to send chills down her spine.
"I... I do not know." Why was he instilling fear in her? The growling and tone of his voice was enough to cause fear within her.
"You are not thinking of escaping, are you?" he tilted his head. "So I am assuming you no longer fear me."
Why was he suddenly asking this?
"Will I ever be allowed in your room? Are we going to keep having separate rooms?" she asked all of a sudden.
She felt him stiffen, but he quickly cleared his throat and focused on his food. "No, stay out of my room."
"I am your wife, it is not right," she mumbled, looking back at the table, clearly not interested in eating at all.
He sighed, leaned back in the enormous seat. "Young lady, I have no interest in what feels right or not. It is the rules here, and you must follow them," he muttered something under his breath, something she did not catch.
"Then why did you marry me?" Her voice laced with slight irritation.
Her mother had mentioned that he needed a bride in place of protecting their kingdom. Clearly, he did not marry her to turn her into his slave. Then why? What was her purpose here?
"I did not intend to marry you," he shrugged. "A wife is an inconvenience to me; your father pleaded I should marry you in order to save his kingdom."
"That is not..." Her eyes widened with shock. "Is not true," she said, choking on her own words.
No, they had clearly mentioned that the king needed a bride; he is clearly lying. But for what reason? She cannot tell. The treatment she is receiving clearly shows that the king was not interested in her.
"It is the truth," he said nonchalantly, then his mouth turned into a frown. "And now, I have just received a message from your father," he was almost yelling. She could feel the anger emanating from his voice. "That his people request a child, that it will be a proof that this marriage is well."
Tears pricked from Dalia's eyes. She couldn't even begin to process all of this. Her father had suggested for the monster to marry her? How could he? Did her mother know about this? Was she also aware that her father had suggested she be married to him? But why? They could have offered anything else.
"So I ask again," he drawled, watching her keenly, "If you are still scared of me, for as long as you fear me, there is no consummation."
He leaned forward, clearly unfazed by the tears trickling down her cheek. "So what do you say, wife? Do you want to consummate this marriage when you still fear me?"
She shook her head; for a moment, she could not breathe. She could not think. She was not even listening to what he was saying, for her heart was pained.
"I cannot. I do not want to continue in this marriage. I want to go home," she looked at him pleadingly, hoping he would listen to her words.