The two had dinner silently but only Theron knew how much he was bursting with happiness inwardly. His beautiful bride or rather now his wife fed him so warmly and lovingly, and Theron absolutely loved it. He giggled silently looking at Astra with pure admiration and bliss as she wiped the table. Her face looked so small, yet she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. The only thing he hoped and was wishing for is to stay with her all the time.
"Where will I keep these?" Astra asked Theron while holding the utensils they had just used.
Theron snapped from his fantasy world but the smile on his face did not brush off. He stood up from his seat and gestured at Astra to follow him.
"Place them here. Someone will come and take them away tomorrow morning." There was another smaller table there and Astra kept the plates there before turning to Theron. She had something on her mind since they started having dinner but waited till they were done so she could ask him.
"How often do you go out?" It was crucial for Astra to know, so that maybe she could use that opportunity and find out what was going on in the palace. How come Crown Prince Theron had been sick but it was kept a secret? When did it happen? And most of all, who was that person who killed her brothers in the name of Prince Theron? She had too many questions but did not know who would answer any of them. So, she had to find out herself.
"Whenever I want to," Theron replied making Astra's eyes lit up but his next word blew away her little hope. "But I don't do it anymore. They always hit me when I go out, so I prefer staying in here."
On one side, Astra felt her plan had hit a hard rock and on the other side, her attention was piqued, wondering who had the guts to beat a crown prince.
"Who hits you?" she asked curiously.
Theron looked at Astra and shook his head in denial. "I can't tell you. I don't want them to beat you too." Theron replied, his voice as sweet as ever with a hint of worry in it, but his hands were shaking a little bit.
Astra noticed it and without a second thought, she placed her little hands on top of his to calm him down. "Why would anyone do that? No one can beat me." She tried to lessen his worry so he could give her an answer.
Theron looked at her caught in between, blinking his eyes time to time then slowly but surely hugged her. He was sniffling quietly his head on Astra's hair while still taking in her sweet scent that magically calmed his nerves. "They said if I tell anyone then they'll beat that person. You are my wife, and you told me a husband should protect his wife. I don't want them to hurt you. I won't let them hurt my wife." He explained rubbing his chin on Astra's hair.
Astra smiled a feeling of warmth she had forgotten spreading across her heart. How long had it been since someone cared for her this way? She had just found that comfort she yearned for in a stranger who was now her husband. A husband she had just known for a couple of hours now, but it felt like she had known him forever. Astra raised her hands slowly and hugged Theron back, the smile on her face widening.
"I won't let them beat you anymore," she whispered under his ear and Theron held her tighter not wanting to let go. "I'll also protect you too just as much as you want to protect me."
"Really? You will not let them hit me again?" Theron enquired his voice low and sad.
"You just have to... trust me," Astra knew for sure she was not supposed to get too comfortable in this place let alone befriending someone, but she could not help but want to protect the man holding her. Whatever that feeling was, it was not supposed to happen, but it felt so right that she could not resist. It was something she had not experienced before. The desire to keep a stranger who happened to be now her husband safe even though he was supposed to be her nemesis, conquered her soft heart and she willingly gave in to it.
"I trust my wife most," Theron said giggling silently and after a short while, he let go of Astra but still kept his hands on hers. He wanted to feel the warmth emitted by her hands which spread all through to the depth of his heart. "So, we will protect and take of each other, right beautiful wife?"
"Yes, we will," Astra replied with a chuckle and Theron's charming smile returned instantly making Astra get drowned into it. "Now will you tell me who those people are that beat you?"
Theron nodded his head then replied, "It's my bad brothers. They are very bad. Do you know, they hit me with a whip and warns me not to tell anyone or else they..."
Astra stopped him by placing her hand on his mouth when she saw how he was shaking in terror. His broken expression hit Astra's heart and she could feel her heart breaking too. Her hands travelled on Theron's sweater sleeves and folded them. Her mouth went wide in horror when her eyes fell upon the dark scars on his arms.
"Oh dear, how cruel are they? This is so inhuman!" Astra exclaimed as more and more scars unveiled the further she folded his sleeves.
"It's fine am already used to it. That's why I stay here so they won't hurt me," Theron said but his earlier enthusiasm was gone replaced by loneliness and sadness. How long had this gone that he was already used to it? Astra was puzzled how one's brothers could be this cruel.
"Theron, I promise I won't let them hurt you anymore, alright?" Astra made a promise also to herself without any hint of hesitation. She did what she felt was right and keeping him safe felt so right than anything else she had ever done.
Theron nodded his head in agreement. He pressed his lips together forming a childish smile before hugging Astra.
"I love my beautiful wife the most," he declared smiling brightly in Astra's arms.
Astra froze but then recovered quickly knowing Theron still had the mind of a child, so his words and affection were still like that of a child.
"Alright now. Why don't we get you to sleep?" Astra said withdrawing from the hug.
Theron smiled in response then held her hand before dragging her into another room, his bedroom. He stopped on the side of the king-sized bed then climbed on it and sat on the middle with his legs folded. He looked at Astra then tapped the empty space.
"Come, beautiful wife. I want to listen to a story."