'Why didn't I just go immediately?' she groaned inwardly, cursing her luck. 'Why did I hesitate? Why did I let it get this far?'
"Go away, Alaric," she managed to call out, trying to sound calm even as her panic grew. But it was useless; she was trapped in here with her own embarrassment, and there was no easy way out.
"I just want to make sure—"
"I'm fine!" she snapped, a bit too forcefully. "I. Am. 'Fine'," she gritted out through clenched teeth, hoping he'd take the hint and leave.
But instead of hearing his retreating footsteps, there was a soft thud as he settled himself 'right' outside the door. He wasn't going anywhere.
'Oh no, please… please don't sit there. Anywhere but there!' She shut her eyes, cringing. The smell wasn't helping her already frayed nerves, and there was no way she could face him after this. 'What am I supposed to do? I can't come out now! It… it 'reeks' in here, and he's going to know.'
She groaned silently, leaning her head back against the cool tile. 'Just let him go. Let him get bored and walk away.'
But somehow, she knew better. Alaric, stubborn as he was, wouldn't just leave. He'd wait, concerned, hovering right outside like the attentive husband he was, oblivious to the fact that his attentiveness was making everything worse.
'This is a nightmare,' she thought, praying desperately that he wouldn't notice the smell or, worse, comment on it when she finally had no choice but to emerge.
After what felt like an eternity, Salviana finally unlocked the bathroom door, stepping out with as much dignity as she could muster, her chin tilted proudly upward despite the embarrassment still burning her cheeks. Alaric immediately rose to his feet, concern etched on his face.
"What happened?" Alaric asked, his voice soft but insistent, eyes following her every step as she moved past him.
Salviana blinked, her cheeks still warm with embarrassment as she feigned innocence, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "What do you mean?" she replied, forcing a casual shrug as she headed toward the window, desperate for a breath of fresh air.
Alaric followed her, not fooled in the slightest. He caught up quickly, his brow furrowed in worry. "Are you all right now? You looked pale earlier... and you were sweating. Was something wrong?"
She huffed, staring pointedly out the window to avoid his gaze. "I'm fine," she said, a little too quickly, biting her lip as she felt his concerned eyes on her. "Nothing happened," she added firmly, hoping he would let it go.
Alaric remained quiet for a beat, but his eyes didn't leave her. "If it was nothing, then why were you shaking like that?" he pressed, his tone growing more tender, as if he feared she might have been unwell. "I thought maybe you were ill, Salviana… or in pain."
She tensed, her shoulders drawing up. This was the last thing she'd wanted—a full interrogation. Determined to keep her pride intact, she turned to him with an overly bright smile. "It was nothing serious, truly," she said, trying to wave it off, though her cheeks betrayed her with their growing blush. "Just… just needed a moment."
"Just a moment?" Alaric echoed, unconvinced. He stepped closer, his hand reaching out, almost instinctively, as if to comfort her. "Are you sure?" His eyes searched her face with genuine concern. "You looked like you were in a rush—like something was… wrong. And you told me to leave so suddenly."
Salviana glanced down, realizing she'd have to say something to make him believe she was fine. She shifted from one foot to the other, muttering under her breath, "Yes, well… I just didn't want to make a fuss over… personal matters."
He raised an eyebrow, catching her unease. "Personal matters?" he repeated, the amusement in his voice undeniable.
"Yes," she bit out, her cheeks aflame. "Things a lady doesn't want to discuss with her husband—especially when he's standing right outside the door!"
Alaric blinked, and then a look of understanding dawned on his face, followed by the faintest twitch of his lips as he held back a laugh. "Ah. I see." He raised his hands, as though in surrender. "You know, if you'd told me earlier…"
She spun around, narrowing her eyes at him. "If I'd told you, you wouldn't have left the door anyway, would you?"
He grinned, unabashed. "Perhaps not. But that's only because I worry about you."
She let out an exasperated sigh, striding across the room. But as she turned, a flicker of humor softened her gaze. "Alaric," she muttered, shaking her head, "sometimes, you're impossible."
With a gentle chuckle, he stepped forward, his expression softening. "Only for you, my fiery one," he murmured, his voice laced with affection. "Next time, just tell me to leave more… firmly."
"Tell you what?" she asked, somehow insisting on acting clueless.
He tilted his head, studying her face. "Salviana, I… I know what happened. You were… doing your business."
Her bravado cracked, and she let out a groan, pressing her palms to her cheeks. "I told you to leave!" she whined, turning away in mortification.
But Alaric only chuckled, an amused glint in his eyes. His laughter, gentle and genuine, sent her heart skittering—until she felt a lump form in her throat, and her eyes began to sting with unexpected tears.
Noticing her expression change, Alaric's laughter faded, and his gaze softened as he stepped forward, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Hey… hey, it's all right," he said, his voice soothing. "Don't cry, my fiery one. This doesn't change anything between us."
She sniffed, glancing up at him through watery eyes. "It's just… it's humiliating. You didn't have to hear… or… smell…"
A gentle smile lifted his lips as he tilted her chin up, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "Salviana," he murmured, his tone warm and reassuring, "I don't care about any of that. I accept you—all of you, the good and the messy and everything in between. If there's anyone I'd rather share… every part of life with, it's you."
She managed a weak smile, her cheeks pink. "You're not just saying that?"
"Never," he replied, pulling her into his embrace and holding her close. "You're my wife, my everything. A little… bathroom mishap is nothing." He grinned, his teasing tone returning. "Besides, it just makes you even more real. And that much easier to love."
Salviana let out a soft laugh, feeling the last of her embarrassment fade away. Resting her head against his chest, she closed her eyes, finally at ease, knowing he truly accepted her—all of her.
"You are at fault for squeezing me so tightly and then waking up when I planned to escape," she mumbled later on.