Chapter 39
[ 1,109 words ]
Arabella Toussaint:
When a maid pushed a trolley inside, my eyes landed on the tray that had freshly baked buns. A glass pitcher was filled with thick mango shake.
Yum! I couldn’t wait to attack it.
The maid arranged everything on the small table before placing it on my bed. Lucien pushed the table closer to me, “Eat.”
I nodded with a small smile, scared that he might change his mind and give me a leftover bread instead, “Thank you, my king.”
I picked up one bun with both hands. The sweet smell of strawberry jam instantly reached me, making my stomach growl.
Good Goddess. I prayed that he hadn’t heard it. Like a good girl, I tore off a tiny piece and placed it into my mouth.
Good heavens. Delicious!
I took careful, small bites, feeling his gaze on me. At this point, I didn’t even know if I should offer him. After a moment, he picked up the tablet resting on the bedside table, shifting his attention to its screen.
I stole a quick glance. He wasn’t looking anymore. Without thinking, I took a much bigger bite. Umm. Too good!
The way strawberry jam coated my tongue, I hurriedly washed it down with a long sip of the mango shake.
My body forgot everything about manners and only remembered hunger. Before I could even realize it, I had eaten three buns in a row and didn’t know how to stop.
“More?” His voice made me go still as he asked me without looking up from his tablet.
Goddess. He wasn’t oblivious to me.
“N…no… thank…” Burp .
My eyes flew open.
I clamped my hand over my mouth and squeezed my eyes shut in embarrassment.
Seriously, Arabella. Go bury yourself somewhere, you hungry ape .
His low chuckle reached my ears, and at last he looked up to meet my gaze, “Anything else?”
I shook my head quickly. For a moment, something almost primal flickered in his golden eyes. When he stepped closer, I instinctively held my breath.
“D…do you need anything…” I whispered. Instead of answering me, he lifted his hand, and his thumb brushed lightly across the corner of my lips. Only then did I realize there was a smear of strawberry jam on my face.
He glanced at his thumb for the briefest moment before absentmindedly running it across his own tongue, his eyes never leaving mine.
The small action made me catch my breath. His golden gaze seemed to darken ever so slightly. When he cocked up a questioning brow, then I realized that I was staring at him like a fool.
My face burned in embarrassment as I shook my head.
Before I could say anything, a knock interrupted the silence. Before either of us could respond, the door opened. My entire body stiffened when I saw who it was.
The queen.
My appetite vanished instantly. Without thinking, I shrank back against the bed. The worst thing?
She was wearing the same dress as my dream.
“Mother?” Lucien’s friendly aura vanished in an instant, “What are you doing here?”
For a brief second, I wanted him to ask her to leave.
“Lucien,” she greeted him with a warm smile and then turned to me. To my surprise, she maintained that smile while looking at me.
“Arabella…” she said sweetly, “How’re you feeling now, dear?”
This was the first time she called me Arabella. What happened to her? She was not someone to give up that easily.
I looked at her confusion.
“I’m… I’m fine… Your Highness,” I bent my head in submission.
“Oh, thank the Moon Goddess,” she sighed in relief as she took a step toward my bed, “I’m sorry for being rude to you yesterday… I don’t know what got into me. Maybe I was too worried for Zara. You saved my granddaughter and that was how I repaid you. Please accept my apologies,” she held my hand and squeezed it gently.
Oh, Moon Goddess. Was this another one of my dreams?
My gaze traveled to King Lucien’s face, who was clenching his jaw so hard that the muscles stood out.
The queen must have felt his gaze on her, but she didn’t bother to look at him, “I’m so sorry, Arabella,” she repeated the apology, “Even my son was mad at me. I had been horrible to you when all you deserved was a thank you. Whatever you or your brother did… we can talk about it some other day. But the only thing that matters right now is Zara and her mental health.”
I nodded my head without understanding a single word. I was not a fool. She was playing some sick game behind that smile.
Bloody hypocrite.
She wasn’t here because of me. She was here to show her son that she wasn’t a monster. I lowered my gaze before she could see the fear in my eyes.
Lucien’s eyes glazed back for a moment. He was receiving a mindlink.
Seeing his hesitation, the queen called him softly, “Lucien. If you want to go out, then don’t worry about her. I’ll stay with Arabella.”
He looked from his mother to me. With a faint smile, I nodded at him. Of course, he couldn’t stay glued to my ass twenty-four-seven.
He gave a reluctant nod, “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” his golden eyes lingered on me for another heartbeat before he finally walked out of the room.
The moment the door clicked shut, I didn’t move. To my surprise, the queen reached for my hand, “You must be through so much, child.”
I stared at her in confusion.
“I know this palace can be overwhelming. You must take better care of yourself.”
I must have lost my voice because it refused to come out. She smiled at me again. Something about her made my skin crawl.
I forced a smile, “Your Majesty… may I use the bathroom?”
“Oh… of course, dear.”
I hurriedly went inside and locked the door. Letting out the breath, I leaned against the door and pressed a trembling hand against my chest.
After a few moments, I walked to the sink and turned on the tap to splash some cold water across my face.
As I reached for the towel, a sharp sting shot through my wrist. With a frown, I slowly raised my hand and looked down.
The color drained from my face when I realized what it was. The dark red mark circled my wrist that was left there by the queen in my dream, while forcing me to slap my face.
What the actual fuck.
Wasn’t it supposed to be just a dream?
Holy shit!
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