Queen Era: The Monster I Love - Chapter 106

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CHAPTER 106 – Not All You See

“Where is she? Where is she? Gosh!”

“Who, your majesty?”

Hearing that voice, Vidor’s eyes widened in shock and turned around swiftly to see for himself.

Walking towards him was none other than his dearly beloved queen. He looked dazed just staring at her. Although she wore a simple outfit, her beautiful face still radiated in the night and that had made him stunned.

“Your majesty,” Aeverie and Arya greeted as soon as they got to where he was standing.

“My queen. Please rise.”

“Thank you, your majesty.” She looked over at Aeverie and nodded her head, permitting her to return to her chambers without her.

“Ah, my queen where went you at this time of the night?”

“Nowhere in particular. My Lady Royal and I decided to take a stroll outside the palace and I didn’t want everyone paying respects and all, so we wore simple clothes.”

“Ah, I see. But you know it is very well dangerous for you to be outside the palace walls.”

Era did not know whether he was warning her or scolding her r advising her. All she knew was he spoke those words in a statement and his smile, hid whatever meaning there should have been to it.

“I see, your grace. Thanks. I would keep that in mind.”

“Okay.”

None of them spoke after that. They both stared at something else, feeling very awkward by their somewhat closeness.

“Umm, isn’t the sky beautiful today?” Vidor asked, pointing at the sky.

“Yes. It is. That was why it was the perfect time for a stroll.”

All of a sudden a thought struck home and Era smiled at the idea. “Um, your grace.” She cleared her throat and took a step closer to him. “By peradventure, have you been outside the palace walls before?”

Arching his brows at her, Vidor scoffed. “What?”

“Yes. I mean what I say and I say what I mean. Have your majesty been outside the palace walls before?”

“Well, I have.”

“On how many occasions? Have you seen your people or you just…”

“Wait, wait, wait! Hold on one minute. When you asked that, I thought you meant.” He paused. It sounded stupid that he had thought that way and now telling her.

‘Gosh, my big mouth! I should have gone with the flow and gone to see what she was talking about. Now I look like a king who doesn’t care for his people. Well, she may not have been far from the truth.’ Vidor thought.

“Your majesty, what were you about saying?” era called out.

“Nothing much. I just thought you meant going to war. You know I have been out of the palace on so many occasions when we went to battle so what is your point.

0_0

What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Umm, sorry. I am sorry, your grace. I never meant to. It is just that,” she looked to her side, making sure none of their subordinates was close by then returned her gaze back to him and half-smiled.

“You are king and have ruled this kingdom since from a young age, yet you have never one day wandered off from the palace to the kingdom, its towns and villages. At least if not the villages, the towns.”

“Well no. I haven’t. That is why I have subordinates to do that for me.”

“No. I mean you need to go in and see the people’s welfare by yourself. It most times tells a different tale from what would be reported.”

“No. That is nonsense. I trust my people very well and I ensure the citizens of the kingdom are given the best. I do not conquer and enjoy myself alone. My people enjoy with me.”

“I doubt that, your grace. I myself may not have gone deep into the town but from the little I see, there are still those suffering. The ones whom some foodstuff and other things are supposed to get to but it never gets to them.”

“So you mean?”

“Think about it, your majesty and go see for yourself. Who do you out in charge of this sort of distribution?”

“Umm, it is Caspian. I have always trusted him to have the people’s best interest at heart.”

“Lord Caspian,” Era scoffed. “You truly believe that he has the people at heart?”

“Umm, yes. Shouldn’t I?”

Era did not answer that question, rather her eyes dimmed as she stared at him. Her mind was already far gone as the images of what happened on that fateful day flashed before her eyes again.

‘The very same man that orchestrated my kingdom’s demise, why am I not surprised?’

“Era. Era.” She was too busy recalling the screams and pain her people went through that she failed to hear him.

It was not until he touched her shoulder that she blinked and realize she was not alone.

“Yes?”

“You spaced out for a minute there.”

“I did?”

“Yes. Is everything okay?”

Era was confused by his question and concern. The Vidor she knew and heard about would not even bother to do that let alone want to know how she fared.

He really was changing. Looking into his eyes, she could see genuine care through those beautiful eyes and only wondered if she was dreaming or this was all real.

“My queen?”

“Umm.” She lightly shook her head, bringing her thoughts back from wonderland. “You said?”

“I was wondering if you were okay. I think you are. Perhaps you have been exposed to so much cold during your stroll.”

“Ah, yes. I guess so. But I would be fine, your grace.”

“Okay.”

Even after saying that, he still did not remove his hand from her shoulder and that had bothered her. Looking at him, Era cleared her throat again to bring his attention to what he was doing subconsciously.

They weren’t close to that extent and she did not plan on letting things slide easily. He and Caspian must surely pay for what they did to her.

“Ahem! Your majesty?”

“Yes?” Rather than speaking, Era directed her gaze to where his hand was on her shoulder and back at him when she noticed his gaze had followed after her.

“My shoulder?”

“Ah, yes. Yes.” But his hand remained still. “I am sorry. I guess I should remove this.”

She nodded at him and it took forever before Vidor finally let her go. The second he did, he felt a sense of emptiness cloud his being and that was very sad for him but he tried his best not to show it to Era.

“Anyways, as I was saying, even though you trust people, still ensure you do a thorough check of things. I would not tell you to not trust anyone but I believe even you know the risk of trusting people. Besides, not everything you see is as it seems. You should know better.”

“Oh.”

“Well, that is just all I can say. In the end, you are still king. If there is no other thing, I would love to retire for the night, your majesty.”

She bowed her head at him, signifying to him her departure whether he approved of it or not.

“Umm…” He blinked several times. He could not believe he was acting stupid before her.

“Wait.”

“Yes? Is anything the matter?”

“Ahem! Not really.”

“Okay?” Era had a look of confusion showing on her face but she did little to mask it away. Perhaps it was her way of showing him to be fast or just being ignorant of what he wanted to say.

“Umm, I would. Okay. What is your schedule for tomorrow evening? Would you be busy?”

“Technically, yes. I presume. I do not really know much about it but I believe I have one or two engagements tomorrow evening,” she lied.

“I see. Then perhaps the next day?”

“Umm, I would see and check if I can squeeze out a little time. Is anything the matter?”

“Not really. It is okay. I can see you are very busy.”

Even he knew that’s he was lying and had no prior engagement but she was not willing to tell him so.

‘Have I become that scary that the idea of a dinner with me or outing is evasive even to her? Hmm, what am I even saying? I have not yet asked her. But with her attitude now, it is most definitely going to be a no, isn’t it?’

He let out an exasperated sigh. His pursuit had not begun but she was already dashing his hopes against the wall. It made him wonder if he ever would be able to get her.

“Your majesty?”

“No, do not worry about it. I was thinking of,” he paused again. “Do not worry. I would sort things out myself. You are tired from your journey. You may return to your chambers now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I am. Do not bother with me. I would retire later. Good night.”

“Good night, your majesty.”

Not probing any further, Era bowed her head to him and withdrew before taking her leave from his presence.

As soon as he was sure she had lefts where he was, he looked back up to the sky and yelled.

“AIISSHHHH!”