Queen Era: The Monster I Love - Chapter 123

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CHAPTER 121

Vidor raised his brows immediately at him. “I mean, how can your majesty say that? Your safety is paramount. That is why you must stay indoors in the palace and leave the rest to your servants. We would do it with great honour and respect.

“So I should also leave strolling and site seeing to my advisers, royal ministers and Lord?”

“No that is not what I mean. I meant, it is our duty to ensure your safety. Perhaps next time it  would be nice to inform me beforehand.”

“To do what?”

“Ensure enough guards accompany you.”

“I wanted to be alone.”

“Okay just for next time case.”

“There would be the next time but I would still want a go at it alone. This topic is closed. If there is nothing else, I would take my leave first.”

“Nothing your majesty. Please, feel free to do as you please.”

Ignoring him, Vidor walked past him. He was definitely tired with him and right now his mind was still filled with the thoughts of Era and no one else.

***

As soon as she arrived in her chambers, Era undressed and rushed into the bathtub.

All she wanted to do was just cool down the boiling rage in her body right now. It felt like if she did not enter the water, her brain, her mind, her blood, everything was going to explode.

She was tired. In that state, as soon as she climbed into the bath, her mind relaxed a fraction and at that moment only a single thought and picture enveloped her mind.

She did not want anything to do with anything. She just wanted that image to go, get out of her mind but no matter how hard she tried to redirect her thoughts, it just wasn’t working.

Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath and settled her mind on the picture that was displayed.

Since it was thoughts of him that rained on, then she chose not to fight it and allow it to be.

The next thing she saw, she recalled when he suddenly kissed her and how when he reopened his eyes, only for her to see the pain etched deep in them and even after she pushed him away and cleaned her lips, the same look of pain reappeared.

Back then she was so angry that she did not want to think about the whole problem but here she was, recalling that and for some reason, the more she thought about it, recalling his pain, the calmer she felt.

She did not know if she was feeling pity for him or she was actually feeling so bad about her actions. All Era knew was that she was confused on every side and front and it was not what she wanted.

‘Come on Era, let this go. So what if he is feeling sad, does the monster king really have feelings? But if he didn’t why would he kiss me? I sincerely do not understand or know what is going on in his mind.’

Her brain was not functioning well. AT times she wanted to defend him and at other times, she wanted to only hate him. This was useless.

Resigning herself to her fate, she closed her eyes and just remained in the bathtub, counting sheep to keep her brain functioning.

In the process of her bath, she did not hear when a knock came on her door and the person entered.

For Aeverie, she had seen when Era returned and as she was going to meet her, she walked into the stables with her horse and when Vidor came, she looked vexed.

To her Lady Royal, something obviously must have happened between the king and queen.

But since she had some other issues to handle, she did not go to greet Era and gave her some time alone. Once she was done, she rushed up to see her.

“Your majesty?” Aeverie called out.

No answer.

“Your majesty?”

Suddenly she heard a little splash coming from her bathroom area and so she relaxed especially when she noticed the pile of clothes on her bed.

More and more splash followed, causing Aeverie to silently let out a sigh. It must have been bad.

Not saying anything, she went ahead to sit down while waiting for Era to come out. She wanted to arrange her things, but her mind was so preoccupied.

After about fifteen more minutes, Era remained still in the bathtub.

At a point, Aeverie was tempted to go in to check if Era was okay but after considering the matter, she did not.

“Hmm, perhaps her outing really did not go well. I must give her some time to cool off and after that, speak to her.”

She was just about to leave when she heard Era let out a loud sigh before rising from the bathtub.

‘I guess I would have to cancel leaving then.’

“Ahem!” She cleared her throat a bit loudly to garner Era’s attention.

“Who is there?”

“Your majesty, it is I, Aeverie.”

“Oh, Aeverie. One minute, please. I would soon be out any moment from now.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

Since she was not going anywhere again, she resulted to arranging her clothes and helped her put her room in order.

“Hmm, I am surprised I didn’t hear you come in,” Era said from behind Aeverie, startling her altogether.

“Oh my!” she let the gown in her hand drop out of shock before turning around to face Era. She was putting on light pink evening nightwear, with her hair let down and in all, she still looked very pretty.

“Your majesty.”

“Did I startle you?”

“Yes, a bit though.” Seeing that her actions were strange, Aeverie took her stand and peered deep into Era’s eyes. “Hmm, it looked like you cried, your majesty. Are you okay?”

“Cried. Pff, I did no such thing. I just had a quick bath and came out. That was why I was surprised that I did not hear you come in.”

“Is that so?” Aeverie was speechless about it all. Was Era starting to lie to her? What happened to the several minutes she spent in there?

It was obvious she had definitely cried and now she was lying about it.

Right now Aeverie was torn between actually telling her the truth or playing along with her lie.

“Hmm.”

“What? Hey, are you staring at me like that? I did nothing wrong you know.”

Folding her arms in front of her chest, Aeverie pursed her lips at Era before speaking. “Hmm, I wanted to keep quiet your majesty, but no. I need to stop it before you make it a habit.”

She arched a brow at Aeverie, not completely getting what she was saying or more or less, trying to hide. “Make what a habit?”

“This.” Aeverie pointed at her face. “This whole thing, your majesty. Your cries, the lies.”

“Pff, here we go again.”

<Author: Mamma mia!>

“I did not lie and I did not cry.”

“Double lie.”

“Aeverie.”

“Calm down, your majesty. Let me explain to you how I know you are lying to me.”

Seeing that she had been caught, Era let out another sigh and proceeded to sit on her bed as she waited for Aeverie to count it all up to her.

“I have been in your chambers for like twenty minutes thereabout and when I came, I met you bathing and what is worse, I called out to you many times and you did not hear nor respond to my call. It can only mean one thing.”

“What?”

“You were so troubled and deep in thought to even hear me and you cannot tell me you were in the water for so long, that was why your eyes are like this. You have been crying, your grace.”

Closing her eyes, Era let out another sigh. She had been caught big time.

“We may not have spent so long a time together but I have served you continuously for months now. So I know and understand you to a large extent, way more than you think I do.”

“Your point?”

“My point is, I think we have come to a threshold or stuff for you not to lie to me, your grace. I have your best interest at heart. I swore my allegiance to you and only you. I care about you and your health. I know you may not necessarily want to tell me things but at the very least do not lie to me.”

“I’m sorry, truly. I value you.”

“I know. I would prefer you tell me you do not want to talk about it than lie to me. I would not serve a lying queen. So please, be honest.”

“I am sorry, Aeverie. I just wanted to hide it, that was why.”

“I understand. I am not mad at you. Right from when you came and you were at the stables that his majesty came to you, that was when I saw and noticed it.”

“Noticed what?”

“Do not start it again, your majesty,” Aeverie playfully warned her.