Lady In Red

25

"How-How is your Majesty's day going?"

He chuckled looking away and tapping his hand over the head of the couch, "I see you have forgotten my orders."

"What-?"

Why wouldn't she call me by my name?

And he couldn't stop himself, grabbing her by her neck and kissing her deeply. She was taken back, pushing on his chest with her hands in shock. He caressed her lips before biting them causing her to wince.

Pulling back Xerxes had already lost his temperance.

"Your Majesty, they are ready." Xerxes glanced at Andrew before picking her up.

That soft shriek as she held onto his shoulder when he stood up made him smile. He gently lets her down, her hands fall to his forearms.

" Are you comfortable riding a horse?"

She looked up at him and nodded. He took her hand and guided her to the back gates of the castle. Her eyes almost shone as she stared at the horse.

"This is Nine. My companion since youth." Xerxes introduced him patting him as she smiled softly running her hands over him.

"Nine?" She asked.

"Because it took Nine days for His Majesty to tame him."

That's unusual, she giggled.

Ruby snapped her neck at Xerxes as he put on his cape. Before holding her waist and picking her up. Her light gasp worried him, but he knew she would be fine.

Getting behind her he looked down at Fredrick and then her maid.

"We shall be back before dusk."

Fredrick was upset at the sudden excursion. He wasn't invited. He could not join, but he trusted Her Majesty would be safe. After all, she was with the King.

Ruby was happy, nervous but happy that the King had taken her out of the castle. She was disappointed when the rules consisted of her need to stay within the walls for her safety for another 3 months, till it was time for them to be introduced to their people.

Her heart raced as they rode through the forests but at a slow pace because of her.

His hand would momentarily rest over her stomach and then go back on the rope.

His stubble brushed against her cheeks causing flusters in her belly. She had never done this before or even thought of it. The fascinating ride had her wishing it would never end. Alas it did come to an end but the destination was breathtaking.

In the middle of the hills, where the ground was covered in wild grass and sprinkled with native flowers. Fewer trees and wide ground. At a distance, the base of the mountains was covered in fog.

The wind was chilly but the sun gave her warmth, it was refreshing. There was silence for miles, something she didn't understand. Surely there would be birds and animals around, yet the only sound she heard, was of the wind brushing through.

She thanked Xerxes softly as he helped her down. She naturally walked ahead to see more of that view.

A sudden cold air brushed past her and she felt eyes on her.

Everything suddenly made sense, the eerie silence, the feeling of being watched. By predator. Her body stiffened and dread filled her body when she realised it wasn't just the thought of a predator around. She was with them.

Alone.

Ruby could see her chest rise and fall rapidly as she suddenly felt fear rush in her veins. It was uncalled for. She was fine moments ago.

Hands wrapping around her waist caused her to let out a silent yelp, and her body jerked forward taking him aback. He turned her around seeing fear in her eyes.

" Yes, it does go silent because wild animals take us as predators. Calm your nerves Ruby"

His finger brushed against her cheek before he took her hand and pulled her towards a tree, his assistant staying behind scanning the area. He sat leaning against a tree and held out his hand.

Ruby didn't contemplate, taking it and sitting next to him.

She stared at the grass, pushing her fingers through it and loving the tickles under her palm.

"I suppose you felt a sense of dread surrounding you..because of the silence." He stated, his thumb brushing against her cheek and pushing back her long hair. She shook her head softly.

"I heard the birds, everything just stopped when I got down. It feels unnatural."

He looked away dropping his hand. Something that causes her to feel sad. Not being under his touch made her sad.

She continued string down and playing with the grass as he enjoyed the moment of silence.

"Fredrick-" His name granted her attention swiftly as she looked up to Xerxes, " Are you close to him?"

She wondered where that question came from, "Not much. I was introduced to him a week before our wedding.." She pondered whether to stop or continue. Her pause seem to catch his attention. He looked into her eyes and raised his brow.

Her shoulder moved just a bit to shrug off that tension, "I see him as a brother, more or less. Since he is older than me, someone my mother trusted."

"And did you ever fancy someone before our marriage?" He asked taking her hand in his and running circles over her back.

Thoughts were now getting blurred as her mind fixated on his touch. But she scrambled to answer him,"I-"

"I do not want an answer that you think will please me."

Well, then what do you want?

She slapped her thoughts aside, "I wasn't allowed to court. I was under her Majesty's wing, my mother focused on my education and forbade me from talking to men-" She suddenly chuckled.

"I was under strict eyes. Then suddenly asked to accept Prince Edward's hand."

"Did you like him-"

That was a tricky question to answer.

I did like him. But what if the King hated my answer? she thought.

"You do not have another choice but to like the man chosen for you, especially by their Majesties themselves-"

She paused abruptly. What if this angers him? After all he was one of the men I was married too without my approval.

And as she suspected, his gaze dropped.

"So You are forced to like me against your will?"

"No! " She raised her voice, for the first time, "B-Believe me your Majesty I couldn't be happier-"

"You could say that just to be safer in your position after all, we are beasts in your eyes-"

"I never said that-"

She was bewildered, this conversation has suddenly taken a wild turn.

"But you thought it, once at least-"

Her hands instinctively rubbed against her forearm, comforting herself as he sat there.

"Forgive me if I gave YOU that impression Sir" She said making him frustrated. His jaw clenched as he looked away.

The silence thereafter between them was so unimaginably frustrating that she had to speak up. It hurt her, she hated feeling this way. She dared to touch his forearm, grabbing his attention. Her fingers gripped his sleeve softly.

"I was-" She sighs as he looks at her, "I was thrown into a loveless marriage, yes. For the sake of their kingdom. I believed myself to be a pawn for your treaties but your hospitality towards changes my perception of you."

She was answered with silence, "I have grown fond of your Kingdom and you. I have no other thoughts except the desire to be happy."

"And does this make you happy? A loveless marriage?"

She felt herself scream from the inside.

"I never said I didn't like you." She whispered but he heard it. She had enough of his questions and accusations. Causing her to lash out finally. He saw tears in her eyes as she blinked away and looked back.

" What impression you gave till now what that you liked me, and I fear I might have not reciprocated that enough but...I need time!"

He chuckled, a cold glance towards her before he sighed.

She thought it was the end between the two of them but she thought wrong.

"I have told you once before Ruby, Your hate towards me would never matter because there are no possibilities of me letting go. You are mine. "

Cupping her cheek and pulling her head up he stared at her teary eyes, She wouldn't look at him him, avoiding his gaze.

He had taken it too far. Xerxes realized that when he remembered how she let him touch her. How she blushed for him.

"Forgive me"

He whispered softly before kissing her eyes.

"I-I cannot yet be comfortable. But I just need t-time" She stuttered.

"I know." He whispered kissing her cheek.

"And, And the matter of my position, I couldn't care less if you accepted me just as your wife-"

He kissed her lips softly before pulling away, "I know"

Truth was, she knew he wanted to be loved. She knew why these questions plagued his mind. She wouldn't want to be loved just for the sake of formalities.

His attention was soft towards her, but she still felt scared, unable to understand his expressions yet.