MARYLIN

I woke up at 6 a.m. to find the bed empty. When I felt the spaces that Theodoros and Danzo had occupied the night before, they felt cold, implying that they had been outside the room for a long time.

I wrapped the bed sheets around me and was about to fall asleep again when a soft knock echoed around the room, and then a familiar voice called from outside, “My Queen, we are here to help you take your bath.”

It was Sasha and the 3 other maids that I couldn't recall their names. They helped me take my bath and even brought in many assorted dishes that filled the wide table in my room.

I feel like they're planning to fatten me up with all these.

I shook my head dramatically and ate. As I ate, the other 3 maids left, except for Sasha, who stood in a corner with her head bowed. Yesterday, the maids left immediately after I started eating and came back to clear the table after I was done, but today was different. I always ate alone with no one in sight to watch me eat. This was a first.

I shrugged and continued to gobble my food. "Thank you for the food," I spoke with a smile after I was full and had finished eating half of the food placed on the table.

"My Queen, the king, ordered me to watch and make sure you drink this herb. It's a chaste berry juice, and it speeds up the chances of pregnancy. It works just like magic!" Sasha whispered as she poured it into a golden cup before handing it to me.

I wrinkled my nose as soon as I caught a whiff of its scent. I haven't seen or tasted this chaste berry fruit, but its scent makes me think it will be disgusting.

That bastard, Theodoros!

Does he suffer from low self-esteem?

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical about the chaste berry juice. "What makes him think I need this, Sasha?" I asked, trying to hide my annoyance.

Sasha's eyes darted around the room before focusing on me. "The king's orders, My Queen. He wants to ensure your... ah... fertility."

I rolled my eyes. Theodoros' desperation was laughable. Did he think a magical juice would guarantee an heir?

Everything is all up to him!

Sasha curtsied, urging me to drink, "My Queen, please drink the chaste berry juice. I could get into trouble if you don't."

With a sigh, I lifted the golden cup to my lips and drank the bitter liquid.

I drank a bit and dropped the cup on the table, coughing and massaging my throat with my fingers. It was much more disgusting than I had ever imagined.

"It's bitter and disgusting, but it's very effective and well known for that," Sasha spoke.

I clenched my fist. Theodoros, I hope something keeps you away tonight. Otherwise, I’ll attack you while you sleep.

As I finished the last drop of the chaste berry juice, I felt a wave of disgust wash over me. Sasha's words only fueled my frustration.

"Effective, indeed," I muttered, my words dripping with sarcasm as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

Sasha curtsied again. "I'll inform the king of your cooperation, My Queen."

I nodded curtly, still trembling with anger.

Sasha left the room, leaving me alone with the lingering bitterness of the chaste berry juice on my tongue. I sank back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

After a while, I drifted off to sleep, still wrapped in the blankets. When I woke up again, it was nearly noon. I sat up, deciding to go for a walk to clear my head.

The palace grounds were breathtaking. I wandered through corridors lined with ancient tapestries. This place was so much larger and grander than any home I’d known. Before I knew it, I had drifted farther than I intended, my mind too absorbed to pay attention to where my feet were taking me. By the time I looked around, I found myself in a dimly lit alleyway, tucked away from the grandeur and light of the palace.

Then, I saw him — a man standing at the other end of the alley. Tall and striking, he had an aura that belonged to a noble. His dark, shoulder-length hair framed a chiseled face, accentuating sharp cheekbones and a jawline that could rival a statue's. His deep, emerald-green eyes glinted with a knowing gaze that seemed to see right through me. Dressed in a finely tailored coat with gold embroidery at the collar and cuffs, he looked every bit the polished aristocrat. Yet there was an edge about him, a dangerous charm that unsettled me.

He strode forward, stopping just a few steps from me. "Are you the future queen?" he asked, his voice smooth and polite, but with a hint of something darker.

I blinked, taken aback by his question and the intensity of his gaze. "Yes," I replied cautiously, giving a small smile that barely masked my wariness.

He took another step closer, and before I could react, he pressed me against the wall, his hand resting against it beside my head. My heart pounded as he reached out, gently pulling my cloak aside. His breath tickled my ear as he leaned in close.

"I've been wondering ever since you got here," he whispered, his voice dropping to an inaudible murmur, "how those two will feel if I touched the woman that they are so desperate to get pregnant."

A chill ran down my spine. His words hung in the air, heavy and menacing. My body went rigid with fear, and I could feel my pulse throbbing in my throat. But before I could even gather the courage to push him away, he stepped back, chuckling. It was a rich sound, almost as if he found my reaction amusing.

"I'm only joking," he said with a casual wave of his hand, though his gaze still held that strange glint. "I didn't mean it."

"As an apology for scaring you like that, I would like to tell you a very quick story." The nobleman turned serious, his face expressionless, "Listen closely, A rose was given water each day, yet still, it withered. Only when the gardener looked closely did he realize the water was tainted with poison"

A rose? And poison?

Is that even a story?

Quite a weird story to tell as an apology...

"Okay, This is where I take my leave, my queen. Good luck" His laughter echoed through the alley, lingering long after he had turned and walked into the shadows. I was left pressed against the wall, reflecting on his words.