Chapter Twenty Nine

Finding out that Serena had a crush on Kareem was the most exciting thing that ever happened to me since I came to the Berg kingdom. I also didn’t think that Serena would subtly admit that she indeed had a crush on Kareem. 

Kareem was good looking, except that there were all bastards, most men in the Berg kingdom were good looking and muscular and fine looking but there was no way on earth I was going to describe my enemies and people who made life hard for me as handsome or good looking. 

I just couldn’t explain how I had become so excited just at the sound or the thought of it. I had imagined so much over the night, in two thousand ways how Kareem and Serena would end up, with kids, with a lovely son, and how Kareem would defend his love when people questioned him and all sorts. It wasn’t a surprise that I was already over the moon, imagining all sorts of things. I was always a lover girl, the girl who had her head in her books and stories. There was no romance novel or romance story of past kings that I hadn’t read and I just hadn’t read them, I knew them off the top of my head. My father would always joke about how the only thing I lived for was romance and he was right.

I wanted to get married to someone I loved, someone I liked, someone that liked and loved me too but that dream had to take a back seat when I decided to go to the Elavan kingdom to get that bastard crown prince to marry me. Everyone had been taken by surprise when I had volunteered to go because they all knew my dreams about marriage, they knew about my imaginations and how much I had talked about marrying the love of my life.

Back then, I had told myself that even though I had wanted this all my life, there was someone more that I wanted, I wanted to prove myself to my family, that I was of royal blood and that I was capable to contributing my own quota to the kingdom and of course that did not just end well for me, my decision to prove myself and show everyone that I wasn’t less of my younger sister had shoved me into my biggest nightmare, a nightmare that had now become my life.

I stared at my cleansing materials and sucked in my breadth. Like me and Serena had agreed the day before; we decided to switch back to our original positions. The pain and hurt had subtly faded away but I knew that it was because I had not seen Jonathan or any of the guards that were there that day.

I didn’t know how I would feel like I saw them again, I didn't know if my chest would cave in just by seeing them or if I would cry or if I would run away. I swallowed as I carried my buckets and mops, heading towards the King’s personal area.

I was extra sensitive as I cleaned, jumping at the sound of footsteps or anything at all. I immediately lowered my head scrubbing and mopping a particular spot if anyone started approaching and I wouldn’t raise my head till they disappeared.

My dread grew as I approached the dining table, Jonathan was always there, at least most times but somehow today, he wasn’t. A sigh of relief escaped through my lips unconsciously as I tried to hurry up cleaning the area. I certainly didn’t want to run into Jonathan, while my chest might ache me, I might not be able to resist throwing a punch at him while at it.

“Serena asked me to inform you that you are also to clean the king’s room” a voice said over my head and I turned to see an older woman standing behind me. I had never seen her before.

“The king’s room?” I asked in shock, “But no one enters his room” I said and the older woman shrugged.

“Well, you are supposed to clean it” she replied and without a word, she walked away leaving me staring into space. I dropped my mop with a loud sigh.

Now, what were the chances that Jonathan would not be in his room?

I dragged my feet even slowly as I walked towards Jonathan’s room. I sucked in my breath as I approached and raised my eyebrows as soon as I realized that door was wide open and ajar. I slowly walked inside and the sight that greeted me made me gasp and chuckle at the same time.

Jonathan was seated on the bed, trying to rebandage his wounds and he was failing terribly at it. There were bandages rolled messily all over the floor and some of the concoctions had spilled all over the floor. That was the part that made me laugh. 

I was too preoccupied the last time trying to stop his wounds and save him to notice how firm and good looking Jonathan’s body was. There were faded scars here and here but they only added to the beauty of his upper body. His chest was firm and chiseled and I could trace his body lines till they disappeared into his torso. That was the part that made me gasp.

It was unfair that a devil that Jonathan gets to have a body like this, so unfair.

“Did you laugh?” He suddenly asked with a scowl on his face and I coughed slightly shaking my head, “No your Highness, I didn’t” I replied watching as he turned to trying to bandage himself.

“I’m here to clean up the place” I informed and he nodded without glancing at me, “Go on” he replied and his reaction immediately made me relaxed and somewhat at a loss.

Had he forgotten that the last time he saw me, he called me a filth and yelled at me?

I suddenly remembered Serena’s words about him being sorry. But remembering the scowl on his face earlier, I doubted if he was sorry at all.

I quickly got to cleaning the room which wasn’t dirty in the first place. Jonathan was a clean freak and that was very obvious. I watched as he threw the bandage to the floor, frustration spreading all over his face. I rolled my eyes as I dropped the mop and rag in my hands and walked toward him, picking up the bandage he had just thrown away.

“You would still be the King even if you asked for help” I started lowering my head so that I wouldn’t see his expression.

“You mean I should have asked you for help” Jonathan replied and I finally raised my head to meet his gaze and much to my shock, he had merely raised his eyebrow and I nodded.

“Yes, your Highness” I replied, “Raise your hands please” I added as Jonathan raised his hands. I quickly worked the bandage around the waist, closing the wound perfectly and finishing the wrap.

We both sat there in silence as I helped him clean up the rest of the wounds, bandaging them all and spreading the concoctions over some of them. In less than thirty minutes, i was done. I stretched back to my full length wearing a small smile.

“All done” I replied as I turned to meet Jonathan’s gaze and I realized that he was already staring at me. I coughed as I turned my eyes away.

“I’m sorry” I blurted out.

“Why are you apologising?” He asked and i turned to face again, “Huh?” i blurted out but this time in surprise.

Did he just ask me why I’m apologising?

“Thank you” Jonathan said softly and I thought that I misheard him.

“Huh? What did you say, Your Highness?” I asked and Jonathan scowled immediately.

“You just want me to repeat myself, don’t you?” He asked and I immediately shook my head not believing my eyes and ears.

“Not at all, I didn’t hear what you said, I definitely misheard you” I replied and Jonathan scoffed.

“Is it that much of a big deal to tell you thank you?” he asked and I blinked my eyes at him, his words settling into my head.

“You are telling me thank you?” I asked and Jonathan sighed and nodded.

“Yes Princess, thank you” Jonathan replied and a smile spread across my face before I could stop it.

“That’s a first” I replied as tears welled up in my eyes and Jonathan stared at me weirdly.

“First?” He asked, “What are you talking about?” he continued and I forced back the tears rushing to my feet sniffing.

“It’s the first time you called me a princess without that sarcastic tone” I replied and my reply seemed to have stunned Jonathan because it took him a few seconds to reply.

“Oh” he said softly and I nodded my head.

“I’ll finish cleaning” I said and Jonathan nodded.

As I picked up my mop once again, Jonathan words rang in my ears, “Yes Princess, thank you” a small smile spread across my lips again.

I was finding it hard to believe that the devil himself, Alpha Jonathan, had told me; thank you.