Chapter 20

***Calixto's POV***

When I came back to Serafina's room she was no longer there. All I saw was Cressida trying on Serafina's dresses.

"Love look at this," she spins around with a bright smile plastered on her face. "It suits me right?"

Instead of answering her question, I roam my eyes around trying to find Serafina. "Where is Serafina?" I asked.

Cressida rolled her eyes on me and then started removing the dress she was wearing.

"I don't know. She left a while ago and she did not come back. Maybe she's in the garden getting some fresh air,"

I was about to step out of the room when Cressida held my hand and made me face her. She started caressing my arm and stared at my face intently.

"Once she dies I will be your Queen right?"

My forehead creased hearing her question. "Can you hear yourself Cressida? Why would you ask that question? If someone hears you they might accuse you of treason,"

A soft chuckle escaped her lips not even scared that she would be punished because of the words she uttered.

"Oh come on Calixto I know you won't let that happen. You will always protect me right?"

I nodded and took a deep breath. "But still, you need to be careful,"

She playfully nodded not taking me seriously. "Yeah, whatever. Let's stay in this room for a while. I missed you. You spend the whole day with Serafina,"

She snaked her arms around my nape and tried to kiss me but I avoided it and removed her arms on me. She looked disappointed when I did that but I didn't have time for this. I need to look for Serafina.

"Later Cressida. I will find Serafina first. It's getting dark. She should be resting in her room already,"

Cressida rolled her eyes on me again so I planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "I will visit you in your room at midnight I promise,"

I smiled at her before stepping out of Serafina's room. I was walking in the hallway when I bumped into Odessa, Serafina's servant.

"Have you seen your Queen?"

Her eyebrows furrowed and looked at me filled with confusion. "I saw her earlier King Calixto in the garden, crying. I tried to talk to her but she told me she wanted to be alone so I left her there,"

"Do you have any idea why she is crying?"

Odessa shook her head. "Why don't you ask yourself, King Calixto? Did you do something to make her cry?" she asked back making me rethink everything I had done but I could not think of anything.

"I am sorry if I sounded disrespectful I just hate seeing Queen Serafina cry," she politely uttered bowing her head at me before she walked away.

If this was a normal day I would have probably punished her but I cannot bring myself to do that because her words struck me like lightning.

I did not waste any minute I hurriedly walked towards the garden but when I got there all I saw was the empty wooden bench where she used to sit. The sun was already set and it started to get dark making me even more worried.

"Where are you, Serafina?"

I feel like I am losing my mind each time that I can't see her. I have searched each corner of the palace but I failed to see even a trace of her.

"The palace guards are already searching every territory, King Calixto. They will be back in the morning,"

I looked at Maximus. I know he is mad at me he is just choosing to respect me but without our status, I am sure I have already fallen on the floor because of his punches.

"Punch me Maximus. I know you want to hurt me,"

Maximus shook his head and looked at me directly in the eyes. "Queen Serafina will hate me if I do that,"

Those words felt like a knife stabbing me in the chest. After all the pain I inflicted on her she still cares for me. I don't deserve her.

"Ready the carriage she might have gone to their territory,"

Maximus followed my order without hesitation. After a few minutes, we were ready to leave the palace but before the carriage started moving I saw Cressida running towards us. Maximus just looked at me without saying anything but I knew he was mad when I stepped out of the carriage to talk to Cressida.

"It's already late King Calixto. Rouges are roaming around. You don't have enough guards with you. What if you get attacked? What if something happens to you?"

I saw tears forming on Cressida's eyes so I pulled her on the back of the carriage hiding from the prying eyes.

"I will be fine. I will come back I promise," I smiled at her to assure her that I would be okay but worry did not leave her eyes.

"Why do you have to leave anyway? The whole palace is already searching for her. You already deployed all the guards just to find Serafina, why do you want to search for her yourself? Just leave it to palace guards and stay with me in the palace,"

I took a deep breath and held her hand squeezing it gently. I know she is worried for me but I need to do this.

"I need to find her Cressida. I need to make sure that she is safe. That is my duty as King and as her husband,"

She shook her head and a sarcastic laugh escaped her lips.

"You're lying Calixto," she firmly uttered her eyes filled with disbelief.

I can't help but get confused. Why would I lie to her? I can't get what she is saying.

"What do you mean Cressida?" I asked completely lost.

She pulled her hand out of my hold and looked at me intently her eyes filled with rage.

"Tell me, Calixto. Are you falling for that woman?"

I shook my head but why does it feel like I am lying?

"Then prove it to me. Stay with me and don't leave. Just stay in the palace Calixto," she held my hand and looked at me pleadingly.

I stared at her face but after a while I found myself pulling my hand out of her hold. "I am sorry Cressida," I uttered apologetically.

I saw pain cross her eyes. I know I am hurting her and I hate that but I can't choose her now. I can't do that to Serafina. This is the first time I will do something for her as her husband.

I kissed Cressida quickly before stepping inside the carriage. When the carriage started moving and we were a few meters away from the palace I looked back only to see Cressida standing in the same place where I left her.

"I'm sorry," I whispered even though she won't hear me.

"For the first time, you chose Queen Serafina over Cressida. Isn't it enough to make you realize what you feel towards Queen Serafina?" Maximus blurted out making my head turn in his direction.

"What do you mean Maximus?"

I looked at him intently trying to decipher what he meant by those words.

He just shrugged his shoulder and looked at me meaningfully. "Figure it out yourself King Calixto. I hope it was not already late when you finally realize what you feel,"