Honeymoon

Hector watched the Queen leaving his room, and he let out a small sigh. Was he really apologetic towards the Queen now for being in love with Lana? Was it because of how she has helped him? Or how she had believed he was innocent even without knowing anything?

'You did not do it. It is not you.'

He shook his head as if to clear her voice out of his mind. It would be wrong of him to let her take on everything alone, when he was more at fault than anyone else.

"My husband is..."

"Here," he said.

Queen Elvira turned to him, her eyes wide. He walked closer to her, and lowered his head.

"I am sorry."

"Why did you come? You are sick. You need rest more than anything else right now."

He sucked in his lips. "Let me just stay. I will be fine."

She said nothing and he slowly brought out her seat for her. She sat, and he put it back for her, then took his own seat.

"It is good that you are here, Hector." Lord Lucas said.

"How dare you address him by his first name?"

Lord Lucas smiled. "I apologize. But right now, I am not quite sure what to address him as. Should I call him...the king on the interim...or the murderer?"

"Lucas!" Queen Elvira said, but Hector held her hand back preventing her from standing.

"I am fine with just Hector, Lord Lucas." He turned to the queen and sighed. "Or...you can address me as the Queen's husband. I have not had time to relish that news since...a lot has mysteriously been going on."

Queen Elvira sighed. "Of course. Let the banquet continue."

"How...do you intend to clean yourself of the blood? And the gossip?" Lord Lucas asked, as he dropped the parents he had brought for Hector on the table. "You do not intend to kill everyone who knows, do you?"

"Innocence is very circumstantial, Lord Lucas. And the situation does not currently allow me to be. As for your question, I have no...absolutely no intention to kill. No then, and not now either."

Queen Elvira's hand twitched under his, as she tried to restrain her anger. He smiled at her, then turned back to lord Lucas.

"We will just have to wait for the future."

Queen Elvira turned to Hector, and nodded. 'Exactly, Hector. This is exactly what you are caoable of.'

Lord Lucas laughed. "I guess we will." He turned around and went bsck to his seat, and the next governor approached the table.

"Did you hear what the Queen's husband said to Lord Lucas today?" A servant said as she ran into the servant's quarter, breathy and unstable from the run.

"Tell us. I have been waiting for him to make a move, especially since he was only a servant."

"But do you think he actually killed her? They say she was his mistress. So she would not put asunder in his marriage to the Queen, he killed her and her unborn child. They say, power reveals a person's true self."

Lana dropped her towel. "Do you not think the more murderous one is the Queen? She faked everything and put the servant that caught her eye in a situation where he has to marry her."

"Oh, Lana." Another servant said, rolling her eyes. "Who in this world would not want to marry the queen? She is beautiful, rich, young, walking perfection. Do you think he would have left her for mere servants like us?"

The rest started to laugh, and one said.

"Or...is there some unrequited love story between you and Hector that we do not know about?"

They started to laugh and she slowly walked away from them, her blood boiling. She knew the accusations were false. Hector can not even kill a rat. But maybe he deserved to be dragged like that. Maybe he deserved to even die for choosing the Queen over her.

"I think the banquet is over. Let us go see."

Lana watched as the servants crowded at the door, and she followed. After some time, the announcement for the arrival of the Queen came, and all of them strained to watch.

Queen Elvira held on to Hector's hand as they walked, her hands clasped around his arm. He still felt dizzy from the strain, and she helped him walk up straight.

Lana watched as they passed by, the servants all extending their greetings, except her. She watched the link of their arms, her lips starting to quiver.

"They look so adorable. Who could have thought Hector always looked this good? Look at the perfect hair, the perfect strides..."

"Just keep quiet, will you?"

"Why? What is so wrong?"

"Just let her be. She has been like that ever since."

They turned away, catching the last glimpse of the royal couple as they turned towards the royal chambers.

"Thank you, your highness." Hector said as she let him go to sit on the bed.

"Do you know how worried you make me?"

"Your highness?"

"Do you know how worried I am? Do you know how many tines I have seen you in a disposition that put your health in danger in a matter of a few hours? You were...crying in that dungeon, shaking, Hector. Then you were slumped in the water and could have died. Then you decide to strain yourself to go to the banquet too? Do you know how worried I am?"

He lowered his head, lacking words to say. These has been some of his weakest days, and he found hisnelf extremely grateful for the Queen.

"I am sorry, I...I was...not thinking too far."

She blinked back the worried tears. "Sleep in my chambers today."

His eyes almost bulged, and weirdly, the vision of her from earlier came back to his in full force. He started to shake his head, but she stopped him.

"You do not have a choice. I am not giving you one."

He swallowed. "I think I will be fine on my own. I do not even want to inconvenience you."

"You said it yourself. You are my husband. Why would it inconvenience me?"

He nodded as she walked up to him. "Hector...can I ask you something?"

"Of course, your highness."

"Whta do you think...we go to the West Palace for a month just to take some time away from the rigors of politics and let the rumors die down?"

"What?"

"To make it simpler....what do you think about a honeymoon?"