The Second Meal

Queen Elvira turned to Hector, meeting his eyes.

"Say that one more time."

He looked at her, his eyes solemn. "I would have regretted it had I not agreed to be wed to you."

She swallowed, her chest filling with an unfamiliar emotion. "You certainly do not realize how much that means to me."

He gave a shrug and said nothing else. He lacked words to say, just like she did, and something in him told him she was happy with it. That she loved his subtle confession, even though it did not necessarily hint at him feeling the way she did.

"My lord," Lana bowed as she entered Adrian's presence. He looked up to her, and a small smile played on the corner of his lips.

"It is the servant's lover. What are you doing here?" He asked mockingly.

She did nkt reply instantly but went on her knees, her head lowered. "I have a favor to ask of you."

"Speak." he said taking a long puff of his hookah. His head felt light and he smiled.

"Permit me to go to the west palace where Hector is."

Adrian raised a brow. "Why would I do that? You already have another servant replacing you."

"I know, that, my lord. But even if I join them, they will not be able to throw us out, seeing how far it is. I want to stay there with them."

Adrian watched her for a while, then nodded. "So you will distract the servant with your allure?"

She looked up momentarily, her mind switching to their last encounter with Hector.

"I..."

"That is a good motive." Adrian said, cutting her off. "I will send you there on the morrow."

She bowed again and stood, then turned around and left him. He drew his hookah again, watching her as she left.

Hector sat opposite Elvira on the dining, and he watched her sulk at the food instead of actually eating.

"Is something bothering you?"

"Yes," She answered candidly.

His eyes swept over the table and he looked at her when he found the grapes on them.

"What could it be?"

"What to do? I would have preferred the meal you made earlier. For some reason, this tastes a little too bland."

He gave a small laugh. "But your...Elvira, you did not have a taste of the meal."

"All the same." She said defiantly, and he stood up.

"I will make it for you again."

Her eyes brightened, but then she shook her head to get the excitement out of her face. "How can I trouble you? You have not had a proper meal yourself."

"The Queen comes first." He answered, like a respectful servant.

Her face morphed into a frown. "You mean your wife, am I right?"

He nodded, covering up for his own slip up. "Yes. My wife."

The smile was wide again as he made it to the cooking place, and the maids arranged the ingredients again. This time, they got the grapes ready, accompanied by a silver jar of sweet milk.

Queen Elvira waited on the table, the smile unable to leave her face. She felt like she was finally getting somewhere with Hector, and no matter how little, the disvovery elated her.

Hector soon finished with the new meal, and just lijebthebfordt tike, he brought it to her himself. The maids took care of the other dishes, and the Queen in her generosity and happiness, gave it to them to savor.

This time, she asked Hector to sit beside her as she helped herself to a bowl of cereal, topped with Hector's new recipe of grapes in sweet milk. Hector helped her plate the stuffed chicken, then leaned back to see her reaction.

He had gotten a few morsels down his stomach earlier, and he was not that hungry.

She took the first bite from the grapes alone, and her eyes widened in pleasant surprise.

"How did you do this?"

He shrugged, feeling proud and satisfied with her obvious delight. "It is just grapes in sweet milk. I figured you would like it, seeing how much you love grapes."

It brought back a memory of their first meeting, the first time she had looked into his eyes, the first time she had known she has to have him. It did not matter to her how.

She ate well, punctuating her normally silent eating process with squeals of delight, and Hector found himself smiling along with her.

When she finished, she leaned back with a satisfactory smile.

"Thank you for the meal," she said in a low voice.

"Thank you for enjoying it," he answered and she smiled.

"Of course. Now tis time to wash up."

He stood up, knowing what role he had to play in that. Without hesitation, he picked her up in his arms again. She felt like a feather, despite the food she had just eaten, and like a newborn she cuddled into his arms, burying her face in his chest.

He headed to her chamber and went to the adjoining bath house.

"We are here," he said, so as not to surprise her when she touched the water.

She nodded close eyed and he lowered her slowly into the round concrete bath, the scent of flower petals and the perfumes attacking his nostrils. He finally let her go and she smiled and opened her eyes.

He turned around and left immediately. She rid herself of the larger dress once he was gone, and with a long sigh, proceeded to get clean.

"Did you see how he carried her in his arms? I did not know they were so in love!" A servant in the kitchen whispered, just as Thea walked in.

"I heard she actually forced the marriage. But to be fair, I would force a marriage with him too. I mean, look at him. He is perfect and then cooks well too."

"The Qheen will have your tongues if you continue speaking about her husband that way. You do know, do you not?" Thea said, and gave a roll of her eyes.

"Are you not the new maid?"

"And? Should I tell the queen what you thought of his majesty's face and body when you were not even supposed to raise your heads to him?"

They all kept quiet, her threat resonating in them. She said nothing more and started to prepare the Queen's earl grey tea.

Queen Elvira wrapped a bathing robe around her and walked out to the chamber, where Hector had made himself conformable under the sheets and had fallen asleep again.

She walked to his side, watching his face as he peacefully slept, his hair covering his eye. She slowly moved it away and leaned forward, letting her finger trace his face delicately.

"You must have exhausted yourself trying to cook for me," she said in a small whisper. His brows furrowed a little, but nothing after that, and she kissed his palm and walked away.