Like a Pack of Cards

Queen Elvira joined Hector at the lunch table, and he gave a small smile as she looked at him. He had not touched a morsel of his food, and had not even moved his cutlery.

"Are you fine, Hector? You have not even attempted to eat."

He slowly shook his head. "There is nothing of such, Elvira. I just feel a little weak?"

Her eyes widened. "Weak? How so? Should I call for a physician?"

Hector shook his head, then closed his eyes a little. "I think I should rest instead."

Queen Elvira's brows furrowed and she caught his arm just as he tried to move away. He turned to her, his eyes wide. Had she realized his little attempt?

"Why are you trying to avoid me?" she asked, her face straight.

He slowly shook his head, his hand going to his neck. "I was feeling a little tired. I wanted to get some rest."

She scoffed, then pulled him back to his seat. "Eat first. Then you will rest."

He nodded meekly, knowing she will not let him go rill he did as she had ordered.

"I would like my tea." Queen Elvira said to one of her attending servants, and the girl nodded and left for the kitchen.

"Her highness wants her tea. You should serve it now." The maid said to Thea, Who seemed like she had been waiting with the tea pot.

Thea gave a small nod and then, tucking the small bottle away under her sleeve, she brought the pot to Queen Elvira. She carefully set a cup, then poured the tea into the cup, put it on a saucer and brought it in front of queen Elvira.

She gave a deep bow and started to look away.

"Excuse me," Hector suddenly said, and she stopped walking, her heart in her throat. Slowly, she turned, trying to keep her face neutral. She bowed to him, and then kept her gaze lowered.

"I feel like I know you. Have we met before?" Hecto asked, squinting his eyes to get a better view of her face.

She immediately shook her head. "No, your highness. I am only a lowly servant. How can I be acquainted with you?"

"I was..." Hector started to say, but looked at Elvira. She had not said a word, but he felt like he might be disrespecting her by entertaining another woman close to him. He shook his head, then gave a small sigh.

"Tis fine. You can leave."

Thea gave another deep bow and walked away, out of the dining hall. She stopped just outside, her hand on her chest as she tried to catch her breath.

She closed her eyes for a while, just as a small pigeon made its way to her, tied to its left wing, then unmistakeable red clothe.

She untied it and opened the message. "Have you started to administer the solution?"

She gave a small sigh, then pulled a small ink vial and brush that she always carried, and cut off a sleeve of her dress to reply.

"Yes, my Lord. I started the day after we arrived." She folded the small paper and tied it securely to the pigeon's right wing, then set it free again.

She could almost imagine Adrian's delight at the news. She closed her eyes again, then slowly pulled out the small bottle he had given her. She had not bothered with counting it ever since he gave it to her till now, but she knew how many would be in there. Thirty, just like he had given her.

Hector made his way out the bathhouse, his hair wet and falling to his shoulders, and his body still dripping of the scented rose water.

Elvira was sitting by the edge of the bed, her brows furrowed. She looked disturbed by something, and he paused.

"Your...Elvira?" He said, then came up in front of her. "Something seems to be bothering you."

She shrugged. "I just have a bad feeling, Hector. Like something is going to happen." She shook her head, as if doing it will ward off the possibility.

Hector knelt in front of her, and slowly held her hand in his. "I am sorry you feel such. I am sure nothing will happen to you, however."

She looked up at him, and their eyes met. "What if it happens to you, then?"

She seemed even more scared by that prospect, and Hector smiled, trying to cast his own fears aside, so as not to further aggravate her.

"I will be right beside you. Do you believe something bad will happen?"

She tightened her grip on his hand, taking him a little by surprise. "This trip was not a bad idea at all."

He blinked innocently, then gave a small smile. He was still warming up to her, and now, more than before, he could tolerate a lot of things about his forced marriage to her.

Like her touching him the way she was now. Tightly, like she did not want to let go. He slowly stood up, moving away from her, and her hands naturally released his as he got farther away.

She smiled at him before he turned away to tame his rather faulty heart.

The night passed by uneventfully, and Hector had gotten used to his new duty, and in fact, sometimes had to stop himself from enjoying it. He did not want to be seen as cheap, and even though he liked how she melted into him like he was her only pillar, he tried hard not to show it.

His letter consisted only of six words and two flowers, but she held it throughout the night, close to her heart.

"They remind me of your hair," he had written, with the tulips accompanying them. Even with his hand in hers, intertwined like the last night, she still held the flowers close.

Adrian stared off into the distance as Lana's horse sped off into the distance. She would get to the palace by late morning at the speed she was going, and it made him laugh.

He knew she was holding on to past glory, and that Hector was in fact, not as bewitched by her allure as he used to be. But he liked to see a good dose of drama and he would let her create it for him.

Queen Elvira tried the colour she had seen Hector looking at the previous day, and watched herself in the mirror. She could not tell if it suited her, or if he just really liked the colour, but she wore it anyway.

"Hector?" She called as she made her way gracefully down the spiralling stairs, her smile bright, and her eyes twinkling. It felt like the little fairy tale she had made for herself came crashing down like a pack of cards when she made it to the grand hall and Hector was standing in the middle of it, his hand on his side, his lips slightly parted as Lana wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to her body.