Chapter 15: For Me..

Chapter 15: For Me..The sun filtered through the slightly open, large curtains, casting a beautiful golden hue on the wall. Ariana shifted her body as a light pain struck her waist, causing her eyes to flutter open. But this time, she didn’t cover them. This wasn’t their room. Normally, the sunlight was supposed to hit her eyes directly—but now, it didn’t. She blinked again, taking in her surroundings. The memories of last night came flashing back. Oh... she had fallen asleep while deep in thought—thinking about how the Alpha had remembered her birthday, even when she herself had forgotten. Not to mention the way she’d slept... She’d been sitting on the bed with her legs stretched out, lying flat on her back. She hadn’t fully laid on the bed, and now it seemed her body was paying for it. She gently stood up. Something fell. That’s when she realized—it was the pen and notebook. The pen had rolled off her gown as she stood. She hadn’t even written anything yet; she didn’t know what to write. She bent down to pick up the pen. CRACK. A bone cracked. Ariana’s face twisted in pain as she picked up the pen and stood. CRACK. "Oh my..." she screamed internally. Her body ached unexpectedly. That’s when she realized—Zavren hadn’t returned to his room last night. Was it because she was here? "Shut up, Ariana. You and your thoughts again?" she scolded herself. Where were her dad and sister? Were they still here, or had they left her? She began walking toward the door when a soft knock echoed from it. Her body stilled. Was it...? Her heart began to pound loudly. But when the door opened, it wasn’t him. It was one of the maids. Why did her heart skip just at the thought of him? She needed to calm down. What kind of excitement was she feeling? "Good morning, Lady Ariana," the maid said with a small bow. "I’m Leah, and I’ll be your personal maid." Ariana nodded, and Leah continued, "His Majesty requests that you dine with him. Let me prepare your bath." The maid moved into the bathroom. ’Will I be sharing a bathroom with the Alpha King?’ Ariana wondered as she clutched her notebook tightly. Her heart began to thud again. Shortly after, the maid returned. "Lady Ariana, the king has decided to shift the day of your wedding. He wants to give you more time to prepare." Ariana’s eyebrows shot up. Wedding? This man really was something. She hadn’t even agreed to anything, and yet he was already making decisions on her behalf. Does he know about the child? Or was he doing this out of pity? Maybe he just wanted an heir? But still— None of this was making any sense. "Lady Ariana, please... could you go in and undress so I can begin your bath?" the maid said softly. Ariana’s head snapped toward the maid, her eyes wide with shock. ’B-Bathe me?’ she thought, stunned. Maybe she’d heard wrong. Was this woman seriously offering to bathe a full-grown lady? She wasn’t a child. Ariana smiled gently to mask her discomfort and lifted her hands to sign a response but stopped, realizing the maid wouldn’t be able to understand. She moved to use the pen and note, but before she could begin, the maid spoke again. "You can sign, Lady Ariana," she said kindly, watching her hands. Ariana’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard. She could understand sign language? A small warmth bloomed in her chest. She didn’t know why it made her feel so... seen. Maybe it was just relief—at least someone understood her. You don’t have to worry. I can b–bathe myself, Ariana signed hastily. This was the first time she’d ever used sign with someone outside her family or her physician. Her fingers moved a little shakily, but she managed. But the maid, Leah, looked concerned. "His Majesty instructed me to prepare you personally," she said, bowing with respect. "Please, understand... I could be punished severely if I disobey." Ariana froze. So it was an order. * * Zavren sat with his legs crossed, lazily twirling the ink pen between his fingers as he listened to Raven’s report with mild disinterest. "Your Majesty," Raven continued, "it seems the only reports and news from the other kingdoms are the usual—partnerships and alliances. King Luke has offered his daughter, Princess Lara, as a second wife in exchange for a royal guard alliance in preparation for any unforeseen war..." Zavren stared at the thin air, looking visibly bored. His fingers tapped impatiently against the armrest. "That’s all for today," Raven added. "Another report should arrive by evening. There is... one more thing, though. It’s just a rumor, overheard from the village." That got Zavren’s attention. A slow, devilish grin stretched across his lips. "A rumor?" he echoed, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "Tell me something interesting, Raven. I’m bored. My hands are itching for blood." Raven stiffened instantly. He knew that tone all too well. When Zavren said things like that, he meant every word. This was the king who killed out of boredom. The only time Raven ever saw a glimmer of life—of twisted excitement—in Zavren’s eyes was during war. Otherwise, his face remained eerily blank, unreadable. "It’s... about Lady Ariana," Raven said cautiously. Zavren’s grin widened, a flash of something dark sparking in his eyes as he finally turned his head to face his advisor. "Go on," he said smoothly, leaning forward now, interested. Raven swallowed thickly. "It’s being said that she’s cursed... That she lost her voice because of it. And... that her bad luck caused the death of her husban—" "Ex, Raven." Zavren’s voice cut through like ice. "Surely, I’m not teaching you English at this age, am I?" A cold, chilling smile spread across the king’s face as his emotionless eyes bore into Raven. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Raven’s face. "E-Ex-husband," Raven corrected immediately, heart pounding. Zavren leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing with eerie calm. "So, who’s the founder of this cute little rumor?" Raven hesitated. "I-It was overheard from the village chief. He had been the one who gave the details to the council of elders before it spread, Your Majesty." "Surely, the twin brothers wouldn’t mind triplets... right?" A hollow chuckle escaped Zavren’s lips, void of amusement. It sent a warning bell ringing in Raven’s ears. Even after all these years beside the king, the fear never left him. "Then how about we invite the chief for a little visit to the castle?" Zavren said with a soft, deadly calm. "Tell him the King would like to hear more of his... suggestions." "Very well, my king," Raven said with a bow. Just as he turned to leave, a soft knock interrupted the heavy silence. Raven paused, then moved to open the door. A maid stood there, her body trembling, eyes wide with fear. Zavren’s cold gaze shifted toward the door, unblinking. "Is she ready for breakfast?" he asked, voice calm yet carrying an underlying threat. The maid immediately dropped to her knees, her hands clasped tightly together. "Y-Your Majesty... L-Lady Ariana refused to take her bath..." Zavren tilted his head slightly, his smile slowly forming. A low, quiet chuckle slipped from his lips as he rose from his chair. "You may leave," he said coolly. The maid scrambled away without another word, her head bowed so low her forehead nearly scraped the floor. Zavren took a step forward, his presence instantly filling the room like a shadow stretching into the light. "She’s already learning to defy... as expected," he murmured to himself with a hint of amusement in his voice. Then, with a predator’s calm, he made his way toward his chamber. - Ariana stood at the far end of the wall, her back pressed tightly against it, hands clutching the fabric of her gown. What is wrong with this Alpha? Why would he punish someone just for not bathing her? ’This man is not normal. Yes, he’s definitely not normal,’ she thought to herself, nodding as if to convince her body to stay calm. She finally straightened and was about to step forward when the door opened. Her entire body froze. There he was. Zavren. Those grey eyes on hers. Their eyes locked for the briefest moment before she immediately looked away, her breath hitching. That presence—strong, commanding, and cold—it filled the room like thunder before a storm. Her heart stuttered. Zavren walked in with slow, measured steps and sat on the bed, crossing his legs with ease, as though he owned not just the room but the air she breathed. The unnatural aura he emitted could not go unnoticed. "There was a little report," he said casually, voice low and unreadable. His eyes flicked toward her trembling frame, narrowing with dark intent. "You refused to bathe," he continued. "Or is it that... you didn’t want to undress in front of her?" Ariana’s face burned at the accusation. Her hands tightened around her gown again, eyes wide. "Fine then," Zavren said, rising from the bed as he calmly rolled up his sleeves. "How about you do this with someone you’re used to?" Ariana’s eyes shot up to him in confusion. ’W..What did he just s..say?’ "I’ll bathe you instead," he said, tone calm—too calm. Like this wasn’t outrageous. Like it was perfectly logical. Her lips parted in disbelief, but no words came out. She could only stare in shock as he took another step forward. Her body moved backwards with trembling legs. "Go on, Snowflake," he said, his voice dropping to a husky murmur as his gaze roamed her. "Strip for me."