The morning after the small incident with the bleeding, I get up early to prepare. I have to greet the delegation returning to the Palace.

Since it\'s the King we\'re talking about, I can\'t just get down in my nightgown, wave my hand, and return to sleep.

I\'d like to do that. To return to sleep...

The maids bring me warm water to wash my face, and they take out a new dress for the occasion. Its cream colour makes me purse my lips but they have no intention of allowing me to wear a darker colour when greeting the King departing for a long, dangerous journey.

They tie my hair up and help me with the cloak. No jewellery today because I\'ll be back here in an hour at most.

No makeup because I\'ll sink my face in the pillow immediately after crossing the door.

It\'s fresh outside, so the dress has sleeves for once. Long, larger from the elbows down. The tip reaches my knee, so they\'re not as long as to be in the way.

I don\'t like it too much when the sleeves reach the floor, but it seems it\'s the trend in the capital.

To keep my hair in place, the maids have entwined flowers until making a small circle. They will make me look innocent and young without the need to sparkle like a gem.

«Let\'s go,» I sigh.

While the maids run to open the door, and one helps me with the rim of the dress, I look for the right words to send Ignis home.

It\'s barely dawn. There\'s not enough light yet to depart.

The delegation is waiting next to the carriages. The only two still inside the house are Ignis and the Chancellor. They\'re drinking tea and eating breakfast.

Without thinking twice, I sit next to my husband and reach out for a biscuit.

«Why are you awake?» he inquires.

I glare at him while nibbling on the sweetie.

«Are you displeased to see me?»

«No, not at all. But you should be sleeping at this time.»

He reaches out for my free hand and brings it to his lips.

We won\'t see each other for a couple of months. Until the preparations for the coronation are done and I\'m ready to fulfil the duties of a Queen.

Why am I so displeased by the long wait?

I haven\'t seen Ignis in ten years. Why are a few weeks so heavy all of a sudden? Oh, maybe, the distance will help me clear my mind.

When I let my eyes run in the room, I meet the Chancellor\'s intense gaze. He caught my expression, but I can\'t know how he interpreted it.

I wanted to check his loyalty, but I didn\'t have any chance before. And I don\'t know how to proceed now.

«As your wife, I need to greet you when you\'re leaving for this far,» I say to Ignis. «Am I wrong, Prime Minister?»

«My Lady is right,» he replies.

He doesn\'t start a new conversation, so I need to work on it by myself. Oh, if father was here, it would be easy. I just would butt in whatever they were talking about.

«It must have been hard to keep the reign in one piece with the King on holiday,» I continue. «Your reputation surely is deserved, Prime Minister. Your skills are indeed exceptional.»

«My years of experience helped, my Lady. Yet, I\'m glad his Majesty is back. Alba is stable only when our ruler takes the reins.»

How boring.

«And here I thought I could convince you to leave his Majesty to me for a few days more,» I chuckle.

Ignis startles, looking at me with wide eyes. As if the fact that I want him closer is a surprise.

Now I feel a little guilty for using him like this. Just a little, because it\'s not a complete lie.

The Chancellor understands that I\'m using Ignis\'s feelings for my gain. I can tell by the sudden change in expression. Yet, he hides it immediately.

What does he think about this? Is he considering how much I\'m manipulating my husband?

And what will he do if he confirms his suspicions?

Ignis, meanwhile, stares with an expression that is so funny. He\'s amazed, suspicious, and secretly glad. All at the same time.

Before I can add something else, he gets up and pulls me with him.

«Let\'s talk for a minute,» he says.

I cover my lips with my hand and giggle, making sure the Chancellor sees and thinks about it even more.

«Don\'t be so hasty,» I murmur, teasing Ignis with my eyes.

He sighs, closing the door behind us and walking to a corner far from the eyes and the ears.

This is where we used to hide when playing hide and seek. It\'s close to the main hall, but no one comes here, so this hallway is always deserted.

«What are you trying to do?» Ignis whispers, blocking me against the wall.

My facade crumbles in a matter of seconds, and I lean back while observing his face.

«I\'m sorry.»

«You can\'t act like that and expect that a sorry will save you, Ronnie,» he murmurs in my ear. His tongue tickles the lobe, moving down on my neck.

I gasp surprised. So, he wasn\'t angry about my pretence. How relieving.

Yet, this somehow feels dangerous. Not in a bad way, but Ignis is so different when he has me cornered in broad daylight.

It\'s a new side of him. One never stops to learn, apparently.

«Are... Are you threatening me?» I stutter.

I\'m not scared, yet my throat doesn\'t work well for some reason. Is it the turmoil in my belly?

«No, I\'m helping you do what\'s on your mind.»

He leans closer, pressing me on the wall with his body. His leg slips in between mine, unbothered by the layers of the skirt. Like this, I can\'t run away.

Not that I would. Just, being blocked makes it easier to pretend. I don\'t need to find a way to stay here without appearing too lewd. I can continue being a pure, innocent lady while doing naughty stuff.

I shall learn a few tricks about this in the future. Ignis is helping me now, but there will be cases in the future when I might need to step back to save my reputation in his eyes... Oh, but. What reputation?

«Now, now,» he chuckles. «Since I\'m helping, I shall receive a reward.»

«Sure,» I murmur.

I close my eyes and wait, surrendering to him. The lack of any fight seems to be what he wanted, for he finally kisses me.

It\'s just like in the woods. I can\'t move, but I don\'t care about moving.

I don\'t need freedom as much as I need him.

«Oh, Ignis,» I moan when he splits.

He doesn\'t let me go, keeping me still for the interrogation.

«Now tell me why are you so settled on making the Chancellor believe I\'m head over heels with you.»

«Is that not the case?» I pout, blinking innocently. I need to find a way to get my lips on him again.

«It is. But I\'d like to understand why you want him to know.»

I sigh, biting my lips in fake shame.

«No need to think too hard about it,» he adds, observing my teeth with too much interest for that unfazed expression. «Just tell me the truth.»

«I can\'t entrust you to that man before checking him out!» I confess.

A pair of precious emeralds light up, all happy and content.

«Is that so?»

«Yes, that\'s correct. I was testing the Chancellor. Ehm... actually, just thinking of a way to test him yet. I am no good at court intrigues.»

«You will learn. Especially if you decide to test everyone in my entourage.»

«Just those closer to you.» They need to be checked urgently.

I will think about the rest without a hurry.

«I am no child,» he sighs. «I know how to choose people.»

He moves his head back when I try kissing him. Too far from my reach.

«Don\'t you trust me, Ronnie?»

Oh, again, that old, annoying nickname.

«I don\'t,» I point out. «You\'re a good liar.»

«You should at least pretend not to underestimate me. It hurts.»

«You\'re young, Ignis. Young people are easy to trick. And I won\'t be by your side for months.»

«I\'ve been a King for half a year already. What do you think can happen in three other months?»

«What if the Chancellor changes his mind and wants you to get rid of me and find a new Queen?»

«It won\'t happen.»

«Are you sure?»

«First of all, he\'s not the one making decisions. Also, he already negotiated with your father. It would be a waste to throw away so much work. Having Duke Bursio as an ally is worth a naughty Queen, isn\'t it?»

«Ignis!»

«Veronica, I won\'t change my mind. I will be yours for the rest of my life.»

I scoff, more to hide my red cheeks than for real annoyance.