Chapter 137

137 Night Ritual

It was already very late at night when Caspian finished looking at all the urgent paperwork.

He glanced at the huge wall clock that was hung on the wall of his study and mumbled to himself, “Anna might be asleep by now. I wanted to talk with her for a bit before sleeping...”

Caspian sighed and then rubbed his eyes. And he got up from the chair to head toward his chamber first.

He grabbed his stomach and thought to himself while walking down the hallway, ‘I’m starving! I could drink a gallon of blood and still not be full.’

When he opened the door to his chamber, the table of the antechamber had already been set up with dinner.

He went and sat down on the comfortable sofa. The aromatic blood was too enticing for him to do anything else first.

Caspian picked up the golden cup elegantly and brought it close to his lips. He gave a gentle swirl to the cup and then deeply inhaled the aroma that it gave off.

He took a sip from the cup and instantly closed his eyes. “Mmm... tastes so good! Especially after a long day of work.”

Two of the maids swooshed inside while Caspian was enjoying his dinner. They bowed to the King and, as usual, they went to the bathroom to prepare a bath for him.

.....

Before Caspian placed the cup on the table, the maids swooshed out of the room while a few of the servants entered.

One of them prepared the robe, the other prepared the necessary things in the bathroom, while another came and helped the King to clean his mouth.

Caspian then went to the bathroom and immediately spread out his arms so that the servants could help him out of his clothes. He wanted to finish bathing faster so that he could go and quietly cuddle with his wife.

He then stepped into the tub and submerged himself in the water. He sat up and asked the servants, “Help me finish bathing faster. I’m already tired.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the servants replied and instantly began to move their hands faster.

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Some of them rubbed the mixture of herbal scrub on Caspian’s arms while the others began rubbing it on his legs.

Caspian rested his nape on the rim of the tub and closed his eyes to enjoy the relaxing bath.

The servants did as the King had asked. They finished scrubbing Caspian’s body and washing his hair within a few minutes.

Caspian dunked himself in the tub again and got up on his feet.

The servants immediately surrounded him while carrying the towels. After patting him dry, they helped him put on his sleeping robe.

Caspian smiled to himself thinking that he was only going to need the robe for a few minutes until he entered his wife’s chambers.

The servants bowed to the King once they were done. And they left the room.

Soon after, Caspian also ran out of his chambers.

Upon reaching in front of the main door to Anastasia’s chambers, he pushed the door open as quietly as he could. If Anastasia was already asleep, he didn’t want to wake her up.

However, to his happy surprise, he found his wife sitting on the sofa and reading a book with great concentration, so much so that she didn’t even notice Caspian entering the room.

Anastasia was facing the window.

Caspian stood behind her and then wrapped her in a hug from behind.

A subtle smile appeared on Anastasia’s lips when she felt Caspian’s arms around her shoulders and his chin resting on her head.

“Hey, dear husband,” Anastasia greeted Caspian while her eyes were still on her book.

“What are you reading?” Caspian extended his arms and then turned the book to look at its cover. And he answered himself, “Gulliver’s travel...”

Anastasia folded the top corner of one of the pages to put a marker. She then closed the book and put it aside so that she could give her undivided attention to her husband.

She held his palm and said, “My brother has good taste in books. A few chapters in and I am already in love with the Lilliput.”

“Lilli what? What’s that?” Caspian asked as he leaned down and softly kissed Anastasia’s cheek.

Anastasia turned to look at her husband and answered while gesturing with her hands. “It’s a Kingdom where small people live. They are barely 6 inches tall.”

“Ah!” Caspian looked at his wife from head to toe and then teasingly said, “Just like you? Are you also from that Kingdom?”

“Hey!” Anastasia abruptly stood up on the sofa and then pressed her lips together. She fisted on her hips and ‘angrily’ said, “I am not that small! Look! I am taller than you.”

“Sure, Your Majesty. Whatever you say.” Caspian chuckled and quickly swept his wife off of her feet. He leaned down and sucked her lower lip, taking her by surprise.

“Mmm... Caspian!” Anastasia pushed Caspian away and whispered while trying to sound aggressive, “That hurt, honey! Were you trying to bruise my lips?”

“Never!” Caspian leaned closer to her lips again and teased her further, “Tell me where it hurts. I will give you a good massage with my lips. Oh, or even better... I will give you a tongue massage.”

“Caspian...” Anastasia covered her eyes with her palm and laughed.

Caspian gazed at that enchanting laugh of his wife with a wide smile on his face. And he briskly headed towards the bedroom.

He gently lay his wife down on the bed. And he also climbed on the bed to lay down beside her. He gave a peck to his wife and then asked, “Did you talk with Hamilton?”

Anastasia turned to face her husband and put her arms around his chest. She gave a nod and answered, “Yes, I did. Isn’t it amazing how they met? I bet my brother was happy to meet a member of my new family.”

Caspian’s smile widened when Anastasia said that they were her new family.

The two of them talked for a while. Caspian was relieved to know that Hamilton didn’t mention a word about Ruby to Anastasia.

He had hoped that Anastasia would not remember about Ruby for a few more days.

However, he was disappointed as well as a little nervous when she finally mentioned that wolf’s name.

“Umm... Caspian, about Ruby...”