Chapter 290 - I Promise to be Gentler

"Gentle my foot! How can you spout such a shameless thing? You and I both know that what you're saying is impossible to happen. It will be like last night. I don't trust you."

Zenia crossed her arms in front of her and tilted her head sideways. She refused to look at her husband, who looked like a hungry wolf trying his best to act like a cute puppy.

Vaughn stood up and went behind Zenia and hugged her.

"Zenzen, we cannot be certain unless we try. I really promise to be gentler this time. Besides, I'm a fast learner. I just need to do it once and understand how things work right away."

"Brother Vaughn, I really don't know where your confidence is coming from but after going through all of that last night, you can't blame me for doubting you. I just want to take a rest for a few days and enjoy spending time with you doing something else other than that."

Vaughn let her go and went to the window and murmured, "How can you be so heartless?"

Zenia heard it loud and clear even though Vaughn said it in a very soft voice. She paid him no mind and stood up. It was already dark, and she knew that he could be starving…for food.

"I will cook something first, and let's have dinner."

"Hmm," Vaughn replied without turning his head.

Zenia could feel that her husband was sulking. After having their meal, she hoped that he would return to his usual self. It was not like she refused him completely or they would never share intimacy again. Whether he misunderstood something or not, she knew that it would be best to talk things out.

They should clear any misunderstanding between them before they go to bed. Zenia did not want their relationship to go awry just because of something like that. In fact, she had decided that they both should not wait for tomorrow to settle their problem no matter how big or small. She would be a hypocrite if she could not admit that she liked to be hugged by her husband to sleep. She got used to it that she really did not know what to do if Vaughn had decided to sleep somewhere else for the night.

Zenia went to the kitchen and removed the cover of the leftover dish that they had earlier and found out that it was enough to satisfy them both. She looked around and found some flour and everything she would need to make bread. It would be great to eat the meat and veggies dish with bread. She hoped that he would stop sulking once he had his fill.

In the temple, Chief Elder told the Lead Maid to go to Zenia and ask for more of the dish that she cooked earlier. The Lead Maid couldn't believe that Chief Elder would send her for such an errand.

"Chief Elder, isn't it so late already and too brazen of me to ask?"

The Chief Elder looked at the Lead Maid and was surprised that the Lead Maid had asked that question without batting an eyelid. No one questioned his orders before, and no one dared to defy him. But, the Lead Maid not only questioned his orders, she even gave him a piece of her mind.

'Is it really that bad?'

Chief Elder cleared his throat and changed his order, "Well, it is indeed quite late now. Bring more ingredients to Madam tomorrow. Give her twice the amount of everything you gave her today and add another type of meat."

'Is Chief Elder planning to have a feast? Poor Madam.'

The Lead Maid nodded her head and asked, "Would that be all Chief Elder?"

"Bring her some nourishing tonic to regain her strength."

The Lead Maid just nodded her head and went on her way. The young apprentice came in to report.

"Chief Elder, our spies had seen two men dressed in black early this morning. Their clothes resembled the ones that you described to us before. Our spies followed the two who did not detect their presence. The two men do not seem to match the skills of our men."

"Did the spies find out the purpose of those men?"

"They seem to be looking for someone, a disciple of the other Great Elder. But, then they saw a person with a pure spirit."

Chief Elder felt alarmed. After all those years, his greatest fear had finally come true. He knew that those men were sent to find him. It had been so many years since his Master Mardox passed down the knowledge to him as his last and only remaining disciple. Master Mardox was the biological brother of the Dark Magic Lord's Master named Monsat.

No one knew about Master Mardox being the biological brother of Master Monsat. The two brothers had a falling out and decided to split the Sphere of Destiny and went their separate ways. It was possible that Master Monsat had discovered about the power of the Sphere when combined with the Orb, which was in Prazia. The Sphere of Destiny would only work if joined together.

Master Mardox told his disciple to guard the Sphere with his life. He tried to destroy it so many times before, but it was indestructible. He could only keep it and pass it on the next worthy disciple. The current young apprentice showed potential as the next Guardian of the Sphere, but he was still too young to handle such a responsibility. Besides, Chief Elder had yet to retire. He wanted to see what kind of offsprings would Vaughn and Zenia produce.

"It's a good thing that they come across that person with pure spirit. They will not be able to remain focused on their task."

"Chief Elder, just who are they? Did someone send them to get you?"

The Chief Elder sighed, "I'm afraid that it's me they are searching for. When I met my Master, he was already very old. But, he never looked like his age. He remained youthful-looking until he had no other choice but to give up his life essence to save me."

Chief Elder closed his eyes and recalled that dreadful day when Master Mardox saved him, who was a young apprentice at the time. Master Mardox just told him that he had no regrets in saving Chief Elder because he knew that the other half of the Sphere of Destiny would be safe in his hands. Master Mardox even told Chief Elder about the arrival of the day when Chief Elder must face the disciple of Master Monsat. That disciple was the current Dark Magic Lord.

"What should we do now, Chief Elder?"

"We do nothing but to wait. As long as they have not made any move yet, we only need to remain vigilant and calm. If we do something big now, it might alert our enemy and find us quickly. I don't know the extent of their power, but I'm guessing that Master Monsat's disciple could be stronger than me. They must have been searching from kingdom to kingdom already."

"I will keep this in mind, Chief Elder."

"Find out all information about the pure spirit that they saw."

"Yes, Chief Elder."

* * * * *

Zenia just finished baking her bread. She heated the dish that they had earlier and set the table. Vaughn went to the bathroom to wash up. She was hoping that a nice shower would lighten his mood.

Vaughn was thinking about the things that Zenia said earlier. She really did not say anything wrong, but Vaughn felt she was rejecting him. He did not know why he thought that way. He must clear the misunderstanding between them and hoped that Zenia wouldn't kick him out of their bed. He was already used to holding her within his arms when sleeping.

Although they had been married in Tissuria, their marriage in Shadora was something that they had decided for themselves. It was more binding. He had decided to settle everything before going to bed.

Zenia was about to open the door of their room to call for Vaughn when it suddenly opened.

Both of them were startled and did not speak anything at all. They just stared at each other's eyes.

After a couple of minutes, "I'm sorry," they both said at once.

"I should've explained clearly," they said again.

"Can we talk?" They both laughed when they uttered the same thing again.

Vaughn pulled Zenia close to him and hugged her tightly.

"Zenzen, please don't make me sleep in another room. I promise that I will behave and will not do anything without your consent. I'm afraid that I won't be able to fall asleep when you're not with me. I'm already used to having you by my side. I don't want us to part even for a minute. But, I know that it's impossible. After our return, you and I will be busy fulfilling our role as Crown Prince and Princess of Tissuria. There are noble ladies who will invite you to have lunch with them or attend a charity program. The time we will spend together will become less and less."

Zenia smiled and was glad that her husband felt the same way about sleeping together. But, she would never ever tell him that, unless when it was truly necessary.

"Vaughn, no matter how busy I am, I will make sure that we will be spending more time together."

Vaughn slightly pushed her away from him to see if she was teasing him. But, he saw in her eyes that she meant it.

"How?"

Zenia grinned and hugged him, "It's a secret. I will see to it that you will always be my priority."

Vaughn kissed her forehead and hugged her back. He guessed their talk could wait.