The following morning, Seren awoke to a sky already illuminated by the sun's rays. Blinking sleep from her eyes, she glanced beside her to find an empty space. A sudden realization flushed her cheeks crimson, prompting her to quickly shield her face beneath a plush blanket. Before she could fully compose herself, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"Good morning, Seren."
Reflected in the mirror, a tall figure elegantly dressed adjusted the buttons of his tailcoat, his eyes meeting those of his newly awakened wife. He couldn't help but notice her fleeting embarrassment.
Peeking out from beneath the blanket, Seren murmured, "Good... morning," her voice soft and slightly muffled.
Turning away from the mirror, Drayce approached the bed, taking a seat beside her. "Did you sleep well?" he inquired.
With her gaze still partially obscured by the blanket, Seren simply hummed in response, seemingly reluctant to part with her protective cover.
He chuckled softly, "Are you attempting to suffocate yourself, my Queen?" Extending his hand toward her, he attempted to gently remove the blanket from her grip, but she clung to it tightly.
Raising an eyebrow inquisitively, he remarked, "And may I know the reason for hiding? Could it be that my wife is still feeling a tad embarrassed about our previous night?"
"I...I am not," Seren stammered, attempting to defend herself.
"Hmm, learning how to lie?" He teased, noting her unconvincing response.
Caught in her lie, Seren found herself momentarily speechless, unable to formulate a retort.
Amused by her evident discomfort, Drayce chuckled again, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "You're remarkably easy to tease, you know." With a playful glint in his eyes, he once again attempted to pry the blanket from her grasp. "If you're looking for a way to feel suffocated, I assure you, there are more enticing methods."
Yet Seren remained steadfast, refusing to release her grip on the blanket.
Leaning in closer, Drayce whispered seductively into her ear, "It seems my wife still has much to learn about pleasing her husband."
Confused, Seren blinked several times, trying to decipher his meaning.
Drayce gently directed his gaze towards her clenched hands that held the blanket. "Merely using your hands won't suffice," he suggested with a hint of playful suggestion. "Perhaps you'd be open to exploring other methods?"
Seren suddenly recalled the book she had purchased during their island visit, intended to guide her on how to please her husband. Regrettably, she had never found the opportunity to delve into its pages, almost allowing it to slip from her memory entirely.
With a probing gaze, Drayce asked, "Would you like me to instruct you, my Queen?" His intent stare made her feel somewhat uneasy.
"No," she replied hesitantly, "I'll figure it out myself."
Undeterred, Drayce continued his playful banter. "If you remain hidden beneath this blanket, I might just join you to offer a more personal lesson."
The mere thought made Seren worried, reluctant to repeat the events of the previous night in broad daylight. With a newfound resolve, she let go of the blanket, deciding to act obedient. Drayce helped her sit up.
"I overslept," Seren murmured, her gaze drifting toward the window.
Gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, Drayce reassured her, "You can sleep as long as you desire. Who would dare object?"
A faint smile graced Seren's lips as she observed, "You are ready. Are you heading somewhere?"
Nodding, Drayce explained, "I intend to join Arlan for breakfast and discuss some pressing matters."
"In that case," Seren replied, "you should proceed."
"There's another matter," Drayce began, catching Seren's attention.
"Oh?" she prompted, curious.
"Given your visit to the city today, Yorian intends for Oriana to accompany you. We need to better understand her and her mysterious abilities. Her sudden appearance and decision to walk among humans, despite being a Queen, raise questions."
Drayce happened to notice the same and his cold glare swept both Oriana and Arlan.
Oriana was unaware of the attention she garnered, especially the displeased look from Drayce and Arlan both. The extent of jealousy both men possessed was beyond one's comprehension.
Drayce could not bear to have anyone staring at his wife like this, not even a woman was allowed. On the other hand, Arlan was furious to see the woman his Dragon had chosen as his mate was blushing to someone else, even if that someone else was a woman, it was simply not acceptable. Had disguising as a man messed up with her senses?
Drayce left his seat, moving towards his wife to block her from Oriana's fervent gaze.
Arlan also stood up, prompting the end of their meal. With clenched fists, he slowly forced out a name.
"Orian?"
It pulled her attention towards him. "Y-Yes, Your Highness."
"You are not going anywhere today," Arlan declared.
"Huh?" She finally got back to her senses. "What—"
"You are not going anywhere today," the prince repeated, his tone stiff.
Seren, who saw this, looked at Drayce in confusion to which he didn't react as if what Arlan did, was the right thing to do. Jealousy in his eyes was evident.
"Prince Arlan, a person of your status must not easily take back your own words," the elf interrupted, earning a glare from the prince but he didn't give up. "Orian is obviously excited to accompany us in touring the city. Must you make him upset?"
Before Arlan could say more, someone beat him to it,
"Is Orian coming with us?" Everyone heard the sweet voice.
Seren didn't know what was going on but stepped aside to look past her tall husband and spoke, ignoring his cold expressions.
She walked ahead, "It's great to have Orian with us when we go out in the city. The new supplements he recommended works well. Even Martha praised him. I plan to reward him, but I don't know what he wants. I hope Prince Arlan will let us borrow his aide for today."
Though Drayce was reluctant as well, he could not upset his wife and signal Arlan to agree. Arlan could not say 'no' to Seren, not under the gaze of her husband.
He could only give up. "My aide will be under your care, Your Majesty."
Seren looked at her husband, "Well then, are you heading for the conference?"
Seeing her cheerful, those cold expressions on Drayce's face melted away as that cold face of his was just an illusion. "We are. Be careful when you go into the city," Drayce replied with a warm smile. "Slayer will be with you."
"Thank you, Dray."
Meanwhile, Arlan gestured to his knight Rafal to step forward. "Go with Orian. Make sure he stays away from troubles."
Then he warned Oriana, "Remember to behave."
When Arlan was warning Oriana, Seren whispered to Drayce, "He is so protective of her. I wonder if he will never allow her to go anywhere."
"It's good that my Queen behaves and is not a troublemaker like Arlan's mate or I might have been the same," Drayce replied and looked at Seren, "Though she is a woman, you should maintain her distance."
Seren chuckled, "At this rate, you won't ever let me have any friends."
"As long as that friend is not a pervert," he said coldly, still remembering how Oriana was looking at his wife a while ago, he could even hear her heartbeats loud and clear.
Damn it! That woman had seen his wife's face when even he had not seen it and now seems to have taken a liking to his wife due to her beauty. In his opinion, Arlan's mate was a pervert. What if she was his friend's mate and was a woman, his wife was only his to look at.
Not having any choice, Drayce and Arlan left to attend the conference while their mates had left to visit the city, not knowing a trouble was waiting for them soon.