CHAPTER 163: WHAT KIND OF QUEEN DO YOU WANT TO BE?

I moaned in distress, combing my hair. I peered at the mirror, suddenly reminded of the disaster that had occurred today. I cursed out loud, stomping my foot on the polished floor.

"Why in the goddess’ name did you do that?" I said to myself. "The Dowager has always been such a pain." I combed harder, hissing when I pulled too hard.

I exhaled sharply, dropping the comb and rubbing my forehead. Gosh! Now my head is pounding beyond relief.

Deep breaths, Eloise, deep breaths.

It can’t be all bad, right? The only worse thing is that the Dowager may never want me to set foot in her wing again, which means navigating my new life as queen without guidance. Goddess! Just thinking about that got me more anxious. I don’t know the palace rules as well as she does; I’m at a significant disadvantage here.

The doors opened, and I peeked at the mirror when Drevon stepped into my line of vision.

My pulse raced when I eyed him from head to toe like he was some delicious meal I hadn’t tasted before. He, in uniform, does things to me; it adds to the quiet, lethal authority he commanded.

The slow walk he made as he came behind me caused me to swallow a lump in my throat.

Drevon had a smile on his lips as he took off his black gloves one after the other. He maintained eye contact with me as if he knew the reaction I got just by gazing at him.

Taking off gloves shouldn’t be sexy, but it was. I don’t think I breathed properly until he took them off completely.

"Good evening, husband."

He came closer, shoes echoing, making my pulse race faster.

"Evening, little wife." He rested his hands on the dresser and leaned down to kiss my cheek. "How was your day?"

Crap!

"I trust the meeting with Mother went well. Do tell me..." he said, curious. "Was she hostile?"

"N-No, she wasn’t." I grabbed the comb and ran it through my hair. "It went well, I think."

Drevon dropped his gloves and lifted me along with the chair to face him. He went on one knee so that he was at my eye level.

"Tell me what happened? I can feel something’s wrong."

I sighed heavily. "I lost it. I lost it as soon as she talked to me like I was some broodmare. She’s so obsessed with heirs that she didn’t even worry that I was a snowblood."

"You told her you are a snowblood?"

"The castle already whispers about it."

"Right... I heard a few. But there’s nothing they can do about it. You have the Fates on your side, akin to having the goddess stand by you. They will talk, but that will be the end of it. No one is coming at you with pitchforks, my love."

"I know."

"And I’m proud of you for standing up to her."

I smiled.

"Did she ask about your diet?"

"I-I told her I took from one source. She’ll assume it’s you."

Drevon nodded.

"But I ruined everything when I yelled at her. How do I get her teachings now?"

"I wish I had an answer for that. All I can say is..." He kissed my wrist. "Wait it out... as you do, you do what you think is right."

"How can I?"

"What kind of queen do you want to be?"

I hit a pause at his question.

"There’s no need to think too much about it. You’ll eventually get there."

"How did you know what kind of monarch you want to be?"

He gave a thoughtful expression. "Well, first, I went into the city in disguise to see and know the people I’d one day rule, before I went to war."

"I remember that."

"Then I was off to war. I might have been fighting my father’s war, but I knew I did it for the people, too. My father’s rule was an excellent one, and in that aspect, I wanted to be like him. His love may not have been enough for his children, but he had it for his people."

It was just as Damon said that day. When he told me their parents’ love wasn’t enough for them. It got me thinking...Drevon and I love each other, but what if we make the same mistake, and our love is not enough for our child?

"Drevon?"

"Yes, my love?"

"I-It’s nothing, and you’re right, I shouldn’t think too much about it. With time, I’ll know what kind of queen I want to be."

"Good girl." He kissed my forehead before standing to full height.

"Want to take a bath with me?" he asked, already taking off his jacket.

"I-I already did."

"I know," he said with a dark gaze roaming my nightdress.

"What were your intentions when you chose the red one?"

I smirked, standing. "A good sleep with my husband."

"Sleep?"

"You’re the one who’s scared of not being gentle. So this night will be spent cuddling," I said, walking to the bed. "Go for your bath, husband, I’ll be in bed waiting."

I sat on the soft mattress, taking the goblet of wine I had dropped on the nightstand. "I also made sure the water was at a good temperature."

Drevon merely grinned as his jacket pooled on the floor, followed by his linen shirt, pants, and lastly, kicking off his knee-length boots aside.

I drink from the goblet, holding my eyes on the monster between his legs. I can never get used to it.

"If you say so, little wife." He turned, giving me a view of his masculine buttcheeks, and I always choked on my wine.

Drevon stepped into the water, and it rippled from the movements. "The temperature is perfect," he said, dipping in completely.

He rested his back on the platform, with his arms spread out to get comfortable.

The bulge of his biceps and broad chest got me thawing. I don’t know how long I can stay here and just watch. It felt like a crime to just watch all this goodness go to waste.

Drevon tipped his head. "All this hot water is going to waste."

"The idea of moving the bathhouse into the room was a wicked one," I muttered.

"But the best decision ever made. Come here."

I dropped the goblet on the nightstand and walked to the tub. I didn’t strip, dipping into the water and hurrying to him.

Drevon rose and picked me up, my legs wrapped tightly around his waist.

"I’m not taking this nightdress off you the entire night."

"I had no intention of doing so either."

He smiled before kissing me passionately.