9 Under the Table

The breakfast proceeded in a solemn mood for both Melva and Vance, except for King Hershel who had a smile plastered on his face for the rest of the breakfast session. The King and the Duke were having a light conversation about their duties, occasionally mentioning some unknown town names and some other things that Melva had no idea what they were. King Hershel was seemingly updating Vance on the progress that he had been left out from because of his absence. 

No longer having appetite due to the sudden marriage decision, Melva resorted to playing with her food, taking a very long while before sipping another spoon of the potato soup into her mouth. Listening to King Hershel and Vance's discussion only made her dizzy from being unable to understand a single thing, so she stopped listening and paying close attention to their faces, her eyes darting from the King to the Duke, following whoever was speaking.

Melva despised feeling stupid and her thirst for knowledge made her determined to learn what they were talking about. Curiosity always won over her. She wondered if Vance would let her go with him whenever he paid the palace a visit or if he would let her roam around in Nightwind—the town he ruled over. The latter was highly unlikely, considering the rules he had told her on their first meeting. Even so, she would try her luck by asking him for permission when the chance arrived.

Her knowledge was limited to what Mrs. Halpine had taught her and it was nowhere near enough. There was only so much an assistant to the mayor could teach her. She was thirsty for more. There were still a lot of things to learn.

The longer Melva observed them, the more she realised how Vance gradually lost his strength and warmth. It was difficult to notice if she was not paying attention, but she was, so she caught sight of faint white mist when he breathed, just like how it should be during winter while being outside in the open. 

The dining hall was not cold in the slightest. The fireplace in the room was more than enough to keep the temperature inside the hall warm. The blaze crackling on the hearth was heard every now and then. However, Vance alone seemed like being directly hit by a blizzard as he was visibly shivering. The werewolf was stubborn, though, for refusing to ask Melva's help even then. Perhaps because he was in the presence of the King, thus he didn't want to appear weak and sick. His pride wouldn't allow him.

Melva could easily give the Duke her touch, for he was within her reach, but she didn't want to initiate. She was waiting for Vance to ask her directly, to admit that he needed her, so that he would think twice before treating her impolitely. And also, she was having so much fun watching him struggling to stay composed. He deserved it.

King Hershel finally noticed there was something wrong with Vance and stopped their conversation. "Are you cold, Vance? Is the hall not warm enough for you?"

"I am fine, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern," lied Vance while keeping his teeth from chattering due to the cold.

At least this time, Vance yielded and stretched his hand under the table towards Melva. His icy blue glowing eyes were still focusing on the King and he was talking to him, but his hand was asking for hers, hidden from plain sight. He clearly opted against showing the King his weakness, that he relied on her touch to stay warm.

Thinking that it would be too much to make him suffer any longer, Melva gave in and reached for his hand under the table. She was only brought here to provide him warmth after all. Her physical touch took effect on him almost immediately. Vance exhaled in relief and the white mist was not visible in his breath, indicating that he was not cold anymore. He lightly squeezed her hand to express his gratitude and pulled her hand with his to rest on his lap. It seemed like he had no plan on letting go of his hold on her anytime soon.

Melva realised what they were doing a little bit too late and her cheeks heated up in a second, finding their current situation embarrassing. They were holding hands under the table, keeping it a secret from the King, as though they were a couple whose relationship was not approved by their parents and had no choice but to hide it from them. She had never held hands with anyone before and this was her first time to be this intimate with someone. It was rather disappointing that the first person whom she got to hold hands with was Vance, the rude werewolf.

She had to remind herself what kind of person he was and what her purpose was by agreeing to come here instead of other girls back in Ichorhold. She shouldn't let her guard down even after confirming that Vance had no plans on killing her. However, he could do things way worse than that, so she should be alert all the time around him, for she had no means to know what was in his head.

A few minutes later, a royal guard came inside the dining hall to deliver a message to the King. "Your Majesty, the Dukes have arrived and are now waiting in the drawing room. Shall I escort them to the courtroom?"

"No need. I will be meeting them in the drawing room," answered King Hershel as he stood up from his seat and he looked at both of them. "Vance and Lady Melva, the two of you can follow me after you finish with your meal. You can take your time."

Melva and Vance bowed gratefully at the King as he took his leave from the dining hall, escorted by some of the royal guards. King Hershel was probably giving them privacy to talk about their wedding which was decided on a whim earlier. It was not until the dining hall was quiet and there were only the two of them remaining in their seats that Melva started speaking.

"What was that?" demanded Melva.

"What was what?" asked Vance, feigning innocence as always when he found a question difficult to answer.

"The marriage," elaborated Melva, patiently enduring her irritation towards the man. "I have an impression that you are unwilling to marry me, Your Grace. What changed?"

Vance stabbed his bread with the fork to express his frustration at their complicated situation. "You are correct. I am indeed against our marriage, however, I cannot persuade His Majesty. I will be risking my position if I were not to obey his order. I was forced to yield."

"Then, is it really going to happen? Are we going to get married on the next full moon?" asked Melva anxiously, but the Duke saw her anxiety as something entirely different.

Vance chuckled in amusement at her eagerness in demanding answers. "You seem very eager to marry me. If you insist hard enough, I might agree one day."

This man was very unpredictable. One moment he was severely ill-tempered and the next second he was playfully teasing Melva. What did he want exactly? Did he see her as an ally or a foe? Or both? His inconsistent behaviour towards her confused her to no end as it made her unsure on how to behave towards him as well. He was like a man with many faces, changing masks to put on every time.

As of now, Melva decided to play along with whatever game he played. That was the safest route to take if she wanted to survive while living under his roof, or more likely, inside his cage. "You were the one who picked the date of the wedding, not me."

Amused, Vance tilted his head to the side. "I was forced to answer the King's question. If I didn't, His Majesty would pick a much earlier wedding date for us. Or are you not pleased because you wanted the King to decide an earlier date?"

"Pardon me, Your Grace, but you are delusional." Melva rolled her eyes in frustration. This man was infuriating and she was slowly losing her patience from having to deal with his endless teasing.

"No need to be shy," teased Vance relentlessly. "My offer still stands."

Melva was trying to recall what offer Vance was referring to, but nothing came to mind, thus she had to ask him. "What offer?"

"You are always welcome to spend the night in my chamber. Just say the word." Vance's icy blue glowing eyes looked even more mischievous as he said that.

Now Melva finally knew what he was aiming for. He was being playful towards her, because he needed her to lower her guard in front of him and agree to his request. He wanted her to sleep in his chamber, so that he could easily seek her physical touch whenever he needed warmth. She would be within his reach all the time. 

It was all about getting her to sleep in his chamber, but surely, she wouldn't give him what he wanted. She was already being very nice by letting him come into her chamber while she was asleep, for she knew he wouldn't be able to sleep if he was cold. However, sleeping in his chamber was a bit too much. They were not a married couple, and it was wrong for an unmarried man and woman to sleep in the same chamber.

"I am fine with sleeping in my own chamber, Your Grace," declined Melva sternly.

"As you are aware, that will change after the full moon arrives." Vance raised an eyebrow knowingly in a playful manner. "Now shall we introduce you to the other Dukes?"