25 He hates me

Nina is unpacking her clothes and trying to fit everything in that small cupboard. She almost saw what's in the other racks. She didn't touch anything as she heard what Theodore said to Jordan and she can understand that he doesn't like anyone to touch his stuff. All were open except the small locker at the bottom. She thought he might have something important in there and continued her work.

With the help of Sylvia, Nina brought a new bed for her. Not to raise suspicion, she put it just beside Theodore's old cot.

Nina almost finished unpacking but she got distracted when she saw Theodore's necktie, having it in her hand, she just stared outside blankly. It's a late afternoon but the pace got moody already. The daytime is short in Kazeer compared to anywhere else.

When she was in her vague thoughts, Theodore came in.

She's surprised to see him and she shoves the necktie under her clothes. She doesn't want him to know that she was thinking about him.

"What are you doing?" he asks and closes the door behind.

"Unpacking," she replies.

"You did it all by yourself?"

"Yes," she nods, avoiding facing him.

"And the bed?" He smiles noticing the change in the setup.

"It's so important. I need a good sleep," Nina reasoned.

Theodore can't help but smile more, "You are so persistent," He stated, removing his doublet. In his loose-fitting apron, he fell on his cot and groaned in tiredness.

"I thought you would come late?" she asks.

"I needed some rest before leaving," he answers.

"Do you like some tea?" Nina turns to him.

"Yes," he mumbles, still closing his eyes.

Nina went downstairs and prepared the tea by herself as the cook is nowhere to be seen there. She came in and placed it before him. Nina sat on her side of the bed and took her cup.

After taking a sip, he asks, "You prepared this?"

"Yes, food is so terrible here and even the tea," Nina smiles.

"I know, he is considered the best cook here. I will talk to him about this,"

She nodded and the moments passed in silence.

"Do you have anything to ask me?" Theodore asks as he noticed her face lacked that usual enthusiasm Nina wondered why he's asking this question so early today because he used to ask this when they were in bed.

"Where are you going?"

"I told you, to meet someone," he retorted. That's surprising but she thought she should end her questions, but she's Nina who speaks what's in her mind.

"Morning, why you?"

"I kissed you, is there any problem?"

"Yes, I want to know why you kissed me?"

Her question made him speechless and stared at her eyes. He can't tell his actual feelings now because that might complicate their relationship.

"It just happened in the heat of the moment. I don't think I need to explain that," he gave her a harsh reply.

Nina's face frowns and she realizes he did that to annoy Maximus.

"I will be late for supper. Don't wait for me," he said and she nodded.

"If anyone asks me, tell them that I went to meet someone,"

Again a nod came as a reply from her.

Theodore felt bad to see her face like that.

"Get some sleep, I will go outside," Nina hurriedly came out and Theodore didn't stop her.

It just makes her sad for no reason. For a moment, he's so sweet and kind but the next moment, when she asks him something he doesn't like, his mask falls off. He looks at her like he utterly hates her. She couldn't understand who he was.

She knows she's quirky and sometimes annoying; Nina never expected the man she's going to marry to adore her character but at least accept that with an open mind. However, Theodore seems to get irritated so easily.

Nina came to the backside of the home and saw Jian with her messenger bird. She wondered to whom she's sending a message at this time.

"Jian?" Nina called.

Jian was startled and pretended it with a smile. Her main purpose of coming here is to send messages to the King, not about the war or politics that's going on here but about his family. Especially about his son and his new wife; how they get along.

Oliver also gave her a task to find out what happened between Theodore and Maximus as they were acting like enemies for a lifetime. In the past, they weren't like this. Since they both refused to talk about the matter, Solomon presumed they would reconcile as the time passed. But only time passed, nothing changed in their hatred for each other.

Jian got her hand full of their family drama and she has to find out everything they anticipates to hear from her, it's not that easy as it seems, she has to find out the secret that's inside their heart which they were trying hard to not let others know. It's harder than anyone could imagine.

Right now, she has to find out the reason why the crown Prince married her.

"Nina," Jian smiles.

"For whom are you sending a message?" Nina asks.

"It's to my father," she lied.

"Oh, okay,"

"I saw the prince came back," Jian asks because that's the information she has sent to the King. Even Though Solomon isn't here, he wanted to know what everyone is doing and be connected to them. Even the small problem might turn big as they were in the crucial place.

His son's whereabouts were pretty significant, he's the future of this Kingdom. He can't let anything happen to him.

"Yes, he's taking rest but he will leave soon," said Nina.

"Where?"

"He just said to meet someone, didn't give me a name," Nina answered without knowing that she's here to spy on them.

Jian nodded and they strolled to the garden.

"How long are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" Jian panics.

"I mean working for the King?"

"Since I was seventeen. You know my father is a former general in the army; he is retired now. I lost my mother when I was so young, my father and I used to travel together to everywhere he goes," Jian smiles and sits down on the bench along with Nina.

"I am so close with my father, I admire him a lot. When I was young, I wished to be like him when I grew up I joined the military. It was so unusual for a woman to do that but I am better than most men. After two years of intense training, general Willian found that I am particularly good in negotiations. Noticing my talent, the King gave jobs suitable for me," Jian narrated her story.

"That's so great. I am quite similar to you. The difference is your father is a General, my father is a farmer," Nina smiles.

"Yes, I know," Jian said. "I did some background research and learned that you are quite a character. You rejected more proposals than I ever did," Jian smiles.

Nina smiles too.

"Are you happy about this marriage, Nina?" Jian asks, hesitantly.

Nina didn't answer right away, she took a moment, "At first I was not happy but now it's fine,"

"Have you consummated the marriage?" Jian didn't hesitate to ask that.

Nina is sure that she can't tell her the truth but she can't lie too.

Nina blushed, "That's too personal, I can't tell you," Nina giggles, changing the topic, and also sensing how Jian is so curious about their matters.

"I am going to the market tomorrow, do you want to come with me?" Jian asks.

"I'd love to," Nina agreed and walked back to her room. But to her dismay, Theodore wasn't there, he left without a word.