4 The Lunacy of This Meal

It was a silly question. Or perhaps she was serious.

Rosalyn Lockhart's lips thinned into a line as she began to think of her words after she had said them. Thinking before speaking was really something she was not used to—even after her own death. Meanwhile, her beloved Knight, Julius opened his mouth to answer,

"Your Majesty, I would—"

Another knock interrupted the privacy that she had within her room. Her knight's lips turned mum and left her hanging. Irritation flashed in her face, who would even come at a time like this one?

"Her Majesty, my Queen… I shall be intruding in your quarters." A voice of a very familiar man announced himself as the door opened.

And lo, there he was—King Alexander Hartschmidt stepped into her room, he was carrying a tray of food in his hands. It was a complete opposite to his usually distinguished and regal nature, the lack of servants being but one thing. "Since you were feeling unwell, I had wanted to bring you something to eat and drink."

She didn't even have the time to kick Julius out.

But perhaps, it wasn't all that necessary… and she would have doubted that the Knight would leave in spite of the King's arrival.

"Your Majesty, King of Hearts." Julius Ginellevé managed a sweep and courteous bow.

How the man was able to do such a thing despite being caught redhanded in the room of his Majesty's wife would always leave her confused and somewhat attracted to such boldness—but she would leave that thought for another moment. In the meantime, she managed a curtsy, "My greetings, to His Majesty, King of Hearts."

This wasn't in her plans.

Nor was this behavior something she was used to from her own husband.

Looking up from her curtsy, she met his gaze—an unreadable expression in them. She hated that. What was this kindness he was bestowing her? Was it all a ruse?

"I was not aware that Sir Ginellevé would be here." Alexander's voice was clipped and precise.

The Knight simply smiled, "I rushed to her side when I heard of her falling ill. Pardon me, Your Majesty for being overcome with concern over her state."

"I see, my utmost gratitude for looking after her—but that is unnecessary as other people might suspect and create rumors between the two of you if somebody else were to hear of this." Alexander responded with a slight smile, "This is simply all a precaution, Sir Ginellevé. I'm quite sure you understand what I mean, thank you once again." The King would give him a small nod.

"I shall be leaving her in your competent hands then."

Rosalyn blinked, what? Her Knight was going to leave her like that? The King hadn't even explicitly said anything of making the man leave their presence! She did not want to be left in the same room with this one! Also was that mockery? If they wanted competent hands—call the Royal Doctor!

"Your Majesty," Sir Julius Ginellevé reached for her hand and held it to his face, his lips hovering over her skin. "I wish for your swift recovery."

Why was Julius leaving her? She eyed him with a frown, begging for an explanation. Perhaps he would make his second entrance back into the room with an axe to swipe the King's head when his guard was down? It was her only comfort before the man left.

Julius gave her a closed-eye smile before he stepped out of her chambers.

Perhaps she didn't know him as well as she assumed she did.

"You should not be standing around, Your Majesty." Alexander's voice called to her, right after the door clicked with a close as Julius left. "Please let yourself rest on the bed, or do you wish for some assistance?"

He placed the tray of food on one of the available desks, turning to her with his somewhat neutral blank expression.

This was the man that she was used to.

He may have been bright like a luminous star around everyone, even more charismatic than her with their people… but with just the two of them, the pretenses seemed to drop. He looked serious, his brows furrowed as he stepped closer to her.

She immediately stepped back, glancing back to the possible place she could withdraw herself to. It was her mattress. "I can get myself to bed." She wanted to hide in the covers, perhaps she wanted to sleep and retreat into a dream.

A dream where a cloaked man would pour her tea while she recounted… while she complained about countless things. Uncaring of how the minutes and seconds slipped by. The man had been a good listener and a patient man.

It was a shame.

Once she reached and got comfortable in her bed, a chair was placed in her bed's side as the King sat down, "Did you eat anything strange to get ill? Perchance, Lady Catherine Duke's cooking finally got the better out of you."

"Ah, Your Majesty, you do not need to worry about this state of mine." Her lips curled into a polite smile, "And please, Lady Catherine Duke tries her best to prepare things as she sees fit—she only needs a little guidance." And somehow she was now defending that woman.

The tables had turned quickly.

"My apologies for offending you, I mean you or Lady Duke no harm." He flashed her an apologetic smile, "How about we cease talking about nonsensical things and allow me to take care of you instead?"

How about you cease existing? "You don't have to do this for me, Your Majesty. Let a maid or a servant do it, don't you have other important matters to take care of?" Rosalyn's mind was recalling events that occured during this time.

Anything to make the man go away and leave her alone. "If I recall correctly, the Annual Gathering of Suits is coming soon and shall be hosted in our kingdom, right?" She balled her fists underneath the blankets.

He hadn't let her step in during that gathering—not outrightly banned her, she would have exploded if he ever dared to tell her to not attend the meeting but he busied her with other matters.

He met the other rulers in charge of their Kingdoms all by himself.

A King without his Queen? The man was nuts and he had paid for it dearly.

"What you have said is true...the Annual Gathering is occurring soon, but taking care of my wife is also an important matter. I cannot just cast you aside and let a maid or servant take over my duties towards you." Alexander responded with a well-practiced nod, picking up a bowl with a spoon, "It is only right that I take care of you and I don't mind doing so..."

Were his cheeks dusted pink at this moment?

"If you would allow me?" He gazed at her, a serious but awaiting look in his eyes.

She stared at him for a moment, before narrowing her eyes at the bowl in his hands. "That's not poisoned is it? It'd be much easier to rid me this way, won't it? You could have gone with a drink though."