_ _ _
It had been a week since the haze of my heat finally lifted, and the tension that had been thick between Aleron and me had begun to ebb away. In its place, something quieter, more fragile, seemed to bloom. Aleron had been careful in the days following, coming in and out of the chamber like a ghost, never staying too long but always checking in. He’d kept a safe distance, respecting the space I needed after everything that had happened.
But tonight, something was different. I could feel it in the air, a shift that had been coming for days but finally seemed to settle.
I sat upright in bed, a book in hand, though I hadn’t truly been reading for some time now. My eyes skimmed over the words, but my thoughts were elsewhere on Aleron, on how things had changed between us, on how they might continue to change. I had expected him to come by as usual, to check in for a brief moment before retreating to his own quarters again, but something in me ached at the thought of him leaving once more.
The door to the chamber creaked open, and I looked up to see Aleron standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the warm glow of the hall beyond. His gaze flickered over me, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. He was handsome, more so than I’d ever really allowed myself to admit. His strong jawline, the sharp angles of his face, the way his dark hair fell slightly into his eyes, it all made my breath hitch in my throat.
“Lucian,” he said softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. His voice was warm, more relaxed than it had been in days. “You’re up late.”
“I could say the same about you,” I replied with a smile, setting the book aside. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
Aleron chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as he moved closer to the bed. “I thought I was giving you space.”
“You’ve given me enough space,” I said, my tone light but my words carrying more weight than I intended. “You don’t have to keep sleeping in another room.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “Are you sure?”
I nodded, patting the empty side of the bed. “You’re my husband, aren’t you? I think it’s about time you started sleeping in here again. But…” I hesitated, meeting his gaze. “We’ll share the space… no intimate interactions. I’m not ready for that yet.”
Aleron’s expression softened, a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “I understand.” He crossed the room and began to unbutton his shirt, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he was giving me time to change my mind. When he was done, he slipped into the bed beside me, leaving a respectful gap between us.
For a while, we lay in the dark, the only sound the soft rustle of the sheets and our steady breathing. It was strange, having him here again, but not unpleasant. In fact, it felt… right.
We started talking, at first about nothing in particular small things that made us laugh, stories from our childhoods, shared memories from before our marriage. It wasn’t forced or awkward; it was comfortable, natural. Aleron’s laugh was deep and genuine, and it filled the space between us, chasing away any lingering tension.
“You’ve missed this,” I said at one point, half-teasing but with a hint of truth behind my words.
He looked over at me, his eyes soft in the dim light. “I have.”
We talked until the warmth of the bed and the weight of the day began to pull at my eyelids. The conversation tapered off into a peaceful silence, and I could feel Aleron relaxing beside me, his breathing growing deeper, slower. Sleep came for both of us then, gentle and quiet.
—
I woke up the next morning before dawn, the soft gray light of early morning filtering through the drapes. For a moment, I stayed where I was, blinking sleepily, trying to remember where I was. Then I felt the warmth of another body beside me and turned my head slightly to see Aleron.
He was still asleep, his face relaxed in a way I wasn’t used to seeing. In the quiet stillness of the room, I took the chance to really look at him. His sharp features were softened by sleep, his strong jawline and high cheekbones bathed in the gentle morning light. His dark hair fell messily across his forehead, and I found myself resisting the urge to reach out and brush it back. He looked… peaceful. Beautiful, even.
For a while, I simply watched him, my heart swelling with emotions I didn’t quite understand. There was something about seeing him like this, so vulnerable and unguarded, that made me feel things I wasn’t ready to admit.
Without thinking, I shifted slightly closer, my gaze still fixed on his face. It was ridiculous, but in this moment, I felt a strange sense of closeness to him, more than I had in the weeks before. Maybe it was the quiet, or maybe it was the way he looked so… human. But for the first time, I allowed myself to really feel it, the bond between us.
Just then, his eyes fluttered open. I froze, caught in the act of staring, but it was too late. Aleron’s gaze met mine, and a slow smile spread across his face, the corners of his lips lifting in a way that made my heart skip a beat.
“Morning,” he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.
I cleared my throat, feeling my cheeks flush. “Morning.”
He stretched lazily, his muscles rippling beneath the sheets as he shifted onto his side to face me. “Were you watching me sleep?”
I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my embarrassment. “No. You just… caught me off guard, that’s all.”
“Right,” he said, his smile widening. “Sure.”
I could see the amusement in his eyes, and it made my embarrassment worse. But before I could snap back with a witty remark, Aleron’s hand reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. His touch was gentle, almost hesitant, and I found myself holding my breath as his fingers lingered for a moment longer than necessary.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?” he said softly, his voice low.
The sincerity in his words caught me off guard, and I didn’t know how to respond. I wasn’t used to compliments like that, especially not from him.
I looked away, trying to hide the heat rising to my face. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” Aleron said, his tone light. “But it’s true.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just stayed quiet, my heart beating faster than I wanted to admit. For a moment, we simply looked at each other, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us. There was something unspoken in the air, something fragile but real.
“I’m glad we’re… getting back to normal,” Aleron said after a while, his voice softer, more serious.
I glanced up at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his words. “I’m glad too,” I admitted quietly, and it was the truth. We had a long way to go, but for the first time in a while, I felt like we were heading in the right direction.
There was a comfortable silence between us after that, one that spoke more than words ever could. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to just be, to relax in his presence, knowing that, despite everything, we were slowly finding our way back to each other.
– – –
The morning light filled the room, casting a warm glow across the bed where Aleron and I lay. It had been weeks since we’d had a peaceful moment like this. The tension, the unease, it all seemed to melt away in the quiet moments we shared. I stretched, the sleep slowly wearing off as I glanced over at Aleron. His face was relaxed, the usual sharpness of his features softened by the morning light.
He looked over at me, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “I took a break from work today.”
I raised an eyebrow, surprised. Aleron rarely took breaks, and when he did, it was never this sudden. “You did?”
He nodded, sitting up slightly and resting his back against the headboard. “I needed to rest. But I was thinking… we’ve been through so much lately, and I realized I don’t know as much about you as I should. I want to use today to change that.”
The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. His words were unexpected, but they stirred something in me. A hope that maybe, just maybe, we were finally heading toward something real.
“What do you have in mind?” I asked, curiosity piqued.
Aleron smiled, that playful spark in his eyes making a rare appearance. “How about we go out of the palace? In disguise. Just the two of us, blending in with the commoners.”
The suggestion caught me by surprise. I hadn’t spent much time outside the palace since our marriage, and the thought of stepping into the bustling life of the town, unnoticed and free, was exhilarating. “Really?”
“Really,” Aleron confirmed, his smile widening as he caught the excitement in my voice.
I couldn’t hide my joy at the idea. “I’d love that.”
—
A few hours later, we slipped out of the palace gates, dressed in simple clothes that helped us blend in with the bustling crowds of the town. Aleron had donned a hooded cloak, the shadow hiding his features, while I wore a plain tunic and pants, a far cry from the finery I was used to. For the first time in what felt like forever, there were no watchful eyes, no servants bowing, no formalities to uphold. We were just two ordinary people, walking side by side through the lively streets.
The town was more alive than I had expected. Everywhere I looked, there were people, shopkeepers calling out their wares, children running through the streets with laughter ringing in the air, food stalls lining the corners, filling the air with the scent of freshly baked bread, grilled meats, and sweet confections. It was intoxicating, and I couldn’t keep my smile hidden.
“This is amazing,” I breathed, my eyes wide as I took in the sights.
Aleron chuckled beside me, clearly amused by my reaction. “You act like you’ve never seen the town before.”
“I haven’t… at least, not like this.” I turned to him, my excitement bubbling over. “It’s so full of life. The colors, the sounds, the smells… it’s nothing like the palace.”
He smiled, his eyes soft as he watched me. “I’m glad you like it.”
We wandered through the streets, stopping occasionally to admire the various stalls selling everything from handmade jewelry to finely crafted leather goods. I tried a few street foods, the rich flavors dancing on my tongue in a way that the palace meals never could. There was something special about this place, the vibrancy, the energy of the people, the simplicity of it all. I felt free here in a way I hadn’t for a long time.
As we continued walking, something caught my eye. In the window of a small jewelry stall, nestled among an array of simple trinkets, was a necklace. It was nothing extravagant, not the kind of thing one would wear to a grand ball or a royal event. But there was something about it that drew me in. The design was intricate, delicate silver threads woven together to form a small pendant in the shape of a crescent moon. It was simple, yet beautiful in its own quiet way.
I approached the stall, my fingers brushing over the edge of the glass as I admired the necklace. For a moment, I considered buying it, but when I felt the small pouch of coins at my waist, I realized I didn’t have enough. I sighed softly, taking one last glance at the necklace before turning away.
Unbeknownst to me, Aleron had been watching me the entire time. As I walked away from the stall, he stepped forward, speaking quietly to the shopkeeper and slipping a few coins into his hand.
—
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through the town, blending into the crowd and simply enjoying each other’s company. I had almost forgotten about the necklace by the time we headed back to the palace, but Aleron hadn’t.
When we returned to our chambers later that evening, I was about to head to bed when Aleron stopped me.
“Wait,” he said, reaching into the folds of his cloak. “I got you something.”
I blinked, surprised. “You did?”
He smiled, holding out a small box. “Open it.”
I took the box from him, my heart pounding as I carefully lifted the lid. Inside, nestled on a bed of soft velvet, was the necklace I had seen at the stall. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at it, the delicate silver glinting in the candlelight.
“You…” I looked up at Aleron, my voice barely above a whisper. “You bought it?”
“I saw the way you looked at it,” he said, his voice soft but steady. “I wanted you to have it.”
For a moment, I was speechless. I hadn’t expected this, hadn’t expected the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. It wasn’t just a necklace… it was a reminder that he had been paying attention, that he cared enough to notice the little things.
“Thank you,” I said quietly, my fingers brushing over the pendant. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Aleron replied, his eyes warm as they met mine. “You deserve beautiful things, Lucian.”
There was a sincerity in his voice that made my heart flutter, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel the need to put up my walls. I smiled, genuinely and without reservation, as I fastened the necklace around my neck.
Aleron stepped closer, his gaze lingering on the pendant for a moment before meeting my eyes. “It suits you.”
I looked up at him, my heart full in a way I hadn’t expected. “You didn’t have to do this, you know. But… thank you.”
He nodded, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “I wanted to. And besides, I told you I want to get to know you better. I want this to work, Lucian.”
His words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. There was still so much unspoken, so much we had yet to figure out, but in that moment, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe things wouldn’t be perfect, but we were trying. We were moving forward, together.
And for now, that was enough.
_ _ _
That night, after Aleron gave me the necklace, the air between us felt different.. lighter, more comfortable. We didn’t say much as we settled into bed, the warmth from the earlier conversation still lingering. I lay on my side, facing him, the moonlight casting soft shadows across the room. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I didn’t feel the tension that usually hung over us.
Aleron rested on his back, his chest rising and falling slowly with each breath. His face, relaxed in sleep, was somehow even more handsome in the dim light. His strong jaw, his slightly parted lips, and the way his hair fell loosely over his forehead. it was a sight I never thought I’d grow accustomed to. I found myself studying him, memorizing the lines of his face, the way his lashes curled just slightly at the tips.
He was beautiful, even when he wasn’t trying to be.
As I stared at him, lost in my thoughts, his eyes fluttered open. I froze, embarrassed that I had been caught watching him, but Aleron just smiled, his voice low and soft. “You’re staring.”
Heat crept up my neck, and I quickly looked away. “I wasn’t.”
His chuckle was warm, a sound I was starting to grow fond of. “Liar.”
I couldn’t help but smile, my heart light in a way it hadn’t been for a while. Aleron shifted closer, his arm resting near mine but not quite touching. The distance between us was respectful, but somehow, it felt more intimate than if he had wrapped me in his arms.
“You should sleep,” he murmured, his voice still tinged with amusement. “We have a long day ahead tomorrow.”
I nodded, but sleep didn’t come right away. Instead, I found myself lying awake, my mind filled with thoughts of Aleron, of how different things had become between us since my heat had ended. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress.
Eventually, the steady rhythm of his breathing lulled me to sleep.
—
The next morning, I woke to the soft sound of birds chirping outside the window. The early morning light was streaming in, casting a golden glow across the room. Aleron was already awake, sitting at the small table near the window with a cup of tea in hand. He glanced over at me when he noticed I was awake, a small smile playing on his lips.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice calm and steady.
I stretched, the warmth of the morning sun making me feel more at ease than I had in a long time. “Morning.”
Aleron leaned back in his chair, his eyes thoughtful as he watched me. “I’ve decided to take a break from work for the next week.”
I blinked, surprised. A break? Aleron rarely took time off, especially not for something as leisurely as a week of rest. “Really?”
He nodded, his expression soft but determined. “I’ve been thinking… we need more time together. Away from everything else. I want to get to know you better, Lucian. We’ve barely had time to be with each other since we married, and I want to change that.”
His words made my heart skip a beat. There was something different about him now, a gentleness, a willingness to try. And I appreciated it more than I could express.
“I’d like that,” I said quietly.
He smiled, the warmth in his gaze making me feel at ease. “Good. Then let’s start today.”
After breakfast, we spent the morning in the gardens, walking side by side as the sun climbed higher in the sky. We didn’t speak much, but the silence was comfortable, a peacefulness settling between us that hadn’t been there before.
When the afternoon rolled around, Aleron suggested tea, a tradition I was starting to enjoy. We returned to our chambers, where Ben had already prepared everything. The table was set up on the balcony, overlooking the lush gardens below. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air, mingling with the soft breeze that rustled the curtains.
As we sipped our tea, Aleron turned to me with a glint in his eyes. “I have a surprise for you.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What is it?”
“You’ll see,” he said, his smile teasing. “Come with me.”
Curious, I followed him down the corridors and out into the gardens again, but this time, we took a different path. As we rounded a corner, my breath caught in my throat.
There, in a secluded part of the garden, a small area had been set up. Easels, paintbrushes, and a palette of colors were laid out neatly on a table. A canvas stood ready, facing the most beautiful view of the garden, where flowers bloomed in every color imaginable.
I stared, speechless. “You… set this up?”
Aleron grinned, clearly pleased with my reaction. “With Ben’s help, yes. I know you like to paint, and I thought… maybe you’d like to capture the garden today. It’s a beautiful day, after all.”
For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. The gesture was unexpected but thoughtful, so thoughtful that I felt a lump form in my throat. Aleron had gone out of his way to do this for me, and the fact that he remembered how much I enjoyed painting made it even more special.
I turned to him, my voice soft. “Thank you, Aleron. This means… a lot.”
He smiled, a quiet warmth in his eyes. “I’m glad you like it.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon in the garden, the sun casting a golden glow over everything as I painted. Aleron sat nearby, reading quietly as I worked, occasionally glancing up to watch me. The peacefulness of the moment, the beauty of the garden, and the comfort of having Aleron near.. it all felt surreal.
As I worked, I stole glances at him, my eyes tracing the familiar lines of his face. He was handsome, undeniably so, but there was something else now… a softness, a tenderness that hadn’t been there before. It was in the way he looked at me, the way he spoke, the way he had gone out of his way to make me feel comfortable.
By the time the sun began to set, I had finished the painting a vibrant depiction of the garden, the colors blending together in soft strokes. I stood back, admiring my work, a sense of pride swelling in my chest.
Aleron walked over, his eyes studying the painting before turning to me. “It’s beautiful, Lucian.”
Aleron stood next to me, silently admiring the painting I had just completed. I could feel the weight of his presence at my side, the calmness that had settled between us after a long day of quiet companionship. But as he stared at the canvas, I saw a shift in his expression, a subtle change from admiration to something deeper, something more vulnerable.
I glanced at him, curious, and followed his gaze back to the painting. That’s when I saw it too. Nestled amongst the delicate brushstrokes of flowers and the soft sweep of the garden, there was a face, a figure that I hadn’t even consciously realized I had included.
It was Aleron.
His form, his sharp jawline, his intense eyes, the way his hair fell softly over his forehead. It wasn’t an exact likeness, but it was unmistakably him. And I had painted him there, not in the foreground, but gently woven into the background as if he was part of the very fabric of the landscape I had captured.
I hadn’t planned for it. It had just… happened.
Aleron’s breath hitched, his hand reaching out instinctively, his fingers trembling slightly as they hovered just above the canvas. His fingertips traced the contours of his painted face softly, reverently, as though he couldn’t quite believe it. I could see the way his chest rose and fell, the way his posture had shifted from casual observation to something more charged, more personal.
He was overwhelmed. And in that moment, so was I.
I watched him, unsure of what to say, my heart thudding in my chest. His gaze flickered between the painting and me, his eyes darker now, filled with something raw and unguarded that made my throat tighten. I had never seen him like this so open, so exposed. Aleron, the prince who carried so much weight, who was always so composed and in control, now looked at me with an intensity that sent a shiver through me.
“You…” His voice was rough, breaking the silence, but he couldn’t seem to find the words. His hand dropped to his side, clenching slightly as if he didn’t know what to do with the flood of emotion inside him. “You painted me.”
There was no accusation in his tone, only awe and perhaps a little confusion.
I swallowed, feeling my face heat under his gaze. “I… didn’t mean to,” I admitted softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “It just… happened.”
Aleron blinked, his eyes searching mine, and for a long moment, neither of us spoke. There was something almost fragile in the air between us, a delicate thread connecting us that neither of us wanted to break.
He took a step closer, his body towering over me as the last of the sunlight kissed the horizon. His eyes never left mine, the raw emotion in them unmistakable now. It was vulnerability. Not the kind born from weakness, but the kind that comes when you lay yourself bare before someone you trust, hoping they’ll see you as you truly are.
His voice, when he spoke again, was softer. “Why?”
I felt the weight of his question. He wasn’t just asking why I had painted him. He was asking why he was there in the background of my thoughts, why his image had slipped so effortlessly into something that was meant to be just a scene of the garden.
I took a deep breath, feeling my heart race. “Because… you’re always there,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “Even when I’m not thinking about you… you’re still there.”
Aleron’s lips parted as if to respond, but no words came. Instead, he closed the distance between us. I felt the warmth of his body, the electricity that always seemed to hum between us when we were this close, but this time, it wasn’t just heat. It was something deeper, something that made my chest ache.
Gently, his hand lifted to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin. The touch was soft, almost hesitant, but it sent a jolt through me. His eyes were locked on mine, and in them, I saw everything he hadn’t been able to say before. The frustration, the yearning, the conflict and now, the tenderness that had always been buried beneath the layers of duty and expectation.
“Lucian,” he whispered, his voice low and filled with something that made my pulse quicken. “I don’t deserve you.”
I shook my head, my own emotions swirling inside me. “You don’t get to decide that.”
For a moment, he looked as though he might argue, but instead, he let out a soft breath, his thumb still tracing the line of my jaw. He leaned forward, just enough that I could feel his breath on my skin, his forehead resting gently against mine. His other hand came up to cradle the back of my head, his fingers threading through my hair in a way that made me feel safe, cherished.
“I don’t know how to do this,” he admitted quietly, his voice barely above a murmur. “But I want to try. For you.”
My chest tightened at his words, and for a moment, all I could do was close my eyes and breathe him in. His scent, his warmth, it was overwhelming, but in the best way.
“You’re trying,” I whispered back, my hand lifting to rest against his chest. His heartbeat was strong beneath my palm, steady and grounding. “That’s all I want.”
He exhaled slowly, the tension leaving his body as if my words had given him permission to just be here, with me, without the weight of everything else. For a long time, we stood like that, wrapped in each other’s presence, the world outside the garden fading away.
Eventually, he pulled back just enough to look at me again, his eyes soft but still intense. “Tomorrow,” he said, his voice steady now, “we’ll have tea in the garden again. But I have another surprise.”
I raised an eyebrow, curious. “Another one?”
He smiled, the corners of his lips quirking up in that way that made him look almost boyish, despite the seriousness of his usual demeanor. “You’ll see.”
—
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