Chapter 117: SHE IS MAD AT HIM 2
The dining hall buzzed with the gentle sounds of breakfast. Lumina sat beside Ashen.
He slowly fed her, well it’s one of his punishments to appease her for what he had done wrong the previous day.
Breakfast had been peaceful, until the doors opened and Ero stepped inside.
He bowed low before speaking.
"My lord," he let out, his voice calm but serious, "May I have a private word with you?"
Ashen’s head lifted from his plate confused at why Ero would ask this knowing he was having breakfast. Lumina felt him still, just slightly, before he turned to glance at her.
"Private?" she asked, her brows knitting together.
"Yes," Ero replied.
Lumina’s heart gave a strange, uneasy twist. "Are you beginning to hide plans from me now?" she asked, tilting her head toward Ashen, her tone soft but laced with irritation.
Ashen turned fully toward her, "Of course not," he replied, also wondering what Ero would want to discuss privately.
She snorted at him. "Don’t you dare be sneaky with me, Ashen. If you do, I will find out myself and when I do, I won’t forgive you easily."
Ashen sighed, dragging a hand over his face before nodding at Ero. "Speak."
"Are you sure my lord?" Ero asked, making Ashen’s brow furrow in desperation.
"Stop putting me on edge... speak before she gets mad at me." he let out with a plea on his face.
"My Lord then can I wh.."
"He asked you to speak Ero!" Lumina yelled, startling everyone around her.
Ero’s voice lowered as he leaned slightly closer. "My lord, the Crown Princess sent a message. She said you shouldn’t forget your deal."
The words hung in the air, and Ashen’s eyes widened now biting his lip.
Lumina on the other hand went very still. Stella, who had been quietly standing nearby, froze mid-step, her wide eyes darting between them.
"Crown Princess?" Lumina asked, her voice deceptively calm. "Of another realm?"
Ashen breathes out loudly, "It’s.."
But Lumina cut him off, her voice cold. "Was this the reason you smelled of Rhynera yesterday?"
Ashen’s head snapped toward her, genuine surprise flashing in his eyes. "Smell? You... smelled her from me?"
"I lived with her for ten years," Lumina replied annoyance clear in her voice. "I know her scent better than anyone... Remember I rely on my ears and nose more than most. Don’t you dare try to tell me otherwise."
Ashen blinked, then let out a quiet laugh, clearly amused despite her fury. "Remarkable," he said. "So she really did leave her scent on me to rile you up."
"Go straight to the point, Ashen," Lumina snapped, her hands clenching on her lap. "Don’t you dare play games with me right now."
Ashen’s smirk deepened, and he leaned toward her, lowering his voice until it was almost a purr. "Are you jealous?"
Lumina glared at him, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You are my husband. Am I not supposed to be?"
Ashen’s smirk turned into a slow, satisfied smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You are," he answered. "And I don’t have to argue with that."
"Then stop smiling like that," she hissed, her anger cracking just enough to reveal the nervous knot of jealousy tightening in her chest.
"Why was her scent all over you yesterday? What deal are you making with her behind my back?"
Ashen tilted his head, still maddeningly calm. "Is that why you were so tense last night?"
"Stop avoiding the question!" she snapped, her voice rising. "Tell me the truth!"
Ashen’s expression softened, and he reached for her hand across the table, his fingers curling gently over it.
"We had an... altercation," he admitted. "I might have grabbed her a little too roughly. That’s likely why her scent clung to me."
Lumina’s nostrils flared. "Grabbed her?"
"She was shouting at me," Ashen said with a casual shrug. "And I don’t like people shouting in my face."
"What is this deal between you two?" she demanded, yanking her hand from his grip.
"She wants me to assign her some guards in secret," Ashen said, finally sounding serious.
"She says someone has been sneaking into her chambers, and she wants to catch them without alerting the Crown Prince."
Lumina’s jealousy flared hotter, but now there was confusion mixed in.
"Why must you be the one to do it? She has a husband, shouldn’t she go to him?"
Ashen leaned closer again, catching her wrist and lifting it to his lips. His kiss was slow. "I thought the same thing," he murmured against her skin.
"But she refused. She embraced me from behind and refused to let go until I agreed."
Lumina’s mouth fell open, her chest burning. "She what?"
"She threatened me," Ashen explained more. "Said she would make everyone think there was something between us if I didn’t help her."
Lumina shot to her feet, her chair scraping against the floor. "How dare she!"
"Lumina," Ashen called as he also rose from his seat and stepped closer until she had no choice but to meet him.
"Relax. I agreed because it allows me to get some information on her and I thought you would like that."
Lumina froze, her anger flickering just slightly.
Ashen’s lips quivered into a small, knowing smile. "You do like that, don’t you?"
"I." Lumina swallowed hard, her chest still rising and falling rapidly.
"Then you should have told me when you came back yesterday... You always tell me about things like this! You only said you were busy!" she yelled at him.
"I needed to appease you yesterday my lady... and she isn’t that important so I forgot about her." Lumina glanced his way and only then did he know he had made another mistake.
"You forgot about me yesterday also.."
He grabbed her hands with a small smile, "That’s different.." he let out pulling her back to the chair.
"Please sit," Ashen murmured, guiding her gently back into her chair.
She sank stiffly, her hands still clenched in her lap.
"Fine," she muttered after a moment. "Get something on her quickly and brush off this ridiculous deal."
Ashen smiled faintly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "As you command, my lady."
Lumina turned her face away, still scowling but the heat in her cheeks betrayed her.
"You don’t have to be mad," Ashen said softly, still leaning close, his breath ghosting over her ear.
"There will never be anything between me and her."
Her lips trembled, but she said nothing, merely letting out a small, frustrated huff.