At her words, their heads shot up, and their bodies trembled as they stared at her with utmost horror and submission. They had no idea whom they were dealing with.
As they nodded in unison, she took her heel off the maids leg and turned her attention back to the room.
"I am tired now. I shall personally pick out the items I need. So you shall take me to where my belongings are kept later." She simply said and walked over to the bed, taking off the white shawl that has been resting over her shoulders since.
"As you wish, Your Highness." They said in sync.
"Leave me. I wish to be alone. I am not to be disturbed for any reason at all. Away with you now." She ordered and they scurried to their feet and ran out of the room. Closing the door behind them.
She brought out the letter from her pouch as she sat herself down on one of the chairs in front of the center round table. She read the words once more and a smile rose upon her lips. She just had to endure for a while. Just a little while longer and she would get the life she wanted with the man she wanted.
She placed a kiss on the letter and once again hid it in her pouch. Just a little while longer.
...
Neriah woke up to the feel of something slightly rough walking on her face. She opened her eyes and almost fell with her chair as she jolted at the sight of Barak who had pulled the other chair right next to hers.
When did she fall asleep? She had no idea. Wait, her letter! She instantly touched her pouch and she could still feel the paper inside it and a sigh of relief came out of her mouth.
"Are you trying to kill yourself, dear wife?" Barak asked with a smile on his face as he set her chair back firmly.
"How long have you been sitting there staring at me like a pervert!" She had to ask. What a creep he was.
"Well the first time, I stared for about ten minutes in which I contemplated carrying you to the bed. But I did not want to disturb your sleep. You looked so peaceful so I let you be and decided you’d face the neck and back pain later."
Now that he mentioned it, Neriah could feel that one part of her neck had gone stiff because of the position in which she slept. And her back and neck now hurt like crazy. The idiot man!! But she was no free of guilt either. How the hell did she even manage to fall asleep! You’d think she’d be too disturbed and troubled to sleep.
"Then I left you and returned to the room just now, and I haven’t been able to ogle you for even seconds before you opened those big green eyes of yours." Neriah could not help but feel disgusted by the man. But also... Why was his face so close to hers? So uncomfortable it was making her flush.
A sudden quake made her grab onto the table firmly and she realized, "Are we moving already!" She asked.
"My dear wife," he chuckled. "We have been on the move for almost 7 hours now, My love." He cackled and she stared at him with her eyes going wider and wider as his words sank in.
"Wha—ack!" She shrieked and held onto her stiff neck that was yet to return back to normal.
"You mean I have been asleep for almost seven hours!" She snorted. As she clapped for herself in her head. Well done Neriah. Good job. How could you fall asleep! How could you sleep so peacefully when you were being carried away?! How pathetic of you. Not even on a bed but on a chair! Now he will believe you have adapted to this new life. Oh Neriah you fool.
"Why did no one wake me up?" She mumbled to herself as she just wished to die.
"I received information that you had given orders to not be disturbed." He replied to her question even though she wasn’t asking him.
"Oh, and I also heard a very interesting rumor going around among the crew, it is said that Prince Barak has married a mad Villainess who steps on her subordinates hands and has also promised the punishment of walking the plank to whomever defies her." He said.
And Neriah could not read his expression. Was he mad at her? From the tone of his voice she could not find malice but still she wished she could read the expression on his face.
But wait, Mad Villainess? Really was that what they were calling her? She had no intention of explaining herself to him. He could think whatever he liked for all she cared. He wasn’t going to believe her words anyway, since he saw her as a liar.
But still, a part of her wanted to tell him what happened.
"If I am a Mad villainess for disciplining a maid who was rude to me then so be it." She simply said. There... she didn’t tell him the details but she still managed to pass across to him that they had been in the wrong first. Now it was up to him to believe what he will and get mad at her if he chose to.
Silently, he stared at her for a moment and then suddenly the corners of his lips rose high up, and Neriah was almost mesmerized by the sincerity of his smile.
"For once princess, you are actually telling the truth." He said and suddenly he leaned in closer to her and his hands touched her bare leg causing a sweet shiver to run down her spine and her breath halted at the sudden closeness. And her eyes closed. Why did they close? What was she expecting?
Only the goddess knew what she was expecting. But whatever it was, it did not come and her eyes opened again as she realized he was no longer close to her but there was something blue shining in his hands.