Chapter 34 — Their New Routine
The morning after their dinner together felt different.
Mia woke up thinking about the previous night.
The lights.
The music.
The way Nathan had held her while they danced.
And, most of all, the kiss at the end of the evening.
She smiled before she could stop herself.
Then she immediately pulled the blanket over her face.
"Why am I smiling?"
She stayed there for a few seconds before finally getting out of bed.
When Mia walked downstairs, she expected to find the palace staff preparing breakfast.
Instead, she found Nathan in the kitchen.
He was standing beside the counter with a cup of coffee in his hand.
He turned when he heard her footsteps.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
Their eyes met.
For a second, they both remembered the night before.
Mia smiled.
Nathan smiled back.
Neither of them mentioned it.
"Coffee?" Nathan asked.
"Yes, please."
He poured her a cup and handed it to her.
"Thank you."
Mia took a sip.
"This is actually good."
Nathan looked offended.
"Actually?"
"I didn't know you could make coffee."
"There are many things you don't know about me."
Mia laughed.
"Apparently."
They sat down together.
There was no awkward silence this time.
They simply talked.
About their schedules.
About the weather.
About a ridiculous story Nathan had heard from one of his employees.
It felt strangely normal.
And Mia liked it.
---
Over the next few days, something changed between them.
Not dramatically.
There was no sudden declaration of love.
No grand announcement.
Just little things.
Nathan began joining Mia for breakfast whenever he wasn't busy.
Mia started waiting for him before taking her evening walks.
If Nathan had a long meeting, Mia sometimes left a cup of coffee outside his office.
If Mia had a difficult royal meeting, Nathan would quietly ask her afterward how it went.
They were becoming part of each other's daily lives without even discussing it.
One afternoon, Mia was working in the study.
She had several documents spread across the desk when Nathan walked in.
"Still working?"
Mia didn't look up.
"Yes."
Nathan glanced at the clock.
"You've been here for hours."
"I know."
"You need a break."
"I'll take one when I'm finished."
Nathan sighed.
"You're stubborn."
Mia finally looked at him.
"Did you just complain about me?"
"No."
"You definitely did."
He pulled out a chair.
"Move over."
"Why?"
"Because I'm helping."
Mia smiled.
"You're actually going to help?"
"Don't sound so surprised."
They worked together for nearly an hour.
Eventually, Mia leaned back on the sofa.
"I need five minutes."
Nathan looked at her.
"Take ten."
"I said five."
"Ten."
She rolled her eyes.
"Fine."
She closed her eyes.
A few minutes later, exhaustion won.
Mia fell asleep.
Nathan noticed.
He stopped working and looked over at her.
She looked peaceful.
Carefully, he took a blanket from the nearby chair and placed it over her.
Then he returned to his desk.
He didn't wake her.
---
When Mia opened her eyes, the room was darker.
She blinked sleepily.
Nathan was still sitting at the desk, working.
She looked down and noticed the blanket covering her.
She smiled.
"You covered me."
Nathan looked up.
"You were cold."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
Mia sat up.
"How long was I asleep?"
"About an hour."
"An hour?"
"You clearly needed it."
Mia smiled.
"Thank you."
Nathan nodded.
"Anytime."
She looked at him for a moment.
There was something comforting about knowing he had stayed nearby.
She hadn't expected marriage to feel like this.
---
That evening, they decided to cook dinner together.
It was a terrible idea.
At least, according to Mia.
"You're putting too much flour."
Nathan looked at the bowl.
"I'm following the recipe."
"You're destroying the recipe."
"You told me to help."
"I didn't say you should take over."
Nathan laughed.
Mia reached for the flour.
Nathan moved at the same time.
Their hands collided.
The bowl tipped.
Flour went everywhere.
They both stared at the counter.
Then at each other.
Mia burst out laughing.
Nathan laughed too.
"You did that!"
"You bumped into me!"
"You moved first!"
"And you were in my way!"
Soon they were both laughing so hard that neither cared about the ruined kitchen.
Nathan wiped a little flour from Mia's cheek.
She looked at him.
He smiled.
"Better."
Mia touched her cheek.
"You could have told me."
"I thought it was funny."
She shook her head.
"You're impossible."
Nathan smiled.
"And yet you're still here."
Mia smiled back.
"Yes."
She was.
And she didn't want to be anywhere else.
---
After dinner, they walked onto the balcony.
The night air was cool.
Mia rested her arms against the railing.
Nathan stood beside her.
"Do you ever think about what our life will look like years from now?" Mia asked.
"Sometimes."
"What do you want?"
Nathan was quiet for a moment.
"A peaceful life."
Mia looked at him.
"That's it?"
"A peaceful life where the people I care about are happy."
She smiled.
"What about me?"
Nathan looked at her.
"You're included."
Mia's heart fluttered.
She looked back at the city lights.
"I want that too."
They stood together in silence.
Nathan eventually spoke.
"You know you don't have to become someone else because you're my wife."
Mia turned toward him.
"I know."
"I mean it. You can still be independent. You can still go wherever you want. You can still have your own life."
Mia smiled.
"I'm glad you understand that."
"I've always understood it."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Not always."
Nathan laughed.
"Okay. I've learned."
Mia smiled.
Then she stepped closer.
Nathan looked at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Mia reached up and kissed his cheek.
Nathan froze.
She pulled back with a mischievous smile.
He stared at her.
"So we're doing that now?"
Mia shrugged.
"Maybe."
Nathan laughed.
"Interesting."
---
Later that night, Nathan walked Mia to her bedroom.
They stopped outside the door.
"Goodnight," Nathan said.
Mia smiled.
"Goodnight."
She reached for the door.
Then stopped.
She turned around.
Nathan was still standing there.
Without saying anything, Mia stepped closer and gave him a soft kiss.
It was brief and completely intentional.
When she pulled away, Nathan looked pleasantly surprised.
"Goodnight, Nathan."
She smiled and walked into her room.
The door closed.
Nathan remained in the hallway for a moment, smiling to himself.
Inside her room, Mia leaned against the closed door.
Her heart was racing.
She covered her face.
"I actually kissed him first."
And for the first time, the thought didn't frighten her.
It made her smile.