Melvin shrugged playfully.
"Well, sorry to break it to you, but just because I know how to smile doesn't mean I'm the kinder sibling," he smiled charmingly, then he looked down at the princess, eager to change the subject. "By the way, what are you doing outside?"
Slowly, he crossed his arms under his chest, as if he had been meaning to ask the question since the window encounter. "And why are you alone? Where is your handmaiden? I thought it was an obligation for that lady to follow you around."
Ilaria stretched her arms as she took a few heavy steps forward. They turned a corner and towards the solarium that was located on the west side of the palace. It took some time for her to wave off the thoughts of her husband before she responded casually, "I told her to rest. She could barely open her eyes after staying up for me the whole night."
Melvin's eyes wandered around questioningly. "She stayed up for you?"
"Mm," Ilaria fiddled with her sleeve, her tone unapologetically casual. "I forced her to sleep, but she wouldn't lie on the bed with me."
"What?" The perplexity on his face made Ilaria wonder if he heard her at all.
"I couldn't sleep," she re-explained matter-of-factly. "So I asked her to keep me company. But instead of lying beside me, she stayed up the entire night." Her thoughts drifted guiltily toward Melyn's tired face in the morning. Maybe she should bring her coffee...and biscuits...
"What are you? Five? Tsk, poor girl," Melvin almost exclaimed in disbelief. For some reason, his eyes were bright and smiling.
"I didn't mean to..." Ilaria pondered, wanting to point out something from her perspective. She already felt guilty towards Melyn, but now that he said it out loud, the feelings folded.
"That's why I told her to take a day off, she has had it rough staying with me," she veered her head to the other side to whisper, letting the air carry her words towards Melyn's room, "I'm sorry Mel..."
"You really gave that girl a headache, don't you have an ounce of shame?" Melvin shook his head in disapproval, though his lips curved into a funny smile. She wondered why he looked ridiculously contented. The way he clenched his fists beneath his crossed arms as he restrained a smile was odd, but she did not question it.
"I'm not..." Ilaria thought of her word choices, or perhaps her life choices. There was a hint of vulnerability and guilt in her soft voice when she spoke. Maybe she was being too much in her request; Maybe she was being a bit bratty; Maybe she was being childish, but old habits die hard.
"She's my best friend," she said at last, "Of course, I'll do anything to keep her comfortable. If you think our relationship was limited to our duty, you're wrong, she just..." she paused, thinking of the right words to say, her brows furrowed further as her face saddened, "She just doesn't want to sleep with me."
There was a deafening silence, and then a laugh. A hearty laugh broke out of the prince's throat, letting out a charming jingle that could warm even the darkest of hearts, though Ilaria felt nothing but annoyance.
"Don't tell me the Queen pampered you so much you can't sleep alone. Or is it the dark that scares you?" He teased. Was she supposed to reveal that she used to sleep with her sister back in Caelwyn? She felt the heat rushed to her cheeks.
Ilaria glared at him and grumbled stubbornly, "I have my reason."
Melvin snorted. "A trifling one."
Ilaria opened her mouth and was about to say something more, perhaps a talk-back or any viable words that could support her denial, but the moment they reached the solarium, he swiftly stepped ahead to open the double door.
"After you," he bowed, not forgetting to offer his teasing wink.
Still faintly offended, Ilaria passed beneath the arch. Dragons of fine gold twisting in intricate patterns above her. His words lingered, but her gaze was already drawn forward, drinking in the splendor ahead.
Glass occupied the walls and the roof; white tiles covered the path that led to the resting areas on every curve of the glass window. Green plants and flowers, mostly yellow and white lilies, were everywhere. She was careful not to step on the stems crawling to consume the hard tiles.
The late Queen of Noctharis was said to adore lilies among thousands of flowers that existed in this realm. While lilies do not exist in this part of the continent, the Queen was determined to spend the last few years before her last breath building this solarium. It was unclear where the dedication arose, but perhaps the Queen just loved its big petals and the innocence it possessed.
The solarium was big; big enough for the whole soldier units to fit in. Nothing in this part of the palace was unattractive. The entry was akin to the entrance of the palace, with plants and soft paint between the clear glass walls. Except now, the rain and the gloomy sky has blocked the sun rays that were supposed to make way for sunbathing.
Ilaria and Melvin continued to walk in a slow and comforting stride. Silence has occupied the two royals for a moment now while the rainstorm continues to thunder against the glass roof. She wondered if it would break. But then again, the glass was said to be able to withstand even the whetted claws of the Black Dragon.
In the middle of the round tiles stood a round tempered glass table with freshly brewed coffee and a six-tired ceramic cake stand, occupied with newly baked pastries and delicacies. While it was a set-up meant for a fine evening, Ilaria could not help but notice the dullness of it all.
She wondered how long has it been since the last time anyone had sat there. After the passing of the Queen, the crown prince; her husband declared that no one shall sit on the chair that was meant for his mother. It was said that the Queen had only managed to enjoy this fine haven once before she fell into an endless unconsciousness.
Ilaria did not dare to touch anything, and neither did the second prince. Regardless, she noticed his lingering gaze on the table, examining every detail and positioning of the set-up with a longing gaze. It was uncertain what he was currently thinking, but the sudden hardening of his face and the way his lovely smile faded was a sight for a sorrowful memory.
For a moment, his fingers almost touched the clean table, hesitation came, and he retreated his hand immediately. While the solarium remained open in the pretence to keep it alive, the late Queen's former handmaiden was the only one who was allowed to touch the table, at least when it was time to replace the cold coffee and desserts.
Ilaria never questioned why such an act was necessary when the woman who was supposed to sit in this chair has long deceased, but for her husband to make all of this and pretend that his mother was still alive made her heart ache. How hard was it for him to accept the death of his loved one?
But then again, Ilaria understood. She, too, had lost her mother, the difference is that she has learned to let go.
"He's still doing this?" Melvin mumbled. Ilaria could hear him seething under his breath. The sudden coldness that flashed in his eyes made even the rainstorm seem like a non-existent threat. The dark orbs surrounded by golden sea were cut into slits for a split second — The dragon eyes. It was enough to tell that he was undisputedly displeased.
"A stupid child does come from a stupid womb, how pathetic..." Ilaria slowed her breath upon the hostile remark. A chill ran down her spine as she tried to not make a single sound. It was cruel, but for once she did not speak to defend her husband.
There was a certain occasion where he could sound menacingly wicked despite how convivial he was by nature, and any sane person knew not to go against anything he said, albeit it was immoral or a complete fraud.
Melvin let out a long, restrained huff as the atmosphere tensed under his skin. If the sole thought of this place could put his mind in turmoil, it would have been better if they had walked a different path. Ilaria took a step forward, but she did not do anything further. This was not her forte.
She was never one to soothe someone when they are in a state of being emotionally uncontrolled, especially anger. So, what was she supposed to do? As she tried to get the engine in her brain working by thinking of a solution to ease the sudden tension, his soothing voice called for her attention.
"I apologize," he sighed, not an angry sigh, but one filled with sudden compunction and remorse. He turned to her with a shameful curve of his lips when he noticed how tense the princess had become.
"I got carried away, that was not very kind of me." Noticing the slight mimicry and earnestness in his voice, Ilaria exhaled a breath of relief. At least he was no longer angry.
"It's all right, you should ease up," she proposed softly, forcing a friendly smile on her face. She cleared her throat once the tension subsided.
"Um...should we...maybe get a sweet drink? We could grab some macarons or biscuits too. Just...something a bit nicer than standing around here." Her voice trailed off as she tried to come up with a few suggestions.
She nudged her head towards the door, clamping her lips into a thin line while suggestively blinking her eyes. Melvin was delighted at how soft she sounded. Hands folded behind her back; the thoughtful look on her delicate face, she almost seemed like a different person.
She was always soft-spoken, but the way she looked so small where she stood was like she was trying to get on his good side, like a guilty little sister. The corner of his lips pulled up into an unrestrained smile. He was not a fan of drinks other than water, especially if it was sweet, but he stepped closer to the princess and offered his hand anyway, "Okay, but only because you suggested it."
Ilaria could not help the wide smile on her lips. Nowthis was the cordial prince she knew. After witnessing his earlier seething, she figured what he needed most was sugar and sweets. A simple remedy to lift his spirits. After all, he had been a good companion to her these past six months.
"Let's go," she grinned, but before her hand could touch his, the double door suddenly flung open.
SLAM.
"There you are." A voice so cold it was almost chilling boomed in her ears.
Ilaria watched as the benign smile on Melvin's face faltered and slowly made way for a scowl. Those affable golden eyes had gone offish once again just when she thought she managed to pacify his sudden vexation, but that was not the important matter now.
Ilaria could feel herself shaking beneath the layers of her skirt. A void was filled, and her heart started to race. She does not know if the ache that followed along was that of pain or relief, but it did spark something inside her that made her feel...more alive.
Slowly, Ilaria turned her head towards the door to meet another pair of golden eyes. The same yellow glint, but this one was enough to make her want to crumble; enough to make her breath hitch. Because the crown prince — her husband is here.