Sylvia spent the whole night making soaps and mixing herbs; she wanted Vernon to recover quickly so that she could be free.
She roused awake and found Vernon's hand holding a hair strand; she jumped back.
"Are you cutting my hair?"
He looked at her weirdly, "What would make you think that?"
As if you wouldn't take the chance to bring me harm, she thought.
"Why are you hovering over me then?"
He cleared his throat,
"I wanted to see what you were doing?"
"I'm making medicinal soaps and herb concoctions for you."
"You have the audacity, Sylvia."
"What do you mean?""Are you trying to poison me?"
She wanted to laugh, but she had to be serious, "No! I want to heal you fast."
"Are you being honest?" He assessed her.
"I am being fully honest, I want you to recover as soon as possible.""Why the rush?"
"I have matters to attend to, and I don't want to be couped in here with you. We have spent way more than enough time together."
"You dislike my presence that much?"
"We both know the feeling is mutual."
He didn't respond as he moved away from her, "You should get some sleep."
She nodded, got up, stretched, and went to bed.
"Sylvia."
She opened her eyes, "What happened?"
"Get the food."
"Couldn't you wait for me to wake up?"
"Didn't seem as if you would be waking up anytime soon."
She climbed out of the bed, came back with the food, and set it in front of him. He seemed to want to say something, but didn't.
"Please don't disturb me."
"I won't."
She was surprised by his response.
Sylvia went back to sleep and roused awake later on, and found Xerses to still be working.
"You would think the Queen would be up early."
"I was awake because I didn't want to land on the floor."
"That is your doing."
"My doing?"
"I believe so."
"You are the one who is forcing me to stay with you; if not, I would be in my bed and getting the adequate sleep that I deserve."
"You are going to have to learn to sleep on your side of the bed."
She stretched, "Let me get ready for the day, then."
"You don't need to report that to me."
She went to the baths, got dressed, and went out of the room."
She made her way back to the room, "Excuse me, My King, I have things to do."
"Such as?"
"I have to get some sun and check on the concubines."
"Since when have you and the concubines been close?"
"You will be surprised."
"Tell me."
"Are you sure?"
"Trust me, I do want to know Sylvia."
"When you left, I found out amusing things about you, my king."
"Such as?"
"What an amazing lover you make."
"Don't start, Sylvia."
"It's you who wanted to know."
"Fine, let it go."
"No, now I want to tell you all the more."
"You don't have to."
"I like you when you are like this."
He looked at her fully, "What do you mean?"
She was taken aback by the look, "I was playing."
"Backing out?"
He had the power to grate on her nerves, and it was her fault that she let him get to her, but she was still working on it.
"Sylvia?"
She was brought back to the present, "As you want to know what I meant, well, it's fun to see you uncomfortable."
"Doesn't that make you a mad woman?"
"Coming from you. That's rich."
He focused back on his work, and she scoffed. He really didn't want to discuss about his precious concubines.
Now to figure out what she would do, how she missed the gardens, Maria, and Alice. She grabbed a chair and opened the curtain so the sun could stream in.
The castle was thankfully high up; no one could see through his room. She grabbed a book and sat down.
She roused awake and found Vernon had also taken a chair to sit in the sun; he was asleep.
She looked at him sleeping, and the sun insinuated his beauty. How evilly handsome he was. She got an idea.
She took her silver cup and dropped it loudly; he roused awake.
"Sorry, did I wake you?"
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