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The room was dark, shadows stretching across the corners as Eyan's eyes struggled to adjust.
It's dark… I can't see anything, he thought, taking a careful step forward. His foot bumped against a chair, sending a soft thud into the silent room.
He froze.
A low, sleepy voice came from the bed, soft and quiet.
"Aranel… you're back."
Eyan's chest tightened. He froze again, heart hammering.
"Aranel, can you give me water? I'm thirsty," Eva murmured, her eyes still closed.
Eyan's gaze darted around until he spotted the water on the nearby table. He picked up the glass carefully and extended it toward her.
Still with her eyes closed, Eva took it and drank slowly. Then, handing it back, she murmured, "Here."
Eyan placed the glass on the table and moved closer to the bed. His palm instinctively rested against her forehead.
"Aranel, I'm fine… how many times are you going to check my head?" she murmured, her voice laced with sleepy annoyance.
"You have a fever," Eyan whispered, eyes wide with panic.
"Eyan… is that you?" Her voice trembled.
"Yes, it's me."
Eva's hands pulled the sheet higher, hiding her face from him.
"Eyan… what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain.
"I came to see you."
"Didn't Aranel already tell you I don't want to see anyone? Not even you… then why are you here?"
Eyan's eyes softened, worry pressing deep into his chest. "Eva… you have a fever. You're sick. Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's not serious," she whispered, voice muffled. "I already took medicine. You don't have to worry."
"Then why are you still burning up?" Eyan pressed, desperation creeping into his voice. "Tell me."
She stayed silent.
"Eva… say something. Why are you covering your face?"
"I want to rest now. Go," she said, voice firm but faint.
Eyan's hands grasped the sheet gently. "Let me see your face."
"No… you can't see me… just go, Eyan," she pleaded, tightening her grip.
"No. I'm not going until I see your face," he whispered firmly.
"Eyan, stop behaving like a child and go!" she shouted.
"You're the one behaving like a child, Eva. Let go of the sheet," he countered.
"No…"
"Eva—"
The door suddenly swung open.
"Eva, I'm bac—" Aranel's voice cut off as she froze in the doorway.
Quickly, she ran to stand between them. "Your majesty! What are you doing here? I told you, you can't—"
"I came to see my wife," Eyan interrupted, eyes locked on Eva.
"Lady Aranel, move out of the way!"
"No…"
"Lady Aranel—"
Eva's voice rang out sharp and commanding: "Aranel! Call the knights and get his majesty out of the room!"
Eyan's heart skipped. "Eva?"
Aranel bolted from her spot, shouting, "Knights! Come here immediately!"
The knights rushed in, faces filled with alarm.
"What happened, Lady Aranel?" one asked.
"Get his majesty out of the room!" she barked.
"But how can we—" the knights hesitated.
"Why aren't you moving? Didn't you hear me?" Eva's voice was ice.
"Forgive us, Your Grace, but we… we can't—"
"Right… I forgot. You won't listen to me anyway. I'm just a commoner who became queen," she muttered bitterly.
Eyan's chest ached. "Eva, don't say that."
"Your majesty I said nothing wrong. Your knights aren't listening to me. What else could it be the reason if not that?"
The knights bowed, lowering their gazes.
Eyan clenched his fists. "Fine… I'll go. But first, tell me, Eva… are you angry with me? Have I done something wrong?"
"No… you didn't," she replied, voice faint.
"Then why are you pushing me away?" he asked, voice breaking. "Why don't you let me see your face?"
Eva remained silent, hurt tightening her chest.
The room fell into heavy silence.
Eyan's fist tightened further. "Fine. Don't answer me. Stay like that. I don't care anymore."
He turned toward the door, heart heavy. What is wrong with you, Eva? Why are you behaving like this? I haven't seen your face since you left me alone in the stud—
He froze mid-step.
Aranel was about to close the door.
Eyan spun, pushing it open and stepping inside.
"Your majesty—" Aranel exclaimed.
"Eyan, you haven't left yet? What are you doin—" Eva's voice trailed off in surprise.
Without a word, Eyan grabbed the sheet and pulled it away fully.
Eva blinked, sitting up slowly. "Eyan… what is wrong with you? I told you to leave!"
Eyan wrapped her in a tight embrace.
"Eyan—wh—" she started, heart racing.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, voice choked with emotion.
Eva's heart sank.
"I now know why you've been avoiding me," he admitted, voice trembling. "I hurt you, didn't I?"
"No, Eyan… I'm not hurt," she whispered, but her voice was small, fragile.
"Stop lying," he pressed.
Silence stretched between them.
From the doorway, Aranel spoke gently, "Eva, I think you should tell his majesty the truth. He's worried about you."
Eva lowered her gaze, cheeks burning with emotion.
----
Aranel lit a single candle, its flickering glow casting long shadows across the dim room.
"I'll wait outside. You two can talk alone," she said softly, stepping back and closing the door behind her.
Eyan gently released Eva from his embrace. His eyes immediately found her pale, exhausted face, and guilt tightened his chest. He cupped her face, feeling the heat of her skin beneath his trembling fingers.
"Eva… your face… you look exhausted," he murmured, his voice heavy with worry.
Eva gave a weak, apologetic smile.
Eyan's gaze searched her, heart aching. "Where does it hurt?"
"My legs… they hurt," she whispered, placing a hand over her stomach. "And… here."
Eyan's voice broke. "I'm so sorry, Eva. It's my fault… I pushed your body too far." His chest ached. "Have you been in pain since this morning?"
Eva only nodded silently.
"Then why didn't you go to the physician?"
"I was afraid… you'd find out and blame yourself," she said softly.
"But Eva… it's my fault," he insisted, voice trembling.
"Don't say that," she replied, weakly, her eyes downcast.
Eyan's gaze hardened, edged with pain. "Eva… why didn't you stop me last night if your body couldn't handle it? I would have stopped immediately. You should have pushed me away… why did you let me hurt you?"
"How could I push you away? You're my husband," she whispered, voice barely audible.
"So what…" he murmured, heartbroken.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"So what if I'm your husband? You have the right to push me away, to tell me to stop… if you don't want it."
"Eva even if we are married, I don't own your body, your body doesn't belong to me. You can tell me no anytime… and I won't touch you...not if you don't want me to."
Eva's heart warmed at his words.
Eyan's eyes softened but held a steel edge. "Eva… next time, if I ever do something like this again…"
From his boot, he drew a small dagger, the blade glinting in the candlelight. "Stab me with this," he said quietly. "Always keep it beside your pillow."
Eva froze, eyes wide. "Are you Insane? Why would I stab you?"
"Don't worry," he said gently, cupping her face, "I won't die from it. But it will bring me back to my senses."
"Even if you don't die, you'll still feel pain… how can I—"
"What about your pain, Eva? You're hurting right now, aren't you?" His voice broke slightly. "My pain is nothing compared to yours. I can heal myself with my Wolfs… but what about you?"
Eva looked at him in silence, her heart tightening.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked softly.
"You said… even if we're married, my body doesn't belong to you," she whispered. "What about your body, then?"
"My body belongs to you," he said firmly. "Not just my body… my soul, my heart—they only belong to you."
Eva smiled. "That's unfair… you're giving me your everything, but you don't want anything from me."
"That's not true…" Eyan murmured, his gaze intense. "I want your heart. I want your heart to belong only to me."
"I want you to love only me."
He cupped her cheeks, his fingers gentle but possessive. "And I want you to only look at me like this."
Eva's cheeks flushed crimson.
"Eva… I don't know if you realize this, but I'm a very possessive man. I can't bear it if you look at anyone else like that," he admitted, his voice low, almost trembling.
Eva smiled softly. "Why are you talking like that? You could have just said 'you love me'."
"I love you," he whispered.
Her heart began to beat faster. This is the first time after our marriage he said that to me… as Eyan — she thought, breathless.
"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing her expression.
"Nothing… I thought I heard you wrong," she murmured.
"You didn't," he said softly. "I said it…"
He gently kissed her hand, holding it against his lips. "I love you."
Eva's eyes met his, and slowly she closed the distance to press her lips to his.
Eyan's hand moved to cover her mouth. "No kissing…," he said firmly.
Eva pouted, and he shook his head, smiling faintly. "Stop pouting."
He stood, scooping her into his arms. "First… let's get you treated. You've suffered enough all day."
Eva rested her head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Eyan carried her to his chamber, each step a silent promise of care, protection, and undivided devotion.
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