Chapter 73

She barged into his room, almost all grace gone from her. He sat up in surprise, hair disheveled from tossing and turning in his comfy bed. She sat down at the usual spot, eyes scaning him. He cleared his throat. "This isn't a pleasant hour."

"I need to talk to you."

His wandering mind wished she would rather say 'I need you'. Nathan nodded and made no efforts to get up from his bed. Instead, he leaned back in his pillows, legs sprawling. "I'm listening." His sleepy drawl made Carina skeptical. Nathan was behaving a bit too comfortable. Usually, he preferred to act poised and graceful around her. Or to be honest, uptight.

"Did your mother tell you anything about me?" Nathan thought for a moment. Then shook his head no. As he tried to get more comfortable on the bed, something caught Carina's eye. "There's a ring on your finger."

Nathan smirked as he wiggled his hand, "Yes it's brand new. Come closer, take a look." Carina's eyes narrowed. But she gave in anyway. If he tried something, she would kick his masculinity. To her skepticism, Nathan gently placed his hand in hers as she stopped at arm's length. Carina held it up close to her face and marvelled at the precious gem placed in the costly ring.

"It's a Benitoite", he said smugly. Carina gulped at the blue stone. It must've cost a fortune. She sometimes forgot how wealthy they were.

" Did you buy it yourself?"

She let go of his hand. He gripped it back, "No. It's a gift. From the royals." Carina's eyes widened. Nathan sat up straighter, their proximity close. That's when Carina smelled it. He was drunk. "The royals keep sending me gifts. They want something from me." His voice dipped lower. Carina involuntarily shivered. She needed to get away. He wasn't in his right mind.

"What do they want?" Her voice carefully masked how nervous she felt.

"I can't tell you that." He chuckled as her face fell.

"Then why did you even bring it up?" She tried to pry her hand away. "Let me go, Nathan."

His smile faltered. "I love it when you say my name." His grip tightened. Carina hated how she felt her cheeks burn.

"Shut up. You're drunk."

He smiled sloppily, "It's making this easier."

"What do you mean?"

"Could you give me a hug?" Carina froze. What was this man doing?! That was the last thing she imagined him saying. "Please, my love", he whined, pulling her arm, "I need to be weak tonight." Carina's mind reeled. She needed to play this smartly. What would her mother do?

"If... If I hug you, you'd have to tell me what's bothering you." She tested him. He looked so out of it. Gone was the sly man who acted hostile and crude. He looked like a child who'd lost his favourite plaything. He was searching for comfort. She was his only salvation.

He remembers nodding. The rest is hazy but he remembers Carina climbing on the bed, his bed and wrapping her small arms around his shoulders. He remembers sniffing her vanilla scent and tightening his arms around her. He vaguely remembers her fingers running through his hair as he buried his nose in the crook of her shoulder.

He doesn't remember crying and spilling everything on his mind for the first time in years.