Chapter 3: Mother

Nol wakes up to the familiarity of his old room. He turns his head to check on his wife but she is already gone.

"Finally up I see." Nol hears his wife's voice, it's soft but stern. "I thought we were clear on boundaries?"

Nols sits up on the bed to see his wife sitting at the small table by the window with her back towards him. The light pouring in from the window makes her seem like a goddess in the flesh. Nol walks up to how wife and takes the seat across from her. She is sipping on a cup of tea, a familiar sight. Nol didn't notice it yesterday, but her eyes are as red as rubies glowing in the pouring sunlight.

"Your condition was concerning last night," Nol explains and pours himself a cup of tea. The tea is already cold, she must've been up earlier than he thought. Nol sets the cup down, how could she still be drinking this?

Lavina sighs, perhaps she should have explained this as well. "From now on don't concern yourself with my condition. As I have already told you, I'll be better in the morning."

Nol nods, he didn't want to trouble himself either.

"Good." Lavina smiles as she sets her cup down on the platter. "Now onto our next topic of business. I will be going back to my estate for a week or two. This is purely informative, I'm not asking for permission."

Lavina's estate is located south of the capital near Tejon and the Southern Nark Sea. It was a reward gifted by the previous king himself after Lavina's victory in Lunda.

"Of course." For some reason or another, Nol imagines married life would be much more difficult than this. He didn't expect his wife to be this…independent. It's suspicious that she agreed to this marriage proposal.

"Good," Lavina says once again, "feel free to take your leave."

Nol feels a little stunned, it's like he's being chased out. However, it's not surprising coming from his wife. Hopefully, this will be the last time he set foot in this room.

"Do be mindful that this is no longer your chamber." Lavina reminds Nol as he makes his way out.

Nol says nothing. Somehow their roles got reversed. Nol should be the one reminding Lavina of their independence, the one avoiding her, the one…nevermind it.

As soon as Nol gets back in his chamber, his mother is already helping herself to Nol's imported crimson moon flower tea. It has a tender floral scent and tastes a bit like honey and tangerine. It's the only tea that Nol drinks. Well, except for Lavina's cold tea that he had a taste of earlier.

"My son!" Nol's mother, now the Queen Mother, jolts up as soon as she sees Nol. "How was your night together?"

"Mother." Nol settles down and pours himself a cup of hot tea before he answers. "She had a fever last night so I spent my night nursing her,"

"Poor thing." The Queen Mother's facial expression shows a bit of disappointment but mostly concern. "How is she now?"

"She is already and fully recovered." Nol takes a sip of his tea, hot tea is definitely better than cold ones and better than whatever his wife is having.

"Wonderful!" The Queen Mother exclaims before leaning back on the couch and changing her tone of voice. "Now answer this, why are you two in separate chambers?"

Nol takes another sip of his tea, carefully thinking about his answer. If his mother finds his answer unpleasant things could get complicated. "She wanted space to get accustomed…"

Before Nol could finish his sentence, his mother cuts him off. She clasps her hands together with a grin stretching on her face. "Why don't you help by showing her around!" It was not a suggestion, but a demand.

"Show her around?" Nol repeats his mother's words in disbelief. He is far too busy to act as a tour guide. Nol is the King, not some manservant to serve his wife.

"Speaking of which, where is your Queen this morning?" The Queen Mother waves her hand for the head maid. The head maid nods at the gesture and smiles as she makes her way down the corridor.

"I'm afraid she will not be joining us for breakfast today, Mother," Nol informs his mother. His mother has only met his wife once before their wedding yesterday but has been treating her like she's her own daughter. His mother is more affectionate towards her than towards himself and has not been this happy since when his father was still alive.

"Did something happen to my dear daughter-in-law?" The Queen is full of concerns again. Her eyes are now wet from hidden tears, her mood swings are as unpredictable as ever.

"It's nothing like that, Mother." Nol sighs once more before he can start explaining to his mother. "She has some matters to attend to back at the Rainteau's Estate. She will be departing soon."

The Queen Mother quickly jumps to her feet again and urges Nol to get up with both hands on his shoulders. "Then what are you still lingering around for?" The Queen Mother rushes Nol out of the door with her hands pushing his back.

"What's going on?" For a brief moment, his mother seems to have more strength than him as Nol could not resist her.

"No son of mine will let the lady go on her honeymoon alone!"