Talk Later

The next morning, I was up bright and early and already in the kitchen. It was my first day as an official noble, though yesterday was hopefully not the overall outlook of the life a woman that's considered wealthy is meant to live. And aside from the mixed memories and the chain I was now forced to wear like my ring, yesterday was no more. 

Despite watching as the incoming grey clouds rapidly approached through the window next to the stove, it felt like it was going to be a much better day. 

I took a breath. 

I've got this, I thought to myself, and as I exhaled my smile grew while the air left my lungs; a sense of peace. 

"Where will you be today?" I asked my husband, as I stood over the hot stove cooking his breakfast; eggs and thick slices of ham. I wasn't great at using it, my mother always preferred the fire and that's what I obviously had to use as well. Though the past month has given me an opportunity to not be so feral with it. 

It really was an entirely new world. I've always had a clue about it, but was never truly introduced until now. 

Oliver had always dressed like a man of poverty when we were together, and Gregory and I had never really been together often enough either. 

No more having to use outhouses or hoping for a turn at one of the 2 actual toilets that were shared amongst the entire district. Having a claw footed bath inside instead of a tin bucket exposed to the elements. Even being able to wash nearly everything else indoors as well took some time getting used to; dishes, clothes, hands. 

But at the same time, I missed home. 

"I'll be overseeing a collection of citizens today; nobles and those in your home district," he took a sip of his tea as he sat at the table waiting for his food; table having already been set. I could feel his eyes peering into the back of my head as he watched me make it. 

I'm not going to poison you; I rolled my eyes. 

"Collection for that?" I only hinted. 

"Yes," I heard him set the teacup down upon the small porcelain saucer with a high-pitched clank. "I'm 20 now, Adeline. I only have 2 years left, and I'm not immune to this just as much as you aren't." 

"Where are they sent?" I ignored his rhetoric. 

"I don't know," was all he mustered, shortly. He had a clue just as much as Oliver did. I turned from the stove, the handle of the pan in one hand as I held a spatula in the other making my way to finally serve him. 

"Is it the southern gate?" I grilled, "or even the northern?" As I scooped the food onto his plate, and a bit onto mine, I made sure he understood I knew a little bit more than I was letting on. "Or the bars the castle calls their gate?" I sat down. I was perfectly fine today until I realized my husband was not just a part of, but in charge of such a revolting task. 

"You talked to him, didn't you?" He snarled at me, rising from the table with such force that the table shifted, splashing our tea. "At our wedding?" He slammed his hands down upon the table, leaning in before pointing a finger at me angerly as I took a seat, "If I find out-" he began to spit before I finally cut him off. 

"Nothing happened," I took a bite of my food, "he only warned me about what he believes happens with banishments. So is it true?" 

Gregory calmed himself, sitting back down, his entire demeanor changing. He knew anything he told me would be safe; we already shared one of the biggest secrets of the entire Kingdom as is. "I've only been assigned this task a few times; but no, I've never taken anyone to the gates. Not even nobles." His voice was low, "they go to the castle where they're told they need to get some type of passport in order to enter another Kingdom, but I've never had to take them anywhere after that. Always been told it'd be taken care of and then I'd be sent on my way." 

"Are you familiar with vampires?" I inquired, I knew it sounded odd, but no one other than he knew the royal family that I could openly talk to. 

He didn't answer me, beginning to stuff his face with breakfast. "I need to hurry, otherwise I'll be late." 

His silence was enough of an answer. "Speaking of, I found this amongst your dirty clothes," I scooched back my polished, dark wooden chair so I could get into a pocket of my apron. I pulled out an old silver pocket watch. "Figured you could use it." Gregory's eyes sparkled, and he opened it the moment he took it from my hands. 

Had he just done his laundry he would have found it. 

"It was my grandfather's watch. I was given it when he passed," he looked me in the eyes, and his soft glance made my heart flutter a bit. "Thank you." 

He then chugged his tea, before going to a mannequin he had standing in the living area, his black armor upon it. 

I watched him dress as I finished eating; it was fascinating how different he looked in it. "At least treat them with respect when you gather them," I pleaded gently. 

Putting on the armor was like nothing for him now, and in only a matter of minutes he was already dressed, everything but his helmet which he carried under his arm. "I'm sorry for yelling at you," He apologized like he didn't want to, almost between his teeth before leaning in to kiss the top of my head. 

I stood from my seat to face him, taking the helmet from his arms and placing it upon his head. Holding it in place with my hands on either side of it, I got onto my tippy toes and kissed him. "You have a lot more to apologize for, but we shall talk later, my love."