New mission

"Rest now, wife," he stood up, still watching her, probably unfazed by his name. "I will travel less and watch you so you won't have to escape. Don't be a little trouble to me," he nodded at her before about to walk out of the room, but her next words caused him to halt.

"I cannot call you by your name."

He turned, facing her, his pose regal, his hand concealed behind him. "What will you call me then?"

"Di, I will call you Di until I think of a better name."

For the first time, she saw a slight change in his eyes and his lips forming a curve. "I would love that. So Di, hmm."

She nodded, unsure why she was even suggesting this. For someone who killed innocent lives, was it not fine to be called Ditun? However, this man was named Ditun from birth, before he even knew his left and right, which only means one thing: there must be something dark and mysterious about him.

Name is very important in all lands; it is said that your name will follow you everywhere you go, and this made everyone careful of the names they give their child. There must be something amiss and mysterious about him. And this only piqued her intrigue.

New mission: instead of running away from her monster husband, she will now delve deep into her husband's past and uncover all the mysteries.

"Everyone calls me Ditun, Dalia," his tone sounded serious. "Why did you insist on calling me Di?"

"You are my husband," despite the distance and rumors and everything, he was still her husband. "It would be wrong of me to call you an evil spirit."

He nodded, then turned to leave. "Lay down and rest, I will have Adum bring you dinner."

She sat on the bed, staring at the empty spot where he had been standing. Why was he so fine with being called Ditun? Couldn't he at least change his name?

When Adum came with the hot soup to ease her fever and some food, Dalia asked, "Does the king not let anyone into his room?"

Adum shook her head. "No maidens go there, my queen. It is restricted from everyone."

"And I am guessing, no person in this palace has seen his face?" Dalia asked, perplexed.

"None that I know of," Adum replied, placing the dish on trays.

So he never truly let anyone into his room? And has not shown anyone his face? Why? What exactly could the king be hiding?

Now, she was very much interested in him. He was her husband. It would be unfair to be married to someone she knew nothing about, and worse, would never see his face.

☄️☄️☄️

"My queen," Adum held Dalia's hand, her voice laced with panic, "please do not think about that. It will likely never happen."

They stood in the flower garden, the early morning sun casting a golden glow on their skin and illuminating the vibrant array of sunflowers, roses, and various other flowers, herbs, and plants that adorned the expansive garden. Male servants bustled around, tending to the plants and maintaining the beauty of the garden.

Adum was showing Dalia around the palace when she brought up what had been troubling her all night. Perhaps there must be a way to see the king's face. It is far worse to marry a man rumored to be a monster and still not be able to see his face.

"Is it never possible?" Dalia asked Adum, hoping there could be another way. How was she to remain in this palace as his wife without even staying in the same room with him because he was a mystery with secrets she could not touch?

"Unfortunately, no one in this kingdom has seen his face," Adum said, holding a water jar that she had taken from a tired male servant. She began watering a little plant that was just sprouting from the ground. The reluctant servant eventually gave it to her, thanked her, and headed towards a nearby shade to rest.

"Can I?" Dalia offered, stretching her hand towards the water jar. She had never been privileged to do things herself, but that would have to stop. She was a queen now. Perhaps she could do things she wanted, right?

"No, my queen, it is better if you let me instead," Adum said, giving her an awkward smile.

Dalia shook her head, frowning at her. "It is fine, Adum, let me." Eventually, Adum let her, instructing her on how to water the plants, which Dalia found incredibly satisfying.

"So, is there no one curious to know what the king looks like?" Dalia reminded Adum of their previous discussion.

Adum sighed, "It's not that we are not curious, but the king," her gaze traveled towards the marble building, "He has done so much for the people of Zephyria. He has saved many lives, built houses, and given us life. He built this kingdom, my queen. As long as he is good to us and protects us, no one bothers to know what he looks like."

Dalia stiffened, processing every unbelievable word Adum said. Perhaps she had been taken to the wrong kingdom? Was he not the same king rumored to have killed and ended the lives of so many people? How then was he saving lives? Or was he doing it for the praise of the people, like Adum, to have allies stand with him?

Hmm? Perhaps that would be the reason, for there was no way she would trust a man whose face she couldn't see, who was a mystery to her.

"I still need to see his face," Dalia told Adum, despite all the warnings she was giving her. "How do you expect me to marry a man who covers his whole face?"

"My queen, he will protect you, he will give you everything you want."

Dalia dropped the jar on the ground, no longer interested in watering the flowers and plants. She frowned, "It bothers me, Adum. It bothers me, and I must do all I can to know who he is behind that mask. I need to know that I am safe. Those rumors about him…"

"You are safe," Adum squeezed her hand, her aged eyes warmly gazing at her. "If you are so worried, I would suggest that you get to know him first. Perhaps he will loosen up to you."

"Loosen up?"

"Hmm," Adum nodded. "He rarely talks to anyone. That's why I was surprised he even brought in a wife. But now that you are here, it should start with getting to know him first."

Dalia's gaze traveled towards the marble palace, now kissed by the sun. How else was she going to know him when he seemed to have a high wall around him, a very dangerous one made of thorns? Knowing him with such an adamant behavior only meant she would get hurt if she got any closer.

"I know what you must be thinking," Adum said, her voice reassuring.

Dalia would have believed this to be simple, but indeed, it was quite challenging. She could hardly speak properly when he was around.

"But trust me, it is better to try than just sit idly waiting for him to come around. But knowing the king and how little he interacts with others, I doubt he will come around," she squeezed Dalia's hands firmly. "If you want to make this work, you must do as I have said. Not to worry, I will help you out."