A King's Visit

FREYA

King! What did she mean by the King? Surely she must be mistaken.

I pointed in his direction, unable to help the words that followed.

“That's the King? the King of the underworld?” I asked, my mouth refusing to stop, “But the king is old and ugly.”

“Freya!” It was my father this time. “Sit down.” His voice was cutting and commanding, pushing me to do his bidding.

Immediately, I sat down.

Adrien was the King? How was he the King? Panic bubbled up inside of me. Was he here to punish me or my family for how I addressed him? I forced my panic away, surely he wasn't so petty as to come all the way for that.

But then I remembered Dalia's story and my panic flared up again. His presence in our residence was utterly unexpected. The swirl of thoughts continued to dance around in my head, each one vying for attention.

I sneaked a glance at Adrien, and the man was hiding a smile. His dark ruly hair framed his chiselled face and his aura exuded both power and allure.

I glared at him, making him reveal that smile 3and I so wanted to slap the stupid smile off his face.

“I'm sorry about that, Your grace. I assure you, Freya is just tired.” My father said and sent me a sharp look. Helena didn't look too pleased either.

“I'm sure she is.” The infuriating man replied. I could sense the mockery in his words. “I'm here for Freya actually. I met her at the ball, and she left quite the impression.”

Adrien made sure to keep eye contact with me as he spoke his next words. “I'm intrigued.”

My father and Helena exchanged looks before turning to me. The hanging tapestry suddenly looked very interesting.

“You're here to visit Freya?” My father asked incredulously.

“Only with your permission, of course, Lord Bale,” Adrien answered, it didn't seem like he was asking.

He had made himself comfortable on the sofa on which he sat. An unaware person would think we were the guests, and he, the host.

“It is granted then,” Father said, his tone suggesting he wanted to say something else. There was a tension in the air, but Adrien seemed oblivious to it, or he just didn't care.

Father and Helena stood to leave the room, “Make yourself comfortable, Your eminence.” Helena was saying and I scoffed internally. “I'll send in a maid with refreshments.” She smiled and walked out of the room.

Father left too, but not before sending me a warning glare, and he left the door to the sunroom wide open behind him.

Adrien spoke immediately they left. “So you think me to be old and ugly?”

I turned to him with a cutting look I had practiced so often in the mirror. “What are you doing here?” My voice was deathly calm.

“Did you skip the whole conversation I just had with your father?” He was still very much relaxed in his chair.

“I mean why did you come to see me? Who told you you could do that and how did you fail to mention that you're the King?” My breath was coming faster when I was done.

“Careful, Snow, I could have you beheaded or hanged, or flayed, or your limbs chopped off.” His eyes flashed briefly as he spoke then he smiled. “I am a King after all.” He looked like he was only half joking and his smile looked threatening.

Strangely, I wasn't scared, his words gave me an internal rush and made me feel excited. The magnetic pull I felt in his presence tugging me closer.

This was the King, the same one I'd heard scarring tales of but I didn't care. “Those are the only options I would have?” I scoffed, my eyes daring him to do something about my tone.

Instead, his hearty laughter filled the room. “You are very entertaining, Snow.” And I had to hide a smile of my own.

“So what should I call you now, 'Your eminence'?” I hand quoted “or 'Your excellence' or 'My King.'” Sarcasm wasn't my strongest suit, but I tried.

“I like 'My King' a lot.” He leaned forward in his seat. “It feels like you're saying I'm yours.” He smirked.

My scoff was loud, and I turned away to hide a tiny blush. I was attracted to the man after all. A maid entered the room with a tray at that moment.

“Take that back, we're going for a walk,” Adrien said to her as he stood up.

“We are?” There was a hint of uncertainty in my voice. Would my father be okay with that?

“Yes, we are, Snow; rise.” He was already beside my chair and he offered me a hand. “I'm sure the grounds around your palace hold lovely sights; we shouldn't be confined to a room.”

I rose without accepting his hand, and he walked behind me as I led us out of the room. Father or Helena was nowhere to be found outside, and the spacious dining space next to the sunroom sat empty as I and Adrien walked through. The corridors only had some cleaning maids who greeted us as we passed.

I wondered where my father was. I thought he would be close by, or perhaps I had simply imagined the tension in the room earlier.

Soon, we were outside.

Our residence couldn't be compared to his palace, but it was also magnificent, with several hectares of land covering a wide range. Lush greens covered the grounds where we allowed them to grow, and the far back of our big house offered a little forest.

I remembered me, Mom, and Hella always playing around in the woods.

The property also offered a great hall, where we hosted balls and where official meetings were sometimes held and we had stables as well. Father was in love with demon horses and he had several of them. They were wild creatures that could barely be tamed, but for my father, it was an easy feat and one he so loved.

The servants tending to the gardens in front of the house kept on sneaking looks at us as we walked past, and though I felt uncomfortable, I didn't blame them; everyone was interested in the guests my father had welcomed.

Perhaps they knew he was the King as well.

“Would you like a ride instead, Freya?” Adrien asked from beside me and I turned to him.

“What means did you use to get here, King?” I queried as well.

“Why, I could run if I wanted to; I'm quite fast,” he grinned, “Or I could fly or use a portal, but I used the most boring one, a horse.” He said like a demon horse was the most boring thing ever. It drew quiet laughter from me. It was apparent this was a ploy to make me relax in his presence and he was succeeding.

Adrien paused, watching me as I laughed. A look of wonder on his face, “You are breathtaking, Freya Bale.”

I ceased laughing but a smile stayed on my face still. In the sunlight, I finally saw the color of his eyes. They were a deep shade of blue and their endless depths drew me in. I couldn't understand why this handsome man was here with me. Surely there were a thousand other girls in hell.

“I am not dressed for riding, perhaps I should go and get changed?” I spoke, breaking eye contact first.

“Don't worry about that, just come with me.” He held my hand and pulled me along with him. I followed, unable to stop staring at that hand holding mine. I wanted to keep my hand in his for all time.

I shook my head to clear it of my intruding thoughts, I didn't even know the man.

We got to the stables, and one horse wasn't locked in like the others, instead, it stood outside, feeding on some hay left out for it. It was a beautiful white horse, with its fiery mane and gleaming horns.

It whinnied when it noticed us in the yard and trotted happily to Adrien. It bumped its head onto Adrien's chest and Adrien rubbed its undoubtedly silky mane while cooing, “That's my girl, good girl.”

I laughed at the sight, and both man and horse turned to me with glares. They looked ridiculously funny and I laughed some more.

“Snow, this is Maya; she's my favorite horse.” Adrien said still rubbing its mane, “Come, touch her.”

I tentatively stepped forward. I loved demon horses, but they could be intimidating, and Father didn't even let us near them. They were known for their errant temper.

Her white mane had red tips and it was silky and smooth to the touch. The animal bumped into me, too, as I rubbed its mane, forcing more laughter from me. This animal was a demon horse?

Adrien mounted the horse, then reached down, easily lifting me, and placed me in front of him, my back to his hard chest. He grabbed Maya's reins and then, we were riding out of the stable.

Never before had I been in such proximity to a man, and I tried to maintain a rigid posture, but it was impossible. Soon, I was relaxing into his chest. My dress wasn't as big an issue as I thought it was going to be, with the material just floating around in the breeze.

As we ventured into the forest, Adrien slowed Maya to a leisurely walk. His strong arms held the reins and gently balanced me. In silence, we soaked in the tranquil surroundings. The rustling leaves, the whispering wind, and the occasional birdsong, with Maya's rhythmic hoof beats on the forest floor.

As we rode, I became increasingly aware of the hard chest at my back. His warmth seeped into me through the thin material of my dress and I couldn't stop wanting to feel more of him.

I needed to distract myself somehow.

“We should have taken snacks.” I casually mumbled.

He leaned very close to my ear, speaking into it.

“Don't worry, Snow, we won't take too long before we return.” His breath in my ear did unimaginable things to me, and that voice!

I was in a significantly more dangerous situation now, than I was in before. I shifted around a bit, and it startled Maya.

“Whoa!” Adrien exclaimed and grabbed my waist tightly with one arm. “You should stop moving around.”

I nodded glumly, forcing my body to stay put.

“You have little experience with horses then?” He asked.

“Yes, this is my first time on one.” My voice came out smokier than usual.

The arm on my waist remained, pushing me more firmly into that solid chest. I was attacked by different new feelings, and I just wanted to leave that position and understand what those feelings were.

“I think we should head back, my father would be wondering where we went already.”

Adrien agreed with a hum which I felt more than heard, and turned Maya around to lead us back to the stables. I breathed a sigh of relief as we got back. Adrien dismounted first and easily lifted me off the horse. I was finally away from that body and those feelings. After putting me down, he mounted his horse again.

“I must leave now, Freya. But I'll be back to see you..” He said before galloping away.

I stood in the stable for a while, trying to process all that had happened before I headed back to the house alone.

True to his words, Adrien's visits continued, much to my comfort, and father's discomfort.