If you want to kill me

I slowly went towards Aldric. He obediently knelt on the floor as he looked at me worriedly and cautiously like he still had his guard up. 

He struggled as he knelt and he let out a loud groan which was muffled by the muzzle. Seeing him struggle made me wonder how he had garnered up his strength to lunge at me before when he was actually weak.

Looking at the state of his bruised body that had yet to receive treatment, I wished I had also brought some alcohol with me to douse the cuts and bruises with in the meantime whilst waiting however, I doubted that would help. He needed proper treatment. 

I felt so bad for Aldric, especially since his story was quite tragic. From what I read in the novel before marrying Kara, Aldric was married. He had a wife whom he loved dearly and they had been married for nearly 2 years. However, one day as she was returning to Adric's estate after visiting her parents' home her carriage was involved in an accident during a storm. The accident resulted in her death.

Her death was ruled as an accident by the knights that investigated but the circumstances surrounding the accident were a bit strange. Many clues indicated that it wasn't caused by the storm but rather the carriage was ambushed. However, the knights investigating the case quickly ruled the storm to be the cause of the accident. 

Aldric believes the storm was used as a cover for what truly happened and that Viktor was involved in her death. Considering how three months after her death, before he'd had time to properly grieve Viktor forced him to marry Kara. 

So Aldric's more visceral animosity toward Kara made sense. He lost the woman he truly loved and was forced to sleep with another not long after her death before he'd even had time to breathe.

Among the three husbands from reading the book, he was probably my favorite only because I sympathized with him so much after all he'd been through.

I slowly knelt beside Aldric who carefully watched me. 

"Aldric," I called his name as I carefully looked at him. "I promise I won't touch you or anything." He remained still assuring me he wasn't going to do anything due to my threat before but his eyes showed he was still doubtful. 

Part of me was still saying this was a bad idea he could hurt me but I trusted that he wouldn't try anything due to his fear of Viktor. 

I looked at the muzzle and then met his eyes once more. "I'm going to remove your muzzle but I need you to promise not to do anything."

I carefully removed it from his mouth and placed it on the floor. I looked at his lips which were badly dry and chapped.

"What do you want from me?" He weakly asked me. 

"I came to give you some food and water," I told him as I put down the bag and slowly opened it revealing the soup and water

Aldric's eyes skeptically widened. "Why? For what? You've never come to me when I'm being punished before." 

"Is this some sick joke for you to get off on my suffering? I don't need it."

Unlike Griffith who pretended to be a bit more amicable with me, Aldric didn't pretend at all.

"No, it's not a joke neither am I laughing," I told him.

"How do I know you haven't poisoned it? Is that what you came to do?"

I brought the bottle to my lips and drank some of the water to prove it was safe. "There's nothing I would gain from poisoning you like this. If I wanted to hurt you I would have let you lose your arm earlier."

"I don't know why you did that yesterday but I didn't need your help nor do I want your food so you can leave, " He spat out at me. 

This was tough I knew it would be. He said he didn't need any food or water but I knew he was thirsty after nearly two days of no water I knew he was struggling on top of his injuries. Even if he made it until the day after tomorrow he would be in so much agony. Whilst the water and soup I would give him wasn't going to save him it would give him a bit of relief until he was released the day after tomorrow.

What could I say to convince someone who loathed you with every fiber of his being to trust you? The answer is...nothing. There was nothing I could say. He had every right not to trust me, I had the face of the woman he hated most.

After contemplating for a moment an idea came to mind. Then maybe he didn't have to trust me. I started still searching for the right words.

"I know you hate me and don't trust me. But even if I am doing all this as a joke to laugh at you what choice do you have?" I asked him. "You have no choice but to do as I tell no matter what my reasons are," I firmly told him. 

His eyes narrowed at me.

 I decided I was just going to have to play along with Kara's villainous nature and see if I could get through to him like that instead. I did hate having to antagonize him like this though. 

His eyes continued to look into mine for a moment studying them as if wondering if I was serious.

"So if I say eat, you eat," I finished saying to him.

Aldric scoffed. "Do whatever you want," He accepted. I brought the bottle to his lips and helped him drink the water. After a moment of hesitant sips, he then drank it with more vigor thus proving he was thirsty. Then I gave him the soup.

The entire time I fed him he stared at me, confused as to why I was doing this. There was also a hint of that anger and hatred he had for Kara.

"Is everything alright?" I heard the guard who had let me in earlier ask as he came close.

I immediately used my body to cover the bag, and food on the floor. Then I looked back at Aldric.

"I'm sorry about this but bear with it for a moment," I told him as I brought my lips close to his and made it seem like we were kissing.

"Your Highness," the guard called out again.

I turned to look at him, "Can't you see I'm busy with my husband?" I complained.