/12/ Your mother had returned

Sania was relieved of the awkward moments after she had gotten in bed, the warm shower she took after the ceremony did a good job of soothing her. Nevertheless, it didn't stop her from thinking about what Taffi did to get his mother to hand over her crown.

While she was drowned in thought and staring at the ceiling, Taffi walked out of the bathroom, only this time, he had dried himself up with the towel, but Sania did not notice since she avoided looking in his direction.

She tried to divert her thoughts because they became filled with images of his body, thus tempting her to want to stare. And while she was occupied with these thoughts, Taffi got in bed.

Sania sensed his presence and a shiver went down her spine, she felt his breath on her neck and immediately realized that he was lying right next to her unlike he had the previous night.

"Face me," he said, his tone was authoritative, and Sania felt as though he was upset with her, but for what reason?

"Please," Taffi added after he realized that his tone was stern. He was used to speaking to everyone in that manner that he didn't realize when he used it on Sania, but he has tried not not to, for as long as he could.

Sania hesitated for a minute, and her heart raced as she imagined what it would be like to face him while they were alone on the bed. After much contemplation, Sania gave in and slowly turned around to face him.

As soon as she did, Sania felt her heart stop for a second, his ocean eyes drew her in, and she could have sworn that a silver light flickered in them.

Aside from that, he was only putting on his night pants, without shirts on. A sight that left Sania speechless, one that she couldn't resist and was tempted to feel, and touch if possible.

"I know my family made you feel unwelcomed at the dinner table tonight," he began in an apologetic tone and took a strand of her hair in between his fingers.

"Hmm," Sania muttered, she hoped that staying quiet long enough or acting apathetic as usual would make him end the conversation soon because, for some reason, his actions made her feel anxious.

"And I'm not happy about it either, I just wish they would see that you are such a nice person and not treat you that way because of some stupid law." His hand trailed down her cheeks, her skin was as smooth as he expected it to be.

With a deep breath, Sania mumbled,

"Hmm-mm."

"Sania," Taffi sat up immediately as he was suddenly displeased. Sania's apathy had gotten on his nerves beyond his control. He never forced her and hoped she would open up to him eventually, but the young lady in his bed refused to comply.

"How long does she want to take?" He wondered.

He wanted to speak about it instantly, he wanted to ask her why she hesitated to talk to him and often wanted to send him away with barely audible response. He wanted to know why she often stared at him but refused to admit that she found him attractive despite how long he waited to hear those words from her.

Meanwhile, Sania still lay there, as much as she was relieved, she also felt a hint of guilt for how she treated him. She ignored her conscience and refused to worry, even though she was tempted to sit up next to him and say something.

She lay there and waited for him to speak, to shout at her and ask for reasons, but it disappointed her when he didn't. Rather he just rested his back on the bed frame and stared at the door.

"I have tried, Sania, I truly have," he began, it wasn't the words she expected, nor was it the tone.

"I spent three years, doing everything your father asked me to, he didn't let me speak to you for three years, Sania, I am a King, and I could have easily gotten you, but I did it the right way, what more do you want me to do?"

"Three years?" Sania was astonished, she couldn't believe that Taffi had eyes for her three years back when she had yet to even meet O'Neil.

It made sense at that moment why her father insisted on her getting married to him, she assumed that her father didn't want to give her to another man when Taffi had worked so hard to get her.

But then again, the little voice in her head convinced her that it was probably a lie,

"Men are so good at telling lies, especially when the result is to their benefit." She told herself.

"Hmm?" Taffi mumbled with a sigh, there was no sign of response or sympathy from Sania, and it hurt him more than he thought it would.

Taffi came down from the bed, he walked to the wardrobe and picked up the shirt that he ought to have worn. He turned and stared at Sania on the bed and hoped she might still say something but when she didn't, he put on the nightshirt and walked out of the chamber, slamming the door behind him.

Sania couldn't decide whether to be proud that she successfully chased him away like she wanted, or to be unhappy that she already made him angry. Her indecisiveness surprised her because she made up her mind to stick to her plans, but being with him made it difficult to think straight.

"Well done Sania," she said and slapped herself on the face.

"Why does he make me feel so bad even when I shouldn't?"

Sania could barely close her eyes to sleep, the stress that weighed her down had surprisingly been lifted, and her sleep faded away.

She sat up in the same position as Taffi before he left the room, and sighed heavily, she stared at the door that he had walked past and slammed and wondered if he would still come back.

Meanwhile, outside the castle, Taffi stood in front of the water fountain under the moonlight with two guards behind him as always. The sound of the waters dropping from the vase held up by the sculpted image of a woman, into the pool below ought to have been soothing, but Taffi was too enraged to even listen.

"My King, your mother has returned to the castle," a guard announced from behind.