Dine with me

I walked to the stables and scratched Incanna's head, she was sleepy and calmly pulled hay out of the basket.

Where the hell is she... Perhaps she is scared of me? I shook my head and headed back.

"My lord, she left a moment ago, you missed her." The head groom bowed to me in the doorway and stepped aside.

"Did she say where she was going?" I asked absently, ignoring the fact that every one of my subjects knew I was running after her like a dog.

"She didn't say, but maybe she's in the gardens, it's beautiful and the ladies like to go for walks at this hour."

I thanked him with a nod and headed out to look for her in the gardens. But instead of pursuing her, I hesitated in the courtyard before retreating to my chambers.

'You addicted bastard, give her a moment to breathe.'

Still, I found myself standing by the window, yearning for a glimpse of her figure in the gardens, before I submerged into personally rewriting old laws that just made no sense. 

It was getting late. Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. I tensed, put down my quill, and motioned for a servant to open the door.

"My lord, it is time to remove the stitches." The doctor bowed in between the door and entered.

I couldn't hide my disappointment, when I realized it was not her.

"The scar will remain, but otherwise the wound is healing well. Don't put too much stress on the leg. Avoid riding in the saddle." He said as he pulled the last thread out. He bowed and left, but lingered in the doorway. He was talking quietly to someone in the opened door.

I pulled my pants back up and tightened the laces. I walked over to the door as curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the door wider. There she stood, flanked by two maids, hanging her head humbly as the doctor chastised her for disturbing my rest.

"...lie down and rest, he should not..." I heard him mutter almost angrily.

"That is enough. Take your leave." I banished him quietly, leaning my shoulder against the frame. She looked up at me as the doctor stepped away. Why is she nervous? She didn't say anything for a moment and just looked at me, but after a while she lowered her eyes "I heard Your Majesty haven't eaten yet. I hoped maybe we could have dinner together..." She explained quietly. Puzzled by her sudden formality, I looked at her for a bit longer, searching for the reason behind her behavior.

"Come in." I stepped to the side with a smile and waited until she and the maid had passed through to the main room.

They set out two dinners facing each other, arranging some buns, cookies, sweet balls, a bowl of fruit, and pitchers of wine and water in the center. And two goblets.

She looked at the mass of food for a moment and then looked up at me with a laugh, "I brought too much, didn't I? We can't eat that in a whole night."

"We can try. It looks great, thank you." I grumbled and pulled her chair back. She gratefully accepted, held up her skirt and sat down. I gripped the back of the chair and leaned in close to her ear, so close her hair tickled my cheek.

"I'm eager to try everything you can offer." I said softly so only she could hear me.

With smiles, laughter, and stolen glances, we shared a dinner, her enchanting green eyes captivating me throughout the evening.