Pending Riot

.

Whilst walking, Brenda glanced down at the white handkerchief she held, beautiful white lotus embroidered in the middle. Her eyes then went to her arm, there were finger marks on her skin and they had gotten red

"How did he know...was he there the whole time?" she questioned no one in particular as she was the only one standing

.

Orchid sat in front of the mirror, she had gotten a warm bath earlier with the help of Ava and now she was drying her hair with a towel, all by herself

She heard the door open and through the mirror, she could see Ciaran stepping in. She stared at his reflection as he took off his royal suit, she kept on watching and she saw that he was about to take off the last piece of clothing on his upper region, she looked away

She gasped when she felt his heavy, cold breath on her ear. She looked up at him in the mirror and her eyes met his. His keen grey eyes held a hint of mirth and a playful smile on his lips

"I thought you were going to keep staring. But you looked away when the show was about getting interesting..." Orchid didn't want to listen to anything he was saying, she proceeded to stand up but he held her down by her shoulders. She looked at him with a questioning gaze and he took the towel from her

"What are you doing?" she asked when he gently placed the towel on her hair which was slightly wet "I didn't ask you to-"

"But I want to" he cut in and slowly wiped her hair. Orchid watched him in the mirror and couldn't help but chuckle at his expression

He looked so serious, his sole attention glued to her as he took care of her hair until it was completely dried. He then looked at her with a gentle gaze

"T-thank you, your highness" she said and then nervously stood up to head to the bed but he held her wrist

Orchid actually felt her heart skip a beat as his cold hand came into contact with her skin

"Your highness? Orchid-" he called her name and Orchid blinked her eyelids several times. The way her name had smoothly rolled out of his mouth made her incredibly anxious "We're married, we share the same room...and bed. Do not relate to me as that. You call me by my name as I do to you, hmm?"

"Fine, as you wish" she said but Ciaran held her wrist tighter "What is it you want?"

"I want you to call me by my name, Orchid. We can be like this all night, it doesn't matter. As long as you're by my side"

"..."

Orchid was speechless, she felt the words she was about to spit out get stuck in her throat. What was it with him? He left the palace without letting her know and now he comes back acting all different

And still, he had that smile on his lips. His malicious eyes staring deceptively at her as if he was waiting for her to put her guard down at any moment, to finally have her...blood?

"Your highness..."

"Ciaran" he interrupted "Orchid, say it. Go on" he urged and Orchid could feel the pressure and douceur in his voice

"Fine, Ciaran. If that is what you wish then I shall call you by your name, Ciaran"

"No, not a wish. Because I want you to" he smiled and she saw the dark glimmer in his hauntingly beautiful eyes

They were only an inch apart from each other. Their intimacy was making her feel uncomfortable and apprehensive

And like that, they gazed into each other's eyes. Orchid blinked herself into reality and took her hand from his

"It's late. I'm going to bed"

.

It was dawn already, Orchid woke up with the loud chirping of the morning birds. Ava stood by her, already set to get her ready for the day

After a nice, warm bath. Orchid decided to have tea in the garden

"It's a nice day, isn't it?"

"It is, princess" Ava answered

"I want to go out, Ava. It's been a while since I was out, being indoors is rather...suffocating. What do you think?" Orchid asked with a bright smile

"It is a wonderful idea, princess. The weather is nice for a stroll but unfortunately, we can't" Orchid's smile dimmed when she heard Ava's response

"What do you mean 'we can't', Ava?"

"I'm sorry, princess. But His Highness restricted me from taking you out"

"What? Why would he do that?"

"He didn't say, princess. But I think this has something to do with the unresolved case of the pending riot. I overheard some of the servants talking about it" Ava said and Orchid raised a brow