Chapter 15 - A Responsible Ruler.

As the King was explaining everything to Rei, his left hand involuntarily twitched a bit, and he seems to be trying to stop the twitching by opening and clenching his fist continuously.

Seeing that unusual hand movement of the King, Rei can't help but once again wonder if he is having any problems with his left hand.

"Rei? Are you listening to me? You seem to be dazed off a bit, are you alright?" the King asked, slightly concerned.

"Yes, My Lord. I am listening," said Rei as she nodded, totally denying that she is looking at his hands all the time.

"Good. Anyway… I also found out that you were attacked by a wolf pack on your way to the frontier camp, which explained how you actually got lost and eventually passed our kingdom's borderline by accident, after all, that forest is totally unguarded as it is too dangerous for anyone to stay in there for a long time." said the King as he grabbed a cup at his right side only to find that it is emptied.

Looking at the empty cup, he frowned and sighed before putting it down.

"By right, I should send you to the frontier camp, but I don't feel like doing so, a delicate lady like you would never survive that harsh condition in the frontier camp. Three days ago, I sent a false report to your Emperor saying that I caught you and your maids in captive for a trespassing attempt, and he recently sent back a letter to me saying I can do anything I want to you." said the King who stared at that empty cup and looks slightly irritated.

"Your Majesty, I could make you a cup of tea if you don't mind about it," said Rei as she noticed the King's frustration.

"No, it's okay, just a cup of warm plain water will be good enough if you don't mind helping me a bit, there is clean water in the glass jar over there, and you can warm it up with the mini stove at the side." said the King who is actually quite surprised by Rei's offer.

Rei nodded and did as instructed by the King.

As Rei was preparing the warm water, lots of thoughts flashed through her head regarding the information the King just told her.

"Thanks." said the King as Rei passed him a cup of warm water.

"Your Majesty, if there are no other matters, I shall take my leave," said Rei as she bowed to the King and was about to leave.

"Stay here a bit longer… If you don't have anything to do right now." said the King, out of the blue.

"Heh?"

"There are extra chairs over there, you can have a seat if you want to." said the King.

Rei sheepishly nodded and sat on a chair that is two metres away from the King…

***

That morning, Rei stayed in the King's reading room for more than four hours. She took that opportunity to observe that good-looking gentleman in detail.

For that whole four hours, she witnessed how a ruler worked hard in maintaining the operation of the whole kingdom, which is something she never has got a chance to see in Qin Empire.

From handling a whole stack of letters and documents to listening to reports of messengers from all over the place, she saw another side of him. He gives a vibe of a responsible and ideal country ruler, and through the attitude and respectfulness of the messengers and servants towards him, that vibe she felt from him is deemed valid. Which once again makes her can't help but wondered about the credibility of that awful rumour about him.

After he was finally done reading, replying and marking all the letters and documents and listening to one last report from a lady messenger, he leaned on his chair and massaged his eyes with his right hand, he looks tired.

Seeing this, Rei remembered her late parents who died at her young age, she remembered how her mother will give her father a good massage after he had done with his work on the farm they owned in the past.

Uncertain where did she get this courage, Rei stood up and walked towards the King before giving him a good massage on his stiff and tired shoulder.

The King was both shocked and surprised by that sudden move of Rei, but he did not stop her, despite being a bit surprised, he doesn't hate the feeling of that massage from her. He closed his eyes and let her continue with her massage.

At that moment, lots of changes slowly happened. He has totally put down his suspicion towards her and started to build up a trust on her. And she was no longer afraid of him as she knows that this man would be the last person that will hurt her in this foreign castle…

***

Rei returned to her room near evening time, she sat at the side of the window and recalled everything that happened in the day, particularly, his clean and delicate pairs of hands that worked nonstop for the time, she finally saw him using his left hand.

"So, he does use his left hand after all, just not as frequently as he uses his right hand, huh?"

That's what she thought.

But at the same time, she is concerned about that weird twitching of his left hand and worried if he is having any health problems.

"Maybe I can ask him about it tomorrow." She thought.

And then, she started recalled of everything he told her, especially about she might still have a chance to return to her hometown. All of a sudden, she was filled with an overwhelming sadness. Despite the current life she has in this castle isn't that bad, she still missed her hometown and thinks of her fiancé who promised to love her for eternity…

Suddenly…

"My Lady, the dinner is ready."

An Er's words pulled Rei back to the reality, she nodded before standing up and heading to the dining table…