Querella was busy sorting through the files in her room, carefully reviewing the calculations and stock ledgers submitted by the ministers. From ti to ti, she couldn’t stop herself from smiling as she noticed the sudden surge in numbers compared to the previous year.
She looked almost like a child, flipping through last year’s reports and making comparisons that left her quietly giggling in delight. Such growth would have been impossible had they continued with their conventional thods. Relying solely on magicians to et the essential needs of the crops had been slow and inefficient—and worse, it had been steadily draining the farrs themselves.
Thanks to Adrian, that dependence had finally been broken. Crop production was no longer just sustainable; it was faster, healthier, and more abundant than ever before.
Smiling, she leaned back against the headboard when, suddenly—"Huh?"
A sudden illumination flared before her eyes, and she instinctively drew the armant hidden beneath her pillow. However, the mont the brilliance faded, her shoulders relaxed. The stock reports—so absorbing only monts ago—were pushed aside as she rose from the bed.
Adrian smiled as he wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her close.
"Hey," he said softly, "missed ?"
Raven closed her eyes, letting his warmth envelop her completely. No response ca to her lips—her mind was far too occupied savoring a sensation she knew she would never truly get enough.
Adrian’s shoulders relaxed as he guided her back onto the bed and sat down. Her arms never loosened around him, as though releasing him would invite another farewell.
Adrian smiled fondly at the woman seated on his lap, snug against the crook of his neck.
"This is so unfair..." she finally murmured. "...You leave so abruptly, and yet when you suddenly return, I can’t even stay grumpy for a second."
Adrian chuckled softly. "I’m sorry about last ti. And if there’s anything I can do to heal your wounded heart," he said, voice warm with teasing affection, "just say the word, my Queen."
Querella opened her eyes and looked at him, her dangerously dark gaze making his heart skip a beat.
"I—mmm?" She had barely parted her lips to speak when his own sealed them shut.
Adrian pulled back after a brief mont, his forehead resting against hers as he whispered, "Couldn’t stop myself." Lifting her hand, he pressed a tender kiss to her fingers before asking, eyes tilted up toward her, "Were you saying sothing?"
Querella wasn’t used to receiving so much of his attention—nor the tenderness woven into every small thing he did. Her ears burned and her cheeks glowed, but she refused to retreat.
"Yes," she said, steady despite herself. "I was saying that I need to remind you of sothing."
Suddenly, she pushed him back onto the bed and climbed atop him.
Straddling his lap, she looked down at him, her black hair cascading like a moonless night as she spoke in a teasing, almost coquettish tone.
"Mister Adrian, if you’ve forgotten," she said softly, "let remind you that we’re bound by more than re promises and oaths. What we share goes far beyond that." Her gaze softened even as her words carried quiet reproach. "And yet, you rushed to just because you thought I’d be mad at you?"
Shaking her head, she added more gently, "Right now... Ariana needs you more."
She knew what had happened over the past few days—what Ariana had endured. Adrian told her everything through the server chat and that got the attention of others as well.
Under such circumstances, Raven had expected Adrian to remain by her side, perhaps even too wary to leave her alone for more than a mont.
She wasn’t displeased that he was here—god, if she were honest, she would have caged him in her room and never let him leave—but still...
"I don’t want you worrying that I’ll be upset because you aren’t spending enough ti with ," she said quietly. "I understand your situation, Adrian."
Adrian let out a quiet sigh and rested his head against his arm—only for Raven to reach for a pillow and slide it beneath his head, ensuring he was more comfortable.
His fingers traced softly down her thigh as he murmured, "I suppose I’ve used up all my fortune to be blessed with such understanding partners in my life." He laced his fingers with hers, squeezing gently as he added, "I didn’t make this decision on my own, Raven. As much as I wanted to co see you, Ariana hadn’t fully recovered yet. I planned to stay by her side for another week before returning here."
Raven exhaled softly. "Ariana told you..." she said, unsurprised. "Well, that’s exactly what I would expect from her."
Adrian humd thoughtfully. "You’ve only t her once, and yet you already understand her so well?"
Raven smiled faintly. "To be honest, I was most nervous about Ariana’s behavior toward . Among the three of them, she’s the one who has spent the most ti with you—she’s been there through every phase of your life. I expected judgnt... perhaps even bitterness." She shook her head softly. "But instead, Ariana welcod into the family with open arms."
There was sothing Raven chose not to reveal. In truth, if anyone seed uneasy about Querella’s place in Adrian’s life, she believed it was Ruby. But she didn’t want to trouble him or pass judgnt too hastily, so she kept those thoughts to herself.
Adrian smiled. "As I said, once I told them what you are to , they were bound to treat you kindly."
Querella nodded in assent, a tender smile touching her lips.
Just then Adrian turned to his right and noticed a docunt lying there. "What were you reading?"
Her eyes lit up instantly. She slipped off his lap and picked up the papers. "That’s right—I didn’t get to show you the growth in the stocks—"
"My dear wife," Adrian interrupted gently.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind, his face nestling into the crook of her neck. A sharp jolt ran down her spine as his voice reached her ear.
"While I’m happy about the growth," he murmured, "what I really want to see right now... is you."
His hands settled around her waist, drawing her closer.
Raven’s breath grew unsteady as she let the docunt slip from her fingers and turned to face him.
Monts later, she lay back against the bed with Adrian hovering above her, his dark gaze making her feel small and vulnerable—and yet, she loved the way he looked at her. Absolutely loved it.
°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Two Chapters of snu-snu before we move the story.
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