Lady In Red

64

Xerxes moved with purpose, his hands now in the pockets of his trousers, his tall frame casting a long shadow as he approached. He did not speak at first—he did not need to. The sheer force of his presence was enough to send a ripple of unease through the gathering.

The Duke quickly stood and bowed.

"Your Majesty." He greeted looking up, his eyes met with Andrew. Always like a shadow behind the King.

He had trained alongside Andrew, the King’s personal advisor, and several other noble-born men—distant relatives of the royal family, yet bound by duty to serve the crown. Their training had been brutal, meant to forge them into warriors, strategists, and protectors of the kingdom.

Andrew had always been composed, a man of sharp instincts and unwavering discipline. Eden respected him, though they had never been close. But the King—Xerxes had been different. He had trained with them, fought with them, but never let anyone in. A lone wolf, powerful and relentless.

Even back then, Xerxes had been untouchable, unreadable.

Yet now, watching him hover protectively over Queen Ruby, Eden couldn’t deny the shift. The way the King watched her, the subtle way he positioned himself between her and others—it was a side of Xerxes no one had ever seen before.

Eden smirked slightly, glancing at Andrew, who also seemed to notice.

Never thought I’d live to see the day, He thought in his mind

Andrew remained silent, but the flicker of amusement in his eyes told Eden he wasn’t the only one surprised how the King acted around her.

Xerxes did not acknowledge him at first. His gaze flickered to Ruby, lingering for a moment before he slowly, deliberately, took the seat beside her. Without a word, he rested his arm along the back of her chair, his fingers just behind her shoulder, taking some strands of her hair and turning them around his finger.

The unspoken message was clear.

Ruby's breath caught, her posture straightening instinctively.

Duke Eden, despite his usual confidence, could not ignore the tension now suffocating the garden. Still, he was a Duke, and he would not be intimidated so easily. He sat once more, meeting the King's gaze with practiced ease.

"My King," he said, forcing a polite smile. "We were just discussing about the Princess."

Xerxes finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with something cold. "Yes, I heard."

Eden tilted his head slightly. "She seems to be in deep thought as of late. I had hoped the Queen might offer me some insight."

Xerxes took a slow sip of Ruby's untouched tea, his eyes never leaving the Duke. "The Princess is a woman who does not show her hand so easily. If she has not given you an answer, it is because she wishes to keep you waiting."

Eden chuckled lightly, though his shoulders remained tense. "Perhaps you are right, Your Majesty. It would not be the first time a woman has tested my patience."

Xerxes tilted his head slightly, his piercing gaze unwavering. "No, it would not."

Silence stretched between them for a moment too long.

Ruby swallowed, sensing the conversation was turning into something else—something territorial. She had seen Xerxes like this before, though never directed at Duke Eden.

Eden, sensing the challenge, cleared his throat and shifted the topic. "I have also been tending to matters in the southern estates. The farmers have reported a successful harvest this season. It should ease trade for the coming winter."

Xerxes hummed, finally leaning back slightly. "Good. The last thing we need is unnecessary shortages."

Eden nodded, though he still felt as though he were walking on a razor's edge.

Ruby, needing to ease the atmosphere, placed a hand gently on Xerxes' wrist. "Shall we walk the gardens? The blooms are particularly lovely today."

Xerxes turned his head slightly toward her, and for a moment, the hardness in his gaze softened just a fraction. Then, without breaking eye contact, he stood.

Duke Eden took the silent dismissal for what it was and rose as well, offering a respectful bow. "Your Majesties."

Ruby smiled up at him, "She is in my library. Perhaps you could drop by to greet the Princess before leaving. I must admit she doesn't like many visitors. Maybe you could lighten up her mood a little."

"Yes. Of course. I shall take my leave" He bowed again before stepping back and turning, leaving them both alone. The servants and both their advisors now out of sight and gone.

Xerxes watched him leave, his expression unreadable. But Ruby could feel it—the tension lingering beneath the surface like a beast barely restrained. He stared at Eden's back offering Ruby his hand. She looked up at him, eyes squinting as the sunlight fell through the edge of the canopy before taking his hand and standing up.

As they strolled deeper into the gardens, she exhaled softly, taking back her words of how formidable the young Duke was. Certainly not. Now that the King was beside her. She could speak to any of the people in this land but the king freely.

Xerxes finally spoke, his voice low.

"I do not like men who try to entertain my wife."

Ruby's lips parted slightly, but she said nothing.

Xerxes cast her a sidelong glance, his gaze simmering. "And I certainly do not enjoy watching you smile at them."

Ruby's heart pounded, but whether from nervousness or something else entirely, she could not say.

"He wasn't."

A kiss interrupted her words. Xerxes pulled her closer by her waist, his other hand wrapping around her jaw and kissing her roughly. Ruby's hands pressed over his chest as she tried to keep up. But his teeth brushed against her lower lip making her whimper and pull away, but Xerxes wasn't letting her have a moment's peace, dragging his lips on her jaw to her neck right where she always went limp.

"Your Maj-esty-We are - in the -gardens" She could barely take those words out her mouth.

"I can't kiss my wife in my gardens?"

She immediately shook her head at that fearful tone of his.

"No-"

"No?" He c**k his left brow up, his head tilting to a side challenging her.

Fear spread across her body with that tingling feeling shooting up her legs, "No-I meant-"

He kissed her again stopping her from speaking. He loved her voice, yes, but the thought of her laughing with another man irked him. Wrapping his fingers softly in her hair and kissing her, as she finally caught up to his lips he pulled back her hair. She whimpered as his lips kissed her under her chin, over her neck licking her.

"I see you laughing with another man again you will be bent over my knees and he will be drafted to the front lines. You hear me?"

Ruby touched his arm looking at him, his eyes weren't scary. Nor was his tone. He was teasing her as she struggled to keep her legs straight. He might have sounded absolutely terrifying but Ruby, somehow liked it. Somewhere in the pit of her stomach, she felt tingles as he grabbed her hair and threatened her. In fact she wanted to test his patience even more.

"Perhaps your Majesty should talk to others and entertain yourself as well."

Oh boy, she knew she was done for. His eyes filled with anger as he let go of her hair and grabbed her jaw pulling her closer.

"Hm? I have a brilliant idea for entertainment. I only hope my dear wife does not cry."

And she did end up crying that very random afternoon. On her knees right before his c**k, breathing heavily looking up at that man and almost cursing him under her breath.