Chapter 187: Closure
I stood at the door, reaching for the doorknob, when I heard footsteps approaching me.
"Your Majesty! Seems like you have made up your mind."
I blushed. "I-Is he in?"
"Unfortunately, not this time."
"Where is he now?!" I demanded.
"Calm down, Your Majesty. He just left an hour ago without me, so I don’t know where."
I turned on my heels and hurried out of the corridor.
"Your Majesty!" Lucan called for me, but I didn’t answer.
I didn’t know where he could be, and so far, I was just running in circles in an endless search. The pulse on my neck intensified, so I listened to it, letting it guide me to him.
Drevon was at the gardens, under the shade of the gazebo, watching the skies. I wasted no time as I neared him. At the sound of my shoes, he turned, and his expression turned to worry.
"My love, you shouldn’t be in the rain."
I rushed to hug him, a breath of relief releasing from me. I should have done this sooner; I didn’t realize how greatly I missed him until now. Just his warmth gave me the comfort I could ever ask for, and the days I spent brooding turned into a dream. This was my reality.
"Is everything alright?" he asked with profound concern in his tone.
My chin rested against his chest so that I could see him. Seeing him up close made my heart flutter in ways I couldn’t explain.
"Everything is fine now that I’m with you. I’m sorry it took so long."
A soft smile touched his lips. "I’d have waited longer. As long as when the time came you’re able to look me in the eyes like you do now."
This made my pulse race. I could never get over how much this man was entirely consumed by me, and it made me happy that I was drowning in clouds, too.
"I still wish I did it sooner," I said, giving a little space as I tucked some curls behind my ear.
"You’re here now, that is all that matters to me," he said with a slight frown. "We should go back inside and change out of these wet clothes. I don’t want you to catch a cold."
"It’s been so long since I fell sick, and that is coming from someone who has been sick half of her life."
"Can never be too careful." He picked me up effortlessly with one arm.
"How are you, my dearest?" I asked gently.
A soft look took over his gaze. "Dearest?"
"That is not what I asked."
"But allow me to indulge longer in the fact that my wife just used a sweet word for me. Say it again."
"Drevon..."
"I’m much better."
I shook my head slowly, his eyes narrowing. "D-Did it hurt you while I mourned for him?"
"No, you mourned him for me, too."
"I don’t want to ask this, but—"
"I didn’t feel anything," he answered quickly, like he wanted to spare me from asking.
I placed my forehead on his.
"Does that make me a monster in your eyes?"
"No, dearest."
He grinned.
"Everyone is different. Mourning in their own way, it’s very bizarre but not completely abnormal."
"I know. Never expected it too."
"Neither did I," I said. "Will everything go back to normal?"
"It will."
I buried my face in his neck, and Drevon walked us back to our chambers.
~•~
Drevon helped bathe me despite my protest. He told me how much he wanted to take care of me to make up for the days he was absent. He had only done that to give me time, knowing the phantom mark would slowly wear off.
He was never hurt; he was only patient until I found my way back to him.
And I did.
We lay next to each other, eyes connected, my thumb stroking his cheek gently.
The thunder boomed, and the windows rattled from the force. The rain was far heavier than it was earlier, the loud downpour filtering through the air and silencing every other sound, the thick curtains dancing from the breeze.
The weather had an unpleasant feel to it for the last few days. However, it was a welcome change because I didn’t spend it alone anymore.
"I love you," I murmured.
"I love you too." He kissed me passionately.
~•~
I stepped into the room, and the painter was alerted by my presence.
"Your Majesty!" he bowed. "I didn’t realize we would continue with the royal painting." He stretched his head to see if the monarch was coming, but I was alone.
I smiled. "How is it going?"
"A few more touches and it will be ready for display in the royal showroom. Also, I’ll make extras. I’ll encourage you and the monarch for one more sitting to capture that essence. In all my life of painting for the Balthars, yours were quite astonishing to capture, and I cannot wait to have you see it."
I giggled. "You’re very good, Henry."
"Your compliment delights me."
"I did not come for our painting."
"Then why do you honor me with your presence?"
"I came for the portrait of Damon Balthar."
"Oh..."
I nodded. "Can my memory serve?"
"Certainly! Please..." He guided me to sit, and I did.
He sat in front of me and held up a paper on a board with a charcoal at hand.
"I’m ready when you are, Your Majesty. Please take your time."
I exhaled sharply as a heavy pressure filled my chest, but it wasn’t of self-loathing or guilt. It was the threshold of joy as I engaged in detail about Damon’s features with accuracy.
I recalled the first time we met, the lifeless look in his eyes. The times when he was a shadow I couldn’t outrun. They weren’t pleasant memories nor deserving of reminiscing. However, as I did right now, I didn’t think of it from that perspective.
I thought about Damon as a wandering soul who found his way to me, soul as pitch black and mind twisted as the roots, but a person who, despite all odds, accepted the failed parts of him when no one else did.
Damon was a selfish person, but at the end of the line, he did a selfless act, and even though he felt he didn’t deserve redemption, it had already found its way to him.
After hours of description, I looked out the window and found the sun coming out from the covering of the clouds, and the rain slowly stopped.
I rose to my feet and walked to the balcony, pushing the door open. With the fresh air and sunlight on my face, I took a deep sniff and closed my eyes, a smile on my lips.
It smells of wine, washed away by the rain.