Apricity

"I don't mind horses." It wasn't entirely a lie. They've become less and less favorable over the years as his patience wore more and more thin with their behavior. He understood it, to a point, but it was exhausting to pretend not to notice their panic in their eyes whenever he approached.

Traveling by carriage was always an interesting journey.

Maverick, once more, resisted firing up his tobacco. He spent the time she was away watching the sun sink ever lower. Dread creeped around within him, like a child's monster waiting to jump out and spook him when he least expected it. He had almost left and sent a servant to greet her, but he waited.

It would be something he would regret within moments.

He smelled the dog long before it was anywhere near Adelia. He didn't pay any mind to it. This one seemed to regard him with curiosity more than anything. It belonged to Reginald, the only reason Maverick allowed such an animal on his grounds.

He wished he had shooed it away before it had a chance to jump up on the woman.

Before she had a chance to say that word.

Down.

His breath caught, his heart thudding inside his chest.

Down.

His ears twitched. He was staring, her voice weaving strands through his mind that twined down into his body like fine spider silk and anchored themselves at points where they could manipulate his body against his will.

Down.

He tried to resist. The longer he did, the more effort he used, seemed to drain him of his strength and what he lost, the earth seemed to gain. It pulled him down, gravity sitting heavy on his shoulders and he finally sunk to his knees. As soon as they touched the ground, the dog rolled back up to its feet and leapt into his lap, its excitement vibrating through its body as it greeted him with incessant licking of his face.

Maverick nearly lost his temper. How strange it was to have it flare so dangerously to the surface when it's been tamed for so long. He craned his head away from the mutt, grabbing the collar between strong fingers and pulled the dog off his lap and to the side.

"Go." His voice was clipped, irritation edging his tone. He nudged the dog in the direction of the servant's door. "To bed," he commanded and the dog hesitated at first, gazing at him with large eyes and a wag or two of its tail. Maverick clenched his jaw and pointed. "Go." The dog tucked its tail between its legs, head dropping in either fear or shame and quickly made off into the direction the king indicated.

Maverick watched it, working on keeping his agitation from transferring to Adelia. He didn't understand what just happened but he sure as hell didn't want her to discover what she could do.

...was it Adelia that did it?

His gaze swept to her and after a heated moment of silence, he pulled in a breath through his nose and dusted off his shirt. Dragging his face over the fabric of his shoulders to wipe off what he could of the dogs smell, he moved to stand to his feet.

"I am not a dog person, if that's what you're asking me, Ms. Fitrei." His gaze left her and swept to the castle. "They should be preparing dinner. I can show you to your room now. You'll have time to change, if you'd like." He sighed. "I know I will be," he muttered.
 
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Adelia Fitrei

To see the King collapse in the way he had done, so randomly and without warning, it sent a warranted strike of fear through Adelia's heart. The attention she had provided the dog was lost and her body twisted so she was facing him, still kneeling with one knee pressed against the floor. Her hands automatically reached out for one to hold gently onto his arm, the other hovering away from his chest. She barely noticed how the Pointer leapt into his lap, determined to receive the same amount of attention from him as Adelia had provided.

Her primary concern was Maverick's health. What had caused him to fall to his knees in such a way? He had seemed fine, if simply a little aloof and even moody. But that was typical of the King's behaviour by this point, and she saw no reason to be concerned about such attitude.

While she felt bad for the dog, who had been sharply commanded away, she watched him with a furrowed brow. At his harshness, the young woman was quick to remove her hand, not exactly wanting to be barked at either. Her gaze studied him, trying to find any signs of illness or fatigue that could explain his sudden collapse. However she found none, and her search abruptly stopped as his gaze raised to meet hers.

Her breath caught in her throat at the heat within his stare, a heaviness seeming to push against her sternum as she felt the urge to avert her gaze. She fought back the desire to submit as the dog had done, equally pushing against the want to leave him to whatever he was going through. Clearly he was fine, and even more plainly he didn't seem pleased with whatever had just happened.

Adelia remained kneeling until he had stood, something instinctive inside her whispering that it probably was not a good time to do anything that could be deemed as dominating in that moment. So she rose to her feet a few seconds after him, and knew better than to question what had just happened. He was acting normally now, or at least as normally as one could seem, even if his demeanour seemed more strained and tense than before.

"Of course," she answered, eyes still lingering on him while he surveyed the castle. It was a mystery to her, what had just happened. Surely it wasn't because of what she had said. Her words, her commands, her powers, only worked on animals.

Clearing her throat softly, she motioned for him to lead the way and only began to follow once he had done so. Adelia knew better than to attempt any form of conversation on the walk back.


After being shown to her room by Maverick, Adelia made quick work of getting undressed and having a shower to freshen up after the journey and the visit to the stables. Her clothes and other various items, to her surprise, had already been unpacked and put away and she had to marvel and applaud the speed of the castle staff. Her outfit for the day had been left in the laundry basket, and she had collapsed into one of the armchairs after her shower, wrapped in a towel. She had kicked her feet up on the armchair opposite, fingers gently playing with each other as her mind drifted and gaze became unfocused.

She considered if she ought to bring the King's collapse to anyone's attention, a doctor or physician of some kind. Surely they had one to hand near the castle. What if the King had some sort of health condition that was kept away from the public eye? She would have to be on guard against any of those sort of spells in the future. Fear once more stabbed at her heart at the prospect of something terrible happening to Maverick on her watch; they would blame her, if she was with him and something were to happen.

Quickly, Adelia had shoved the scenario out of her mind and busied herself with getting ready for dinner. She wasn't entirely sure what was expected of her for dinner, what she should wear or the like. So in the end, she choose to settle for a modest, light summer dress with some simple sandals. No point walking around in heels now if it wasn't necessary. Besides, she preferred to keep them for public appearances or fancier events.

Once ready, she decided to leave her room and make her way down to dinner. Although she took it slow, since she had plenty of time, to trace her steps and also so she wouldn't get too lost if that was what happened.
 
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He couldn't get the smell of dog out of his nose, even after having scrubbed his skin raw. The shower's temperature was at the hottest it could be, just under what would make his skin blister. Maybe that's what he needed. Blistered skin peeled away to reveal the new growth beneath. He needed to peel his skin, to start fresh.

Maverick's agitation wasn't grounded in just the stench of domesticated canine. It was given life by Adelia's unusual control. He had noticed her panic flitting about behind her eyes like a nervous butterfly, her touch as soft as what he imagined cloud to be. She was concerned and although he didn't know why, she certainly couldn't be thinking his weakness had anything to do with her.

He questioned it himself. Surely there was a more logical explanation, but the attempt at reasoning would be dashed by the memory of how it felt to be pulled beneath a control he couldn't fight. That wasn't ordinary and as he rolled up the sleeves on the new shirt he put on--this one a slate gray--he couldn't help but entertain the idea of taking dinner alone.

Though, if he were smart, he'd investigate what occurred instead of trying to deny and ignore it. To stay one step ahead would be the best route to take and the only way to do that was to actually get to know his bride.

His bride.

He was going to pledge his life to a woman he hardly even knew, a woman who may, alarmingly, be able to tap into the darkest places within himself. The thought made him shiver with disgust. How could such a thing be possible?

Maverick had to force himself to turn from the mirror and walk out of his private quarters. Combing fingers through his wet hair was the only attention he gave his appearance aside from the change of clothes. He wasn't looking to impress and even if he had tried to comb his hair properly, it'd still end up the tussled mess of curls that it was.

He waited for her. He had intended to head to the dining room and meet her there, but at the last turn of a corner, he paused and had decided to wait. Debating on whether to remain as formal as he could didn't ease any of his frustration, but by the time she swung into the hall that led to the dining, he had tamped down the irritation so it wouldn't have a chance to escape him when he spoke.

He inclined his head in greeting upon her approach, pleased that she smelled of something floral instead of animal. He made no comment on her attire. Under less stressful, less caring situations, he may have, but he was no longer interested in paying her compliments that he wasn't entirely sure were said out of obligation or because he truly meant them.

Adelia was a beautiful woman. He could readily claim that to be a true opinion and he didn't feel he was the only man who thought so. She could wear tattered sweatpants and still somehow shine. It did beg the question of why she was still single herself. Did she focus on education or a career instead of a relationship?

Based on their earlier conversation, she meant to go through with the marriage. Did she even care to get to know him?

Mundane questions when compared to the one that lapped at his subconscious like a hungry hyena. Why did he submit to her words of command?

"I asked them to prepare fish and beef for the main course. I was unsure which you'd prefer." Slipping his hands into the pockets of his now dress slacks, he willed the exhale of his breath to ease his tension. "The dining room is quite large for a party of two. It's mostly used for catering to a larger event. If you'd prefer, we can take our dinner out on the balcony with the view of the sea." He tipped his head a degree, regarding her thoughtfully. "It'll make our first meal together under my home's roof--and one day, yours--more personable. I'd like to understand more of the woman I am going to be calling wife."
 
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Adelia Fitrei

"Beef... I... I'm not fond of fish or seafood."

A small insight, a little fact about her. Adelia knew they had to learn more about each other and simple likes and dislikes were fine. It was the deeper stuff she was more worried about. She didn't want to talk about her parents' infidelities, or her most intimate fears. Not to mention her gifts... no, he couldn't know. Perhaps he would never know. It certainly seemed like he didn't have a clue at the moment, and that was how Adelia would like things to remain.

Barely anyone knew. Her parents, of course, were aware. However sometimes Adelia wonder if they occasionally forgot. Then there had been her nanny, when she was a child. But she had signed a confidentiality agreement, so the secret was safe. All the staff, actually, at the Fitrei estate had signed such waivers. While some never found out the real reason why, only a select few did know the truth. Such as the nanny, and then also one of the stable hands.

Nonetheless, focusing back on her supposed future husband, Adelia felt slightly unnerved by his words. The last time he wanted something more personal, he had started the tour in his study and seemed to try and pick her apart.

However, she knew she couldn't avoid him forever, since they were to be married. She did also agree to his words, she too wanted to know more about the person she was bound to marry. To remain strangers wouldn't bode well, and undoubtedly put a strain on whatever relationship they had. If they were to be husband and wife... they should at least get to know some of the basics about each other. She would just tread carefully when it came to answering him, as she did with anyone who attempted to get to know her.

"Dinner on the balcony sounds lovely, that would be perfect." She murmured with a small smile in response, still feeling as though she was treading on eggshells while around him. A tension rolled off him in waves, and she was desperate to know what was going on in his head.

Was this to do with what happened earlier? Was he, in fact, hiding some sort of illness that he wished to keep secret from the people and the press, and was simply frustrated to have revealed such an intimate detail to her so soon? Or was it something else she had done, unknowingly and unwittingly to anger the King?

Clearing her throat, she averted her gaze to survey the room, finding his gaze once more too intense and too long to hold for much longer. There was just something within him that made her instincts, ones that usually only came when dealing with her beloved animals, flare. "I suppose if you are to get to know me, then it may be best to drop the formalities, don't you think? I've never heard a husband nor a wife address their spouse by title before. Although I suppose there is a first for everything," she mused, allowing her eyes to linger on a nearby painting, "So call me Adelia. Not Miss Fitrei, just... Adelia."
 
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Not fond of Seafood.

Maverick needed something to latch onto that didn't remind him of earlier and he was glad that something happened to represent a common dislike between them. If nothing else, they could share their disgust of consuming aquatic creatures, if even for a moment. A soft smile touched his lips and upon her agreement to have their dinner elsewhere, he bowed his head with a gentle sweep of an arm, indicating to continue following the hallway in order to reach the balcony.

He found that he didn't look at much of anything else aside from her. In his defense, he knew everything within his castle's walls. Adelia was the only thing new and therefore, unknown.

For now.

He wondered how long it would take him to know her fully. The average person would think it'd take a lifetime. No one truly knew another to the full extent of who they are. People were designed with such complexity that the majority didn't even know themselves. Maverick has learned that time could alter the odds and he's been alive far too long to not pick up on the more important traits of a person within a few hours. Most he could read the general persona within moments, but considering he's going to be marrying the woman before him, it would be in his best interest to put a little more effort into taking her apart piece by piece in order to learn how this puzzle can come together so uniquely that her very words echoed deep within his soul.

Or deep within his...nothing. He wasn't quite clear about those details. Curses don't shed light. They stain with dark, ugly splotches.

"Adelia." Her name was a murmur, a taste as if testing fine wine a moment after she requested that he used her given name. He's said it countless times before, but it was superficial, done mostly for the cameras. He had to show some interest in her and one such way was dropping the title. This time, however, he allowed himself to enjoy the way the syllables came together in an effort to solidify the fact that she truly was his bride.

He nodded his head thoughtfully. "Adelia, then," he concluded, sliding her a soft smile. "Maverick," he offered, his voice tinged with subtle amusement, then dipped to bring his lips closer to her ear and dropped his voice into a conspiratol whisper as if sharing a secret. "Which I prefer much more over King Torvald anyhow."

He straightened with a wink and smirking, stepped from her to push and hold open a door to a room with a grand piano sitting at its center as its focal point. "The music room," he commented casually with a small shrug, his gaze roaming the walls were yet more pictures and other various knickknacks were hung. The floor occupied a myriad of glass cases depicting a plethora of music related artifacts, books, or instruments. At the far end of the room was their balcony. This side overlooked the city, but was at such a height that the blanket of forest could be seen stretching out as far as they could see. It was beautiful during the day, but absolutely ethereal at night.

The forest was home to many plants and insects that glowed with their bioluminescence of various colors. Bright blues and oranges and pinks and greens seemed to dance through the leaves of the trees and it became even more active as the moon grew in size. Tonight there would be a lightshow as the moon was near to bursting with its glow.

He should have been more concerned about the timing, but Maverick already had plans set to excuse himself on the night the moon was at its fullest. Strange how his curse worked, but he's lived with it so long that he need only now worry about the new addition in his life and that shouldn't take him too long to incorporate.

...shouldn't.

"It's a view I think you'll enjoy." He nodded toward the back, though was in no hurry to get to the table set out there.
 
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Adelia Fitrei

The sudden, close proximity hadn't been something Adelia expected. Her body instinctively tensed as he stepped near, eyes fluttering wide if only for a second as his lips lowered to her ear. He was much taller than her, that she already knew, but his closeness only accentuated the fact more. The warmth of his breath caused a faint flush of goosebumps to appear over her skin. His words, like silk, held a promise of a secret that no one else knew. But she knew that probably wasn't the case.

As he stepped back, with a wink and a smirk, Adelia couldn't help but cynically wonder just what sort of game he was playing. She was grateful for the fact her cheeks had not stained pink or red, that the only sign of reaction to his actions being the goosebumps that were already beginning to fade.

That moment, and the way he spoke her name as if it were dripped in honey and he was attempting to get every last drop of sweetness from the syllables, had her realising just why so many women did swoon over him. If she didn't know any better, and didn't suspect him of attempting to play her in some way, Adelia was sure she probably would have fallen for it too. However she had seen him in front of and behind the cameras, remembered the way he attempted to pick her apart earlier that day, and recalled the tension of their blatant disagreements during the competition.

To Adelia, this was not him attempting to sway her as his newly betrothed, this was him attempting to butter her up to squeeze more intimate details from her at a later point.

Not that it meant she wasn't the tiniest bit attracted to what he just done. However she could never acknowledge that moment of weakness again.

Her eyes settled immediately on the grand piano at the room's centre, gently biting on her lower lip as she studied it. She wondered if she would be allowed in this room often, as her fingers instantly itched to set upon ivory keys. Not even necessarily to play anything, but just to familiarise herself with the cool surface that they provided. Her gaze then turned to survey the rest of the room, once again leaving his side to explore and linger at certain artefacts. She paused by the open door, admiring the view and, as she did in his study, had herself lean against the frame with a knee relaxing to bend and hip softly curving out with the shifted weight.

"You truly have some of the most remarkable views," she murmured finally, reluctantly peeling herself away from the door frame to continue around the room. Eventually she drifted to the piano, fingertips grazing over the shining black of the instrument. She paused as she got to the seat, eyes raising to gauge his reaction before hesitantly lowering herself onto it.

Fingers hovered over the lid, lingering near the edge, before she pushed it open. Polished ivory and black greeted her, and her gaze softened.

The young woman had learned, in conjunction to her gifts, to play both the piano and the violin. She found it helped relax some of the animals that she had helped to rehabilitate, plus it was something that pleased her parents. It ticked plenty of boxes, and so there was plenty for everyone to be happy about.

"I wouldn't want to assume, so I'll ask - is this a room I will be... allowed to frequent?" Adelia raised her gaze to meet his, fingers grazing over the piano keys but not pressing down on any. Perhaps she was to be married to Maverick and perhaps this was to be her new home, but it was exactly that: new. It felt wrong to be walking throughout the halls and even more so to potentially use the rooms as if she had been doing so her whole life. It would take a while, she knew, before this great palace would feel like home.
 
Maverick tracked her through the room, a quiet observer of a foreign entity. He made note of where she lingered, formulating assumptions he'll ask about when appropriate. She's been within his walls for mere hours and yet, he was growing impatient with discovering the unknown. He needed to bide his time, as wise men would advise. Musings of a silent storm blowing through his head as she so peacefully gazed out over the balcony.

"Yes," he agreed softly. "I consider myself quite lucky."

He pushed his hands into his pockets. He didn't enjoy being idle, but lighting up a cigarette or twisting at his beard would portray an image of nervousness. He wasn't nervous. Not in the sense of social awkwardness. He was impatient and had a prominent dislike for being clueless. His hands in his pockets was a physical cue for his brain to keep from fidgeting. Restraints in the form of pockets.

He continued to watch her, his conscious mind settling into something of a blank fog while his subconscious rifled through all facts and lore he knew of that would fit the scenario of her command words affecting him in the manner they did. He didn't want to actively think about it. It'll only fuel his agitation.

He lifted a brow when she hovered over the piano, seeming to hesitate before she sat at its bench. He wondered what it was about him that made her nervous. Or did she adopt a similar demeanor with everyone?

A caged bird, indeed.

A chuckle erupted from him, an expected sound but one that surprisingly drove out what tension was knotting his neck and shoulders. "Allowed?" He shook his head. "Of course you're allowed. You may frequent whatever rooms, whichever space that holds your interest however often you deem fit. If you are to be residing here, it's only proper that you have free reign." He tilted his head, his smile wide and eyes glittering with mirth. "It's the wandering I'll once more caution against. The palace is deceiving. Until you have it down and can roam these halls with your eyes closed, it'll trick you into thinking you're heading in one direction when, in fact, you're going in the complete opposite. Wander too far and you won't know which way is back."

He regarded her a moment more, an amused smile still upon his face. Finally, he nodded to the piano and pulling his hands from his pockets, closed the distance between them. "Do you play? You hold your fingers as if you do." He hovered over her, confirming just how she positioned her fingers. His gaze flickered from her hands to her eyes as his smile grew. "Would it make you uncomfortable if I asked you to play something?"
 
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Adelia Fitrei

Cheeks flushed softly at his laughter, but a faint smile of her own showed that she knew he wasn't laughing at her. "Sorry, it's just... still slightly surreal. It just feels like I'm a guest rather than... what I am." She didn't dare name her title, not wanting to bring that heaviness back into the room, "Perhaps I will have to request a map, at least that'll keep me from bothering you or any of your staff any time I want to explore." She laughed a little herself.

"I do... the piano and the violin, actually. I started the piano at fourteen and the violin a few months after." She answered, a warmth to her voice as she spoke fondly of her hobbies. Her gifts had appeared around the time of her first period when she was eleven, so she had always assumed they had arrived at the beginning of her puberty. It wasn't until a few years later that she began her hobby of helping to rehabilitate injured animals and learning about the creatures she could communicate with. During those early years of study, Adelia found papers and studies based on music and the soothing qualities they had on animals.

It went without question that it was something she would later implement in her own care.

The piano was fine for the creatures that she could, and had to, look after inside the Fitrei estate. Like birds, lizards, small woodland creatures and even lambs if she could sneak it past her mother. Any creature little enough to curl up in a box or snuggle down on a pillow near her feet. The violin was for the larger animals, although her parents always thought she was crazy for wanting to play the violin to a cow or a horse.

But it got results, so she would keep looking crazy until the day she died.

Her eyes raised to find his already on her, but instead of looking away, she matched his smile. Always more comfortable and confident when speaking of things she knew about, Adelia nodded and motioned for him to sit.

Upon his doing so, she looked back to the keys, humming softly in thought at what to play. Having thought back to the tightness displayed only moments ago in his shoulders, Adelia settled on one of her favourites.

Her fingers were light against the ivories, making easy work of the music as it soon became the only thing to fill the room. She briefly even forgot he was there, that she had an audience. She regretfully didn't spend as much time playing during the competition, so it was enjoyable to lose herself once more within the notes.
 
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Maverick wasn't sure what he was expecting. Her lighthearted remarks, her soft smiles, her pleasant invitation had all been a welcoming surprise, but when she started playing...

Well.

The king sat stunned, his mind blank as if the notes she played weaved a blanket to settle over his mind in order to block its thoughts. He knew the song. Of course he did. Age gave him privy to vast amounts of knowledge.

But did he know that the song could have such depth to it?

No.

He didn't know what he'd been expecting, but he certainly wasn't prepared to be caught off guard.

...again.

Gods, what was it with this woman!?

It was a question, a thought that managed to fill his head only after he lifted his hand and gently curled his fingers around hers that was closest to him. He found himself staring at her face, into her eyes as the notes faded into the air. He could feel her heart beat beneath her delicate skin up through his fingers, could hear her breath swirl in her lungs like a gentle breeze teasing the autumn leaves. Her eyes seemed brighter, somehow, and her hair softer, shinier as if compelling him to reach out and stroke it just to confirm the suspicions.

He had grown soft. The edge that lined his jaw, the muscles that knotted his shoulders had been coaxed by the notes to unwind and relax. Even in the silence, the song's memory still whispered about his ears and he doesn't remember when last he had felt such…

Freedom.

When last he had felt such peace with the curse that, for the duration he allowed her to play, he had forgotten the existence. Forgotten!

How in the blazes…

"There is more to you than you've cared to share." Maverick held her gaze a moment, the statement just a rumble from his chest. He wasn't angry or peeved. How could he be? Though he was certain and made it known he suspected there was something…

Extraordinary about her.

His gaze drifted to her hand he held, where he dared to brush a thumb over her knuckles. Not once, but twice, as if confirming to himself that her presence wasn't imaginary. "You play beautifully." Her hand seemed so delicate within his, as if the very heat of his skin could scald her at any moment or if he pressed any harder, he could shatter her bone.

And suddenly, his curse became much more real, much more frightening as he realized just how fragile the woman was compared to him.

It was the opening of the door, the announcement of their dinner that spared him from giving voice to his curse and the worries that were tied to it. With a quiet sigh, he slipped his hand from hers and stood smoothly from the bench. Pushing loose fists into his pockets, his gaze found hers. "Shall we?" His voice was quiet, solemn even. He didn't make an effort to hide that he was bothered.
 
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Adelia Fitrei

His hand coming to rest over hers was a bit of a surprise, the action causing the music to stop before it was ready to. She looked up to him instantly, blinking twice as she too came back to her senses. Had he not enjoyed the piece she had chosen? Was there something behind it that made him wish for her to stop, so he had made her do so? Adelia wasn't sure, but when she found him looking at her, she could sense no anger or irritation.

Her breath caught in her chest, however, at the intensity in which he looked at her. Witnessing how he observed every minute detail of her face, especially within their close proximity. Yet she couldn't pull away, despite her instincts screaming at her to do so. She almost didn't want to pull away.

The music had seemed to have soften the harder edges of him, the frown that she usually caught him looking at her with had disappeared, the tension in his shoulders having melted away, the tightness of his jaw no longer causing such a rigid line. His eyes were softer too, an inquisitive gaze to them that reminded her of a dog figuring out a new toy.

However all that vanished as he spoke, vocalising his beliefs that he believed she was hiding something; that there was more to her.

Immediately her gaze lowered to their hands, his still holding hers, "I... I'm not quite sure what you mean." She answered quietly, unsure how else to respond. Again it felt as though he could see right through her, and perhaps he could. He seemed to know something was amiss, and Adelia realised she would have to be much more careful. There were obviously a few things she had done that day that led to him forming some suspicions of some kind, and she would have to make sure he forgot them.

But how was she to know that her actions had caused such wariness within the King? She didn't know that her earlier command to the Pointer had caused Maverick to fall to his knees, nor did she know that the music would have such an effect on him.

Her eyes remained on their hands as the door opened, a rigidness to her spine that hadn't been there before. Her stomach tightened further as he slipped his hand from hers, and at the tone of his voice. So Adelia looked up, brow furrowing at such a dramatic mood swing. She couldn't understand just how they could go from such an intimate, soft moment to the next with her feeling as though she had angered him in some way.

"Maverick," Adelia stood, forcing eyes to meet his and holding place there, "I... I'm sorry if I've offended you by playing that... that piece. If I've made you uncomfortable-- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, at all. At-- at any point throughout the day."
 
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Adelia, once more, had caught him off guard. There was a twinge to his heart Maverick wasn't expecting and he pulled a breath in with it, casually straightening out his spine. He wasn't expecting an apology, nor anticipating that his mood could have such a profound effect on her own. Perhaps he had been too hasty with stopping her from playing, but he did compliment her. Apparently it didn't assuage her worries.

He held her gaze a moment, pleased she was able to keep hers from averting. The sound of his name on her lips had warmed his blood, a comfort he was surprised not only occurred, but that he welcomed. Was he still mush in her hands even after the music had stopped?

She had diverted his comment, claiming she was unsure what he meant by there being something more to her. It was a lie, though one she may have been unaware of uttering. She's had a long day. He'll press for an answer tomorrow.

As it was, he wasn't sure when last she ate. He was certainly hungry even though he had snacked just hours prior. It was his curse. Thank the gods he was king to be able to afford all that it took to maintain his nutrition. "Adelia." His voice was gentle and he offered a soft smile. "You must understand that you are a stranger in my home. While I wouldn't consider myself uncomfortable, I won't deny there are certain aspects about yourself I wasn't prepared to witness." He tilted his head, his smile growing. "I suppose that just makes this worthwhile. I imagine I would have lost interest within moments if you haven't given me anything to react to."

His smile faded with a sigh, his gaze trailing to their table being set with food. "If I'm coming across as being uncomfortable, it's simply because I'm navigating uncharted waters. I can't imagine you're entirely at ease yourself." He lifted a brow, a smile finding his face once more as he looked back to her.

Pulling a hand free from his pocket, he reached out as if to cup her upper arm. "Come." He gestured to the table with a nod of his head. "Let's get some food in our stomachs. Perhaps it'll help settle some nerves and if not the food, then definitely the wine," he winked.
 




Adelia Fitrei

His gentle tone reminded her of the one she used when trying not to spook an animal. Her name seemed to roll off his tongue so easily and melt perfectly on his lips, it had her returning his smile, albeit with a small one of her own as he reassured her. Adelia typically didn't look for reassurance, mainly because she hardly interact with anyone in the same way she had been doing so with Maverick.

She avoided romantic relationships as well as the platonic. Her ties with her parents were hanging on by a thread and it was her belief that, prior to the competition, she would simply set up on an estate of her own with animals galore. Perhaps create a sanctuary or even become a vet or animal psychologist. It would be ridiculously easy to live her life out that way, and since she was so confident with her abilities and her knowledge of animals... no reassurance was sought out.

Until now.

If only she had just as much experience reading people as she did animals. At least with animals, they were unable to hide their true intentions or feelings. People, however, could say one thing but mean something else entirely. A human could seem to wish you well but truly desire to bring someone pain.

"No," she confessed, finally lowering her gaze and clasping her hands behind her back, "Being a stranger in someone else's home and being expected to treat it as my own is... difficult." If he was going to be honest with her in this moment, he only deserved honesty back. "I'd just hope that you would... tell me... whenever you do feel uncomfortable and I have crossed a line. I have no qualms with telling you, so I'd only expect the same in return."

At his mention of food, Adelia smiled and this time with relief, shoulders sagging as they lost their previous tension and her eyes moving to the table on the balcony. She hadn't eaten since early that morning, and even then it had only been something small since she had made the most of her last few hours at the Fitrei estate in the stable with the young foal.

"I am starving." She laughed softly, not embarrassed to admit such a thing. From there she followed him to the table, allowing herself to forget the brief moment of awkwardness and his comment at the piano. She didn't think he would stop with trying to figure her out, but Adelia knew how to satisfy curiosity; having done so for a few years now. She didn't believe he would continue to poke and prod and suspect anything else of her once he learned the surface of the deeper parts of her. She was confident she would be able to keep him away from the Pandora's Box she had stored away.

Her abilities were not something he could know. How badly would he judge her? Would he be disgusted? Would he think her to be a freak and an oddity? Or would he ask question upon question of her? Those were the only two ways Adelia could imagine things could go. She could never imagine anyone learning of her secret and treating her as normal after that. How could they, once they realised she could communicate with animals? That she could help heal them?

"This all looks stunning," she complimented, pulling herself away from her worries to focus on the food, eyes trailing over the dishes in front of them. She smiled, this time injecting some warmth into the expression as she took a sip of her water while the first glasses of wine were poured. "Are you a big wine drinker?"
 
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It was difficult for Maverick not to deny Adelia's request right then. While he respected her wish and could understand the logic behind admitting to being...uncomfortable...in the situations she made him such, it wouldn't be possible because then the questions would come. The whys. Why was he peeved after her exchange with that mutt? He couldn't very well tell her that it was because his body responded to her commands meant for the dog.

The explanation for the music didn't fare any better. Perhaps it could work if she didn't ask questions, but he had a feeling she wouldn't be able to help herself. It was natural for humans to question something they didn't understand. Don't give commands to the dog? Well, why not? Stop playing this song? How come? He wouldn't blame her for being curious, but he certainly wasn't inclined to give answers. Lack of answering only stoked the fire of curiosity and so, it was best not to mention his discomfort.

He didn't voice his opinion, not wishing to speak tension back into the air. Despite his...mood swings...he wanted to end the night on a good note. He nodded his head in acknowledgment of her desire and hoped she didn't consider it as an agreement, then laughed just as softly with her.

If he had disagreed with her, then he wouldn't have been privy to that sound. She wouldn't be walking with such a relaxed posture to the table and she wouldn't have been eyeing each dish with a sparkle in her eye. So, was he a terrible person for not responding as honestly as he could have?

She would have an opinion on that, he was sure, but she wouldn't have to wait long to voice it. It would be a discussion they had tomorrow. After food and a good night's rest.

Maverick seated himself when Adelia did, his mouth coming open to give answer to her question, but it was not his voice that came.

"Depends on the wine, miss."

Maverick's jaw hung a moment, eyes light upon his oldest friend. Reginald tried his best to keep the smile from his face, but the king could see it play about the man's lips. Maverick laughed, a lighthearted though incredulous sound. "Well, you're certainly in a playful spirit this evening, Reginald."

Reginald simply dipped his salt and pepper head, the smile finally appearing as he poured red wine into Adelia's glass. Maverick slouched back into his chair, steepling his fingers before an amused smirk. Reginald didn't meet his gaze and drifted over to pour wine into the king's glass as if he had never spoken. Once he was done with the pour, he bowed at the waist and turned from the table.

Maverick regarded him a silent moment, then chuckled while shaking his head. Righting himself back up in his seat, he plucked the glass off the table and brought it to swirl beneath his nose. "Give my best to Rosamund, will you Reginald?" He called to his servant, raising the glass in a mock toast. Reginald turned and bowed once more, this deeper than before and when he came back up, his cheeks were rosy with the thought of his new love.

Reginald courting at his age was the talk of the castle and Maverick knew the man was off to have dinner with her. It wasn't any wonder he was feeling daring.

Maverick's gaze quickly shifted to Adelia's, his smile lighting up his eyes as he leaned forward, dropping his voice into a mock whisper. "He's right, though. Depends on the wine." He grinned, slow and wolfish. "And the occasion." Throwing a wink, he sat back into his chair and took a sip from his glass and peered at it a moment. "One of my favorites. A mixed berry." Setting it down, he went for the fork and knife, cutting into his steak cooked rare first.

"And what of you?" He glanced up at her, but returned to slicing through his meat.
 




Adelia Fitrei

It was interesting to watch the dynamic between Maverick and the servant, Reginald, as Adelia learned his name to be. They seemed rather comfortable with one another, and the young woman briefly wondered how long Reginald had been in the King's service. They had a jovial, companion-like relationship, rather than servant and boss, proven by the slight teasing that Maverick had provided. The pinkness of Reginald's cheeks causing Adelia to chuckle lightly as she reached for her own glass.

Her eyebrow raised at his wolfish grin and devilish wink, however she didn't comment but only allowed her own lips to pull into a mischievous smirk of her own, eyes lowering if only to then peer back up through lashes as she took a sip of the deep red liquid. It definitely was delectable, and she hummed softly in appreciation of the good wine as she lowered the glass back onto the table.

Hands moved to pick up her own cutlery, soon cutting into her own steak - which she was pleased to find was cooked medium.

Adelia took a bite of the steak, eyes closing as the mouthful simply melted against her tongue. The peppery tang of the peppercorn sauce adding that little kick that she loved. A sigh of appreciation escaped as she moved on to cut another piece, briefly looking up to him as she considered his question.

"I do enjoy a good bottle of red. White wine tends to make me an... inconsolable drunk... if I have too much of it." She confessed, laughing a little, "But organic red wine is the best, I've not woken up with a hangover after a night on it. Or at least, not yet." She smiled through another bite of her meal, cutlery lowering so she could once more return to her drink.

Her gaze flickered over him, lingering over different features as she simply took him in. "You surely didn't need a competition to find a bride," she finally spoke, voice soft. Her wine glass was held in one hand, lightly swirling the contents as she studied him for a moment longer, "You're charming, handsome... if puzzling. You can't expect me to believe that you didn't have one suitable candidate to be Queen before the competition."
 
Maverick's gaze snapped up to hers, his chewing slowing to a thoughtful munch. And here he was hoping to hold a somewhat mindless conversation, one that didn't have any weight. Such a thing wasn't to be expected from Adelia though, was it? From any other woman, yes, but Adelia?

Well. It was one of many reasons he pushed for her to enter the finals. If he was to marry, he didn't want it to be to a zombie. He carefully swallowed his meat and snapping out the napkin that was laying over his thigh, he wiped his mouth. "You're right. I didn't need a competition to find a bride. I had many wishing for the role. Some whose hearts I'm sure will be broken when we send out our invites."

Folding his napkin to place on the table, he reached for his glass and regarded her with a tilt of his head. "I don't recall you being particularly flattering," he teased, a smirk finding his face despite his annoyance with the topic. "You always had a crude comment about my attire or my hair or the way I smelled." He chuckled lightly. "I quite enjoyed that about you. It was a change, for once."

His smile slipped and he sighed, his focus dropping to the liquid he swirled in his glass. Oh, if only he could just…

Tell her.

It'd make things so much easier.

There had been a Queen many, many years ago. One he had loved deeply and the pain of her loss still breathed under each beat of his heart. Though, she wasn't the only reason he didn't wish to marry. He had done so before. Before, when life had meaning and the sun was brighter, warmer. Before, when he had hope of a brighter future and the promise of a family. Before, when he wasn't cursed with having a ravishing beast live within him.

"Believe it. Perhaps there were some suitable to be a queen, but not one was capable of being mine." He had grown solemn in his thoughts and with a dark, humorless chuckle, he tossed back the rest of his glass. His gaze found hers once more, sharp enough to appear deadly. "I don't wish to marry. I'm being forced to."

There was a moment of silence in which he held out his glass for a young girl to pour more wine into it. "Aside from that," he suddenly declared with a growing smirk. "I've found not many women enjoy puzzles. They prefer much simpler things…"

His eyes flickered to the girl whom he gave a slight nod to after his glass was full once more. Bringing it to his lips, he took another swallow before placing it back onto the table. Clearing his throat, he picked up his utensils once more, gesturing at her with a rotation of his wrist. "And what of you? There was no lucky gentleman that had caught your dazzling eye?" He glanced up at her, smiling around the first bite of a new steak.
 
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Adelia Fitrei

Her cheeks flushed as he recounted the ways in which she hadn't swooned or cooed as the other women had done in the competition, causing her to clear her throat and busy herself with lowering her glass to the table so she could take another mouthful of her meal. Her shoulders rose, and then fell, as she leaned back in her seat and swallowed, having given herself time to think of an answer.

"I flatter when I want to... I just thought you had so many others preening to your feathers that you didn't need another." She answered cheekily, smiling with the same attitude before allowing the silence to fall.

Her head turned to look out at the view while she cut another piece of steak free, the actions slow so she had more time to enjoy the scenery and the setting sun. However she was quick to provide him with her attention once again when he finally started to speak once more. Although the tone seemed to change slightly. Her heart skipped, and not in a good way, at the look in his eyes and Adelia could barely focus on his words when he looked at her in such a way. Her body instinctively went still, as it would do when she was dealing with a predator of some kind. She hadn't felt cautious of her life in a while, but that gleam in his gaze made her feel as though he would leap over the table to tear her to pieces at any moment.

With that fearful instinct came her usual habit of averting her eyes, once more clearing her throat as she worked on her food and used that as excuse for not meeting his gaze for a little while as he continued.

Adelia collected some of the side salad onto her fork as he redirected the question onto her, deciding to eat what she had gathered first before raising her eyes to him.

"They were too simple for my liking." She drawled, eyebrow raised as she threw his words back in his face. It was partially the truth, the men she had encountered had been too simple for her. Too easily pleased by certain things or had eyes that wandered a bit too freely for her liking. But as she had reminisced before, she didn't enjoy romantic relationships. It meant learning each other's most intimate secrets, and Adelia's abilities were a secret she never wished to reveal.

Besides, she just wanted to prove to the King that she was a woman who definitely didn't mind a puzzle. Whether he liked it or not.
 
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A slow smirk lifted the corner of Maverick's lips, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Perhaps a perfect match then," he murmured, raising his glass to Adelia in a small toast. The men in her life were too simple?

Hmm...

He didn't wish to view their pairing as a game. He had given the competition that regard and although he knew a "winner" would come out at the end of it, he still didn't give it the sort of respect the Council had wanted him to. It was absurd to find a spouse through a dramatic publicized event, but now that there was a warm body present within his castle and sharing a meal with him, he no longer could view it as something trivial.

Didn't even want to. Not when he knew Adelia was going to follow through with the marriage. It seemed she would even if he wanted nothing to do with it. He wondered as he gazed at her, thoughtfully twirling his wine, if she had any inclination to give this potential relationship a try.

Or did she see it as a game herself? See him nothing more than a puzzle to solve?

Humans would never cease to amuse him.

The rest of their dinner was enjoyed in casual conversation. Commentary on the night's weather and the balcony's view and the quality of the food. He didn't allow room for further questioning of subjects he knew one of them would bristle at. He didn't pry, either. He wanted the meal to end on a light note.

On his end, anyhow.

When they had their fill and dinner was cleared away, Maverick walked her to her bedchambers. It was at her door that he invited her to accompany him on his errands the next day, one of which would be pictured in the papers, he was sure. The king had been requested to give his blessing for the Golden Rose, a new ship that was scheduled to set sail for its maiden voyage in the afternoon.

It could be a rather exciting event, though it'd be crowded with reporters. Oh, how one had to live carefully when scrutinized by the public eye.

He left Adelia with a warm smile and a slight bend to his waist.

He had held that smile long enough to get to his own room. It was here, locked safely behind heavy doors, that Maverick let out the sigh he seemed to have been holding the moment she first stepped into his home. He didn't realize how tired he was and it didn't take long to slide into his bed.

The moonlight crept through the doors of his balcony and despite the reassurances that looped through his mind, it made the king's sleep restless, plaguing him with nightmares of hunger and blood.

~~~~~~~~​

The morning seemed colder when he woke and it had nothing to do with the cold sweat that drenched his body. He didn't remember the nightmares, thank the stars, but that didn't mean he was unaware he battled them through the night. They always left a sour taste in his mouth, an unpleasant pressure inside his skull.

He knew they had been triggered because there was someone he didn't know, someone with a true beating heart asleep within his castle walls.

...this may be more difficult than what he first anticipated it would be.

After a shower he spent longer in than necessary, Maverick chose charcoal slacks and a blush pink, of all colors, dress shirt to wear that day. Habitually rolling the sleeves to his elbows, he avoided looking himself in the eye as he passed the mirror and made his way to the courtyard, where he had invited Adelia to have breakfast with him.

He enjoyed the sun, even when it wouldn't give its warmth. He tried to spend its waking hours outside, where he could take full advantage of its light. Having breakfast in the morning rays wouldn't be a bad place to start the day.
 




Adelia Fitrei

Adelia was an early riser. It was just who she was. She liked to rise at dawn and tend to the horses in the Fitrei estate stables. Moving to the castle would not change that fact, and although not all of the horses belonged to her now, she could still get up and take care of Laoise, despite the protests from the stable hands. However she told them that it would be a regular occurrence and that they should simply get used to it.

She had been grooming Laoise when the message from the King came, asking her to join him for breakfast, meaning that Adelia had very little time in terms of getting back up to her room to shower. She had mucked out her mare's stall, fed her and had was very close to finishing grooming her when the message came, so she was pleased she managed to get all those chores out of the way.

The young woman showered rapidly, a little concerned about being late and not wanting to seem rude, and changed into a simple, red summer dress accompanied with some small white wedges and a matching casual white blazer-like jacket over the top.

However, upon arriving at the courtyard, Adelia found herself to be early. However she didn't allow that to both her, as she walked past the table that was being set up to slip through a slightly ajar gate that led through to the palace gardens. She bent to unclasp the wedges and slip them from her feet, holding them in one hand.

From there, she took a few steps further into the garden, walking slowly and making her way to a fountain in the centre. The grass, damp with dew and cool due to the colder morning air, was soft against her feet. Perfectly trimmed, of course, so there were no strands to graze or tickle at her ankles or lower legs. But it was a pleasure to feel the hum of nature as she walked barefoot.

When she arrived at the fountain, she stood just before it, lingering before moving to sit on a stone bench nearby. A soft sigh escaped her as her eyes closed and head tipped back, simply enjoying the serenity of the moment and the musical notes of the water.
 

Maverick


Maverick debated whether or not to follow Adelia into the gardens. He had caught her slipping past the gates, stopping him short on the steps that lead down to the courtyard. He had made his way through the castle with the confidence of a king believing that the day would have nothing but good in store for them. Perhaps mundane, but good. He would have never anticipated that the mere sight of her would trigger the flash of his nightmares, an image of blood followed closely by a pang of primitive hunger.

It stole his breath, his heart drilling into his ribs as he fought to sooth the beast back into its slumber. It had only taken a moment. Maverick has lived with this curse for at least a century, so he had a strong grip on that part of him, but being caught off guard by its sharp attention on Adelia made him pause and consider what sort of danger she may find herself in.

The contemplation soured his mood. He shouldn't have to be faced with the possibility that the beast within has taken notice of a human now living in his home.

Why were things never simple?

He didn't pull his gaze from the gates she disappeared behind and letting out a controlled sigh, he continued down the steps. "Perfect," he muttered as he rolled his sleeves down to his wrists, only to work on rolling them back up. Having his hands do something gave him a moment to think logically, so by the time he took his first step into the courtyard, he had made the decision to follow her into the gardens.

He entered with his guard up, his strides quick to ward off any doubt. He would not allow such a small reaction to have a foothold inside his head. As such, it didn't take him long to find her and had done so easily by following her scent. This morning, she smelled of a floral soap with a faint touch of horse.

He surmised she must have been out at the stables and wondered just how early she rose to do so. Was she like him in that regard? An early riser?

Maverick didn't allow himself to stop until he quietly stepped up next to the bench she sat on. Although he had approached with his eyes on her, he shifted his attention to the fountain. It was a marbled piece depicting images of rare, believed extinct creatures, his favorite being the unicorn.

"Good morning, Adelia," he greeted calmly, though he did lack a smile. Pushing his hands into his pockets, he allowed a moment for the running of the water to fill the space around them. It was a calming sound, one he quite enjoyed himself.

It was nice to see Adelia seemed to appreciate it as well.

Releasing a careful breath, his stance relaxing with it, his gaze flickered to her. This time, he did offer a small smile. "Did you sleep well?"
​

 
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Adelia Fitrei

Having kept her ears open despite the relaxed nature of her body, Adelia wasn't startled by the king's arrival and simply turned her head to look up at him. A hand rose to shade her eyes, which had squinted slightly, and smiled easily. She was well rested, and had had a good morning in the stables with Laoise. Not to mention their evening together last night had ended on a good note, so she didn't feel as awkward or any trepidation in his presence.

"Maverick, morning." She murmured, voice soft and warm, her smile remaining in place despite not seeing one from him at first. Her eyes lingered on him before she turned her head back in the direction of the fountain. Her hand lowered from her eyes to cover her mouth as a yawn escaped, lowering from there again to rest on the bench so her body could lean into it.

Reluctantly, the young noble pushed herself to her feet, understanding that now he had arrived undoubtedly breakfast would be served. However, while reluctant to leave the fountain, she was hungry, having worked up an appetite already.

"I slept very well, thank you." Adelia answered politely, turning to face him with hands tucking into the pockets of her blazer-jacket. If they weren't in the pockets they would fidget, and she couldn't allow that. "How about you?" She inquired next, eyes flickering over his face as if searching for signs that would tell her just how he had slept.

She was hesitant to bring it up, since it was a personal matter, but it was one that did concern her. "I didn't want to ask yesterday but... your collapse yesterday... was... is... everything alright?" Her eyebrows knitted together, the nail of her index finger picking at a loose, ragged piece of skin next to the nail on her thumb while her hand remained in her pockets, "I just... I understand it might not be something you... want to talk about but if it's concerning your health then maybe... maybe it's best I do know, in case I need to call for a doctor or get you to hospital or something one day."

Never would Adelia believe, or guess, that his collapse came from her. Never would she dream that it was linked to something that promised a much darker past.
 
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