Corym forced himself to swallow as she accepted his hand and started leading the way. He couldn't help but feel every callous that rubbed against his palm. It was to be expected from a warrior queen like Cleopatra but he was still… perhaps a little jealous of them. He trained and practiced plenty as well as all the paperwork he did but his hands were still soft compared to hers.
He paused in his steps for a moment and looked back at her, his shock apparent in his expression. “Why would you think that of me? Do you dislike me so much that you would think I would take pleasure in your pain?” he asked. “I admit that we have never gotten along on anything since we first met. But I am not that kind of man.” he explained.
Cleopatra was too focused on Corym's hand holding hers that she almost missed when he stopped walking. Her hazel eyes widened and studied his face at his words and expression.
She pursed her lips slightly and responded as evenly as she could. "I suppose, yes I did. Though I thought it was your dislike of me that would have led you to do nothing. But, as strange as this sounds, I think this entire ordeal has… helped me better understand you." Her words were surprisingly honest.
Corym met her gaze more calmly than when he had spoken. He nodded slowly, and thoughtfully as he listened to her reply. It stung to know that she had thought of him that way but… “I am glad of that much at least. Though I regret the circumstances that led to our understanding.” he admitted softly before resuming their walk.
But his mind kept racing as he went over everything. Did he dislike her? He disliked how they clashed like swords every time they were in the same room. He disliked her plan/desire to conquer every kingdom in her path. And he often wondered why she was so set on it. Why couldn't she accept peace… But did he dislike her? He wasn't sure anymore.
Cleopatra pursed her lips slightly. "As do I," she whispered before following his lead once again. "But I am not ungrateful for it."
The truths coming out of her mouth shocked the thrice-crowned queen. She questioned herself repeatedly whether she disliked Corym because of his personality or simply because of who he was – another monarch standing in the way of her goal. Because… he didn't seem like the awful person she had always thought him to be. Gods, he had saved her life when no one else dared to approach Drâcoś in his fit of rage against her. She truly might be dead without Corym intervening. And she couldn't very well hate him if she was dead.
Corym was unsure how to respond to her second comment about being ungrateful. “You should rest your voice until we get to the kitchen.” he said instead.
He tried to focus on their surroundings so that he could get to the kitchen quickly. Back in the banquet hall, he hadn't thought about much. He had just reacted on what he knew was the right thing to do. He was sure he would have done the same thing if anyone else had been attacked.
( >And she couldn't very well hate him if she was dead.< OMG!!! 🤣🤣🤣)
(I'm honestly not sure where my mind goes when I write Cleopatra, but what comes out is usually pretty interesting! And sometimes, I get a nugget of gold like that 😂)
Cleopatra pressed her lips together and obliged him by not saying another word. Though she didn't like having to listen to him, she supposed that – for the moment – it wouldn't hurt.
Her eyes tracked down the hallway ahead of them, and again, she was suddenly very aware that Corym was holding her hand. What was the matter with her? Typically, she loathed people holding her hand. So why had she suddenly forgotten about that when Corym had extended his hand for her to take? There were too many confusing thoughts pooling in her mind.
(Apparently! And that was pure gold! 🤣)
Corym hadn't thought much of it when he offered his hand to her, other than a polite gesture and a way to guide her through the palace. A part of him hadn't even expected her to accept it. But now that they were actually holding hands, he couldn't help but find it distracting as he felt every callous and the few places on her hand that were still soft.
His mind and heart were racing as he found the kitchen and lead Cleopatra to a more secluded area. “We should have everything we need in here.” he commented, not sure if he was talking to her or himself before, surprisingly regretfully taking his hand back and began to gather the necessary ingredients.
(I'm sorry, she has a one-track mind… and it's dirty)
Cleopatra let her hand fall at her side as Corym released their grip. She didn't speak in reply and instead nodded, though she wasn't entirely sure if he was even paying attention to her. Her eyes took in the area of the kitchen he had led her too. It didn't escape her notice that it was a bit more closed off than the rest of the area. Concealed and tucked away. Out of sight.
No.
The thought came quickly, and she visibly shook her head as if to stop herself from thinking whatever she was about to be thinking. Sure, this spot would be perfect for a bit of sultry action… but definitely not now. Not with Corym. No, she hated him still. Didn't she?
(It's ok. I kinda figured that about her.)
Unlike the woman with him, Corym was solely focused on preparing the remedy. He had chosen to work here because it would give the kitchen staff room to work without either of them getting in the way.
The space was still well-supplied and just as functional as the normal kitchen but perhaps closer in size to one found in a normal everyday person's home. “Could… Could you hand me that jar on the shelf next to you?” he asked as he crushed a few herbs in a mortar.
Cleopatra tried to shake the images from her mind. Gods, why was this always her thought process? Maybe Corym really had been right… she was well-versed in seduction and not romance.
She was busy watching him crush the herbs and nearly missed his question. She raised her hand and pointed a ringed finger at the jar she thought he was indicating. "This one?" she whispered. Though he had told her to rest her voice, it was a task that was easier said than done for Cleopatra.
Corym looked up from his work at her quiet voice. It was such a change compared to how Cleopatra usually spoke. So strong, so sure… Even when she was being deliberately annoying, this was just…
He cleared his throat and looked at the jar she was pointing and nodded. “Yes, that’s the one.” he confirmed, choosing not to say anything about her talking at the moment. Besides once the mixture was finished it wouldn't matter.
Cleopatra noted the way Corym looked at her after she spoke. It irritated her. Not his look, though that could be a whole entirely new discussion. It irritated her that she had been reduced to this – whispers and sympathetic looks.
She could kill Drâcoś for what he'd done to her. If Corym didn't accompany her down to the dungeons later, she just might. But it was likely that he would since they were his dungeons her prisoner was being kept in.
She selected the jar off of the shelf and brought it over to him. "How much longer?" she asked hoarsely as she set it down beside him. "And how soon does it take effect after consumption?"
Her fingers reached up to touch her neck, and she winced. It was already bruising visibly, and there wouldn't be enough time to cover the marks with makeup before they went back out to the dining hall. She'd have to just sit there and face the silent judgments and hushed, gossipy whispers about the slutty queen who had been called out.
“Thank you.” he nodded slightly as he accepted the jar and added a spoonful of its contents to the mixture. “Nearly finished. Once you drink it, your voice should be back to normal.” he assured. “It doesn't take long.”
Corym narrowed his eyes slightly in concentration as he measured everything and mixed the ingredients in a specific order. Evidently, this was not his first time making this particular remedy. “Here you are.” he said as he poured the mixture into a cup of steaming warm water. By the time he had handed the drink to her, most of it had already dissolved and turned the water the color of honey.
Cleopatra nodded eagerly at his words. "This must be some powerful shit," she mumbled, watching his process with curiosity. She took the drink quickly, eyeing the rapidly dissolving mixture before looking up at Corym and arching her eyebrows. "This isn't poisoned or something, is it?" she teased, unable to help herself as she playfully smirked at him.
“I suppose it is. I've never given it much thought.” he admitted with a faint shrug. Though Corym didn't bother to hide his eye roll at the familiar teasing. “You sound better already.” he scoffed. “Besides, it would be foolish to try to harm you when so many people know that we are together at this moment.” he pointed out with a smirk of his own.
"Exactly. You never were the daredevil kind," Cleopatra purred, her eyes flashing with mischief as she finished the liquid and sighed with relief.
"Thank the gods," she said, her voice back to its original strength. "Wait… what am I saying? Those motherfuckers let me get choked! Fuck the gods!" she declared.
Then her eyes softened as she looked at Corym. "I should be thanking you."
Corym raised a brow at her saying that he wasn't bold. But assumed it was fair play since he said that she wasn't one for romance.
He almost pointed out that she had brought the attack on herself but quickly closed it, feeling his ear twitch as she redirected her gratitude and surprisingly gentle gaze toward him. “I… It was nothing.” he said softly, clearing his throat as he looked away and started putting things away.
Cleopatra frowned slightly. She noted the ear twitch. "What's wrong?" she asked blatantly, crossing her arms and staring him down. "I saw your ear twitch," she added, regretting the words immediately after they passed her lips. It sounded weird saying it out loud, but she knew it to be true.
Corym nearly banged his head against the wall at her last confession. “Damn it…” he groaned. “Honestly, I shouldn't be surprised that you would notice that.” he admitted softly, but in a more audible tone.
“Nothing is wrong. I just… I'm not used to receiving compliments from you.” he sighed. “I actually never expected to get one from you.”
Cleopatra smiled with amusement. "I picked it up a while ago. Gave me a good idea if I was really annoying you or not." She winked teasingly before being taken aback by his comments. "Well, I'm not used to receiving help from you either. Or anyone, really," she added the last sentence as a quiet mumble under her breath.
Corym glanced back at her to give her a flat, unamused, look before continuing to clean up. Though he raised a brow at the reply before chuckling softly. “I suppose that’s true. I never imagined a situation where you would need, much less want my help. But surely you have someone you can turn to.” he said, questioningly. Cleopatra had always seemed like the kind of person who handled everything by herself but even he had Monroe and Tetra for support and advice.
Cleopatra shook her head and giggled softly, much unlike her natural, wild laughter. “Indeed. And I never imagined a situation where I would be strangled in a foreign dining hall…”
His words made her think a bit. Sure, there was Charmion. The woman was a devotedly loyal and the closest thing Cleopatra had to a sister, or a sibling in general. But still, other than her… the queen was very lonely.
“I suppose my handmaiden,” she answered finally. “But I never thought it to be important to have others to turn to when I had the confidence to carry the burdens myself.”
Corym was surprised, that he was surprised by her giggling. It was the first time that he’d heard that sound from her but so many surprising things had happened since the attack that he shouldn't be surprised by much anymore today. “Today has been an unusual exception.” he nodded.
He hummed a little, raising a brow at her last comment. “You certainly have the confidence, no one would deny that. But you should never have to carry many burdens by yourself.” he said.
"Indeed it has been," Cleopatra purred in agreement. She lifted her chin slightly, interested in his words. If other people saw her as confident over cocky, perhaps it might be easier for her to write off the encounter with Drâcoś. Not completely, but enough that it would be a distant memory in weeks to come instead of being on the forefront of everyone's minds.
In response to the second part of his reply, Cleopatra shook her head, causing her honey waves to sway around her face. "You must when you are the only one who can possibly understand your burdens." Her expression was solid, but it wavered when she finished speaking. No one else ever had or ever would understand the specific burdens that Cleopatra, thrice-crowned queen of Allikos, Peidest, and Clarion carried on her shoulders.
