Ophelia feels Kaillas' intense gaze upon her as she enters the dining room, and she can sense the subtle change in his demeanor. Her heart skips a beat, pleased that she got such a fun reaction from him. The dress certainly isn’t the most scandalous one she owns but she thought it would work and she’s glad to know that she’s right.
When Kaillas stands and reaches for her wrist, her breath hitches, and she turns to face him. His whispered compliment sends a shiver down her spine, and a warm blush rises to her cheeks. "Thank you," she replies softly, leaning into his touch. She lightly settles her hand on his chest, wishing that they could get out of this dinner.
Seating herself beside him, she glances at him, meeting his gaze with a hum. “My afternoon was fun. Elora and I went on a ride and talked.” She really enjoyed herself. She won’t breathe a word of what they discussed with Kaillas.
“How did it go with Katya?” The two looked happy and were joking around when she came in so she thinks it’s safe to assume that it went well, something she’s thrilled about. The last few weeks have been rough so it’s important for them to talk and relax a little.
Kaillas wasn't sure if he wanted to know what they spoke about or wished to remain ignorant. He had a feeling he was likely the topic of several conversations. It was probably better he didn't know. As much as he loved his sister he did not want to know the things she got up to.
He grinned as he caught her slight blush. "I'm glad you enjoyed your time together. I hope you two didn't talk too bad about me." He gave her a wink. He held her hand under the table. He wasn't so keen on public displays but he still wanted to hold her.
"It went well." He glanced at Katya who was now engaging with Elora. "She's okay now. Better at least. I hope that I eased some of her worries and she won't gave bad dreams tonight. Hopefully." He squeezed her hand.
Ophelia smiles warmly at Kaillas' playful remark, feeling a sense of relief that he seems to be in good spirits despite whatever might be lingering in the background. She appreciates his understanding and that he knows it's best not to delve into certain conversations that might cause unnecessary tension.
"I promise we only speak highly of you," she teases back, returning the wink playfully. Feeling his hand clasping hers beneath the table brings a comforting sense of closeness, even amidst the formal setting of the dinner.
As Kaillas updates her about his conversation with Katya, her concern for her sister-in-law softens her features. She squeezes his hand reassuringly, appreciating his efforts to comfort and support Katya during her difficult times. "I'm glad to hear that she's doing better," she replies softly.
(I swear I'm trying to be active but working so much has burned me out. I'm quiting two of my jobs in a couple weeks so I'll be on more soon.)
Kaillas squeezed her hand, scrunched his nose. He didn't quite believe that but he wouldn't push it further. "Me two. I'm glad they're both feeling a little better. Though none of us will be content until this I all over." Over, which would likely send him to war. He wasn't very good at letting other people fight his battles.
As everyone had just about filed into the dinning room, he cleared his throat and stood. He gave a short and somewhat painful speech about what he had found and what might await for them. "And with that, dinner is served."
He sat back down, his previous smile having faded from his face. He looked at his wife, her beauty giving him some clarity, and filled his head with a distraction of her beautiful face.
(Don’t worry about it, I totally get it! Working more than one job can definitely get insane!)
Ophelia keeps her frown contained. She worries about what is going to happen. A war very well may end up being necessary so it’s something she has to prepare for she just can’t quite accept that Kaillas is going to want to be fighting on the front lines and risking his life. That isn’t a conversation for today, though. They will eventually discuss his role in the upcoming war but not now.
The speech sounds good despite Kaillas’ reluctance over it. She stays quiet as she listens, her eyes sweeping the room to see what everyone thinks. The overall response seems to worry about the future but it’s clear that everyone has faith in their king.
She laces her fingers eith his, giving his hand a light squeeze. Knowing that he isn’t one for public displays of affection, she keeps their hands safely under the table so no one can see.
Kaillas gave his wife a grateful look as he felt her hand touch his under the table. He didn't know what he would do without her. Probably be lost. He had been so lost until she came into his life and shined a light to show him the way.
Dinner was served and the usual chatter amongst the court was quieter today given the grave news he had received. Elora and Katya mostly talked to themselves or were quiet. They seemed as anxious as he was for this to all be over. He wanted to retire to his room and continue what had been left off in the garden. He had promised to worship his wife and worship her he would.
He ate quickly and less than his usual amount. He found he was lacking an appetite which was so unlike him. Most things didn't bother him, or in this case, his stomach. But he was put out by everything that was happening.
Ophelia is quiet as she eats her food. There isn’t much conversation going on in the room. Hearing about the upcoming war has silenced even the most chatty members of the court. Everyone is reflecting on what they just learned And what the next steps are. She’s had time to process this information so while it still weighs heavy on her mind, she isn’t trying to grapple with fresh feelings about it.
Glancing to Katya and Elora, she notices that they seem eager for dinner to end. While there’s no doubt in her mind that Elora is wanting to return to the arms of her guard, she’s not quite sure why Katya wants to escape this situation. She hopes that everything is okay.
Dinner comes to a conclusion much faster than usual. It seems as though no one wants to stick around for long. That’s perfectly alright with her. She’s been waiting to spend time with Kaillas all day. They had to end things so abruptly in the garden and she wants to revisit that.
Once all the courses had been served and he had waited an appropriate time before standing up and offering his hand to Ophelia. He wanted to spend some time with his wife. He hadn't gotten nearly enough time yesterday and wanted to spend time with her. He wanted to touch her and hold her and talk to her about these past three weeks.
He was silent as he led her back to their rooms. Quiet even as they entered the bedroom and he walked to the bathroom. He needed to bathe. He has the forest and garden all over him and wanted to clean it off before he touched his wife.
Finally, he said, "I'll only be a few minutes. I'll bathe first." He was filthy. He hadn't bothered to clean up for dinner. Hadn't really cared when he'd had such a good day with his family. But now he wanted to be washed for his wife.
Ophelia eats the food as it’s given to her but a portion of everything remains on the plate. She doesn’t have the appetite to eat it all today. When it’s time to go, she accepts his hand, standing up as well. She’s ready to get away from the dinning hall and spend some one on one time with him. Nearly everyone else has cleared out already so at least they’re not being rude and leaving too early.
Respecting his silence, she follows after him without saying a word. She’s not sure what’s on his mind and it’s a little concerning. Hopefully everything is okay because she’s not quite sure what to make of this silence.
She glances over to him when he finally spoke. “Alright,” She agrees lightly. It’s not a secret that he hasn’t bathed since his time in the garden with Katya so she’s not against him taking a few minutes to get cleaned up before joining her.
(Dude. I found a kitten on the side of the road yesterday. Now I have a freaking kitten in my basement, just chilling and getting used to me lol)
(Aww that cat distribution system. You have been chosen.)
Kaillas left the door ajar open. He would never shut her out, even on his darkest days and his worst moods, he would never lock her out. He stripped out if his clothes and stepped into the hot water. He took a few minutes to scrub his skin and under his fingernails. He wanted to make sure he was clean for Ophelia.
He dried off quickly, his hair damp from washing it. Naked as the day he was born, he walked to the closet and pulled on a pair of soft, cotton pants for bed. He kept his chest bare, not in the mood for a shirt. Then he walked over to his wife.
He took her hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "You are beautiful, my darling. You amaze me everyday."
(I’ve been wanting a cat for awhile so perfect timing honestly lol She’s the cutest little tortie and I’ve named her Cannoli)
Ophelia gives Kaillas his privacy in the bathroom, wanting to give him a few minutes to himself. While he gets all cleaned up, she heads over to the wardrobe and picks out a nightgown, changing into that. As lovely as her dinner gown was, it’s not the most comfortable dress in the world, especially not with the corset she has to wear with it.
By the time she’s done getting changed, her husband is emerging from the bathroom, completely nude. She’s certainly not going to complain. She watches as he pulls on a pair of pajama bottoms, admittedly quite happy that he’s deciding to forgo the shirt. She prefers it when he sleeps like this.
A smile tugs at her lips as he presses a kiss to her hand, acting like a perfect gentleman. “You so wonderful, Kaillas. I’m so lucky to have married you.”
(Aww that's so cute. I've got a cat. Love him to death even if he's a pain in the ass)
Kaillas reached out and thumbed the collar of her nightgown. His hand moved up, cupping her neck as he kissed her forehead. "Let's sit and talk," he murmured against her skin. "I want you to tell me about these passed few weeks."
He pulled her to their little sitting room, taking a couch and tugging her to sit on his lap. He placed one hand on her thigh and the other on her back, lazily running up and down her back. He may have been a little quieter than usual, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Dinner had weighed down on him some, the reaction of court not helping. But he was okay. And he wanted to listen as his wife spoke.
He knew there had been some issues with his council, had expected it even, though he had hoped for better. And he had hoped Ambrose would have done a better job reigning them in. He wanted to hear everything about how it had been since he was gone. He loved to listen to her talk.
(My friend has a kitten that I swear to god is on cocaine lol What’s your cat’s name?)
Ophelia sighs contently as she leans into his touch. The feeling of his thumb caressing her skin causes goosebumps to speckle her arms. The last few weeks have been rough and while she’s not eager to discuss everything that happened, she knows that it’s best to just go ahead and get this conversation over with.
She follows him into the sitting room, having no qualms with being pulled onto his lap. She snuggles into his chest, just wanting to be held right now. The events of the last few weeks are weighing heavy on her mind and being in his arms is helping to put her at ease. She lightly rubs her fingers up and down his chest, tracing random patterns absentmindedly. It takes her a minute before she actually speaks. She needs some time to collect her thoughts.
"During these past few weeks," she begins, "there have been some challenging moments with the council. They seemed to question my authority and decisions on everything, no matter how minor," she continues, feeling Kaillas's reassuring touch on her back. "Ambrose tried his best to mediate, but some members remained defiant."
"I did my best to handle the situations diplomatically, hoping they would come around, but it hasn't been easy," She admits, her tone tinged with a mix of frustration and disappointment.
She leans in closer, feeling his warm breath against her forehead. "Despite everything, I tried to maintain the stability of the court but there's still work to be done in gaining their trust and respect fully."
(My cat likes to pee out of the litter box. Even though he knows how to use it. And he does it in the middle of the night in the bedroom waking me up. His name is Kiwi. He's a black cat.)
Kaillas knew she didn't want to talk about it but it needed to be said. It was unacceptable for his court to treat her as such. He had given her full regency in his absence. She was to rule as she saw fit, by order of the king. His men should have accepted that and behaved for her. His jaw tightened in anger but he showed no other indication of it.
"I wish I could have done it better," he murmured, "I wish I could have introduced you properly to them." And demand their loyalty for her as they gave it freely to him. They were married. She was an extension of himself and vice versa. She deserved every respect. He would speak with them, all of them, whether Ophelia wanted him to or not. What they did wasn't acceptable and they needed to learn that.
"You did a wonderful job, my darling. And I will keep showing you how to rule my kingdom. Because you will do it side by side with me." For her to sit around and plan tea parties and balls would be a waste of her talents. And he wouldn't allow that. She had so much potential and he was going to help her grow that.
He kissed her temple again, then kissed both of her cheeks, one at a time, then finally her lips. It was soft and sweet and over entirely too soon. "How have you been these past few weeks?" Not about the court, not ruling, not the council, how was she doing.
(Awwww Kiwi is a really cute name!!! Sounds like he’s a bit of a jerk about the litter box tho lol)
Ophelia knows that he’s not happy with what he’s hearing but she wanted to be honest. The goal isn’t to get any of the court members in trouble but she knows that lying to her husband won’t be helpful. “Just don’t say anything to them. I want to warm their respect. I don’t want them to listen to me just because you told them to.”
A proper introduction would have gone a long ways in helping them to trust her but they just didn’t get a chance for that. With Kaillas being called away without any warning, it left her in a less than ideal position. She does hope that things will improve now that he’s back. She doesn’t want to go through that again.
She wants to be able to rule by Kaillas’ side, to actually help and make decisions. Right now all she’s in charge of is hosting tea and planning parties. While she does enjoy it, she wants to do more and actually help the kingdom to thrive.
Smiling, she happily accepts all of the kisses he gives her, enjoying each one. “I’ve been worried sick and missing you.” These last three weeks have been stressful and hellish. “I’m so relieved that you came back safely. Your sisters and I have been so worried about you.”
(Yeahhhh might be medical might be behavioral. We gotta go back to the vet again. I've spent a good grand on him and I just got him in May)
Kaillas didn't like that but nodded his head anyways. His council had no right to treat her that way and he wanted to tell them off for it. But his wife didn't want him to say a thing and he would respect that. And they should have done for her.
He would rectify that now. He would introduce her properly and make them known that her word is his word. They were one and the same and should be treated as such. If they did not, there would be consequences. There should already be for their behavior these past few weeks but who was he to argue with his wife over herself?
"I'm sorry for making you worried," he kissed her jaw. "It was never my intentions. But the life a king will do that. I will be called away from you. And I will not endanger you by bringing you along." He kissed her neck before brushing his nose along her skin until they were face to face. "I'm here. I'm with you."
(Oh wow! Well, I hope he’s okay! Why have the vet bills been so expensive?)
Ophelia real is well aware that her husband isn’t pleased with how the council treated her while he was gone but she certainly doesn’t want him to confront anyone about it. She worried that it’ll only make things worse. Besides. She wants to earn their trust, not just have them listen to her because he said to.
For a moment, she’s able to just sit there and enjoy the way he showers her with affection. The kisses being peppered along her neck and jaw cause her to sigh heavily with contentment. She absolutely adores the feelings. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Her happiness dies when he mentions leaving again.
“Oh, I do wish that you wouldn’t go,” She murmurs, gently stroking the outline of his jaw with her thumb. “You can still support and help with the war from here. You don’t need to be on the frontlines.” While she knows that her pleas will fall on deaf ears. She does wish that he’ll at least consider her request.
(Its been a bunch of testing and medications and it all just adds up alot. We should've gotten pet insurance but I feel like it's pointless now to pay 200 for insurance and then at least and 200 before they'll cover the costs when we've already spent so much.)
Kaillas leaned into the stroke on his face. His eyes closed at her plea. The front lines were where he belonged. He had spent half of his life there. He knew the ins and outs and how to be apart of a unit. And now that he was king, it was good for morale amongst the men. Not including all of his other qualities and skills he could provide.
He sighed softly, gripping her wrist and turning his head to kiss her palm. He didn't want to tell her no. He couldn't. So he said the next best thing, "It will depend on what I am being called for." And that was as good as it would get. Even if he would likely respond to each call. None of it should be taken lightly.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and kisses her forehead. "Your preventative tea is on your nightstand, go and take it darling." A clear subject change and one he hoped she would accept.
(I’m sorry, I know that must be frustrating. Pet insurance is great but unfortunately I think you’re right about it not being worth it right now)
Ophelia looks away from him with a slight frown when she hears his very indirect answer to her question. Although he hasn’t outright said it, she just knows that he’ll be going to the frontlines regardless of him saying that it’ll depend on each specific summoning. The way he phrased his answer tells her what she needs to know.
It seems as though Elora is wrong about her being the reason for him to stay. She gave it a go and got shut down. At this point, she honestly doesn’t know what to do to get him to not go out there and risk his life. She doesn’t know what she’d do without him. Just thinking about it hurts.
Not bothering to protest, she pulls away from him and gets up. She hears over to the nightstand and picks up her tea, drinking it without saying anything. There’s a lot weighing on her mind right now and she doesn’t know what to do with all of the thoughts running through her head.
(He's a nuisance but I wouldn't trade him for anything.)
Kaillas wasn't blind to what was happening. He knew at least one of his sisters had spoken to Ophelia to try to get him to stay. And it wasn't as if he wanted to be away from them but sometimes all it took was one man to make a difference. He didn't know what he would do if he stayed away and something bad happened on the field. He knew his family were safe behind these walls and he woukd fight with everything he had to keep it that way.
As Ophelia was silent on the bedroom and hadn't yet returned, he knew he needed to go to her. He came upon her at her back and wrapped his arms around her from behind. His hands were placed firmly on her stomach. He dropped a kiss to her shoulder.
"I can practically see the wheels turning in your head, my darling," he murmured. "Would you like to talk about any of it?" He had a feeling he wouldn't like anything she had to say but she needed to say it all the same. They had different views on certain things. That was all.
(Man, I understand that lol All of my pets are little assholes but I couldn’t live without them)
Ophelia will admit to nothing. She doesn’t want to get anyone in trouble. Though she doubts that Kaillas would actually get mad at his sister, she doesn’t want to drag her into this. While Elora may have given her the push she needed to talk about this, shes been thinking about it for a few weeks now.
Finishing the tea, she sets the cup down on the nightstand. It didn’t taste very good but as long as it does what it needs to do, she can suck it up. She turns her head a little when she hears Kaillas follow her into the room. While she can’t blame him for wanting to be on the frontlines with his men, she can’t help but be frustrated by it. Every time he leaves, she’s going to be stuck trying to run this kingdom while being worried sick about him. It would be all too easy for something tragic to happen on the battlefield and she hates that thought.
“I don’t wish to discuss it,” She replies simply, glancing over her shoulder to look at him as he wraps his arms around her. They aren’t going to come to an agreement on this and she doesn’t want to ruin their night. The conversation will be revisited but she doesn’t want to continue to discuss it now.
(He's currently humping the love of his life aka the blanket. While he's laying on top of me.)
Kaillas knew more about being apart of the army and fighting than he did about ruling. He didn't like being king. If their was a way to pass on the crown he would have done so a long time ago. But he loved his sisters more and wanted to save them from this life of ruling. Of constantly second guessing his decisions and having to watch his back. They deserved to be happy. And safe.
He would do everything he could to keep them safe, including giving up his life. He fought for them. He fought for their safety and a chance at happiness. And as for his wife, well he wanted a life with her. He wanted a long life with her and that's what he fought for. The sooner this problem was eliminated the sooner he could get on with his life with her.
He pulled her back against his chest, nodding his head once. He wouldn't press on it tonight. It would only spiral in an argument for them. So he only kissed the top of her head. Then he kissed her cheek. Then under her ear. And next down her jaw.
(Oh my god XD What a polite lil dude lol Is he too young to get the big snip?)
Ophelia worries that they won’t get a live together if he’s out on the frontlines. It’s dangerous and there’s a high chance that something will happen and be won’t come home. That’s what scares her. She wants him to fight and he’ll his kingdom but he can’t do that if he’s dead. Perhaps she has an oversimplified view on things but she thinks everything will be better if he leads from the safety of the palace.
She leans back into his touch, relieved when he drops the subject. They’ll have to discuss it eventually but now isn’t the right time. They haven’t been able to see much of each other lately and she doesn’t want to spend what time they have arguing. She’s missed him too much for that.
With a soft hum, she closes her eyes and tips her head back, enjoying the feeling of his kisses. She rubs her fingers lightly down his arm, just needing to touch him and be with him right now.
(Oh he's been snipped. He just has problems. This is the only blanket we can sleep on cause he pees on all the rest. So it's either humping or peeing.)
Kaillas smiled against her skin. The hairs on his arms raised at the feeling of her fingers. He would knave their conversation behind them for now. This was not something he wanted to talk about. He didn't want to talk at all. Not when he had so much catching up with his wife to do.
He pulled her nightgown over her shoulder. He kissed down her neck and across her shoulder. His hands were roaming around her body, touching everything he was able to. He had missed this. He had missed her.
"Lay down on the bed," he murmured. "Let me show you just how much I missed you." He was going to take his sweet time with her. He wanted her to squirm.
(Awww what a weird little dude. Really sucks for you guys those. Can’t imagine that it’s fun to deal with a cat peeing on all of your blankets)
Ophelia shivers as he pulls her nightgown off of her shoulders, peppering her skin with kisses. For weeks, she’s been craving his touch and now she finally gets him to herself again. Turning to half face him, her own hands start to roam his body, re-exploring every inch of him.
Opening her eyes, she leans forward and lightly presses a few kisses to his jaw. “Yes sir,” She murmurs in return, wanting to get in one quick tease before she listens to him. She gives his arm a light squeeze before pulling away and stepping over to the bed.
Ever since their moment in the garden, she’s been looking forward to this. Things ended entirely too soon and she wants to make up for it. She hopes there’s nothing important on their schedule for tomorrow because it’s going to be a long night. She climbs up onto the bed and waits for him to join her.
