forum You do not know how long I have waited for you //OxO//Closed

Started November 11, 2021 by @knightinadream group

tune

(Sorry about taking so long)

Yethesa noticed that Myron seemed to relax a bit and surreptitiously took a deep breath. At his question she shook her head.

“Nevermind.”

She noticed the strands of hair that shifted and her eyes were caught by them for a moment, mesmerized by the look it gave him. She then focused back on the situation when he spoke again, answering her question. She then nodded.

“It is alright. I understand the nervousness. I do hope you get some better rest tonight,”she replied.

Yethesa noted his bowed head and a subtle redness in his cheeks. She stifled a giggle at the look. She shouldn’t be so amused by his look. She shouldn’t even be feeling, let alone expressing, half of what she had already done so far. But she couldn’t help it!

At his words, she shrugged lightly. Misty completely enjoyed the chin rub Yethesa was giving her, and purred quite loudly. Yethesa grinned at Misty.

The look at Her Majesty was giving confused him. Myron was not able to ignore it or to simply pass it on as her just looking. Watching the gleam in her eyes left him breathless. He was not sure what to feel at the moment or what to do. If he could, he would say something, but then again, he worries about stumbling on his own words.

"Ah well…there is no need for you to worry, Your Majesty," He reassured. "Even if you need me and it's really late at night, you can call for me and I will be there. I am great at staying up all night, I'm going to be alright."

What really is happening to him? This isn't how a soldier like him should be. This isn't how a subject like him should be in front of the queen. And yet, here he is now, acting bashful in front of her. Anytime he glanced over, his heart thumped, beating and pounding as hard as a drum.

It wasn't something that was new. It was something that his heart knows all too well, but alas, he doesn't. Everything around him felt familiar. Myron took another deep breath as he pressed the back of his hand against his cheek. His brow quirked up at the warm sensation.

Yethesa realized that he had noticed her gaze. She didn’t know what to do. Did he approve? Did he feel the same? Should she say something about it? Did she dare comment at all on how she truly enjoyed just looking at him?

“Are you sure? Truly?”she asked, a hint of hopefulness creeping into her voice.

Yethesa then glanced at her door, hoping the guards likely on the other side didn’t hear her little slip. No one knew that she had trouble sleeping, or why she did, and she preferred it that way. Or did she?

She then turned to Misty, picked her up, and set her on her lap, giggling a bit at how pleased Misty was by her actions. Yethesa petted Misty’s soft hair, using the cat as a distraction from the horrible memories that haunted her mind. She occasionally glanced up at Myron, smiling slightly at how shy he looked, and how flustered he seemed to be by his bashfulness.

Her question did not raise any concern in him at first. On the other hand, he did pick up on the intonation of her voice as she spoke. While it took him a moment, Myron glanced over his shoulder at the door. A question of his own formed, yet he decided to not voice it. There were so many things he decided not to voice in the last few minutes. If there is a time where he feels comfortable enough, he might say a few things, though now is not the time to look ahead really.

Glancing back over at Queen Tessa, he did his best to give a warm smile. Gently, he pulled his scarf up before nodding his head. "Well of course, my queen," Myron replied. "While it is my duty as your bodyguard, I will answer your call. Even if you ask for me every night, I will be there for you, Your Majesty. I am your loyal servant after all. Do as you please."

Every word he said is true. Thankfully his tongue is not stumbling over his words. Sure, it is his job now, but it was also something that he feels in his heart. Staying up till the sun rises is something that any soldier like him should be used to, especially if they have been fighting for as long as he has. Although, it will be strange being able to sleep right away instead of standing around then sleeping. Of course palace life is way different for a soldier than it is on the field.

"Please do not worry about anything, Your Majesty. Even if I am tired, this is what I am meant to do. And I meant to do everything for you, so everything is alright."

Yethesa noticed his glance toward the door. Oh, hopefully he didn’t mistake her look for something strange. She just didn’t want the guards to overhear that she was a haunted woman.

At his words, she gave him an appreciative smile. It genuinely pleased her to hear his comforting words. But, every night? Truly? And… everything?

Did he truly understand the weight of his words? The meaning they held to her? What of ‘meant to do’? Was he meant to love her like the man he looked like once did? To hold her, to support her? To forgive her?

Yethesa watched him a moment, then decided to tell him of her sleepless nights, of her nightmares and misery. Though… maybe not completely. She would have to come up with something that better fit the persona of Queen Tessa for now.

She set Misty back on the desk, petting the upset cat to soothe her. She then stood and looked at Myron.

“Come. I suppose I should show you around my chambers so you know the layout. It’s not much different from the other rooms, but still,”Yethesa said.

She then walked through her chambers, explaining where each hall led as she walked. She finally headed for a set of double doors made of stained glass, and stepped out onto the balcony beyond them. She moved to lean on the railing, looking over her shoulder at Myron.

“Join me?”she asked shyly.

The silence that hung between them made him feel anxious. All it did was make his nerves even more jittery despite his efforts. Did he do something wrong? Was it something that he had just said? Or does Her Majesty think poorly of him? Everything that he had said just poured out from his heart; it was difficult to control it.

And yet, she smiled. She, the queen, was smiling at him. Myron did not know what else to do aside from staring back at her and softly grinning. There is something about her smile that makes him happy. He enjoyed it, thankful that his eyes were able to see such a thing.

A few seconds after Queen Tessa got up, he immediately stood. From what he recalls correctly, one of the rules was to stand if the queen was. Though he got up, he froze in place right after. His hands were crossed in front of him. Lowering his chin, he quickly adjusted his scarf once again.

He nodded at her words. "Yes, Your Majesty." After pushing the chair in, he followed after her. While she spoke, he took in every single word and made sure he made important note of things that will be helpful for him as well as her.

For a brief moment, he got distracted by the stained glass of the doors. The way light casts through them makes it so pleasing to see. Hearing the queen's question made him snap back into his senses, though he was curious by the tone in her voice. Myron gave a simple head bow before walking over to Queen Tessa's side.

(Sorry about the length, if that’s at all a problem)

As her thoughts whirled, Yethesa noticed his smile. It brought comfort to her, and helped influence her decision to tell him of her nightmares. Seeing him smile, after being apart so long, meant the world to her.

When Myron stood up, she noted his freeze. It would definitely be strange for him, transitioning from a soldier in the field to a bodyguard in the palace. Maybe she could give him some pointers, so it wouldn’t be so stressful on him.

Yethesa appreciated his attentiveness during her explanation of the layout. She didn’t doubt for a moment that he could find his way through her chambers.

When she glanced over her shoulder, she noticed his gaze on the stained glass and couldn’t help a small smile. He saw the beauty in the doors. Did he find her beautiful, she wondered.

As he approached, she turned to look out over the city below, and the land stretching out beyond the walls. Yethesa loved the view. It was breathtaking, especially when the sun set. It took her a moment to refocus on the situation, and she looked at Myron.

“I want to clarify my glance at my chamber door earlier. I… have been dealing with something for years now, and I have told absolutely no one about it. I didn’t want the guards posted at my door to overhear and worry,”Yethesa began.

She was completely improvising with her story, but she had a basic idea of where she wanted to go with it. She only hoped she didn’t scare Myron away with it.

“I don’t know why I never told anyone before, but I truly appreciated your earlier words, and I want to be honest regarding why. I have strange dreams, nightmares even. I can never truly decipher them, and sometimes I don’t even remember what they were, but… some terrify me, while others leave me in tears,”she explained shakily.

Yethesa sighed, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She hadn’t lied about her nightmares, except for her ability to decipher them. She knew exactly what they were, and why, but Myron didn’t need to know that just yet.

While he ambled over, his eyes focused on the land that was below him. The view was just as, if not more than, the stained glass. Everything seemed to be small from here and yet, he had rode through the city roads not too long ago. Looking up, there were some clouds softly gliding by as the sun just stood there.

Myron felt his heart become fuzzy when he took a glimpse at Queen Tessa. The way her eyes looked as she looked at the view is so mesmerizing in itself. Although, he felt as if he let his eyes linger for longer than they should. When the queen looked at him, he lowered his chin to the ground for a moment.

Originally, he did not think of much when she looked back at the door. Of course, he was worried if there was something going on. Yet with her words, he was not sure what to expect. Lifting his chin, Myron stared at the queen, waiting to hear what it is.

His eyes widened a little while he listened to the queen. She has strange dreams too? What are they like? Does she see him in them? Funny how such a thing is happening, but he does worry about the queen. With the way he is with the nightmares and everything, he wondered what it is like for her. Hopefully he is able to help her and make it somewhat better if possible.

Gradually, his hand reached out to her, but soon recoiled back. It was always a habit for him to comfort someone whether it was by patting them or just by resting his hand on them. He knew that he should not rest his hand on the queen, though he wishes to console and assure her.

"I am honored that you are telling me this, Your Majesty. You do not have to suffer alone or fear of others' worry. Even if it is just a dream that is bothering you, I will be there at your side," He promised. "If I may be honest, I tend to go through the same thing. Every now and then I have a strange dream that leaves me waking up in a panic, but it is terrible and I do not wish for you to go through such a thing on your own. Please, my queen, do not suffer this on your own."

As she started to speak, Yethesa saw his downward look and wondered why he was doing that. Had he noticed something on the ground? Was he embarrassed by something? Maybe being shy because he might have watched her gaze out at the city? She didn’t know.

Yethesa noticed his eyes widen as she revealed her nightmares. There was more than just surprise there. It was recognition, she was certain of it. He had nightmares of his own. Oh, the poor man, plagued by dreams that he likely didn’t understand!

His hand reached out, then recoiled. She stifled a moan and slid her hand slightly along the railing, moving it a tiny bit closer to him. She understood that he was trying to be proper, but, at that moment, he could throw propriety to the wind and she wouldn’t care. With the nightmarish memories of her youth in her mind, she needed the comfort.

She looked at him again when he spoke, appreciating his words. Her eyes then widened at his admission. She could guess what it was that haunted his dreams, and it was likely the same thing that haunted hers.

“Thank you, truly. I still do not know why I’ve been so afraid to mention it all these years. And, it’s horrible that you must deal with such dreams as well, but, in a strange and even twisted way, it comforts me. I’ve never known anyone else who understood what it is like,”she said.

His hand reached down, sitting on top of the railing. In the corner of his eye, he noticed that the queen had hers on the railing too, but he did not think much about it at the moment. Myron was too focused on the queen, too focused on her and her well-being. The oddities of the nightmares they both share is looming around his mind.

Deep down, there is feeling of wanting to set his hand on top of hers, but he doesn't know why. What kind of scares him is that the feeling is natural. The idea of touching, holding the Queen's hand is natural to his mind. Initially, he wanted to, but only out of the reason to console her. It is a habit for him, though he knows that he must fulfill the rules as a subject and as the queen's personal bodyguard.

When she glanced back at him again, he took note of the way her eyes lit up. A shiver ran down his spine. He straightened himself more from the sudden sensation. The fact that they share similar experiences with dreams is terrible for each other, and yet, it is oddly comforting. Even though, he is more concerned about her having the nightmares and strange dreams.

Turning to face her, he switched hands on the railing. "Your Majesty, sometimes the strongest thing we can do is to admit fears that we hold true to ourselves," He stated. "Let us both not worry about these dreams or what they mean. We will face them on together, if that is something you desire."

He looked down at the floor while biting his bottom lip. A few moments had passed until he gazed back at the queen. "If I may be honest, all my life I never expected to share the same kind of nightmares with someone like you, Your Majesy," He said. "Though it worries me. I do not know want you to go through such pain and sleepless nights. A queen such as yourself should never have to go through something like this."

Yethesa noticed Myron straighten and she wondered why. Was it what she had said? Did she spook him? No, he didn’t seem spooked… quite the opposite in fact. She couldn’t be too sure what he was feeling, but she truly wondered if he felt the same way about her as she did to him. Their old love rekindled. Could that be more than just a dream?

She smiled softly at his words, taking comfort in them. How she had missed his wise words, his soothing voice.

“I would greatly appreciate that,”Yethesa replied.

She watched him, noting his look. She struggled not to giggle. He looked so sweet when he bit his lip. She barely managed to compose herself as he looked up.

“I never expected another to know these nightmares either. And it gladdens me to know that you have such concern for me, but…”Yethesa paused, sighing as she turned away.

“I don’t know. Sometimes I feel… like I deserve them. I… years ago…”Yethesa trailed off, her hand clenching the railing as the other moved up to cover her mouth. She closed her eyes, fighting tears as she relived that horrible night, the one that had left her cursed and alone.

Admist all the thoughts occurring in his mind, he took a moment to appreciate the queen's smile. He sighed at the sight of it. The color of his cheeks turned in to an off shade of pink and red. When a few seconds passed by, he turned his head to glance up at the sky while nodding at her words.

The smile he saw had soon faded away as she spoke again. Myron looked at Her Majesty before she turned facing the other direction. Hers words concerned him. They were confusing. Just by the way he saw her now, he could tell that she is not well.

He walked over so they could face each other without her moving. Still maintaining a few steps distance, he sat his hand on top of the railing again. His heart sank to the bottom of his chest seeing as Queen Tessa was trying to fight back tears.

"Why? Why do you believe that you deserve them, my queen?" He asked softly. It does not make any sense to him. On the other hand, he is not sure why he has them, but it doesn't really make sense for anyone to have such reoccurring nightmares. The pain it brings….No one should have to go through it.

Myron rested his right hand on top of hers. Even though his heart was telling him to hug her, it was the best he could do. He does not wish to give Queen Tessa the wrong impression nor does he want to do the same with anyone else. Nevertheless, he still feels that he should be doing something. Whether that be something as simple as holding the queen's hand or smiling, he should not just stand and watch.

"Forgive me for my hand, Your Majesty, but I do not wish to see you like this without my being able to do something for you….To aid you in reassurance."

Yethesa barely registered Myron’s movements as she fought and failed to escape those horrible memories. She had killed him, her beloved, the man she had given her heart, and her soul, to. And now Myron stood beside her, the body of her beloved but not the mind. It was hopeless, a futile grasp at forgiveness that she likely would never get. She was doomed to her eternal misery, and why shouldn’t she be? She had gone through with the act, after all!

Myron’s questions pulled Yethesa somewhat out the black depths of her tormented mind. She glanced at him.

“Guilt. So much guilt. I can never forgive myself for the things I’ve done. And, this was all before I met Queen Loreena,”Yethesa answered, tears starting to stream down her face.

The moment Myron’s hand rested on hers, Yethesa realized just how much she needed the comfort, especially from him. She needed him to hold her and tell her everything would be alright, that she was forgiven for all that she had done to him. Unfortunately, she still doubted she would ever be forgiven, but she didn’t care at that moment.

Nor did she much care about propriety then. They were alone, and far enough above the city to be of little concern to the citizens below. Yethesa nodded in acknowledgment to his apology, then turned and wrapped Myron in a hug, her tears finally bursting forth in a full fit of crying.

“You’re forgiven, though I hope you’ll forgive me for this,”she replied to his apology through her tears.

As she cried, Misty trotted out onto the balcony, rubbing against both of their legs in her own attempt to comfort Yethesa. She also started to loudly purr, meowing and cooing periodically.

What things had she done to deserve such a thing? He wanted to speak again, but he knew that question would fall from his tongue; it is not his place to ask such a question. Really, it is not his place to do most of the things he has already done.

Seeing the tears in her eyes that began to roll down her cheeks felt like something was piercing his heart. Myron knew his hand was itching to reach out and wipe away the tears, but it stayed at his side. The other still rested on top of the queen's.

His focus lingered on their hands, leaving him surprised when he felt Her Majesty wrap her arms around him. The feeling was overwhelming. It was welcoming, as if he had hugged the queen before. His ears shot with warmth while a tingling sensation rose in his chest. When was the last thing he had ever hugged anyone? He could not even recall the last time.

Slowly yet surely, he wrapped his arms around her. With his one hand, he gently brushed her back for comfort. His eyes scanned their surrounding area before looking down at the top of her head. "I appreciate your apology, my queen," He whispered. "Although you do not have to be sorry. I am a bodyguard and I suppose I should be protecting your heart as well, no?"

He chuckled a little then glanced down at the cat. Gradually, he tightened his embrace. "Take all the time that you need, Your Majesty. I will be here for you."

She barely registered Myron’s arms wrapping around her as she cried. Though, she did notice when he rubbed her back. Memories of the many times her beloved had done that returned, and it was such a relief to feel it again.

Yethesa listened to him, appreciating the soft sound of his voice. She then snickered a bit at his question. Oh, if only you knew.

After a moment, Yethesa noticed his tightening embrace and she tightened her arms around him in reply. She gave a little laugh at his words, grateful to hear them. A moment later, she finally noticed Misty, snickering again.

As Yethesa started to calm down, she realized that she would have to let go of Myron at some point. It was necessary, but she didn’t want to at all. She felt so safe and warm in his arms, like returning to a welcoming home after years of being away. She didn’t want that to end.

Yethesa, as she had expected, hesitated to let go of Myron once she had calmed down. After a long moment passed, she finally, reluctantly, untangled from him and took a couple steps back. She wiped her face and took a few deep breaths to compose herself, smiling at Misty, who was sitting next to Myron, staring at her with big, happy eyes as she kneaded the ground. Yethesa then looked at Myron.

“Thank you. I’m sorry for abruptly hugging you like that, but… I really needed it,”she said. Yethesa then started to chuckle, her cheeks turning a bit red.

“This has been such an unusual meeting, hasn’t it? By now, the guards at the door are probably wondering what’s going on, and… I honestly don’t know what to do. Goodness,”she commented, shaking her head and continuing to chuckle.

It all feels so familiar to him. Myron was not able to figure out what was so calming about hugging the queen. The whole idea is scary to him actually, and yet, he really did not care. What was even scarier to him was the images that flashed in his mind. He saw himself hugging someone, but at the same time, it wasn't him. Same face but different clothes.

He blinked. That wasn't him and that wasn't the queen. He is sure of it. He knows. On the other hand, his heart thumped. It beated differently for a second. His worry started to bloom until he heard the queen laughing a little.

At least she was beginning to feel better now. It was surprising to him when she had let go. A light feeling in his chest arose, but he did not say anything. In the corner of his eye, he noticed Misty next to him. The corners of his lips rose as he tried his best suppressing a laugh.

With his hands held in front of him, he glanced over at the queen then bowed. "I appreciate your apology, Your Majesty, but you do not have to be sorry for something that you needed at the moment." A couple strands of hair fell in front of his eyes, but his focus was fixated on the redness of the queen's cheeks. Somehow, for some reason, he could not get over them. How sweet….

A soft chuckle managed to escape from his lips. "It is alright, my queen," He reassured. "Whatever the guards are thinking should not be of concern, though we could go back if you so choose to do so. We could also stay out here for a moment too. I believe whatever you decision you make, my queen, that it will be a good one."

Yethesa noticed the start of a grin on Myron’s face as he saw Misty. She was glad she was already chuckling, because she could continue to do so without him necessarily noticing the added reason.

She then saw his bow and listened to him, grateful that he was so accepting. When the strands of hair fell, Yethesa had a hard time containing a grin. She loved the way it made him look, she truly did, even though she couldn’t really describe why.

Yethesa smiled a bit at his words, then hummed in thought. For propriety’s sake, it was probably best to return inside, but she was truly enjoying her time with Myron, excluding the crying fit, though she did like the hug. Yethesa glanced inside indecisively, then turned to look over the balcony, and for a moment she became lost in the gorgeous view.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt if we stayed out here a bit longer. The view is just so beautiful right now,”she finally decided.

Yethesa moved to lean against the railing, staring out into the distance, quickly relaxing. There was something so calming about being on the balcony, and Myron and Misty’s presence seemed to double, even triple, that soothing effect.

Lowering his chin, he gave her a subtle nod. "As you wish, my queen." Myron bit the inside of his lip, thinking that it would help stop himself from saying more. Yes the view is beautiful, but his eyes were not looking at the area surrounding them. They were not gazing up at the sky or down at the capital below. No. Instead, they were glued to the queen.

It was difficult to move. While his eyes were stuck to her, it felt as if his feet were stuck in mud. Very slowly did he move back to his previous spot. Even if it was just the two of them, he still had to follow all the rules and maintain some sort of distance from the queen. Of course he did just break that rule, and yet, it seems like it was nothing. At least Her Majesty is better now, that is all that matters to him.

He shook his head. Oh heavens he does not know what is going on with him. Sure he has experienced strange things all his life, but he cannot be strange right now. Having his eyes linger on her is something he shouldn't even be considering. There was a slight irritated feeling where is scar is, but he ignored it after adjusting his scarf.

The silence was peaceful, although he was a bit concerned about Her Majesty. Myron leaned to the left in order to try to catch a glimpse. Standing up straight, a small sigh left his lips. For a moment, he looked down at Misty, but his eyes ended up wandering back at her. "Excuse me, Your Majesty, but are you alright? Do you need anything?"

(Just so you know, I updated Yethesa’s template to include the names of the pets [and specified what a couple are] and also of her predecessor. I didn’t change anything besides that. I’m sometimes bad at remembering names, so that’s why I did it)

As Yethesa gazed at the beauty before her, she sensed that she was being watched. Was Myron staring at her? Was he being protective, or was it something else? Did she dare hope to think that Myron would look at her like his past self did?

Yethesa, despite the abundance of questions in her mind, didn’t outwardly react to his stare. She continued to admire the landscape, seemingly oblivious to Myron.

She watched out of the corner of her eye as Myron slowly moved. She respected his diligence in being modest, even after technically breaking the distancing rule only minutes ago. Though, Yethesa didn’t really consider the hug a break in propriety at all, since she had truly needed the comfort.

Yethesa then noticed Myron shaking his head, then adjusting his scarf. Was he just scolding himself, or was there something more going on?

When Myron leaned over, she gave him an inquisitive side-glance. When he spoke, Yethesa realized why he had been leaning, and also figured out part of what he had been thinking. She turned to look at him with a soft smile.

“Yes, I am alright. Much better than I have been in a while actually. Thank you, Captain Chilikov,”Yethesa answered.

She realized that this was the first time she had actually spoken his name, and inwardly scolded herself for that. Yethesa didn’t know why she had been so hesitant to say his name, but, on the bright side, it did seem to hold greater weight now than it would have if she had been saying his name all this time.

Misty came walking up after a moment, meowing and rubbing Yethesa’s leg. She smiled and bent down to pet her, then picked her up, stepping a bit back from the railing to be safe. Misty immediately started to purr very loud. And her begging actually reminded Yethesa of something.

“Goodness, I completely forgot to introduce you to the rest of my pets. Do you want to see them? I’m a bit of an animal lover, if that wasn’t already obvious,”Yethesa asked, chuckling as Misty leaned more into her.

(Oh it's all good. Thanks for telling me!)

Much better than I have been in a while…… What does she mean by that? Yes, he is happy that she is better, but her words are hiding something. At least, that is what Myron is sensing. Whatever little bit of peace he had gotten was fading away and slowly turning into worry. He wants to ask questions. So many questions.

His cheeks flushed red the moment he heard the queen call him by his name, well his last name at least. Would it be possible to hear her call him "Myron"? Why is he even asking for such a thing? The corners of his lips curved up for a second as he nodded his head and hummed.

There was not much for him to say. He did not know if there was anything for him to say. Any words that were on tongue did not dare to slip out. Of course there was the fear of saying something he will regret, and yet, he felt something tug at his chest again.

It took a while for Myron to respond to the queen's question. He was too deep into his thoughts and too focused on staring at her grin that he almost missed what she asked him. Thankfully, he managed to snap back into reality and nod. He quietly chuckled. "Yes, Your Majesty. I would love to see them."

(Thumbs-up. You’re welcome)

Yethesa didn’t notice how her choice of words had affected Myron, nor did she think much of it. She had been honest and vague, and was truly grateful to finally have someone that would comfort her.

Though, she did notice his reaction to her saying his name. It was hard to suppress a giggle. Maybe it was a good thing that she had waited to say his name. The way his cheeks looked, and that little smile, was enough to brighten her day considerably more.

Misty kept most of Yethesa’s attention as she waited for his reply. She then glanced up at Myron, finally noticing his staring, but didn’t mind at all. At his reply, she beamed.

“I will warn you ahead of time, I have five pets in total. I’m actually limited to that number. There’s a rather hilarious story explaining why, but before I get ahead of myself… Come,”Yethesa mentioned with a chuckle.

With Misty still in her arms, she led Myron to a large room with several windows. There was a box of pet toys to the side and in the back corner was a large pantry. To the side of the room, against the same wall as the pantry, there was a long table with two terrariums, both covered with black cloth, and a bird cage with a preening cockatiel inside. In the corner opposite the pantry, a dark brown labrador with a grayed muzzled napped on a fluffy bed.

Yethesa giggled at the sight of the dog, then set Misty down. The purring cat stayed next to Yethesa, kneading the floor. Yethesa smiled, then turned to Myron and pointed to the sleeping labrador.

“He’s Henrik, the oldest of the five. I think he’s about… nine or ten years old. He was passed down to me by tradition. His bloodline has served the royal family of Ebleau for generations. It’s actually quite fascinating. He’s very gentle and friendly, though he loves to play when he’s not napping.”

Yethesa chuckled, then pointed to the cockatiel. The bird had apparently noticed them and started to whistle happily.

“This would be Edmund. I got him a couple years ago. He’s the singer of the group, if it wasn’t obvious. He likes to tease and mess with Misty, but they actually get along really well,”Yethesa explained, giggling at memories of the two playing with each other.

She then turned to the terrariums.

“And, these two are mostly nocturnal. Javver, my lovely little gecko, and Alrin, the adorable hedgehog. I got them sometime after Edmund from a visiting foreign merchant. If you want, we can try to look at them. Javver may be a bit difficult to find though, since he likes to hide in the back. Alrin, on the other hand, has a little cave where he sleeps, and it’s fairly easy to spot him,”Yethesa said, looking at Myron curiously.

Limiting the queen on how many pets she can keep is strange to hear; he wondered how that happened. Five pets does seem like a lot in his opinion, yet he is curious to see the other four. He is curious to see what they are like and how the queen would be while showing them. The heat burning his cheeks kept on while he sighed at himself as he heard her chuckle.

The moment the queen began to walk, he soon followed. Making sure he kept at least three steps behind her, his eyes glanced forward. One of the things he heard was to keep a minimal distance from Her Majesty. Not too close and surely not too far; now he is somehow very conscious about his walking.

Lowering his chin, Myron glanced down at the sleeping dog. Quickly, the corners of his lips rose up into a soft grin. He always loved dogs, especially the bigger breeds. Back in his old regiment, they had a big Doberman who was there to alert for attackers but always ended up receiving pets and food from everyone. Perhaps in the near future, he could pet Henrik if Her Majesty allowed.

Noticing the queen pointing, he turned to look in the direction. Myron tilted his head while seeing the bird. He is pretty sure he has never seen such a bird before. On the other hand, it the least of the strangest things that has happened to him today. It is a pretty bird indeed.

Part of him was actually more focused on their surroundings. He should not let one moment pass by where they are moving about and he is not surveying it for intruders. It is his job after all. And even though he is enjoying listening to the queen talk passionately about her pets, he has to protect her regardless of the situation. In a way it was all difficult. Myron did his absolute best to listen to Her Majesty while looking around the place as they moved. The smile on his face had faded as he kept his chin up, gazing around.

The feeling of the queen's eyes on him sent a shiver down his spine. He almost jumped a little when gazing back at her. "They all are very lovely, Your Majesty," He nodded. "Sorry, you must forgive me, my queen. I was dividing my attention between our surroundings, the pets, and…you. Although, I am very happy that you have showed me your wonderful pets."

As Yethesa spoke of Henrik, she noticed a small grin appear on Myron’s face. It pleased her that he seemed to like animals as well, and her own smile grew brighter.

While she pointed out Edmund and the others, she was oblivious to Myron’s vigilance. She was happy to simply ramble on about her pets, one of the few passions that had survived through her entire life.

Though, she finally noticed as she waited for his answer. It did disappoint her that his attention had drifted, but only slightly, and she understood well how difficult it could be to adjust to royal life.

At his words, she noticed the way he said ‘you’. The pause, the tone… did she dare believe what they seemed to imply? The attraction that might turn into love? She pushed those thoughts aside for the moment, smiling softly, a knowing look in her eyes.

“It is alright. I appreciate your vigilance, and truly understand how difficult it can be to adjust to so much in one day. If there is anything at all I can do to help make everything less… overwhelming, you only need ask,”Yethesa said.

“And I’m glad you like them. I wouldn’t know what to do without my darlings,”she added, her smile growing warm, her voice soft and sweet.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty." Myron gave another bow. Strands of hair fell in front of him as he did so before going back as he stood up straight. The corners of his lips lightly pulled up giving him a gentle smile.

He feels terrible for not paying his full attention to her talking about her pets. The way she lit up while speaking of them is breathtaking. How can anyone not fall in love in the way her eyes gleam on their own or the way she spoke with so much fondness in her voice?

A shiver ran down his spine. His breath hitched but he soon exhaled deeply. He could not help but give another another apologetic bow to the queen. "Thank you for your support, Your Majesty," He said. "Although, I do worry if I ask for your help. I do not want to bother you, my queen, with my own troubles. I shall do my best to adjust so I can serve you to the best of my abilities."

Warmth kissed his cheeks. They flared red as she spoke. Myron did everything in his power to resist the urge to let his eyes stare into hers, and he nearly lost to it. That smile… It is incredibly familiar to him, but why?

"Of course, how could I not, my queen? If I may be honest, I only ever had one pet, but they make everything so much better. I am glad that they make you very happy."

“It is alright. I am not upset, I assure you,”she replied gently.

When Myron bowed, Yethesa couldn’t help but admire the way his hair moved. She remembered how she would always play with her love’s hair, and how he would smile at her, or tease her about her adoration of his hair.

And then that smile, so gentle, so kind, so soothing. How she had missed seeing that look. It was so relieving to see it once again.

Yethesa then noticed the way his breath caught, and his deep breath afterward. She wondered why he did that. Was it her offer to help him? Was it something else? It nagged at her to ask him, but she didn’t dare, not so soon. Oh, why did propriety have to exist? It was so limiting, particularly to royals.

“It will not be a burden to help you adjust, Captain Chilikov. You have helped me a lot so far, and we only just met. I feel that it would be rude of me to not help you in return,”she insisted, her eyes gently pleading him. She truly didn’t want him to suffer.

When he blushed, Yethesa couldn’t resist a giggle. She couldn’t help it. He looked so sweet when he blushed. And she did notice how he was trying not to look her in the eye. He was definitely trying to stay proper, and doing fairly well at it. Though, Yethesa had a feeling that she was failing at that same task.

Her smile brightened at his words. She absolutely adored that he appreciated pets, and it made her almost giddy to think that he had had one, even if it was a small number.

“They do indeed. I have always found comfort around pets, or just animals in general. I’ve been that way since I was little,”she replied happily.