Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 249: Scene CCXLIX
“... Whenever I served that tea to the Ma’am, I would ask myself if it was the correct thing to do although you had ordered it... It was horrifying, for she used to say in her ignorance that the herb was her favourite.” — As if indifferent to the pain his Lord was experiencing as he conveyed this, Uth continued to tell his beliefs about the harmful secret the Archduke made him keep. — “At a time, I asked you, my Lord... If you were certain you would not regret doing this...”
“.....”
“It was clearly a lie you told this server back then... Regret has possessed the amber of your eyes.”
“Get out.”
“... Your Grace-”
“Get out.” — With an unsettling calmness in his sound, Aslak ordered the warden one last time. For what he had told was said as his hand covered the eyes apparently out of weariness. Yet the trace of a tear was noticed by the quiet warden, who feigning ignorance at the sight, bowed respectfully, to quietly abandon Aslak’s bureau.
The echo of the door’s closure did not grant his hand the freedom to lower... for the sorrow at these details he had forgotten pained him and made the wife’s suffering deeper although he had acknowledged it long ago.
“She said it to me too..... that she liked that cursed herb... fuck..... I’ve been... I’ve been despicable as she said... effing earth... cursed be myself...”
He had seen her drink the tea many times aware of the effect it would have on her womb... and Aslak realised how in none of those occasions did he mind it until once aware of the love he held for the wife was realized in its entirety. Aslak tortured himself over the actions he had committed, feeling suffocated in the bureau where she would visit him at times... recalling the first graze of their lips and the softness he slowly learned with the woman...
Eventually, as he has done while without the wife, the Archduke forced himself to leave aside these mortifying memories so that maybe in the near future he could earn them back. Reluctant to leave the bureau for if he headed to his private chambers, the other two doors to its side would not be missed by his eye... for Aslak wanted his heart and lungs to rest even if slightly... for this Spiked Eye Barbican was filled of her being although she was not present.
Nonetheless... as dusk menaced upon the end of the day. His will to spend the night at the bureau wavered. Thinking about the woman’s chamber... that one she had spent most of her days in while being his wife... and was certainly filled with her belongings.
His steps as if taking the decision his mind nor heart could come to determine led him to the lower floor where their chambers’ gates looked dim by the light of the torches... being his own the sole one to be ignored by his eye for that of theirs and exclusively Ewelina’s caught his gaze’s attention.
Hence, the marital one they shared was walked by with slight shame as he went to the door of Ewelina’s and slowly yet without hesitation, his hand opened it. Entering the chamber hoping to see her when already aware such would not happen.
“.....”
He was quiet. Taking within every piece decorating the chamber as he paced inside... Pieces like the cloth that once covered the door with a unique gemstone that had been pulled apart entirely so its shape and hue could be seen easily by Ewelina’s eye ever since she started yearning for his company.
The hand of the Spouse touched the places where he once had seen her move around, the fabrics and small bottles that contained the oils she used for her lovely fur and skin... arriving later at the mattress... one she almost did not use during the last of their days at the Castle that was their home, for he sought her company every night and day... desperate to enjoy the caress of her air and being.
“....”
A moment of ponder while standing beside the mattress he once called too small for him to fit led his body to sit on it... touching the furs... ultimately deciding to sleep where her belongings inhabited. Hoping to absorb any hint his lungs could of the fading scent of his wife. Closing his eyes to the void within himself struggling with the longing, believing that no rest would come again... To then open his eyes after a lovely dream about his woman to welcome a new day where unknowingly he woke to learn how his limb had grasped the pillow like he would wrap it around her waist.
“... haa... Ewelina...”
A smile was drawn in his drowsy demeanour clenching the pillow and inhaling the gone scent of the wife... releasing it resigned to her lost presence and feeling more impatient to start the first day of his journey to the core of the earth.
*******
“? Your Illustrious Grace.” — The warden, trying to hide his surprise as he saw the Archduke come out from a wife’s chamber, walked further into the corridor as he had come to knock on the chamber pertaining to his Master to announce the meal was to be served promptly. — “Good day I wish for yourself... I had come to let yourself know the meal is to come shortly.”
“... Are preparations done with? Are the men ready?”
“... Yes. Everything is ready for your departure.”
“A’ight. Tha meal, I’ll eat it along the others at the hall.”
“... Understood.” — Bowing to the Archduke as he was to walk by the warden’s side, Uth stopped his strides. — “However, my Lord...”
“? What now.”
“Perhaps, before joining the men, your garments should be changed. The exhaustion from your journey should be washed away before starting another one... Last night, I had prepared the bath for yourself yet... as I can see you have not seen it in your Chambers...”
“Ah..... Right... Send water again. I’ll go to the hall after that.”
Remaining at the spot he had been stopped at, Aslak watched the warden as he left. Realising he had not repaired on his appearance in the slightest when going into Ewelina’s chambers, sighing and reprimanding himself as he knew that as dirty as he still looked, he had rested on his loved one’s mattress.
“Damn it... she would hit me for that.” — He mumbled as he entered his own chambers, to wait for the waters.
