The Royal Mark-Chapter 55: Break of Dawn

Elsa was taken aback, her eyes blinking rapidly before she finally found her voice. "I... I think I can sleep on my own tonight. Thank you for today. You can return to your room and get some rest."

Chris chuckled softly and then gently lifted Elsa’s right hand, placing a tender kiss on the back of it. "You will marry me, won’t you?" he inquired.

Elsa narrowed her eyes playfully and responded, "I’ll have to give it some thought."

Chris remained resolute as he replied, "You’ll need to make a decision quickly. Tomorrow, the King intends to finalize the marriage alliance between our kingdoms, and I won’t accept a ’no’ as an answer."

Curious, Elsa quipped, "And what if I say ’no’?"

Chris, however, took her jest seriously. "If you say ’no,’ I’ll marry the first woman who offers herself to me. So you should consider this seriously because I’m not joking. There’s a war on the horizon, and I need my queen and Zemaria by my side when it arrives."

Chris rose from his chair and returned it before saying, "I’ll be awaiting your ’yes’ tomorrow, princess. Have a good night and dream of me." He playfully winked and strolled out of the room.

Elsa swiftly locked the doors and inspected the windows to ensure everything was secure. After securing everything, she settled back onto the bed and muttered to herself, "Who does he think he is? Just because he’s a prince, he can’t demand that I marry him. I don’t care about his title; he can’t force me into something I don’t want."

Elsa attempted to fall asleep, but instead, she found herself tossing and turning in bed. Chris’ words lingered in her mind, along with the intimate encounter they’d shared in the hallway, replaying repeatedly.

Elsa lay flat on her back and tugged at the duvet while shaking her head and scratching it in frustration. "Why do I lose my resolve and logic whenever I’m around him? I barely know him, and he keeps invading my personal space, which I hate! What’s wrong with me? Ugh..."

In a fit of frustration, Elsa tugged at her hair, recalling every moment she had spent with Chris. "But he’s not a bad person. He’s kind and protective of me. And he looks cute when he smiles... Ugh! No! Elsa, stop thinking about him!" Elsa spoke to herself and scolded herself as if she were a restless insomniac in the middle of the night.

She continued to toss and turn on the bed until she finally fell asleep. However, her brief beauty sleep was disrupted when, at the break of dawn, a group of servants rushed into her room, abruptly pulling the duvet from her.

Elsa jolted in surprise, her gaze darting around the room, which was now teeming with at least five attendants. She directed her question to a woman in a different uniform from the rest, "How did you manage to open the door?"

"Good morning, my lady," the woman identified herself dismissing her question, "I am Constance, Mistress Valeria’s lady-in-waiting. The King has instructed us to assist you in preparing for the day."

Elsa peered out of the window and responded, "It’s not even morning yet. I don’t think I’ve had more than three hours of sleep."

Constance countered, "It’s already the break of dawn, my lady. We have a lot to do before we can present you." She then signaled the other maids to escort Elsa to the bathing chamber. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Elsa raised both of her hands in protest, declaring, "Wait! I can handle bathing and dressing myself. I don’t need your help. You can leave."

The maids exchanged glances and then turned their attention to Constance, who spoke, "I’m sorry, my lady, but we cannot allow you to do that. Our responsibility is to assist you and ensure you look your best. If you refuse our help, the King may dismiss us."

"What?!" Elsa closed her eyes and let out a sigh. ’This is just like something out of a movie, darn it!’ she exclaimed inwardly.

"Fine! You can assist me with getting dressed, but I’ll bathe on my own. Take it or leave it," Elsa conceded.

Constance nodded, and the maids quickly moved aside, allowing Elsa to make her way to the bath chamber alone.

Upon entering the chamber, an immediate smile graced her face. The scent of lavender and rose enveloped her, and billowing steam wafted from the enormous tiled tub, which looked more like a small pool.

"Wow, I wasn’t expecting this. I guess they reserved the finest guest room for Chris because he’s a prince," Elsa mused before easing herself into the water.

The warmth of the bath was incredibly soothing and relaxing. It had been quite a while since she had indulged in such a luxurious bath. Her hospital duties had always left her rushed to take a quick shower, and for the past week, she’d been out in the open, washing in the river as her only option.

Elsa settled into the corner of the tub, her back comfortably supported, and surveyed her surroundings. Numerous candles adorned the chamber, casting a cozy and serene atmosphere. The warm water caressed her skin, providing a therapeutic sensation so soothing that it lulled her back into slumber.

As Elsa spent a prolonged time in the bath chamber, Constance grew concerned and called out, "My lady, is everything alright in there? Do you need help?"

Constance repeated her calls several times but received no response from Elsa. Growing anxious, she decided to try the door, only to find it locked from the inside.

The situation provoked panic among the maids, as they had been informed that the lady they were serving might be the king’s granddaughter. They feared the severe punishments they might face if something went wrong while she was under their care.

"Quick, find someone who can open the door!" Constance ordered one of the maids, who promptly dashed out of the room.

Chris had overheard Constance’s worried voice earlier and decided to check when he saw the maid leaving Elsa’s room. He inquired, "What’s happening in there?"