The Royal Mark-Chapter 58: Cotton Candy
Upon the maid’s request, Elsa took a seat in front of the mirror to have her hair brushed and styled. She briefly gazed at her reflection before lowering her head.
Observing the shift in Elsa’s mood, Constance couldn’t resist inquiring, "My lady, may I ask why? Is there something about the Prince that’s troubling you?"
Elsa hesitated for a moment, then confessed, "He claims I’m his mate..." She pursed her lips, unsure whether to voice her thoughts.
"We heard of that. Isn’t it a good thing then? A werewolf has only one mate and once they find their mate, they are automatically glued to that person for the rest of their lives. You will have no problem with your husband sneaking out of the house just to go to a brothel and sleep with another woman because it will never happen to werewolf mates," Constance said causing the maids to chuckle.
Elsa sighed, "That’s what I’ve heard as well. But I don’t think I’m ready for marriage. There are so many things I want to do, so much I want to discover about myself..." She looked at her wrists and hands, her voice softening. "I want to learn how to control my powers and understand my true self. I’ve only known Chris for just over a week, and that’s not enough time to commit to someone for life."
Constance’s giggle caught Elsa’s attention, leaving her puzzled. "And here you are, already calling him by his first name. People in the castle have been talking about the two of you, you know."
"Huh? What have they been saying?" Elsa asked, her curiosity stirred up.
Constance chuckled once more, "They believe you’ll have royal babies soon, given how close you are to each other. Everyone can see that the Prince is deeply in love with you, just by the way he gazes at you."
Elsa’s cheeks flushed with a mix of emotions. She couldn’t decide if she felt embarrassed by Constance’s words or thrilled that others had noticed Chris’ affectionate glances. "Well, I suppose he does look at me differently because I’m his mate. If I weren’t, maybe he’d treat me as a mere pawn in some alliance treaty," she said with a somber tone.
"Please, my lady, don’t think like that. I’ve heard the Prince is a true gentleman. He didn’t even demand anything from Princess Hera when he agreed to marry her," Constance reassured her.
Before Elsa could reply, a knock at the door announced the arrival of the servants bringing their breakfast. Constance promptly assisted in preparing the table and arranging the dishes, while the maids continued their work on Elsa’s hair and face.
Elsa couldn’t help but be fascinated by the assortment of beauty products displayed in front of her. "What are these made of?" she inquired, directing her question to one of the maids.
"This, my lady, is crafted from a blend of roots, flower petals, assorted berries, and oils. It’s then neatly encased in bamboo for our convenience. Would you like to try it?" Elsa nodded, and with excitement, the maid selected a pink lip color, delicately applying it to Elsa’s lips.
Amid the laughter and exploration of the various items sent by Mistress Valeria, they failed to notice that Chris had silently entered the room and was observing them.
[It seems she’s genuinely enjoying herself and gradually adapting to her new life, wouldn’t you agree?] Yakobo remarked while Chris stood still, watching Elsa laugh—something he hadn’t witnessed in days.
"Your Highness!" Constance exclaimed as she noticed the presence of the Prince of Arcanis.
The maids quickly lined up and offered their respects to Chris, while Elsa cast one more glance at her reflection in the mirror before rising to her feet.
"I apologize, Your Highness. I didn’t realize you had entered. Just give us a few more minutes; the servants are still preparing your breakfast," Constance assured him.
Chris acknowledged her with a nod, then returned his gaze to Elsa. He approached her, one hand resting on his back, prompting Constance to stifle her excitement upon catching a glimpse of what Chris held behind him.
Upon reaching Elsa, he found himself momentarily at a loss for words. He couldn’t help but be utterly captivated by her appearance. The maids had worked wonders, curling her hair and fashioning it into elegant half-up braids and loops at the back. They also let a few loose, wavy strands frame her face, giving her the appearance of a fairy or a sun goddess.
Noticing Chris’ enchantment with Elsa’s beauty, the maids couldn’t help but suppress their laughter, which snapped Chris out of his reverie.
"Um, well, you look stunning," Chris managed to say, although he instantly regretted the choice of words.
Elsa responded with a touch of sarcasm, rolling her eyes as she replied, "I was already aware of that, Chris."
In an attempt to recover, Chris rubbed the back of his neck and extended a bouquet of flowers to Elsa.
"What is this?" Elsa inquired after accepting the bouquet of flowers.
"Flowers..." Chris began, but Elsa pressed further.
"I know they’re flowers; I can see that. But why are you giving me flowers?"
Chris hesitated before almost whispering, "Because... um... I found them outside, and I thought they were beautiful, like you. And, you know, you’ve been feeling sad because of what happened. So, I thought they might bring a smile to your face, even if only for a moment. But I guess I made a mistake—"
Elsa interrupted him, "I love them, Chris. Thank you. They’ve definitely made me happy." She smiled at him and then shifted her attention to the flowers, taking in their scent.
Constance and the maids observed Chris’s transformation from a nervous demeanor to a joyful one, his face breaking into a grin. The maids almost squealed but Constance showed them her big eyes signaling them to behave properly.
"Here, let me..." Chris moved closer to Elsa, selected a small white flower, and carefully placed it on the side of her hair, securing it between her braids.
Elsa was taken aback by this unexpected gesture and watched in awe as Chris skillfully positioned the single flower in her hair.
"There... all set," Chris declared before subtly inhaling the scent of her hair, keeping his action hidden from the others in the room. ’Ah, I love it... Lavender and blueberry,’ he thought.
Their proximity allowed Elsa to catch a whiff of his scent as well. "Cotton candy," she whispered to herself. However, as she finished smelling him, a sharp pain shot through her wrist. "Ouch!" she exclaimed, jerking her hand and quickly inspecting her wrist.
