The Royal Mark-Chapter 81: Do It Again
Chris remained silent throughout lunch, only speaking when the king or others directed questions his way. Following the meal, the king requested that Elsa stay, while Chris excused himself.
"I’m delighted with your decision, dear, and when we’re with the family, please address me as ’grandfather.’ Your grandmother will assist you with the wedding, so don’t hesitate to tell her your preferences for your special day," the king expressed.
"Do we need to have the wedding right away?" Elsa inquired.
"Yes, Christopher and I discussed it earlier, and we both agreed to hold it three days after the ball."
"You spoke to him about our marriage this morning?" Elsa pondered whether that was the reason for his silence during lunch.
"Yes, I informed him that you would agree if your conditions were met. I didn’t know you had already made up your mind, so we struck a deal, and he accepted. He mentioned that he would ask his friend in Qiryn for assistance with using the portal again," the king explained.
"I see..." Elsa lowered her head, contemplating what Chris had to do to access the portal once more.
"Elsa, dear, the modiste will be arriving later. You can choose the outfit you’ll wear tomorrow at the memorial, and she will take your measurements for the dress you’ll wear at the ball and the wedding," Valeria informed her.
Elsa nodded before leaving the dining hall. She headed straight for Chris’ room to inquire about his plans regarding the journey to Novus. To her surprise, she spotted Milda exiting his room, prompting Elsa to quickly conceal herself. Fortunately, the first princess proceeded in the opposite direction and didn’t cross paths with her, although Elsa noticed she was in tears.
Since Milda had left the door open, Elsa took it as an invitation to enter, fully aware that Chris had likely detected her scent even before she entered his room. She discovered him standing by the window, gazing out with a glass of liquor in hand.
"Isn’t it a bit early for a drink?" Elsa remarked.
"Tell me, Elsa, why did you announce that you would marry me without informing me of your plan to return to Novus?" Chris inquired, turning to face her.
"Because I decided not to use it anymore as a demand in order to proceed with the marriage," Elsa replied, feeling uneasy as Chris seemed quite serious and upset.
"Tell me why. I’m certain you haven’t abandoned that idea. You intend to return there, with or without my assistance. Are you planning to go without me to escape from me?" Chris set the glass down on a nearby table and began advancing toward her, causing her to step back.
"N-No, I said I’d marry you, and that’s final. I just thought of another way to reach my father."
"And what is that? Unless you’ve discovered another portal or someone who can assist you, be aware that I won’t permit you to open a portal on your own. It will take a toll on your life," Chris stated, placing both his hands against the wall behind Elsa as she leaned on it.
"You are my life now, Elsa, and I won’t let any harm come your way. If anything bad happens to you, I’ll be the first to die from heartbreak," Chris asserted, lowering his forehead to rest against hers.
Elsa was deeply moved by this simple gesture, so she replied, "It won’t be me. I remember my mother mentioned that there is another portal here in Zemaria, one that was used by the ancestors of the people in Novus. It’s located where the other sleeping divine mages are. So I thought of asking for your help in finding it after we get married. You wouldn’t refuse, would you?"
"Did she provide any clues about its location?" Chris inquired.
"No, that’s why I need your help."
"No need, then. We’ll use the portal in Qiryn to return to Novus," Chris declared.
"But that’s the one you used before we met, right? And that’s where you got injured!"
Chris smirked and gently pushed Elsa’s chin upward. "Are you worried about me getting hurt, Princess? Are you finally liking me?"
Elsa turned her head, avoiding his gaze. "Why would I marry you if I didn’t like you... And yes, I worry about you. We can search for the portal here in Zemaria, rather than risking your life in Qiryn."
"I’m ready to face any danger, now that you’ve confessed that you like me. But it would be better if you said it outright. Tell me you like me; I want to hear it," Chris requested.
Elsa furrowed her eyebrows, taken aback by his somewhat childish request. They locked eyes, and he waited for her to utter those words.
When she saw he wasn’t going to back down, Elsa rolled her eyes and said, "Fine! I’ll say it..." She took a deep breath before continuing, "I like you, Christopher Jorgensen, even though you turned my world upside down, took me away from my home, introduced me to a whole new world, and tore me apart last night. I still like you."
Elsa smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. However, that wasn’t enough for Chris; he took her head in his hand and passionately kissed her.
"That’s how you kiss, Princess," he remarked, taking her hand and leading her to the sofa in the center of the room. "And don’t worry about Qiryn. They won’t try to harm me this time. I have something to offer them in exchange for using the portal, something they won’t refuse."
"And what is that?" she asks with a curious tone.
"You’ll see. But enough of that, let’s talk about it when the time comes. Tell me how are you really feeling? Does it still hurt?"
"I asked my grandmother to heal my body pain, telling her it’s because of riding the carriage last night so that’s gone now," Elsa explained.
"Really? Your pain is gone?" Chris grinned and looked genuinely delighted and suspiciously excited.
Elsa pursed her lips and waited for him to finish talking, for she knew that there was more to it. Chris moved closer to her, held her hand, and his other hand landed on her waist with his thumb tracing small circles on her side.
"So, it means that we can do it again tonight right?" Chris shamelessly asked leaving Elsa speechless.
