"The bathroom is through here," Lex said, opening a door on Aria's right. She peeked inside for a second. The only thing she really took in was the vast round tub sitting right below a window.
He walked to his side of the room and took his crown off, placing it on a little pillar with a red pillow on top of it. She looked to the left and saw that there was a matching pillar for hers as well.
"Look around if you'd like," he said, starting to take his clothes off. "But I'm going to bed."
Aria nodded, looking away.
"Um...is-is there anything I can change into?" she asked. There was no way she was taking that dress off if she didn't have anything to cover the lingerie under the dress with.
"Find something in your dresser," he said from behind her.
She placed her crown on the pillar and opened the doors to her armoire. Inside was a built-in dresser. She tried not to gasp when she saw that it was full of clothes, shirts, and pants of all colors and materials. There were also jackets, sweaters, cloaks, and dresses hanging up. She ran her hand over the clothes. Pretty. Too pretty. The floor of the armoire was lined with different kinds of shoes.
There were two smaller drawers at the bottom, and she couldn't stop herself from opening them and peeking inside. More clothes. But these looked less proper, more like bedroom wear. A few pieces made her cringe, all lacy and short. She searched until she came upon a simple white nightgown. Decent enough, she thought. At least it would cover all of the areas she wanted to be covered.
She picked it up and went to the bathroom to change.
Her hands shook as she carefully took the dress off. Once she'd put the nightgown on, she tiptoed back to the room. She put her dress and the undergarment she'd been wearing across the chair at the vanity table.
She looked back to the bed and noticed that Lex was already lying in it, his back to her. Thank god, she thought, looking at his bare back. The covers came up to his waist, and she silently prayed that he wasn't naked.
Not that it mattered. He'd made it clear that he didn't have any expectations, even though they were now husband and wife.
She walked towards the bed. There was a part in the canopy on her side, and she crawled in as discreetly as possible. She moved to her side, lying as close to the edge as possible. She brought the covers up to her neck.
The room was lit by the candles on the chandelier. However, it was still dim enough, especially under the black canopy, for her to at least consider trying to sleep.
She couldn't believe it was over. She was the queen. The fucking queen. Of a kingdom. And someone's wife.
It didn't feel real. Aria still felt like the same person she'd been that morning. Wasn't she supposed to feel different? Powerful or something? Less scared?
Eventually, she heard Lex's breathing even out, and she knew he was asleep. She turned to peek at his back in the dim lighting. She looked above her, past the bed's wooden headboard to the sword hanging on the wall. It was beautifully crafted, shiny. Unlike any sword, she'd ever seen before. Why was it hanging there? What was its significance? It must've been essential for it to be hanging above the king's bed. She decided she'd ask him about it tomorrow.
Chapter 15
When she woke the next morning, he was already gone.
She was glad. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to say to him, how to talk to him now that they were married.
She cleaned up in the bathroom and went back into the room to look for something to wear. She wasn't sure if there was a certain way, she should dress now that she was the queen. But she figured the clothes in her dresser were placed there for a reason, that they were appropriate.
She picked out a pretty purple tunic, the color wasn't something she'd worn often in the past, but it looked great with her light brown skin and the black pants she chose. She found a pair of black combat boots and laced them up. Finally, she undid the braids from the night before and put her hair in its usual style. A messy bun, just the way she liked it.
On her way to the throne room, every person she passed bowed their head in greeting. She tried to smile and nod in acknowledgment. Hopefully, she'd get used to this because right now, it made her extremely uncomfortable.
Once she reached the throne room, she started to make her way to her usual spot at the table with her friends before remembering that it wasn't where she was supposed to sit anymore.
Instead, she made her way to the front of the room, annoyed that everyone was staring at her. Her chair was pushed to the left, making room for Grace's on the right, Lex between the two.
"Hey," he said, watching her as she sat down.
"Hi," she replied, feeling awkward as hell.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Mhm," she said nodding. She didn't try to make conversation as she ate.
When he got up to leave, Aria wasn't sure what she was supposed to do.
"Is it okay if I go join my friends," she asked.
"Of course, Aria. You don't have to ask me. I've told you, you're free to do as you please, anything at all. You are the queen, after all," he said, smirking at her.
She rolled her eyes.
After he left, she made her way to her friends.
"Well, well, well. Look who's come to join us," Mara teased, "the queen herself.".
Aria rolled her eyes and sat down, grateful for Mara's presence.
"Do I have to refer to you as 'my lady' like the rest of them do? Or can I still call you Aria?" she asked, fighting a smile.
"Shut up," Aria said.
"Now is that any
