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Chapter 15 - Tillage
Luella
My dear husband went to the fields. I wondered if the soil would be the mistress I was worried about all along.
To be fair, he had relented and laid back in bed. However, he had a way of ruining the moment. Reminding me that my – our – marriage was not a love match was rubbing salt into my wounds.
There was something I could not put my finger on. It was clear that we had a connection and that he managed to survive the night. Yet, he did not seem to see it as a grand event. He seemed to want me to forget it – how my burning calmed down after he wrapped me around himself.
It should have been the other way around. I recalled how Thomas touched me, causing my body to burn in passion. Making it burn. Literally. I felt more than that during our wedding night, perhaps because of Metheus’ presence. It had me restless, so I could not sleep while he seemed to relax almost immediately. He was not shy about his body, baring it without a second thought. We might not even be friends, but surely he was a man with needs?
Of course, Metheus seemed like a man who did not want to bed someone he did not love. Even if he could control my fire, he did not seem even a little bit tempted.
I intended to find out if it was because of Cora or someone else. I would wear breeches and boots today, and well, a frilly blouse. He would not see me fall on myself while wearing a dress. I knew that he thought of me as a silly woman.
“Do we need to go, Your Highness?” Francilia asked, not too happy about wearing breeches and boots.
“Yes, we do,” I insisted.
“I thought you were not interested in your husband’s activities,” she said.
“Were. When Metheus was not yet my husband. It is different now.”
Her face lit up.
“So,” she lowered her voice. “It seems that the wedding night has been, um, successful?”
I raised a brow at her. I even folded my arms. Truth be told, I was trying to think on my feet. What should I tell her? Should Metheus and I pretend that it was going well under the sheets? Would he play along if I said that it was the case?
“Not that it is any of your business, Francilia,” I haughtily began. “But yes,” I whispered, making it a little saucy for her ears.
She giggled, placing her hands on her mouth.
“H-how was it? How different are Arrowspear men from -. Oh, okay,” she stopped herself but had said enough.
“Francilia, you do know that I am a – was a virgin before I met my husband?” I knew I looked hurt, and I was a little bit. However, I also understood how Thomas’ tragic death also coincided with the death of my reputation.
“My apologies, Your Highness,” she looked sorry and afraid. In fact, my lady-in-waiting looked like she was near tears.
“Francilia, do not fret! I am married now, and I found someone who does not believe in the rumors,” I comforted her with a hug. In the back of my mind, I asked myself if what I was telling her was the truth.
I did not really know.
What if Metheus felt disgusted with me?
Why did it matter then? I should not care, but I knew I would be lying if I continued in this vein of thinking. My thoughts went back to the night before and how we looked like a typical husband and wife, even for a short while.
“I – I am glad that he makes you feel that comfortable, Your Highness. You are a fortunate woman. He seems kind. Industrious. Not many royal men would be willing to work on the soil. They think it too lowly.”
I mulled the thought over. Of course, Francilia was right. Metheus was a surprising man, a lot wealthier than my former suitors but willing to get down on the ground.
“He loves the earth, Francilia. He is not an Earth warlock, but he exudes joy whenever he sees the fields.”
She laughed at that while still wiping at the tears that had threatened to fall. I was also fortunate with my lady-in-waiting. She had become my closest friend and confidante.
The two of us sprinted down the steps. We would be riding our horses because Metheus planned to go further south that day. I knew that he wanted to sort things out before leaving for Arrowspear in a week. He said he would be delegating his men to the various fields, having them help the local farmers with new crops and methods. Despite that, he still planned to visit as many fields as possible.
I did not know why he needed to do that. I had to admit that I would have probably just told people where to go if I were him. Being an expert did not mean having to go and do everything else. Or did it? I did not plan to open my mouth about this topic lest I make myself sound ridiculous to him.
