Chapter 5 Chapter 5: My New Husband.

Chapter 5: My New Husband.

Jalena’s POV

T-This...is MY room?

I slowly stepped farther inside. Calling it a room seemed almost insulting. It was an entire suite.

The ceiling towered above me, painted a soft midnight blue with tiny magical stars drifting across it. Tall windows stretched nearly from floor to ceiling, revealing snow-covered mountains beyond the castle grounds. A massive bed rested against the far wall beneath a silver canopy, covered in thick white blankets and pale-blue pillows.

There was a sitting area surrounding a crystalline fireplace where blue flames danced without wood. Bookshelves lined one wall, already stocked with books, while an elegant writing desk sat beneath one of the windows.

Everything seemed to shimmer. Colors of silver with crystal soft blues and whites. It was like winter had somehow been made warm.

"I can't believe this is my room," I murmured.

Claire and Lydia exchanged enormous smiles.

"You like it?" Claire asked.

I could only nod.

"Good!" Lydia exclaimed. "We were hoping you would!"

Claire's eyes suddenly dropped.

"Oh, My Lady...would you like us to prepare anything in that basket for you?"

"My basket?"

I glanced down. Velma's basket.

"Oh!"

I'd been carrying it for so long I'd almost forgotten about it. I hadn't even checked everything she'd packed.

Then...Grrrrrrr.

Silence.

My eyes widened. Claire's lips twitched. Lydia covered her mouth. And then they both burst into laughter. My face burned.

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" Claire laughed.

"Perhaps," Lydia said sweetly, "you'd like to freshen up and then eat?"

"Yes." I nodded quickly. "That would be fine."

Then, instinctively, I bowed.

"Thank you very much for being so kind."

I slowly straightened. Both women were staring at me.

"What?"

Lydia squealed.

"Oh, she's so sweet!"

Claire grabbed Lydia's arm.

"I know!"

My cheeks warmed again.

"Perfect!" Lydia clapped. "We'll heat your meal while you take a bath."

"Oh!" Claire suddenly turned. "And we noticed you traveled rather light."

I stiffened.

"Yes, I—"

Claire flicked her fingers. Mana sparkled from her fingertips. The enormous double doors beside the bedroom flew open.

My mouth fell open.

A walk-in wardrobe stretched beyond them, larger than my entire attic room back home. Dresses hung in carefully arranged sections. Winter gowns, evening dresses, casual dresses, coats and robes filled the racks. Shelves displayed shoes, slippers, gloves and scarves.

"Your wardrobe!" Claire announced.

"There are undergarments, nightclothes, shoes, stockings...everything!" Lydia added.

"We determined your measurements from the royal owl."

"We spent practically all yesterday ordering things!"

Then they both turned toward me.

"We hope you like it!"

For several seconds, I couldn't speak. I'd spent years wearing gray uniforms and old dresses. Now there were more clothes in this one room than I'd owned throughout my entire life.

My lips slowly curled upward.

"I'm sure everything is beyond lovely." I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "Thank you so much."

Their smiles softened. Claire took my basket while Lydia handed me a small crystal device.

"Your communicator. Don't hesitate to call us if you need anything, My Lady."

Lydia motioned toward another doorway.

"I've already begun your bath. You need only enjoy yourself!"

After thanking them again, they left. Silence filled the suite. I looked around. Then whispered,

"Does someone like me even deserve all of this?"

The bath was heavenly. There was simply no other word. I sank deeper into the enormous marble tub, warm scented water surrounding me while bubbles floated around my shoulders.

"Oh..."

My eyes closed. I'd never experienced anything like it. At home, bathing meant heating water and filling the small tub near the servants' quarters whenever it was available.

This?

The water remained perfectly warm by magic. Tiny floating lights drifted around the room, and the bath smelled faintly of vanilla and winter berries.

For the first time since leaving Bouvier, my body truly relaxed. Everyone here had been so kind. Henry. Claire. Lydia. All the other servants. Then my smile faded.

Will they still be kind once they know?

My fingers moved through the bubbles. Once they discovered I had no mana? My chest tightened. Maybe...maybe I could wait. Just a little longer. Was it terrible to want one more day of being treated like this? One more day where someone called me My Lady without shame?

My thoughts shifted toward the man I was supposed to marry.

"He must be very powerful," I whispered.

A king of an entire magical kingdom. And he was receiving...me. Hardly seemed fair.

"He'll probably be very disappointed once he learns."

My eyes stung. What if he ended the engagement? Would he order me back to Bouvier? Would he despise me for deceiving him? And if I returned home disgraced...my family wouldn't forgive me.

They had already extended what they considered more than enough courtesy by allowing me to remain in their household for twenty years.

I sighed and sank deeper.

"I suppose I'll worry about all of that tomorrow."

After bathing and dressing in one of the softest cream-colored dresses I'd ever touched, I decided to find Claire and Lydia.

"This castle truly is amazing."

I walked slowly down the corridor, admiring everything. Then I turned another corner. And another. And then...I stopped.

"Wait."

I glanced behind me. Three hallways. All unfamiliar. My eyes widened.

"I can't believe it...I think I...am I lost?"

I almost laughed. Then remembered something. The communicator. Which was sitting on my bedside table.

"Perfect, Lena. Just perfect."

I laughed quietly and continued walking. Surely I'd find someone eventually. Instead, I found rooms. Many, many rooms.

One contained dozens of floating paintings whose landscapes actually moved. Anothers appeared to be some kind of indoor garden filled with crystalline trees and flowers growing directly from snow.

I found a library. Then another library.

"How many books does one castle need? Still..."

Eventually, I turned down another corridor. Dead end. Two enormous doors stood before me.

"Maybe there are stairs through here."

I grabbed the handles and pulled. Nothing...didn't even budge. I planted my feet and pulled harder. The doors finally groaned open. Cold air rushed over me and my breath caught. Snow covered the floor. Actual snow.

Ice climbed the walls in intricate patterns, and hundreds of magical objects floated throughout the enormous chamber.

Books hovered overhead, turning their own pages. Crystals rotated slowly within circles of glowing runes. Silver instruments moved without hands. Glass containers held tiny storms, flickering flames and swirling clouds of colored mana.

"Oh..."

I stepped inside. Forget the kitchen...this was incredible. A magical haven. I wandered deeper. One floating book opened as I passed, its letters rearranging themselves across the page. Then I noticed a small crystalline bird resting upon a pedestal.

I carefully picked it up.

"So pretty."

Its wings looked as though they had been carved from ice but the bird wasn't cold. Then something else caught my attention. A massive globe. At first, I thought it was a snow globe. But when I moved closer...tiny buildings stood inside.

Roads. Mountains. And...My eyes widened.

"Is that...are those people?"

"It is."

I screamed. The crystal bird slipped from my hand.

CRASH!

I spun around and froze. A man stood several feet behind me. He was tall...very tall. Broad shoulders filled his dark cloak, and black hair framed a face so strikingly handsome that my thoughts momentarily stopped working altogether.

His expression was calm. His eyes were fixed directly on me causing my cheeks to burned.

"You must be my new fiancée."

My lips parted.

"Y-You're..." I swallowed. "You're Lord Vaughn?"

He nodded once.

"I am."

My stomach dropped. And then...

"Oh my gosh!" I dropped to my knees. "I'm so sorry!"

I frantically gathered the broken crystal.

"I didn't mean to break it. I wasn't supposed to be here—I mean, I don't think I was supposed to be here. I got lost and I was trying to find the kitchen and—"

Click.

I froze. Lord Vaughn snapped his fingers. The pieces lifted from my hands. My eyes widened as every shard floated upward, reconnected and reformed into the perfect little bird.

Magic.

He held out his hand. I stared at it. Then him. Slowly, I placed my hand in his. He pulled me to my feet effortlessly.

"T-Thank you, Your Majesty."

I immediately lowered my head. Not because I was frightened...that would have been an easy explanation instead of this most embarrassing one. My face wouldn't stop burning.

Get it together, Lena!

"I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean—"

"It's quite alright."

His voice was deep. Almost like rumbling silk.

"Where were you trying to go?"

I glanced around awkwardly.

"Um...the kitchen."

"I see."

He turned.

"Come."

I blinked. He was already walking away.

"Oh! Yes, my Lord."

I sat the bird down and hurried after him, taking one last longing glance at the magical chamber before the doors closed. For several moments, we walked in silence.

"So," he eventually said. "You're the daughter of the Leigh family."

"No—" I caught myself. Reflex. "Y-Yes. I'm Jalena Leigh, Your Majesty."

He glanced at me.

"I see."

Silence again. My hands twisted together.

"I...apologize if I wasn't supposed to enter that room. I was only trying—"

"It's fine."

My eyes widened as we continued walking. Apparently, I'd managed to wander extraordinarily far from the kitchen. Eventually, familiar voices echoed ahead.

"THERE YOU ARE, MY LADY!" Claire came rushing toward me. "Where did you go?! We looked everywhere!"

Lydia hurried behind her.

"We thought something happened!"

"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed. "I got lost, and then I realized I'd forgotten my communicator."

"It's our fault!" Lydia cried. "We should've waited for you!"

"No, it's mine. I'm sorry for troubling you."

Claire's expression softened. Then she grabbed my arm affectionately.

"You didn't trouble—" She stopped. Her eyes traveled behind me. "Oh!"

Lydia followed her gaze.

"Lord Remerian!"

They immediately straightened.

"Sir Corvan said you wouldn't return until tomorrow," Lydia said.

"That was the plan," Lord Vaughn replied. "I finished my business earlier than expected."

His gaze shifted toward them.

"I trust you two can take things from here?"

Their faces brightened.

"Leave it to us!" they said simultaneously.

I smiled. Lord Vaughn nodded.

"Then I'll leave you all to it."

He turned. Then stopped. His eyes moved toward me.

"See that you eat something."

I blinked.

"Your stomach was growling."

My entire body froze. Claire made a strangled noise. Lydia's eyes widened. My face turned crimson. Lord Vaughn simply walked away. I stared after him, completely mortified. Then something occurred to me.

I had just met him.

The mysterious Ice King everyone in Bouvier whispered about. The man I had spent the entire journey fearing. The man I was apparently going to marry. My heart gave a strange little flutter.

So...

I watched his tall figure disappear around the corner.

That's my new husband.