'Her initiative to be near me , how will it feel?' Max mind and body filled with excitement to be near her.Before he could gather his thoughts, a knock on the door was heard and the maids told that the bath tub was ready.
With low voice,"Come here , Merry." Max offered his hand to her and carried her to the bathing chamber even after her nagging.
Putting her gently near the giant tub.
Max held her from back and carefully guided her to lower her feet into the water.Her feet touched the surface of water, a long aching pain started to melt down.
"Keep your feet inside the hot water, it will help to relieve." His close raspy voice, lingered in her ears .She could sense his broad chest touching her back from behind.
The moment he breathed out near her nape, she felt goosebumps all over her body.
"Max.." Merry lowered her head and grasped her dress on her knees to completely shrink herself to hide her embarassed frame.
Sensing her stiffness,Max tilted his head to get a look of her face,just then feeling him close, Merry got bombshelled and turned to look up into his eyes.Their noses touched lightly.
They were as close as possible.Their breathing pattern matched like a person who plays flute to combine its soul with music.
Overwhelmed by her trembling lips,Max reached his hand to her face and gentle yet incomprehensibly caressed her lips with his thumb.
"What's the matter, Princess?" His voice,thick and sensible ,turned her ears all red.Without hesitation,in the heat of the moment,Merry lightly kissed him and pulled back as soon as she saw his widened eyes with surprise.
With a gulp,his rough big yet graceful hand gently grasped her plated hair and pulled her to crush his lips to hers.Passionate and cautious touch that was engulfing both of them.Max could not reciprocate his feelings and emotions with his actions.Not knowing how much to feel her,how much he should be drawn in this endless ways of touching her.
Her lips were more soft than feathers he ever imagined, tilting his head to taste every corner of her lips.Merry couldn't gather her thoughts to react at this sweet moment.
He continued to lock his lips to her's, pushing his wet, gentle yet strong tongue further. Gazing at her flickering eyes just like a flame,he melted same as a candle wax.
Merry clenched and unclenched his tunic to break free to take a breath but Max ended up pushing his tongue deeper into her alerted soft mouth. Drawing her closer by her waist.He tightly folded his arms around her.
Just then, a knock was heard from the main door of the bed chamber.
"Lord! A messenger has arrived from Dolbar with an urgent message." Frederick had arrived to inform at this very moment.
Finally breaking their kiss, Max watched her gasping for air.Merry couldn't bring herself to normal,indeed it was a wild kiss after all these days.
At that moment,Max realised that he almost lost his all senses and control.In a way to apologise,he kissed corner of her lips,then her cheek,her forehead and moved to softly peppered his moist lips on her eyelid.
'why do I want her even more now?' Max heart pained at his reluctantivity that warned him to stop himself.
Max frowned with rage the moment Frederick knocked once again.
Taking a thick air filled breath,Max stood up and run his hand through his hair and said with guilt filled hazy voice,"I...will bath later.So you can relax and take your bath princess.They will soon bring fresh clothes for you to wear."
"M-Max!" The moment Max begun to walk out the bath, Merry grasped his tunic from back and hesitatingly said with gathering up her courage," B-But you wanted me to help y-you washing up....and instead of that you're helping me." And with a little silence falling between them, she added," Wouldn't you w-want me to help now?"
Surprised, enchanted, nervous , every single bit of feelings gather within Max.
Max mind warned him again and again
'I don't know why I'm getting this bitter sweet emotion that wants to advance her proposal but at the same time I know it would be dangerous for her in many ways if I let myself get engulfed in those beautiful eyes and those feverish lips and this scorching sensation -'
Gulping hard her remains inside him, Max bit his lips and said alongwith deep thick voice of his ," I would love to...but I am not deserving enough for getting an assistance from my lovely wife." Peppering a gentle kiss near the corner of her eye, he smiled boyishly and added with densed face,
" Please rest well and don't wait ...just sleep after taking your bath."
She looked at him completely bewitched by his presence,words and actions.But her chest ached at the sight of him getting out.
He walked out with heavy heart.
Getting more and more pissed as he walked towards the door to open it,he literally wanted to hit Frederick the moment he would open the door.
Pulling roughly to open the door, Max clenched his jaw and grumbled "Now, what came at this hour that couldn't be handled by you ,sir?"
Getting a clear cut idea that he had arrived at worst timing. Frederick felt chills.
" Commander... I actually... actually ,there is a landslide that has occurred near Choaran region half an hour ago, so a messenger has arrived for -"
*******
"Has anyone been hurted?"Max enquired as they walked to get ready to go to the site of the landslide.
"It hasn't been confirmed completely but they say there is no sign of any casualty."
" The route has completely been blocked up by it so it wouldn't be possible to move the goods." Frederick explained the details.
"Ask atleast seven knights to prepare to come with us other than those who have just returned." Max commanded as he got onto the horsepack.
Looking up at the closed windows of their room, Max sighed heavily and felt somekind of emptiness as he rode away from the castle.
On the other hand, Merry felt guilt filled loneliness which she gained when she wanted him to stay.
After washing up, even after he told her not to wait she still chose not to listen and settled near the windows and stared outside.She was informed what had happened and it would take time for him to return back.But when did her heart ever wanted something simple.
"Why am I always unable to do anything for him? It is him who needs to rest not me. But still he wanted me to relax." Merry's heart scorched as she looked up at the dazzling moon , thinking of him only made her unsettled.The late night breeze took over her wet hair's droplets and brushed against her skin to soothe her.Her eyes dried as the memories of her kidnapping flashed back out of nowhere when her mind recalled those moments as they appeared similar to this one.She got chills down her spine.She started to miss Max now that he was not here to comfort her.
**********
Next morning, Max had not returned yet.
Merry woke up when her head almost fall off from her resting position.She fell asleep just sitting near the windows, waiting for him all night.
Her face paled at sight of the empty room.
"I h-hope everything is fine."
Getting dressed up, Merry went straight to her works.
She arranged the files which she went through last time. Buttler brought the a pile of tax documents to her as soon as she entered the library.
"A very good morning, my lady."
"My lady, these are the tax and shipping prices of the imported goods files.These are the one need to be sorted out first."Butler informed her as he stood near the door.
"Good morning,sir.P-Please put them on the table here, sir." She told as she looked amazed by the quantity of files there were to look over.
"Because of you, my lady, our work has decreased .But since you weren't here, we couldn't manage all of it."he added.
She smiled and replied," I am glad that I was of any help."
"What happened,mylady?!Your face has a bruise.Did you get hurt on the way back?" He asked concerningly when he noticed her face.
"Oh..ac-actually I bumped into something.But n-now it has completely healed." She lied while trying to avoid eye contact.
"Glad that you're fine." He added with a sigh of relief.
"D-Do you have any idea when will his lordship return?" She asked worriedly.
"They say it won't be finished before afternoon." He replied back.
"I'll take my leave now.Please excuse me."
Before leaving ,he remembered something and returned.
"Ah! I almost forgot,there are many letters which have arrived lately.If you get some time, please consider to atleast go through them.
"I will." She responded with a nod.
As the morning became afternoon,Merry had completed almost half of her work.
Someone knocked.
"Please come in."
"Sorry to disturb you,my lady, but a letter has come from central authorities.The lord is absent so I thought it would be best for you to overview the letter.It maybe important."
Butler informed while handing the letter to her.
"W-Would it be alright for me to read it?" Merry asked hesitatingly as these matters were generally handled by Max or his ministers.
"Ofcourse, mylady."He assured her with a smile.
After handling the letter,he left.
The moment Merry's eyes went through the letter, her face paled,she couldn't manage to
read further.Each word completely terrored her.
*******************