Laughter erupts as Theo gawks at my form. He gets off the bed and lifts me, then sets me on the side of the bed. He takes a blanket that's on the ground beside the couch and covers me with it.
"Now, I wonder where are our sleepwear? It must have been a crazy night for us to lose it," he jests.
Before opening the door, he stoops over the side of the tub and wears his clothes. He greets someone at the door and then, two servants enter carrying food.
"Harbin, she'll go to the study room once she's done eating and taking a bath. Now go, you'll just be a distraction."
When Theo shifts his attention back to me, he's already smiling and there's no Harbin outside our room. He ushers me to sit beside him and while we are eating, two servants take care of the mess we've made in the room and prepare the bath.
I study Theo as he languidly eats. "What's wrong?" I ask. "Are you tired?"
"I'm not tired," he says. "I simply wish that we can stay in this room all day and all night, forever."
I look away at the confession. After a while, I ask, "How long still before we arrive at your land?"
"Another week, if we're lucky," he answers.

*****************************
I squirm on my seat as Harbin sits in front of me. He laid a couple of books that I need to finish before our question and answer later in the day. Noticing my discomfort, he raises his eyes at me.
"You should stand," he suggests. "You're aching for your first night. That's understandable."
I blush and stop moving. It's not painful, but I feel weird down there. However, I still obey. Theo says I need to act as if it's my first time. But is there really a need? Ain't Harbin one of his trusted advisors? I lean on the wall and look at Harbin. Glasses, strict face, and green hair. He looks middle-aged but I never really asked.
I push the question to the back of my mind and focus on Theo instead. It will be nighttime when I can finally see him. I sigh at this growing need for him.
"Harbin, once we're at Pitchford, what should I expect?" I wish Nowra is here with me. Theo assures me ‌she's safe on the island, but it's better if I can see her.
"It's the same as other Kingdoms, but Pitchford is better and more lax in rules."
"What's the use of studying etiquette then? It's not like I will be allowed to ‌visit other Kingdoms."
"Because other Kingdoms come and visit Pitchford," he answers.
"Why? He's a self-made King right? Is he not ignored by other Kings?"
"Being new doesn't mean that King Eugene can be underestimated."
"How did he become King, anyway? He needs funds for that."
"King Eugene didn't boast?"
"He didn't. In fact, he hasn't said a single thing about his journey to becoming a King."
"Probably because he's not proud of it," Harbin answers.
"Do you have like, some written accounts about him?" I press on. Harbin scrutinizes me. "What? Being his lover means that I need to know about him, right?"
Harbin stands up and retrieves a thin book from the shelves. It's softbound and looks like some paperback of cheap novels.
"His rule is not yet done, so that's all we have."
"Hmm," I mutter while inspecting the book.
"King Eugene started as an ordinary citizen turned merchant. Then he took different missions from different Kingdoms and use the rewards to create the Pitchford Kingdom. At least, that's the short version of the story."
"And that Owusu guy? Why is he here? Doesn't he have his own Kingdom to rule?"
"He's exiled, and it's only King Eugene who accepted him."
"Exiled for what?"
"Being a royal and a mercenary at the same time."
I frown. Aren't the Owusu's supposed to be mercenaries? They are the epitome of strength, skill, and genius mixed in a single bloodline. How can they be punished for being a mercenary? They are born for that job. Besides, that Klevon guy screams of Owusu's bloodline prowess.
"It's best if you don't get tempted by another man. Even if it's Klevon."
I glare at Harbin. How could he insinuate that?! I am just curious about his story, that's all! However, Harbin is too busy with his books that he didn't see my reaction. So, I sigh and flip the thin book about Theo instead.
It says that Theo is from Berka. A normal citizen with a normal family. He was educated like most of the kids in the Kingdom. However, as he grows older, he became more curious, and soon, with his strength and skills in magic, he gained fame. Afterward, he's involved in a bad group which is the reason he got expelled.
Suddenly, the book is snatched from my hand. I look at the perpetrator and see that it's Theo. I make a huge smile. Only just a few hours of being apart and it makes me this happy to see him.
"Hi," I say. "I still have an hour of lessons."
He looks displeased. "Where did you get this?"
"Well, it's…" Instead of answering, I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck. "Are you going to kidnap me from this place?" I whisper, glancing at Harbin who's trying not to look at us.
I trail my fingers on Theo's chin. I tiptoe and touch my forehead to his. Slowly, his anger subsides and his arms wind around my waist.
He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. "I don't want you to read it again, okay?"
I nod. "In exchange, you are going to talk more about yourself."
"There's nothing to talk about me. My life is boring."
"A King's life is never boring."
"It is, inside," he says and kisses the side of my chin. "Not anymore, though. Now that you're here."
"You don't want me to read your biography and you don't want to talk about yourself, how else will I know about you?"
"You don't need to know about my past. The present is more important," he says. He traps me on the wall and nibbles on my neck. I push gently at his chest.
"Later, Theo."
Then his hand travel from my shoulder to my waist and up again as if he's trying to memorize each of my curves. "Last night is amazing," he whispers. "I can't wait for you to heal."
Then the realization hits me. He's only doing this for Harbin! To make him think that last night is my first. He's here to make sure that I've done the required acting.
"King Eugene, I think that's enough sweet-talk now. I will let her go after an hour," Harbin interrupts.
He gives me a smooch before retreating from the room. All the while, his smile never vanishes. I stand frozen on the spot while Harbin takes the biography that Theo drops on the floor.
He waves his hand at me and asks, "Are you still in the mood to study?"
I re-focus to Harbin. I am still troubled.
"Ugh, that King. Fine, go. Leave and follow ‌that perverted King."
I blink at him and whisper, "Thank you." Even if he misunderstood the reason for my daze.
Instead of our room, my feet carry me towards the deck. My black hair getting unruly in the wind. It's already dusk but the outline of the ocean is still visible. I need to breathe. I don't feel good about the lie, but I know we must do it, but I still feel uneasy about how he comes to check and do the lying through his own words and actions. He even used me.
I sigh and hide my face in my arms. Now that I am with Theo, I need to get used to this. I love him and I want to support him. That's what being a mate is for right?
"This is the first time I see you alone."
I whirl around to see Klevon's leader.
"That is, without Theo and Harbin hovering around you," he adds.
I step back, closer to the hall where our room is.
"You don't have to be so guarded with me. Whatever Klevon had said, it's certainly the opposite."
I examine him. Shoulder-length, blonde hair, boyish face, thin facial hair, and a set of clean clothes. He looks like a decent noble.
"I am Brandon Stine," he says. "I may share the same Stine name, but I am a distant cousin."
"You are a Knight," I say, remembering that Stine is the name of another human Kingdom.
"Nice. Harbin is doing a great job then."
We stare at each other for a while. Then he breaks the silence with, "About what Klevon had said about me, I would like to clear it out."