Kissing Hellfire: Marry Me, Evil Lord
Chapter 135: If You’re With Me

Chapter 135: If You’re With Me

"Let’s talk about it some other time," Lauren said, thinking that she must have said something that ruined Alec’s mood. "Why did you order so many dishes anyway? This is too much food."

"Everything they have tastes good. I don’t know what you might like so I asked for all of their best sellers. If you don’t like a dish, just set it aside and eat what you want."

"Alright."

She picked up her spoon and fork. After taking a bite, she looked at Alec and found him holding the glass of blood wine while staring at it darkly.

"Will you not eat?"

If he wouldn’t, no one would help her finish all the dishes. Not that they could eat them all by just the two of them, but at least there would be lesser leftovers.

He didn’t reply and pulled the plate with meat. He then picked up the fork and knife and lazily cut a bite.

"This is a nice place," she said in the middle of their silence, trying to open a new subject to talk about. "I wish Evardin also have a restaurant up in a tower. It would be nice if it is in the main town."

"I can bring you here anytime you want. You can travel the world in just a snap if you’re with me..." The way his words rolled off his tongue in a provocative manner implied something else.

Was he tempting her to stay by his side because of the perks that came along with it?

"Is that an offer to stay with you?" She sipped on her glass of fruit drink. She looked serious. "Aren’t you just bored, Alec? Or perhaps you see me as a helpful tool in your reign? After all, it is not every day you can find a capable woman like myself."

The both of them had stopped eating now. They were just staring at each other.

"The first reason why you accepted this arrangement, you said it was for entertainment. You found me entertaining and you wanted to feed your curiosity. Perhaps it is just that..."

For Lauren, a man like Alec Everston was not someone who would go head over heels for a woman. He exuded an aura of a domineering male who was incapable of nurturing such affections. So it was hard for her to accept that Alec fell in love with her. It was uncanny and suspicious.

"If you want my support in your reign, or want me to stay for my blood and body, you don’t have to pretend."

"Why is it so hard for you to believe that I actually fell for you?" His eyes squinted darkly. "Don’t you have confidence in yourself, or are you thinking that I’m just playing around?"

Of course she was doubting his intentions. Who wouldn’t? He was a man known for his cruel nature and no news circulated in the town about him having a lover. There might be women taking care of his needs, but she doubted if one of them had ever made it to his heart.

"Even if your intentions are pure or not, it doesn’t matter. Romance is out of our arrangement and I am definitely not interested," she said with finality.

"You sound like someone who got her heart broken so badly. But I doubt if you ever had a lover." His lips twitched a bit and when he saw her narrowing her eyes, he immediately covered the supposed smirk with a stern face.

"Those rumors about you going out with different men... all of it were just exaggerations. You were never with someone before. You lost your innocence to me," he said the last words in a low voice but she didn’t miss the pride in his tone.

She coughed a bit, uncomfortable at the sudden turn of their discussion. Why did he suddenly mention her lost innocence?

She looked around and was relieved that no one was near enough to hear what they were talking about.

"Should I say that it was an honor?" Lauren shot her brow up with a sarcastic smile.

If not for the delicious food, she would have demanded to go back to the castle. But since the dishes were very much pleasing to her tastebuds, she stayed on her seat and just ate to her satisfaction. She couldn’t take more than half of what was served though despite her forcing herself, so she just told the attendant to pack the leftovers and give them to the street people if he had time later.

"Will you be in your office?" Lauren asked when they got back to the castle. She remembered he agreed on letting her have the bed for herself before they left.

He took off his coat and rolled the sleeves of his black long-sleeved shirt with a gray vest up to his elbows.

"I will get the things I need and do my work here. I’ll be around the corner and won’t disturb you."

She nodded and went to the walk-in closet. After changing into her night dress, she combed her hair in front of the mirror.

"What is this?" When she was about to climb to bed, she noticed a small cup with hot water on the bedside table.

"Drink that. You ate quite a lot. It will save you from indigestion," Alec said and glanced at her once.

Lauren picked up the cup and brought it to her lips. She smelled the scent of a familiar medicine and knew that Alec mixed some powdered drug with water.

Although it was unnecessary and she wanted to tell them that he shouldn’t have bothered, she only offered him a simple "Thank you" before going to bed.

She laid on her side, turning away from him. But for some reason, she could feel his stare on her back. She was tired so it wasn’t long before she dozed off.

"Why didn’t you wake me up soon?"

It was Lauren’s first question to her maid when she woke up the next day. It was already midnight when she and Alec got back last night so she woke up late. But what she didn’t expect was the news of Minister Haystone and her daughter, Jennifer, waiting for her downstairs.

"T-they have been waiting for half an hour, Your Majesty," the maid replied when she asked how long since the two had arrived.

"You shouldn’t have waited for me to wake up!"

Why were the father and daughter here to see her anyway?

"It was the King’s order not to disturb your sleep, Queen Lauren."

Even with guests waiting? Lauren shook her head and just told the maid to prepare her bath.

"Pardon me if I made you wait for more than an hour," she said to Minister Haystone and Jennifer when she was finally downstairs. They were having tea near the garden while waiting for her.