My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 240: The King’s Surprises

Chapter 240: The King’s Surprises

The bite of chocolate cake that Leonor had taken a bite of felt suddenly dry and she had to moisten her palate with a gulp of the dark dessert wine that had been brought to the table as they ate their sweets.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty?" Leonor was the first to respond.

She glanced at Desmond then the King, unsure of how she should respond. Was Stephano overstepping or was she being ungrateful for not immediately thanking him?

Staying in a place as luxurious as the Queen’s palace sounded wonderful, but she knew how little Desmond had a desire to be in the palace in the first place. His estate on the southern end was a respite from people’s gazes.

Staying in the epicenter of the cruelness seemed like a punishment rather than the favor Stephano so clearly thought it was.

"Just as I said," Stephano admitted. "We’re going to have long days of meetings and delegations. It will be most convenient to have my right hand along with my left in one place."

Stephano’s golden gaze drifted to Quinn. It was clear he was referring to him and silently telling him he knew that he had been avoiding his quarters as much as possible.

The young King knew that the moment Leonor and Desmond were no longer present, Quinn would hide himself away as he always did. There were rare moments to see one another one on one and it was beginning to feel purposeful.

"It will certainly be convenient for you," Desmond responded pointedly. "I suppose I should thank you for saving us more traveling since that’s all we’ve been doing for weeks."

"Yes," Leonor agreed. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I can’t imagine a more luxurious place to call our home away from home while Desmond is here on your request."

She wouldn’t say it in front of Stephano since it was clear that Desmond was accepting the cards handed to him. However, she would still ask if he was alright with the arrangements once they had a few moments alone.

The thought of having maids and servants she wasn’t familiar with waiting on her sounded awful. Would they have to act a certain way? Would there be time to be at ease?

As if Stephano could read her mind, he leaned into the table and put his gaze on the duchess.

"Your house staff will take over rather than my usual maids," Stephano explained. "Don’t worry. None of your secrets will be shared with people who aren’t already familiar with the way the two of you like to do things. Despite being in the center of the capital, this area is the most guarded and most private. Your lack of having to go back and forth will put less eyes on you."

Leonor had to practice her best trained expression at that moment.

The night before wasn’t far from her thoughts that day. From the moment she had to be in the same room as Desmond once again she had to force herself to look outward rather than getting tied up in her thoughts or there would certainly be a blush on her cheeks.

To be told that their secrets were safe with their usual helpers, dirty thoughts compounded in her head and she resisted lowering her gaze or else the three men she was surrounded with would certainly ask if something else was on her mind.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Leonor said, quickly filling the space with noise so she wouldn’t have to dwell on her thoughts further. "I have grown tired of riding in a carriage anyway."

The table was too large for Desmond to tap Leonor’s foot with his to show his silent support of her words so he decided he would thank her later for acting proper in the face of such a drastic change to their plans yet again.

"Yes," Desmond agreed. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Although I find it strange that, in the entire half a day we spent with one another that this topic never once came up."

Stephano seemed pleased that they were in agreement and not feeling argumentative. He found it easy to eat the dessert that he had been pushing around. Even though he didn’t come close to finishing it, he still ate more than what he normally did.

The alcohol from before and the sweet wine during their meal was certainly helping him stay warm from the inside out. For once his dining table had others sitting there as well.

He felt momentary fulfillment, knowing that it would be taken away soon enough. He would shamelessly cling to the fleeting situation until coldness moved itself back into his life and love ceased to exist.

All parties were finished with their dinner and dessert and they started to stand and move around a bit. The windows on the far side of the room showed that the sun was setting and Leonor walked towards them.

She was feeling so warm she almost forgot it was late autumn until she saw how early the sun was setting and reality set in. Thoughts of the winter she imagined returned for a moment. It would be even less possible in the palace.

How were they supposed to sit around with books near a fireplace if Desmond was going to be so busy with the war meetings?

Her blue eyes never stopped moving as they slowly moved over the garden and the large city that existed outside of the walls and gate that separated the Royals from the rest.

Desmond lightly cleared his throat before placing a hand on his wife’s waist so she wouldn’t jump at the sudden contact.

"Shall we go explore the Queen’s Palace?" he asked.

She turned to him and smiled instantly.

"Yes, please."

Her response fell from her lips easily.

As ridiculous as she felt, she wanted to go somewhere alone with Desmond as if they didn’t spend all their time with one another. After missing him for so long it was like her body was miserable without him each time they were apart from then on.

The ducal couple excused themselves and a maid showed them to the Queen’s palace.

Meanwhile, Quinn bowed and bid Stephano a quick goodnight.

However, as the mage turned to escape to the mage’s area once again, he was stopped by a warm hand on his shoulder.

"Won’t you talk to me for a moment longer?" Stephano asked.

Quinn shrank away from the touch and turned towards the King, horrified at the contact.

The reaction caused Stephano to pull his hand away immediately. He felt ashamed.

"Never mind," the King relented quietly even though something ached within him to be left behind by someone he considered himself close to beyond the bounds of their professional relationship.

"I have work to do." Quinn excused himself quickly.

"Of course," Stephano whispered, though he was certain the mage didn’t hear it.

Warmth was chased out. The hollowness returned and he returned to his room alone as he always did.