Conquering His Cold Heart
Chapter 469 - 469: Distant

The next morning, Anastasia woke up at her usual time. She stretched her arms and when she tried to fully open her eyes, she found herself unable to do so. Her lashes were sticking together.

'Was I crying in my sleep?' she wondered while rubbing her eyes and making another attempt to open her eyes.

Her eyelids felt heavier. 'My eyes are swollen, aren't they?' she questioned herself and then slipped down from the bed.

She walked over to the dressing table and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes indeed looked swollen. Her gaze slowly trailed to her cheeks and then to her lips. Her fingertips were following her gaze.

'Oh, I look terrible…' she sighed.

"Good morning, Your Majesty."

Anastasia looked at the mirror and saw Martha standing at her door.

She quickly turned around and gave a nod to Martha. "Good morning. Did you stay here for the whole night?" she asked when she saw Martha gently massaging her shoulder.

"Yes." Martha quickly straightened up and answered, "I was in the antechamber, in case if you needed something at night."

"Oh, I would have been fine, Martha. You didn't need to trouble yourself." Anastasia mumbled sadly after realizing how she was affecting everyone around her.

Martha smiled and politely replied, "It is a part of my job. There's nothing troubling about it."

Sensing the compassionate Queen's sadness, she quickly changed the topic, "Shall I prepare the bath for you, Your Majesty? And what would you like to have for your breakfast?"

"Anything is fine as long as it's easy to swallow." Anastasia went back to her bed and said while getting inside the blanket again, "And yes, run the bath for me."

She then picked up the book that was by her bedside. Without wasting another second, she turned to the page with the marker and resumed reading in a hasty manner. It almost looked as though she was trying to finish reading the book as soon as possible.

Martha and Holly were running past the bedchamber every now and then while carrying the buckets of warm water and preparing a fresh set of clothes for the Queen to wear.

Soon, they helped Anastasia take the bath and even rubbed aromatic oils on her face and body to help her skin regain its glow.

Anastasia appreciated their efforts but she knew that her skin would inevitably lose all its charm in no time.

After getting dressed in a flattering gown, she was presented with a warm bowl of mushroom soup. The mushrooms were diced into fine pieces, which she appreciated. She could just pinch her nose and gulp it down without chewing much.

When she was done eating, she placed the bowl down on the tray and then asked Holly who was patiently waiting by her side, "Has the King said anything about… me? Are there any rumors going on in the castle?"

She wanted to know if Caspian was planning something, maybe some sort of punishment, or a war, or something like that.

Holly didn't really know why the Queen was suddenly interested in rumors but she replied anyway, "There are no such rumors that are worth reporting to you. And regarding the King, I haven't heard anything from him as well. It has been days since I last saw him."

Anastasia let out a sigh of disappointment.

Holly picked up the tray from the bed and asked the Queen before leaving, "Is there anything else that you need right now?"

Anastasia shook her head and opened her book again. However, she could barely focus on the story. Her own life was becoming more and more complex.

She wanted to have another civil talk with Caspian. But it seemed like he didn't want to. She would have gone to see Caspian herself. However, the way Caspian shouted at her and threatened to have her dragged out of his room was still fresh in her mind. She didn't dare to provoke him again.

Anastasia tried once more to focus on the book instead of letting her mind be the playhouse of the devil. But it was not that easy to not fall victim to negative thoughts when nothing was going well.

She slammed the book close and placed it on the bedside table again. She then got out of her bed and briskly walked towards the main door of her chamber.

She knocked on the door and ordered without bothering to open the door, "John, prepare the carriage for me, please. I wish to visit the Warmane Mansion."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Anastasia heard a set of footsteps walking away.

She then impatiently began to walk back and forth in the antechamber while waiting for her guards to arrange for her travel.

After quite a while, she heard footsteps approaching her door once more. She stopped while facing the door and waited for her guards to open it.

The door creaked open in no time.

However, it was not whom she expected to see.

"Er… C-Caspian?" She drew in a sharp breath when she saw her husband standing before her while still wearing his bedrobe, gawking at her with a sharp frown between his brows.

"Anastasia."

He kept on standing still while staring at her, without uttering another word.

"Um… Are you doing well?" Anastasia asked just to break the awkward silence in the room.

"Well." Caspian scoffed and answered in his hoarse morning voice, "That's the last thing that I am doing."

Anastasia's face immediately darkened. She looked down at the hem of her gown and reprimanded herself in her head, 'Why would you even ask that after hurting him so much?'

"Um… Caspian… I am–"

She was about to apologize to him when he abruptly interfered her.

"Why do you have to go to the Warmane Mansion?"

Anastasia felt a hint of hostility from Caspian when he asked that.

She thought that Caspian was angry because he now considered her as a prisoner and didn't want her to roam around freely when in reality, Caspian was worried that she would ruin her health further if she rode the carriage on the rough road.

Anastasia gulped dryly and then looked up to see Caspian frowning even more. He was looking at her through his brows which sent shivers down her spine. It only helped to prove her suspicion that he was mad-angry at her.

She licked her dry lips and asked nervously, "D-Do you not want me to go?"

Caspian uncomfortably rubbed his forehead when he saw how nervous she looked. It was clear that she was afraid of him.

"No!" he exclaimed and quickly added, "I mean if you can handle the travel then sure, go ahead."

Anastasia pressed her lips into a thin line and stretched it to give the impression that she was smiling. "Thank you!" she whispered.

Caspian drew in a deep breath and said in a concerned voice, "I will have more guards accompany you. For safety reasons."

Anastasia nodded her head in response.

As if on cue, John knocked on the open door and informed Anastasia, "Your Majesty, the carriage is ready."

Anastasia tore her gaze from Caspian and looked at John. "I'm coming."

She quickly looked back at Caspian and maintained the gaze. She was hoping that he had something more to say to her. A question, perhaps? But unfortunately, it didn't seem like Caspian had anything more to say.

So, she cleared her throat and softly said, "I will get going then."

To Anastasia's disappointment, Caspian didn't say a word in response.

He just stood there while maintaining a poker face.

Although Caspian was standing right before her eyes, Anastasia couldn't help but feel the distance between them. She didn't want to keep on standing in front of him and continue being sore in his eyes.

Thus, deciding to leave, she slightly lifted her gown from the sides so that she could walk without tripping and then strode towards the door.

She had only taken a few steps and passed by Caspian's side when she suddenly felt a tug on her wrist.

She instantly stopped on her track and took a deep breath through her mouth after feeling that cold and gentle touch that she was longing so much.

Her heart began to race at an unprecedented rate when she finally heard Caspian's voice from behind.

"Anna, do you have a moment to spare?"