THE Knight's Hidden Princess
Chapter 78: Nonchalant Knight

Chapter 78: Nonchalant Knight

I reached forward and grabbed the big piece of leg of chicken and then without any thought, I bit right into it. For some reason everything tasted exceptionally delicious today. The flavors lingered on my tongue like I had been starving for months. The succulent meat, perfectly seasoned, melts in my mouth. Despite the fact that I wasn’t alone and I could feel eyes on me, I just didn’t care and continued to eat.

I was just about to reach for another piece when Heather cleared her throat. I halted casting her a sideway glance but I turned only to see her motion her head to the family watching me. Swallowing the last bite of chicken, I carefully set the bone back on my plate, my cheeks burning a little.

I dared a glance up only to see Marina and Celeste staring at me with disapproving smiles while Miguel and Adrianna chose to whisper while casting glances with smiles on their face. Clearing my throat, I decided to glance back at Reagan who raised his eyebrows up in a humorous manner as he swirled the wine in his goblet. Everyone seemed puzzled by my display but most of all Reagan who continued to stare at me with that same intense look in his gaze.

Swallowing, I set my cutleries down on the table, I lowered my head. "My apologies, I was just a bit famished. It’s been long I’ve tasted something so good." I whispered softly while dabbing my mouth with a napkin Heather had handed me.

"Is that why you decided to eat like a pig? You are a princess for crying out loud and yet they couldn’t tech you common table manners?" Celeste asked me.

I turned to smile at me, "Oh well what can I say? It seems the heir I’m carrying wants to be just as strong and healthy like his father." I say my gaze resting on Reagan, "I think his appetite takes after yours husband and you would know a woman eats very well when she’s pregnant just like you are yourself." My tone was light and teasing as I turned the conversation to Celeste whose gaze had now hardened.

Marina cleared her throat before she reached for her goblet. "That may be so." She said, her voice was calm but there was also a dangerous edge to his tone, "But even strength and health should be accompanied by grace and grace, but you don’t you think? And you dear, do not seem to be able to possess them at all, even the smallest bit of respect. Does that mean you’ve forgotten about our lesson?"

A squeak sounded from my left and I didn’t need to look twice to know it was Heather. My hands gripped the cutleries I was holding tighter till my knuckles turned white but I refused to let Marina see just how much her words affected me, I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction even if that’s what she was looking for.

"But of course my lady." I said reaching for my cup of water, "Your lessons are usually quite memorable, how could I ever forget it?"

"Good." Marina said with a pleased smile on her face.

I kept my head down while trying to ignore the ache in my back. I decided to eat carefully now, my appetite has already been ruined so there was no point in wolfing down the food anymore.

"Wife, when you are done, I need to see you in my study!" Reagan announced suddenly.

A silence descended in the room and everyone turned to look at Reagan who just continued to eat, oblivious to the change in the tense atmosphere. My fork stopped mid air when I heard his words to me and my heart skipped a beat as I stared at him but he wouldn’t meet my gaze.

"Actually my lord," Celeste discussed as she leaned forward, "I would have done things to discuss with you as well, perhaps its best we discuss_"

Reagan’s cold gaze rose up to land on Celeste causing her to rumble on her words.

"I guess I’ll see you another time then." She mumbled and went back to eating.

I couldn’t stop the ghost of smile that formed on my lips as I watched Celeste shrink back in her seat under Reagan’s cold gaze. No one said anything after that, we all just continued eating in silence.

I tried to think of what prompted Reagan to request to see me in the study. I haven’t done anything to prompt a private discussion, not like I had a chance to since his mother and Madam Heidi had taught me a lesson that rendered me bedridden.

Maybe he had decided it was time to hear me out after all. Maybe I could finally explain myself to him and hope that he understands me! I thought to myself as my gaze rose back to Reagan.

Perhaps just maybe there’s a way we can get past this!

***

I stopped in front of the door. My whole body was filled with a mixture of hope and anxiety. I had waited for this moment for an extended period because I wanted to unite our separation by telling him everything so there would be no secret between us.

But as much as I wish that Reagan had summoned me so we could talk things out, a small voice within my mind contradicted my wish that Reagan had summoned me to listen because I sensed a different purpose behind the meeting. The dinner table atmosphere revealed no willingness from him to share himself because he remained secretive and withdrawn throughout the night.

Drawing in a deep breath, I straightened my back and raised my hands up to knock. I had waited so long to get this opportunity so I wasn’t going to let it slip away.

"Come in!" A deep voice called out from inside.

I carefully pushed the door before entering the study. The study received minimal lighting from the fireplace which created shifting candlelight while bookshelves ran along the walls. Reagan stood right by the window, his back facing me, one hand rested on the window sill while another held a goblet of wine.

He had been drinking? I thought to myself as I stared at the bottle of wine on the table then back up at him.

His presence by the window made my stomach tighten with fear while he remained there showing both calmness and distance. His voice cut through the air as he spoke, not even bothering to look at me.

"I’ll be going for another campaign soon!" Reagan announced suddenly, "I’ll be gone for weeks, months even, so do well to behave in my absence."

I frowned at his back, not sure why he was telling me but still I waited for more information. Reagan didn’t say anything else which puzzled me greatly.

I stared at him for a minute, then scoffed. "Is that it?"

"Yes, you can leave!" Reagan said without looking at me.

I scoffed again. "Is that all you are going to say to me?"

Reagan turned slowly to look at me. "Yes." He said, "Were you expecting something else?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Expecting something else?" I repeated, my tone laced with disbelief. "Reagan, you summoned me here. You told me you’re leaving for a campaign, and then you dismiss me like I’m a servant? What exactly was the point of this conversation?"

Reagan’s expression remained impassive, his face like a stone wall that revealed nothing. "I thought it was my duty to inform you," he said flatly. "You are my wife, after all."

"Inform me?" I said, my voice rising slightly. "Informing me would have meant sitting me down, explaining the situation, maybe even asking how I feel about it. This—" I gestured between us, "—isn’t informing me. It’s brushing me aside like I’m an afterthought!"

His gaze hardened, and he set his goblet down with a sharp clink on the windowsill. "What do you want me to say, wife?" he asked, his voice colder now. "That I’ll miss you? That I’ll think of you while I’m out there fighting for this family? Do you want me to promise I’ll return and we’ll live happily ever after? Because I don’t have the luxury for those kinds of sentiments. Especially for someone like you!"

I staggered backwards before I let out a dry laugh in response. "Wow!" I scoffed before I glanced up at him, "Is that all you think of me? You are not going to ask how I’ve been? Where I’ve been? Heck Reagan you are not going to ask me how the baby is doing?"

"How is the baby doing?" Reagan asked with a nonchalant look on his face and that made me lose it immediately.

"You know what? Fuck you Reagan!" I yelled at him, "Screw you! Screw you and your stupid attitude! I have been through hell these past days Reagan, I’ve been in serious pain and your mother_" I immediately swallowed my words before I went too far but Reagan caught it

His brows furrowed as he cocked his head to the side, "My mother? What do you mean?"

I bit my lip, contemplating on whether or not to tell him. But he already claimed he didn’t care about me, so I guess there was no use!

Swallowing, I bowed my head at him. "Have a safe trip my lord, I’ll pray for your safe return!" I said and turned and fled the study before I did something stupid like cry in front of him.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.