Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 190: Comforting

Chapter 190: Comforting

Ara stared at the physician’s back as he raced out of the room before she shifted her gaze to Hamon with her forehead slightly creased, "I thought you had some work to do?" She asked.

"Not anymore."

Before Ara could ask if he had finished the work he was called for earlier, Oliver peeped in his head from the door where the physician had just left it open, "Your Highness, may I come in?" He asked with an awkward smile.

Hamon glanced sideways at Oliver standing at the entrance already with some pile of parchment papers in hand, "Why ask when you are already inside."

Oliver strode towards Hamon and bowed at Ara in greeting, before he handed the parchment papers to Hamon, "Um...Your Highness, You haven’t checked these ones earlier, they are the important ones requesting for your approval, they need your signature. If you could please spare some minutes to look at them..."

Ara watched the pair, the same thing had happened yesterday, Ara thought. She’d seen how Hamon refused to get separated from her, and Oliver would often bring his work to him in the room.

Hamon gave a furtive glance towards Ara, before taking the parchment papers to the desk he’d arranged in their chamber two days ago. He skimmed through the papers before he began to sign some of them with the ink, after he was done, he gave them back to Oliver, "I’ve approved the ones I see fit, and they can be processed. The ones I refuse have no use to this kingdom."

"I understand, Your Highness. But I think it would be better if you explain it to the royal councilmen yourself why you think it’s no use to Findara... "

Ara just quietly watched them as Hamon explained somethings to Oliver. She knew these days, were the times Hamon had to work hard in place of the king, however, she wouldn’t want to be the reason to neglect his work and keep him in the room when he had things to do,

"Hamon...I feel much better now, you can go and finish your work."

Oliver quickly nodded in agreement as he glanced at Hamon, but Hamon immediately refused as if her suggestion was not worth considering,

"No, am staying."

"Hamon, but the physician said I can move around and do things by myself, besides, I feel better now, I’ve been awake for week_"

Hamon’s red eyes flashed dangerously, "You think you are better? You wouldn’t ask me to leave your side for a second if you knew the heck I experienced during this past week you were unconscious. I am not going to attend to any affairs yet, until I am satisfied with your recovery myself." He stated firmly not giving any rooms for argument.

Ara was a bit taken aback with the tone of desperation in his voice. It made her slid her lips shut, she decided not to say anything anymore. Hamon continued to explain to Oliver, and so she watched them. Hamon hadn’t said anything about who sent those assassins after them that night, nor did he tell her how he intended to punish them, because he said her only job as a patient was to rest in bed, but now she was concerned if it was alright to let him stay with her in the room until she recovered completely. Not that she minded him being there but_

KNOCK

The soft knock on the door broke Ara out of her thoughts, she glanced towards the door and was contemplating whether she should try to go and open it to not bother Hamon and Oliver, but Hamon had already stood up to go and get it himself.

Standing outside was a maid with a tray of food in hand, she looked frightened seeing it was the crown Prince who opened the door instead, "Your Highness...I-I brought her highness’s meals..."

Hamon glanced down at the tray then extended his hand, "I’ll take it from here." He closed the door and returned to Ara’s bedside instead of his desk. He often fed her, insisting that too many people coming in and out of the room would disturb her rest. And Ara never refused, just like now, she watched as he blew the bowl of hot porridge and said to Oliver without even looking at him,

"Scram."

Oliver knew he was talking to him, so he quickly bowed, "Yes, Your Highness." He turned towards Ara as well, "Get well soon, Your Highness."

"Thank you." She said.

After that, Oliver took and parchment papers and left the room. Hamon continued to blow at the hot porridge, with heat steam radiating from the bowl. When he was sure it wasn’t that hot anymore, he scooped up a spoonful and held it out to Ara’s mouth, "It’s a bit hot, be careful." She opened her mouth and took it, but her face was quick to turn crimson, she then held her hand out to take the spoon, "I can eat by myself now."

She hadn’t felt embarrassed letting him feed her for the past few days because she hadn’t been able to even hold a spoon properly, but now, she could and it was embarrassing eating from his hand when she could feed herself. Moreover she didn’t want to burden him...

Noticing her flushed face, Hamon chuckled softly, "I know you can eat by yourself, but I enjoy feeding you myself."

"...!" Ara had never considered that before, she’d thought she was a burden, but he enjoyed doing so?

Hamon scooped another spoonful and held it out to her mouth again, she carefully opened her mouth and took it. He was treating her like a little child. From a young age, it was always Ara who cared for her little sister, but nobody had cared to feed her...

Hamon observed Ara as she innocently ate every spoonful he fed her, he smiled, "You will empty this bowl of porridge this time, you need to eat more if you want to get better sooner."

She obediently nodded, "Yes I will." She said, then asked, "What about you, have you eaten yet?" He hadn’t yet regained his weight, she mused. He might have looked a little thinner, but he still looked as handsome as ever.

A smile played on his lips and he gently nodded, "Mhm, I have. Now eat up." He spoon-fed her until the bowl emptied completely. She ate as much as she could, knowing that he would begin to worry about her if she didn’t eat properly again. He set aside the bowl and even made her drink the glass of water from his hand, before carefully cleaning her mouth with a napkin.

Ara couldn’t help but smile happily, even this little routine had become precious to her. In contrast, however, Hamon’s expression turned subdued as his red eyes bored into hers,

"Ara...I thought I’d lost you this time forever. You scared the living being out of me..." His tone was laced with an emotion Ara couldn’t point out. The room’s atmosphere suddenly turned heavy, she then decided to inject some levity into it,

"Don’t worry, Hamon!" She then pointed to herself, "This person’s life can’t be taken away early. She is strong, even the heavens granted her a second chance, so how can she die again?" She wiggled her eyebrows, however, Hamon’s expression only grew more serious,

"Don’t ever try to risk your life for me again. Never, wife. And I mean it."

Ara frowned, "Why shouldn’t I? I am_"

"I won’t be able to handle the situation if it happens again, wife. So, please..."

Ara could tell he was deeply unhappy. He always hated it when she was in any sort of danger, but this time, he looked even more displeased and bothered. He really must have gone through a lot while she was unconscious. Even his face still looked haggard.

She sat up straighter and cupped Hamon’s face in both palms, their gaze locked onto each other, she used her thumb to gently caress his cheeks before softly saying, "Hamon, if it were me that was about to get hit by those arrows, wouldn’t you throw yourself to save me?"

"I wi_"

"You will right? Same for me, my body had moved the moment I saw that you were going to be hit...I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. You are special to me, more than anything now, because..." She took in a shuddering breath. She’d wanted to confess to him but that incident had happened.

"Hamon, I can’t watch you be in danger, because I love you..."

His eyes widened before his expression turned unreadable, she continued, "You know, if that was to happen again, I will not hesitate to risk my life for you, I would take those arrows all over again, for you. And this will forever remain the same, I will never turn away even if it means my death. You are my husband..."

Hamon’s expression ran through a gamut of emotions: sad, happy, angry, then happy again. She saw how he looked like he’d tear up, his red eyes glistened. Ara moved closer and embraced his larger body, she held him in a way where his head rested on her chest so she could stroke his back. She ran her hand up and down his back without a word to assure him. Even though there was still a little twinge of pain on her chest, but she bore through the pain to comfort him.

"I will always love you, Hamon." She whispered her heartfelt confession again.

Hamon buried himself deeper in her arms like a child seeking for comfort. To feel more comfortable, Ara slowly lay her back down on the bed with his head still resting on her chest, she heard him say,

"I’ve been angry at myself because you got in danger protecting me, wife, but then you suddenly give me this...I don’t know what to feel anymore, Ara..." He admitted, Ara stroked his back, "Were you that worried about me?"

"...I was more than worried, I lost my mind and went crazy. It was like hell..." He whispered softly, his voice vibrating on her chest, and that alone brought warmth to her heart, she slightly bent and pressed her lips on his head, "I am sorry for making you worry."

As if realizing she was wounded, without a word Hamon changed their position, he lay on his side and drew her body to his then buried his head in the crook of her neck. Ara hugged him and continue to gently pat his back, and so he relaxed and closed his eyes, her scent alone was enough to soothe his mind.

However, even though Hamon closed his eyes, his mind was running through different thoughts. The moment he saw how she died in his arms, his anger had almost led him to destroy the whole world. Thanks to the stone of Helga, she’d been returned to him. But if something like that should happen again, he would have no other way to bring her back.

After Ara came back to life, he had vowed to himself to do whatever he could to make sure she would never leave him again. He had been angry and even hated himself for letting this happen to her, but strangely enough, when he heard her confession again clearly this time...He felt as happy as a fool. He almost wished that Ara was a vulnerable woman who would always rely on him for anything.

But his wife was not such a woman, she wouldn’t remain quiet in his arms where he could keep her away from any danger. The woman he fell in love with was far too strong for all that. But her confession that she would never leave him alone in such situation was utterly crazy...

’I have to make sure this same situation won’t repeat itself again!’

Hamon’s closed eyelids suddenly flew open, his icy-cold red orbs now had some glow in them. ’...it’s time I take the throne, I have to be king as soon as possible.’

There was only one way to protect his wife, who would continue to risk her life for him. He had to get rid of all the dangers that threatened them. All of them.

Whatever it may cost!