Tangled By Fate

Seeing that Veronica was all prepared when he turned his back for a few seconds, Arthur hid his laughter.

'Did she think I would jump her if I saw her naked? Hmm? I think I would,' he considered. 

Without a word, he bent down and tightened the rope around her waist. 

After he was done, she took off her top and wore the shirt. Her actions were so swift that in the blink of an eye, she changed her top.

Arthur was marveled noticing how careful she was around him. 

'Was I being too hard on her?' he wondered.

His emotions ran deep when it came to her. Therefore, he noted everything, even her little actions, and reactions. 

He did his best to figure out the reason behind her every action.

If he couldn't figure out the cause, he would ask her directly. 

In any case, even if she was cautious around him, he couldn't easily stop teasing her with his words and actions. 

Even if he could, he wouldn't.

He just loved teasing her and he didn't want to change it no matter what.

Veronica noted that her husband was deep in thought. She tugged his sleeve and probed him, "Let's go. I'm hungry."

Arthur discreetly smiled at her. "Sure."

By the time they went downstairs, Darius had already finished bathing. 

He saw the couple and urged them, "Hurry up before the food turns cold."

As they started eating, Arthur disclosed what he found out when he went to buy food.

"Blessed child with silver hair? Another blessed child?" Darius gaped at him.

Then, he turned toward Veronica. "Do you have a twin? Why didn't you say so?"

"I don't. I'm as surprised as you are," Veronica told him.

Others became quiet. They weren't expecting to hear any news of the blessed child when Veronica was right beside them.

"Is this a trap?" Ironin finally opened his mouth. 

Arthur shook his head. "I think it is possible too but we can't say for sure. We have to find that blessed child first."

Veronica started, "If I ask the Head Priest…"

"Not now. I don't think it will be a good idea for you to meet him," Zinnia said.

"Zinnia is right. We shouldn't rush," Darius admitted. "We are already here. Let's take it slow. We need to be aware of our surroundings."

"The woman showed up right after Lord Alexander was killed by Felix. Felix didn't know or he would have informed us. But, what were his men doing? Couldn't they inform us?"

Darius showed his displeasure.

"The Saint didn't tell me anything about the newfound blessed child. She could say that a new blessed child was found and so they don't need me anymore. But she didn't. Rather, she told me that she would take care of everything. Why did she do that?"

Veronica was confused. She had so many questions that needed to be answered.

However, she already parted with Saint Ava after that argument. She didn't want to go back and face her. She was still mad at her.

Zinnia shrugged. "Maybe she didn't think it was important."

"If it wasn't important, then she didn't care. Isn't that right?" 

Darius bit a huge chunk of bread and chewed on it.

"If she didn't care, does that mean this blessed child is fake?" Ironin glanced at Arthur.

Arthur frowned. "There is a possibility. Maybe the king didn't want others to think that the blessed child was killed by the evil Lord Alexander."

"Balance and harmony," Veronica mumbled.

She looked at her husband. "What should we do?"

Arthur suggested, "Why don't we wait for a while and try understanding the whole situation? You can work in the library or read books as much as you want till then."

Veronica hesitated before nodding. "All right, I will do that."

It's true that she liked reading books, but currently, her focus was on getting justice for those innocent children. Her heart broke whenever she thought about it.

After having their dinner, Darius went out to gather some information. Ironin went out for the first watch.

Zinnia laid down on the couch. She fell asleep the moment her back touched the softness.

"She must be tired." Veronica covered her body with a thin blanket.

"She can't stand cold weather," Arthur told her.

Veronica gasped. "I didn't know. She didn't complain like Darius. I thought she liked winter. It must be hard for her. 

"Weather here is always cold no matter what the season is. In summer, this town is a bit warm."

Arthur took her arm. "Don't worry about them. They are used to different temperatures. Let's go to bed. You are limping."

"You noticed…" Veronica was ashamed. 

She didn't want to show him her vulnerable side. She was also frozen in front of him in the mountains. 

She hated the pained expression he showed at that time. She didn't want to see that again. 

That's when she promised not to show her weakness in front of him.

"Of course, I would notice," saying that he bent down and held her back and the back of her thighs. 

"Wait!" Veronica gasped when her vision suddenly spun. In a second, she was being carried by him like a princess.

Her arms wound around his neck. "Don't scare me like this," she complained.

"Aren't I with you? You have nothing to fear." 

Afterward, Arthur took her to the bed. He placed her down and then crouched in front of her. Then, he carefully took off her shoes.

"Ouch!" Veronica flinched.

Her feet were red due to walking too long. They were swollen to the point they were painful. 

Arthur's expression darkened. "I'll get the ointment. Wait here."

Veronica stole a glance at him. His expression was somber. 

'Is he mad? Did I do something wrong?' she pondered.

Arthur brought a bottle of ointment. When he applied it on her feet, she felt cool touches in her injuries. It reduced the pain.

Veronica relaxed when she felt better. She let him bandage her legs. 

Her eyes once again wandered to his side profile.

"Arthur, what's wrong?"