"No, no." Christine pointed to the flowers. "I said that I wanted those to be red roses, not blue or whatever that color is."
"It's white, Your Majesty." The servant corrected her.
"Yes," She almost blushed at her mistake. "Well please just correct it."
He nodded and went about to do so. Christine took in a deep breath. The festival was coming to be very close and she was beginning to worry. Erik had put her in charge of decorations. Honestly she was not good at decorating and constantly wondered what was going on.
"Majesty?"
"Viscount." She smiled. "I did not know you were staying for the festival."
"Well." He smiled back, putting all his boyish charm into it. "I must admit that music holds a weak point for me."
"I did not know you held such interest." A brow lifted.
"Oh I do." His shoulders shrugged. "To be quite honest, Majesty, music is well…"
"You don't understand it do you?" She shook her head, smiling and turned away to look at more items for the patterns.
"Not one bit." De Chagny came up behind her. "I do find it fascinating, though."
"Really?" Her head turned and realized how close they actually were.
"But not as fascinating as you." He brought his hand up to touch her cheek.
"Viscount." Christine backed away and looked down at the sound of her husband's voice. "The House will meet in five minutes."
"Thank you, sire." The Viscount nodded and left a longing kiss on Christine's hand. "I will see you at the festival."
"Perhaps." She said coldly. He walked away and her eyes met her husband's. Erik just left a heartless feeling inside her body as he walked away.
Not one look. Not one stare. Not one word. Christine was going to go insane. Erik had not spoken to her since he saw her with the Viscount. She knew he was angry and he had good reason. Desperately she tried to speak with him before the festival but now here she was listening to music from her throne sitting next to the man who was refusing to talk to her.
"The music is beautiful." She whispered stealing a side glance of him. He didn't answer. "You are going to have to speak to me eventually." No answer. "You are acting like a child! We can have a civilized conversation but you chose not to."
"I choose freely." His voice was low.
"I understand why you are upset with me." Christine said slowly. "But nothing happened."
"It is not my business what you do with you're…"
"You are my husband!" She glared. "Of course it is your business! And nothing happened, nor is anything going to happen!"
"You cannot promise that." He countered.
"Neither can you." Her eyes shifted to him. "But I will do everything in my power for nothing to happen." Their eyes met.
"You give your power lightly then?"
"I would never." She turned to him. "Beside, as you said before the Viscount is too heavily involved with his own existence to be of any real interest to me."
"Real interest?" His brow lifted.
"Well." Her shoulders shrugged. "Any interest."
Christine sat on a bench taking the book in front of her. Well is seemed she was but her mind was elsewhere. Last night and that one day at the beach and… well every memory that held Erik in it. He was fascinating to her. And yet she did not understand why his very presences sent her heart pounding. And very often she found herself wondering what his lips really tasted like. Yes they kissed at the wedding but that was nothing, just a quick peck, now more than once a day she wanted to grab him and see what a real kiss of his would be like.
The man himself was amazing. A king, musician, father, painter and a total mystery to her. Perhaps it was the mask, no because he was so much more than that! Even though it was a mind full why he wore it.
"Your Highness."
"Viscount!" She looked at him. "I did not see you there."
"I can tell." He smiled. "I'm sorry; did I intrude on your reading?"
"Oh," Christine looked at the book in her hands. "Yes, but it was not that interesting. Did you need something, Viscount?"
"Call me Raoul."
"Did you need something, Raoul?"
"Just the enjoyment of your company." He sat down beside her. "I am afraid I missed you last night."
"Oh yes." She nodded. "Did you enjoy it?"
"The music was beautiful." His eyes went to hers. "But I can think of something much more beautiful than the music…"
"I am glad you enjoyed the music." Ignoring the statement she went on. "Are you staying with us longer?"
"I'm afraid I have to leave in the morning." He said. "You should come to Plantne."
"We will visit sometime." She got up but he pulled her down. "Viscount…."
"No I mean with me."
"Are you mad?" Christine glared.
"You couldn't possibly want to stay here!" He squeezed her hands. "You are far too beautiful to stay with a creature like that! You deserve to be treated like the beauty you are!"
"My husband is not a creature!" She tried to pull her hands away.
"But you are suppressed!" Raoul declared.
"And I wouldn't be in Plantne?" He eyes held his. "You say I am a beauty and I need to be treated as such but how would that be? Would I be paraded around? Shown off on your arm? Would I be able to speak my mind? For your information I am treated fairly by my husband and he respects me and my opinions! You could never do that!"
"You want to stay with that freak?"
"He is not a freak!" She shouted. "He is a man. He is a man full of compassion, devotion, and talents that you are in direr need of sir!"
"I can give you everything!"
"You lack the thing I need most!"
"I will give it to you whatever it is!"
"Christine!" The king's voice was heard in the distance. Christine tried to shout back but was pulled in for an unwanted kiss.
"Christine…" She pulled away and looked behind her at Erik.
I ama bad updater... I am soooooooooo sorry! No one should have to wait that long for a chapter but the next one may be a little wait... not a long one! but a little one. So please review because this is kind of an exciting chapter! Thanks!
EV Oleander
