Chapter 8

"Thank you, everyone. I appreciate your understanding and support in getting this project up and running. The restoration of the Veruze site is essential to our historical awareness." Jellal stood from his seat, and everyone else in the room did too.

After shaking a few hands and repeating thanks, he headed out of the meeting room, returning to his chambers. The meeting was for the restoration products, and his advisors had been working hard to organise labourers and tradesmen to assist with the rebuild. Still, they also needed to consult an architect and a few historians about the process to ensure they kept the site in its original state as much as possible. Dreyer had been at the meeting to consult with his historical expertise. They had talked about what supplies would be required and where they would get them from, Jellal insisting that they try to support smaller businesses as much as possible since so many of them had been affected in the storm and had suffered losses; some worse than others.

As he left the meeting room, he went through a mental checklist, worried that he was missing something. Surely everything was covered as a large group of people were working on this, but he wanted to be sure. He felt like something was slipping his mind today, and he just couldn't put his finger on it. Continuing his way towards his chamber, he racked his brain to figure it out, but nothing came to mind. It also probably didn't help that he had enough on his mind as it was.

Once inside his chamber, he closed the door behind him, removed his formal robes, and sat on the couch. He had some water and just allowed the couch to take his weight. He tried to relax his shoulders and jaw and closed his eyes. Someone knocked briefly before speaking to alert him to their presence. His senses hadn't dulled, so he knew they were there anyway. It was Briyana's footsteps and her knock. He had convinced Coco to take a few days off, and Briyana was filling in.

She was a bit younger than Coco, and a few years younger than himself, maybe 4 or 5 years. Briyana was a friend of Coco from when they were children, and they were still close friends and had asked to take her in just after he had become King, and Jellal was convinced that his show of kindness and no hesitation in accepting was what had endeared Coco to him so quickly. Her mother had finally passed away after being unwell for a long time, and Briyana's father had passed away when she was a young teenager. She was a brunette with straight hair, cut into a bob style with a fringe reaching just past her brow line. Her eyes were a deep brown, and she had a somewhat elegant look about her for someone so young, but her bright smiles always made her look her age.

Briyana opened the door to speak to him, and he didn't see it, but she gave him a soft smile. She could see he was tired, but it wasn't stopping him from working hard.

"Your Grace. Serana has arrived and is in the library. Shall I bring some tea and something to eat?" Her voice was soft, but it travelled well throughout the large room.

Remembering that it was Serana's visit that he had forgotten, he opened his eyes. He nodded in confirmation, giving her a brief smile as thanks before levering himself from his seat. Finishing his glass of water in a single gulp, he straightened his clothes and briefly looked at himself in the mirror before frowning at his appearance. Dark circles were under his eyes, and his hair, which usually stood straight up, was a bit flatter as it probably needed a good wash. It was growing longer, parts of it reaching his jaw, partly because he didn't mind it being longer and partly due to not bothering to get it cut. He didn't smell bad, thankfully, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to stay with Serana as long as he had last time since he would desperately need sleep.

When he arrived at the library, she stood and bowed with a big smile on her face the whole time. His smile matched hers, but he noticed that she raised an eyebrow for a fraction of a second.

"Good afternoon, Your Grace. Thank you for inviting me again. I promise I won't keep you for so long today. I'm sure you need some rest after being called away." She smirked as they both sat down at the table. He gathered that she had been taking in his appearance a second ago, and her words confirmed that she had noticed his tired state.

"Ah, yes. I had to assess a historical site that was supposed to be restored soon, but there was so much damage from the storm that we had to move it forward." Finally feeling like he could relax, he sat back in his chair and let his head loll backwards, so he was staring at the ceiling. "I think it's something you would appreciate. Maybe I can take you there after it's been restored." His comment was off-handed, but her voice made him second guess the intention behind it.

"Uhh, really?" Her tone was much more bashful and shy than he would have expected. "That would be awesome, thank you."

He lifted his head to look at her and saw that she might have been blushing, or maybe it was simply a trick of the light. Smiling big once more, he heard footsteps from just outside the door and the sound of a trolley. It was Briyana and someone from the kitchen, and they loaded up the table with drinks, small sandwiches, and a few cakes and pastries for them to enjoy. Not having a proper meal for dinner the night before and being too busy to eat much this morning, Jellal was hungrier than he expected and piled up his plate with food before devouring it as he caught up with Serana. She chatted about the job she went on, her first one by herself, and it was nice to hear her pride in her voice. They shared a pot of tea while they talked, and he eventually moved to the lounge and laid down with his head on the armrest, finding the wooden chairs too harsh on his back. He had been in a carriage for a grand total of 6 hours yesterday, and he wasn't keeping as fit as he would like, being so busy with administrative work. Usually, he would get to train with Sugarboy and Hughes occasionally, but he had been too flat out.

They continued their chat in a similar vein from last time, talking about Earthland, history, and their likes and dislikes, but eventually, Jellal couldn't stay awake any longer. He was lulled to sleep by the calming sound of Serana's voice, talking to him about a book series Elfman had recommended to her.

When she realised Jellal was asleep, she couldn't help but smile at his calm expression, finally relaxed after what must have been a busy week. He mentioned that he had most of tomorrow to rest, and she was pleased to hear it. He clearly needed a break. His eyes were dull, and there were dark circles under his eyes, showing that he probably wasn't well-hydrated or sleeping properly. Despite his being so exhausted, she was pleased that a King would work so hard for the good of his people that such self-sacrifice was freely given by a man in the highest position in Edolas. It was offered freely without complaint and without hesitation. Things were indeed improved than they were under Faust. Serana wondered if things being so different made Jellal so focused on doing the right thing, or possibly his experiences being an average person in Earthland. Since he hadn't been a Prince, or even nobility, or someone famous and important there, he would probably have led a life that an everyday person would, ensuring they had food, shelter and safety. Maybe this inspired him to work so hard to look after the working class and ensure the prosperity of Edolas to the benefit of all his subjects. Jellal hadn't told her much about his personal experiences in Earthland, but she could judge from how he spoke that he very much missed Earthland. Every time he regaled her with stories, there was a wistful look on his face, and occasionally she could hear a twinge of sadness in his voice, especially when talking about people in particular.

She watched him sleep for a few moments, glad he was getting some rest. However, she wasn't quite sure what she should do. Should she let him be and alert one of the staff that he was asleep and keep an eye on him, or was it okay for her to stay and wait for him to wake up? She could spend her time perusing the plentiful texts in the library if she stayed. A glance at the surrounding walls covered in texts made her decision quite a bit easier, and she stood up and walked carefully around, looking at the titles, authors and some of the incredibly ornate covers.

Dreyer appeared from behind a shelf, startling her, but he smiled and bowed in half-greeting, half-apology. The first time she came, he looked a little more brusque, but maybe he just took a while to warm up to people. Serana smiled and bowed back before he shuffled off in the opposite direction. Perhaps seeing how appreciative she was to be allowed in such a library had made him soften towards her.

There was an incredible historical text with information about a war that had happened several hundred years ago. It was someone's record of their theories, the evidence backed up with some artefacts and fragments of written documents. She carefully pulled it from the shelf and made a mental note of its location so she could return it later. Sitting back at the table and chairs, she opened the book, careful of the noise she was making so she didn't disturb the King's rest.

Every now and then, he would make a soft noise or shift in his sleep, and it would get her attention and make her wonder if he was waking up. When he settled afterwards, she would return to her reading, staying quiet, so she didn't rouse him. Briyana entered the library about an hour later to see if they wanted anything, such as more tea, water, or something else to eat. When Serana noticed her, she waved to get her attention, and Briyana came over to her side as she held a finger to her lips to signal her to keep quiet.

Serana gestured to the King, sleeping on the lounge nearby.

"He's been working very hard," Briyana said with a soft smile.

"I noticed he was tired when he first came in. It only took him an hour before he moved to the couch, and he nodded off quickly afterwards." Serana replied as they both watched him.

"I'm not surprised he's fallen asleep in your presence," Briyana whispered quietly and looked back at Serana, who stared back questioningly. "He's always more relaxed after your visits. He greatly enjoys your company."

"Oh."

Not sure what else to say, Serana glanced back towards the King and blinked slowly as she considered Briyana's words for a moment. The younger woman flicked her hair before giving her a smile and quietly packed some of the used plates from their afternoon tea, and left the library, leaving Serana in silence once again.

Still feeling a little confused but not unhappy, she went back to reading and didn't notice as another two and half hours passed. She also didn't notice Briyana check in two more times to see if the King had awoken but left again when she saw he was still asleep. It also escaped her when Jellal finally woke up, his eyes cracking open slowly, and he took a moment to get his bearings. He ended up facing outwards from the back of the lounge, arms crossed over his chest, and some of his hair falling over his face.

Figuring out that he was in the library, he also noticed that Serana was sitting at the table nearby, silently reading a hefty old tome. Recalling that they were sharing tea and something to eat, he couldn't remember moving to the couch and falling asleep, but he must have done it to end up there. He smiled at Serana's focused expression, her brows furrowed a little in concentration. His body screamed for him to get up, his bladder having plenty of time to fill from the earlier water and tea, and he knew he couldn't go back to sleep.

When he lifted himself off the couch with a groan, Serana's eyes snapped towards him, his movement and noise drawing her attention. He must have still been smiling, but he didn't notice until he felt his smile grow more prominent in response to Serana's expression relaxing when she looked at him.

"How did you sleep?" She asked him softly as she got up from her seat and approached him.

"Surprisingly well." His voice was raspy with lingering drowsiness, and he stretched his arms out to the sides with a soft noise in the back of his throat.

"I wasn't sure if I should stay while you were sleeping, but I was drawn in by the books," she said with a shrug and smirk.

"I'm glad you stayed. I wanted you to enjoy the library. That's why I invited you here."

He stood up, but his legs weren't quite ready to take his weight yet, and Serana reached out to help him before he fell back to the couch. Her instinctive action caused her to grab his right arm, and her other hand grasped his waist until he had steadied himself. Since his weight had teetered slightly, she had almost pressed against him to help him balance. Serana looked up at him with concern, and he stood fast for a moment. She stepped away quickly, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable, but he was quicker than her. His hands landed on her own just as she pulled them back to her sides and squeezed them softly for a moment.

"Thank you." He said softly, holding eye contact with a tender look in his eye before he let her go somewhat reluctantly before excusing himself to the bathroom.

Once she was alone again, she realised that her heart was thumping loudly in her chest. His voice, thick with sleep, ruffled hair, warm hands and kind eyes, had caused her to abruptly remember that he was a rather handsome man with whom she was suddenly in physical contact. She wasn't precisely clueless about men and dating, having had two previous relationships, but nothing too serious. Still, that moment had caused her heart to race and her hands clammy with nervousness. Although she would freely acknowledge and admit that she did find the King attractive, even more so with his somewhat eccentric hair colour and tattooed face, she was beginning to realise that wasn't all it was anymore. He was the kindest person she had ever met, and she felt they were kindred spirits, able to talk about anything and everything, with shared interests making it even easier to converse with him. They shared a similar worldview and morals and compatible ideals about many things.

It wasn't exactly a surprise to her when she had the epiphany about having feelings for him, but she wasn't quite sure what to do from here. It wasn't like they would have an excellent, easy relationship, marry, and live happily ever after. He was the fricking King of Edolas! Surely he had to marry some high-born woman and have kids to be the heir to the throne. As it would undoubtedly be a complicated situation, she decided quickly that she would just have to quash those feelings and move on. They would just have to remain friends and confidants.

As he returned to the library again, Serana was brought from her spiralling thoughts and noticed that she hadn't moved since he had excused himself a few minutes prior. Giving him a smile to hide her thoughts, she turned to face him and saw that he still looked exhausted.

"You should go and get some more sleep." Unable to stop caring, despite her momentary decision a few seconds ago, she didn't sit back down, intending to head back to the guild so he could rest without distraction.

"As much as I would like to continue spending time with you, I know you're right. May I walk you to the guild?" He offered, ever the gentleman.

"You may not. I, however, will walk you to your chambers." Her turn of phrase made him huff in amusement, and he nodded in agreement, hearing her resolute tone and knowing that she wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Shall we?" He gestured towards the door, and they strolled slowly towards his chambers but didn't talk. Serana hadn't seen this part of the palace, and she was too busy looking at everything.

It was a big place, and it took them a few minutes to reach their destination; Serana stared at the architecture, the artwork and portraits on the walls, and the suits of armour and weapons on display. Jellal kept his place slow to ensure she had a good chance to look at everything and also noted Briyana following them but keeping a respectful distance.

"I haven't taken you for a full palace tour, have I?" He spoke, breaking the silence between them as they turned left and reached the end of the hallway where his room was.

"No, that's fine. You've already been so kind as to allow me access to your library. I was very much enjoying the book about the 10-Year War and found it quite interesting. I find it incredible to read about something that happened so long ago but was recorded with quite a bit of detail. History is quite fascinating." She almost got carried away with her topic but kept his need for rest in mind.

"Maybe you should become a historian. I think you'd be very good at it." His suggestion was surprising but appreciated. It wasn't something she had considered before, and she would think about it.

"I'll keep that in mind." She responded with a smile and stepped back to bow.

Before she could complete the step back, his long legs closed the gap between him as he stepped forward, taking her by surprise. She glanced at his face, and he looked slightly strained but relaxed as he held eye contact with her for a moment.

"I wanted to thank you for today. I've been rather stressed, but talking with you calms me. I always feel like there is a weight off my shoulders after your visits, so thank you for that." His tone was serious but with a happy lilt.

"That's what friends are for. I'm happy to help." She responded with a grin.

He seemed to be considering something before he shifted his weight and leaned forward slightly, extending his arms towards her. She knew instantly that he would hug her, but he looked awkward at being the one to initiate it, so she made it a bit easier and hugged him first. His arms encircled her a moment later and held her tightly for a few seconds. She heard him breathe deeply and felt his chest expand with the breath before they released each other.

"Go and get some sleep. I'll see you soon, okay?" Serana stepped back, gave him a polite bow, and turned her heel to leave.

Jellal smiled at her concern and looked down the hall to Briyana, waiting with her back to them. When Serana got closer to her, Briyana glanced at him and gave him a nod, telling him that she would escort Serana out of the palace since she wouldn't know her way out from there.

He released a somewhat shaky sigh, feeling his heart race inside his chest. Serena's warmth was still on his clothes, and her scent of lavender and a hint of vanilla was still in the air around him. Even though he felt less stressed, he suddenly felt more emotionally aware as he considered that he was beginning to fall for Serana. His feelings for her were becoming more apparent, but he was unsure about his next step. Did he want a relationship with her? Did she want a relationship with him? He guessed he should ask her on a date and see how things progressed.

Being too tired to think about this further with a clear mind, he bathed and had something to eat before climbing into bed. It didn't take him long to fall into a deep slumber…