Married To The Billionaire Alpha King-Chapter 21 - in your way

21

~Elara’s POV

I watched Darlon leave the room, his steps silent but firm. I tried to remember what had happened last night, my head still fuzzy from the wine. Did I say something stupid? Did I spill anything? Did I make a fool of myself? I pressed my hands to my face and shook my head. "Please... please, I didn’t do anything wrong," I whispered to myself, more like a prayer than anything else.

The quiet was broken by a soft knock on the door. I blinked, startled, and whispered, "Who is it?"

"It’s me, Your Majesty," came Lydia’s calm, professional voice from the other side.

I hurriedly tried to sit up straighter, smoothing my hair with shaking hands. "Come in," I managed to say.

The door opened gently, and Lydia stepped in carrying a tray. The smell of the soup hit me immediately, warm, herby, and comforting, like it was meant to chase away all the remnants of last night’s chaos. She bowed slightly. "Good morning, Your Majesty. I’ve brought your hangover soup. Breakfast is ready whenever you are."

I nodded, trying to bow back gracefully, even though I was still half-dazed. "Thank you, Lydia."

She placed the tray carefully on the table near the bed, bowing again before slipping out silently. I exhaled, relief washing over me. I picked up the bowl, feeling the warmth seep into my fingers, and quickly changed out of the dress I had worn last night. The tight fabric had been suffocating, and I didn’t want to keep Darlon waiting for breakfast.

Once I changed, I carried the tray to the dining area. The house was quiet, the morning sun spilling through the tall windows and illuminating the polished floors. As I stepped in, all the maids bent in greeting, and I returned their bows with a shy smile.

I spotted Darlon immediately. He was at the large dining table, hunched over his system, fingers flying across the keys. His brows were furrowed, eyes narrowed, and the tension in his jaw made my stomach tighten. He didn’t notice me at first. I paused, wondering if my presence irritated him. My fingers tightened around the tray. Maybe I should take my breakfast back to my room...

Just as I made to turn, Darlon’s head lifted. His piercing gaze found me, and he pushed his laptop slightly to the side, a small crease forming between his brows. "Sit," he said, his voice low but commanding. "We’ll eat here."

I nodded, placing the tray in front of me, and slid into the chair across from him. I lifted the spoon hesitantly, taking in the food spread before me. It wasn’t bread again, thankfully. The tray had a colorful, balanced breakfast: a bowl of creamy oatmeal topped with fresh berries, scrambled eggs with herbs, lightly steamed vegetables, a small serving of grilled fish, and a glass of water. I started picking carefully, avoiding the dishes with fats.

Darlon’s eyes followed me, sharp and observant. "You’re not eating," he said, raising a brow.

I bit my lip, feeling a blush creep up. "I... I’m...." I murmured.

Before I could say more, he reached over, gently sliding some of the skipped food onto my plate. "Eat this."

I blinked at him, then nodded. "You’re right," I said softly. "I do need it."

I dug in, shoving the food into my mouth faster than I should have. My throat constricted, and I nearly choked. Darlon’s hand shot out with a glass of water, pressing it gently to my lips. "Slow down," he said softly. "No rushing. You’ll make yourself sick."

I swallowed carefully, taking a grateful sip. "Thanks," I murmured.

He nodded, turning his attention back to his system, fingers moving over the keyboard again. I glanced at the screen and cleared my throat, curiosity bubbling up. "What’s going on?" I asked, tilting my head.

His eyes softened slightly, but there was still a hint of frustration. "This schedule... after our honeymoon. David sent it over, but it’s not clear to me yet."

I leaned closer, peering at the screen. "Can I take a look?" I asked cautiously.

He didn’t hesitate. "Yes. Here." He pushed the system toward me, and I began scrolling through the files, piecing together the appointments, meetings, and plans he had lined up.

As I worked, Darlon leaned back in his chair, watching me carefully. I made the schedule clear, organizing it by priority and noting which meetings could be postponed or delegated. Once I finished, I looked up at him. His expression had softened, his icy demeanor melting just slightly as he took in my work.

"This... this is perfect," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You’ve made it so much clearer. Thank you. I... really appreciate it."

I felt a flutter of pride and warmth. "I’m glad I could help," I said, smiling shyly.

I was glad that I could help.

He nodded, his eyes returning to the screen.

After a few quiet moments, he finally spoke, his voice low but curious. "So... now that breakfast is sorted, what do you want to do today?" His voice was calm, but it carried that quiet authority that always made my heart skip.

I froze, my spoon hovering mid-air. My mind felt like fog. I couldn’t think of anything, nothing. "I... I don’t know," I said softly, barely meeting his eyes. My voice sounded smaller than I wanted it to, like it might shatter in the air.

He leaned back slightly, studying me. "Nothing at all?" His tone wasn’t mocking, but I could feel the gentle tease underneath.

I shook my head, tugging at the sleeve of my shirt nervously. "I... I really don’t know," I admitted. My lips pressed together, afraid to say too much, afraid I might do or say something wrong.

He tapped his fingers on the table, thoughtful, and then his lips curved into a faint smirk. "How about we just... Netflix and chill? Keep it simple. Just you and me, nothing else to worry about."

I bit my lip, hesitating. My stomach twisted at the thought of spending hours with him, just the two of us, knowing how easily I got flustered around him.

"I... yeah... maybe that’s... okay," I whispered, voice small and cautious. I kept my eyes lowered to my plate, pretending to focus on my food so I wouldn’t have to meet his gaze.

He leaned back, satisfied, and motioned toward the door. "Perfect. I’ll leave the arrangements to the staff."

Almost immediately, the maids appeared in the doorway, carrying blankets, snacks, and adjusting the lounge slightly. I kept my head down, careful not to draw attention, letting them prepare the space. They moved quietly, respectfully, and left as quickly as they came, leaving just Darlon and me.

"You ready?" he asked, his voice soft, but it carried that calm certainty that always made me nervous.

I nodded quickly, ducking my gaze. "Y-Yeah... ready," I murmured, keeping my hands close to my body, spoon clutched tightly, as if holding it like a shield could protect me from my own fears.

He smirked faintly, his eyes softening just a little. "Good. Because I plan on making sure you enjoy this day... in your way."