The Princess consort was startled upon looking at the state First Prince Kazimir was in.
His red hair was disheveled and his face was greasy. However the paleness and stress were much more apparent with his dark circles.
Kazimir just sat in the corner, not even bothering to turn his eyes towards the three people who invaded his room.
She immediately took her coat and draped it on her husband's head knowing that he woudn't want this sight to be seen by others.
The Princess Consort sighed, there was a trace of guilt and helplessness in her face. Her husband had taken a big blow recently and she herself was too timid to take on his wrath.
Seeing his state right now, her heart ached that she was not able to be by his side to comfort him and make him feel better. However, she knew that Kazimir would not appreciate her presence.
With their three years being married, she could feel that the Empress and her husband were not satisfied with her.
The last time she had a good talk with her husband was during the time that she was able to successfully give birth to their son. After that, they lived as if they were just cohabiting in the luxurious palace.
"Help me get him up." She commanded the two vice captains. Before she let herself drift into the struggles she had on her side, she had to take care of Kazimir first.
She let them carefully put Kazimir in the bathroom area first while she systematically ordered the servants to prepare his dinner and clean up his room.
She personally prepared the bath as she told the vice captains and servants, "Leave us be.."
As she knew that Kazimir wouldn't like his people seeing him in such a disgraceful appearance, she decided that she will be the one who would help him bathe and change clothes.
She looked at the lifeless looking Kazimir who was still absentmindedly sitting on the stool.
With her delicate hands, she tested the water's temperature and took some lavender flowers which scent could help calm down Kazimir's chaotic mood.
As Kazimir's body was stressed and fatigued, she did not introduce him to the bath water right away. Instead, she took some of it in a basin and placed a bath towel in.
She clumsily wrung the excess water in the bath towel and gently wiped Kazimir's face.
The Princess Consort pressed the fragrant warm towel on Kazimir's face with great care and affection, while Kazimir just sat like an obedient boy allowing her to take off his outer garments without much resistance.
This was the first time the princess consort served someone in her life, however she didn't mind if it was Kazimir.
Granted, they didn't marry because of love but because of political agenda. But as his wife she believed that it was her duty to look after him.
Besides, she could never forget that day, when his crystal blue eyes looked at her and announced, "I am choosing her."
He chose her first, the timid and sickly princess of the Vanderford Empire and took her in as his wife out of all the eligible princesses of their family.
Infact, it was precise to say that her affection for Kazimir was that of a benefactor to a savior.
Back then, she was only so happy to know that she had a chance to get out of the empire away from her chaotic family. She didn't even care if it was the first prince, second prince or a commoner who took her out. As long as she was out of Vanderford's claws, she would be happy.
Her happiness had blinded her of the fact that she would be facing the Empress's apathy. The Empress had always looked at her with dissatisfaction.
"The least you can do is to bear a son for Kazimir.." She heard these words from her mother in law on her wedding day.
On her wedding night, Kazimir was there to consummate their marriage but after that he distanced himself. Since then they were living separately within a big manor.
The Princess Consort was able to successfully take away Kazimir's garments and clean the grease and dirt on his body initially.
Now she had to take him in the bathtub, to thoroughly clean his entire body.
"I'll have to take you in the tub.." She told Kazimir in a gentle voice as she tried to pull him out of the stool.
Fortunately, Kazimir reacted to her voice. He mechanically stood up, towering over the Princess Consort's petite appearance. His crystal blue eyes were still unfocused, failing to see that the Princess consort's garments were already damp and wet from all her hard work.
Kazimir laid down in the bathtub, letting his body be soaked by the fragrant and warm water. A great wave of comfort coursed through his body that made him relax significantly.
"I'll thoroughly brush your body.." He heard her say as if asking for his permission.
After a while, he felt her hands working on his body to ensure that he was cleaned from all the stench of the alcohol and cigar.
Her actions were very weak and clumsy. Sometimes she would pause as if she has been startled and shocked, but he could feel that she had no intention to give up with her task.
"I will now wash your hair…" He heard a soft and gentle voice beside her and soon felt a hand gently massaging his scalp with her soft fingertips.
Kazimir stared blankly at the luxurious ceiling art as his wife tended to him calmly.
His presence of mind started to come back again as he finally realized that he was already in the bathroom with his wife acting like a servant without any sign of grievance.
His eyes moved as he observed the atmosphere between them.
Kazimir was puzzled, didn't his wife know that her husband had lost favor to his Emperor Father? Why is she here staying by his side?
She should just scramble away and plan for her and their son's future because he had already failed.
But why is she here? Didn't she see the disappointing state that he was in? She had no future on his side.
"Arielle…" He called out with a scratchy voice, it was at this moment that he realized that his throat was parched from not taking any fluid other than alcohol.
"Hmm..?" Arielle, the princess consort responded with a voice as delicate as a sparrow.
"Why are you here doing a servant's task?" He asked in a tone that was borderline reproachful as he realized that his very own wife was doing the tasks that should have been done by the servants.
He felt Arielle's fingers pause yet she still continued to do her thing and replied, "I am not doing a servant's task… I am doing what a wife should do… for her husband."
Marielle's words were like a spear that attacked Kazimir's frozen heart.
By far, her response was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard in his life.
Yes, she was his wife and he was her husband.
He thought that these were just mere words and that marriage was just a tool for him to get his goals. But the woman who stayed with him right now was causing a beautiful chaos in his crestfallen heart.
His crystal blue eyes started to redden as he realized how disappointing he must have been from the very start.
He thought that the matter of his father humiliating him to that extent in front of the council was the first time he had failed as a person.
He was devastated and anxious. He was the First Prince, carefully raised in the palace by his mother to achieve glory to glory for the rest of his life.
That moment when he was slapped by the harsh lesson given by his Father Emperor made him feel so utterly disappointed in himself. So much, that he desperately found someone to blame.
That was his mother and uncle who had been the people he followed and trusted the most. He felt that because of their instigation, he had long lost the ability to think rationally and kingly like how his father did to be able to lead the Empire successfully.
That was when he realized that he had placed himself on his own throne, completely blinded to see his weaknesses.
But now, it dawned on him. This was not the first time that he had failed. He had long failed as a husband to his wife of three years!
The friends and allies that he worked so hard to please and get loyalty to, have looked at him as if he was a plague to avoid during that time in the council.
But his wife was here, tending him without an ounce of annoyance for his disgraceful state.
Energy came to his body, he lifted his upper body to turn around with the intention to take a good look at his wife and talk to her.
Arielle was startled, she found herself staring dumbfoundedly at Kazimir's topless body. She had seen them earlier but the way it looked right now under the golden light of the dusk became much more different.
Well toned shoulders and chest that looked so alluring with the dripping water and bubbles sliding off from his red hair.
His hands were holding hers, like it was the most natural thing to do.
Overwhelmed by such a scene she looked away feeling the heat coming off her nape.
Kazimir on the other hand looked at Arielle's state.
His sickly wife was dripping wet from all the work she had done earlier, her silken sleeves were pulled up to her elbows like a wife doing all the manual labor.
She did not look like the Princess of Vanderford at all, nor did she look like the Princess Consort, First Prince Kazimir's lawfully wedded wife!
