Blue Blooded - [Mick Schumacher]

Eight

        Two weeks had passed and there was one night left to their coronation. Mick had tried his best to make her feel at home and she had liked spending a lot of time with him. He took her out for more rides across the landscape and she had the pleasure to meet his friends, Callum and Marcus, who had been nice to her as well. She felt more comfortable in the castle and she felt like she had created a better bond with Corinna and Gina too, yet she was nearly a month in the castle now and there was enough to develop left for her on her journey to be the queen of Geneva and Aosta. It was passed midnight already and Mick and Lucia had gone to bed early to make sure they'd be fit and wellrested tomorrow. Lucia had her back turned to Mick, not wanting him to notice that she was still awake and pondering on about the day that would follow. She closed her eyes again, hoping she would fall asleep soon, however the sleep never came. Lucia didn't even feel tired anymore at some point and she turned to her back and stared up at the ceiling.

"Are you alright?" his voice startled her and she sighed in response. "I can't sleep," she whispered, turning to her other side to look at him. "Me neither," Mick chuckled lowly, folding his hands behind his head. "Thinking about tomorrow?" he asked after a short moment of silence. "Pretty much the whole night already. I'm just nervous," Lucia said. "So am I," he replied and it calmed her that he was feeling the same as she did. "It's going to be a long day and I dearly want to sleep," Lucia let out a breathy laugh. "The sooner the day can start, the sooner it's over," she added. "You don't hate the whole process, do you? Like, it's not because of me," Mick asked. "No, absolutely not," Lucia shook her head and Mick turned to face her as well. "The last two weeks had been lovely, I liked spending time with you," Lucia said, which made him smile in the faint light of their bedroom. "I'm glad, I felt the same," Mick replied, his hand briefly reaching out to caress her cheek. "It's not like our parents are leaving after we carry the crown," Mick continued. "They are still here for advice."

Lucia nodded now. "It just feels so weird to reign over a kingdom and that people will look up to us as their king and queen," she said. "I know," Mick agreed. It was silent for another moment. "Do you want to go outside and watch the stars?" he asked her. "Now?" she replied. "Yes, now," Mick smiled, sitting up and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and he reached for the candle holder on the wall. Lucia sat up too, closing her robe tighter around her waist against the cold air that reached her when she shoved the sheets away. Mick opened the door, leaving it open for her and waiting for her so she could follow him through the hall. They hadn't been on the view point of the castle ever since her first evening at the castle, when he had showed her around and exposed his favourite spot of the castle. She shivered as they walked through the cold hallways and she had to admit that roming through the castle at night was quite spooky as well. She stayed close to him and Mick handled the candle to her so he could push the wall and open the way to the lonely hallway that was behind it.

The air was even colder when they neared the door and Mick opened it, muttering to her that she should leave the candle on the floor before the fresh breeze blows out the flame of the candle and they have to go back in the dark. Mick stepped out first and in the last weeks it became so natural that he lifted her onto Elias' back, that he automatically reached for her to lift her over the high threshold and pull her close. "Do you want to sit down?" Mick asked and she nodded, her teeth clattering a little and it made him laugh. He sat down and his arms curled around her to pull her back against his chest. His embrace was warm and she let him envelop her in his arms. She stopped shivering soon enough, feeling safe and comfortable so close to him. His head rested atop of hers and it struck her how close they had become in such a short period of time, which was necessary for them to have a good relationship when they become King and Queen.

The moon was half full, yet bright in the milky way, the stars sparkling around it. "Do you see the Great Bear?" Mick pointed at the sky. "No?" Lucia asked and tilted her head. She nearly felt his cheek against hers, the warmth of his skin. "Right there, follow the line of that bright star," Mick told her and she could suddenly see the figure in the stars. "I see it!" She exclaimed, the happiness in her tone causing him to smile. Mick loved having her in his arms like this, having her close like this and it assured him that their time together in the castle would be alright, even though they were skeptical from the start. They sat there on the platform, so high above the ground, for a little longer. Lucia leaned back against his chest, feeling his fingers playing with her hair every now and then. He had grown to like her a lot, possibly due to the fact that they were spending time together every day, however he loved each minute that passed. "Let's get back inside before you'll get too cold," Mick mumbled and she agreed.