-UndoubtedlyYours-

-Chapter♛♚Forty-

✧SURPRISE DINNER GUESTS✧

◊━━━━━✥━━━━━◊

***

In the days that followed, Rhea was starting to grow into sync with the day-to-day activities of a wife. Alphard claimed that she didn't need to go through all the gifts so quickly, seeing as she managed to figure out the perfect method in going about it, so she would get through a good dozen or two before taking a break.

She truly wanted to finish the painting before they arrived back home, but alas it hadn't happened. Now, however, she was trying to lead Alphard into her study with his eyes closed. The damned bloke complained the entire way to her study and pouted when her hand had left his.

"Come now Alfie, it's a surprise, remember?" His shoulders fell and so he covered the likes of his hand across his gaze and continued to walk in as straight of a line as he could manage.

"Merlin, it feels like I'm pissed drunk and can't see or know a bloody thing!" Her laughter had echoed the empty room and that leveled Alphard's worries, and when her delicate hands had slipped underneath his own he sighed.

Adoring her behavior more and more as time passed.

"You'll know exactly where I got my inspiration from in a moment..." She said, removing her hands and he nearly fainted at the anticipation—Every day after she emerged from her study with paint on her hands, he would ask what stage the piece was at. And every damn time she would respond with nearly the same thing.

"Patience. Nearly there."

Though this morning was different, she had asked if he was busy and proceeded to hold his nearly blindfolded halfway towards her study in an attempt to be both creative and give it a moment.

And she hadn't disappointed, not when a beautiful illustration of his Germany manor—He knew it for sure, Rhea had spent a lot of time in the attached sunroom reading. Yet this held the beautiful sunset reigning through the enlarged windows, and it certainly captured a prime aspect of what Rhea had been feeling.

Warm. Warm and loved.

"You astounded me, love...This is magnificent." She had let out an adorable squeal, as if he would have given her an awful comment or any criticism, yet he simply kissed her cheek and went forward.

"Would you mind if I put it in my study?" He questioned and she shook her head instantly. "Of course not, it's certainly a talking point if you have awful company." She said curling into his side and looking back to the painting in question.

"I did want to warn you, love, we're having company tonight and—"
"What?!" Rhea shrieked, instant horror and anxiety overtaking her form as she attempted to scramble out of his hold.

"It's small company, love. A couple, you can surely handle that." She pouted up towards him with near tears in her eyes, and Alphard realized that he couldn't place plans onto her so suddenly like that again.

It was too much for her to bare.

"But you said we're still on holiday leave, we still have a few days before then!" He nodded and tried to settle her worries and wobbling lip with a kiss.
"Yes, but we won't be able to see them as easily. This is the best time to do this, and no worries—It's just a simple dinner and dessert." With how popular her husband is, it would be prudent to make friends with those he finds meaningful to keep close and in his circle.

So she nodded and she decided to go and talk to the elves to prepare for more people for dinner.

They were certainly excited for others in the manor, and that made Rhea guilty in feeling so nervous. After having spent so much time with Alphard, it was time to get reintroduced to society as a wife—This was just a beautiful fairytale that's come to an end.