A royal Heart

chapter 31

The soft light of dawn began to filter through the sheer curtains, bathing the royal chamber in a gentle glow. Julie stirred, the warmth of Xavier's arms around her a comforting reminder of the night they had shared. Her head rested against his chest, the steady rise and fall of his breathing soothing her.

For a moment, she stayed still, savoring the quiet intimacy of the morning. The world beyond the palace walls felt distant, the responsibilities of their new roles as king and queen momentarily forgotten.

"You're awake," Xavier's voice rumbled, low and drowsy.

Julie tilted her head to look up at him, a smile playing on her lips. "Barely. I was trying not to wake you."

He tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer. "I don’t mind. Waking up with you is something I could get used to."

She laughed softly, tracing her fingers along the line of his jaw. "Could get used to? I hope you already have, Your Majesty."

Xavier chuckled, a playful gleam in his eyes. "It’s still sinking in. You’re my wife, Julie. My queen." He leaned down to kiss her forehead, the tenderness in his touch making her heart swell.

Julie sighed contentedly, her fingers lazily drawing patterns on his chest. "It feels like a dream. I keep thinking I’ll wake up and find myself back in my little apartment, struggling to keep the lights on."

Xavier’s expression softened, his hand moving to cradle her face. "You’ll never have to worry about that again. I’ll make sure of it. You deserve happiness, Julie. A life filled with love and security."

She placed her hand over his, her eyes shining with emotion. "I already have that. You’ve given me more than I ever thought possible, Xavier."

For a while, they lay in comfortable silence, the sound of the ocean waves in the distance a soothing backdrop. But as the sunlight grew brighter, reality began to creep back in.

Xavier sighed, glancing toward the clock on the ornate bedside table. "The court will expect us soon. They’ll want to discuss the formal announcements, the plans for the coming weeks…"

Julie groaned, burying her face in his chest. "Can’t we just stay here a little longer? Just the two of us?"

Xavier laughed, the sound vibrating through her. "If it were up to me, we’d never leave this room. But duty calls, my love."

She pulled back to look at him, a teasing smile on her lips. "King Xavier, shirking his royal responsibilities? What would the people think?"

"They’d think I’m hopelessly in love with my wife," he said without hesitation, his eyes locking onto hers.

Julie felt her cheeks flush, her heart skipping a beat at the sincerity in his words. She leaned up to kiss him, her lips soft against his. "I love you too," she whispered.

Xavier smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Then let’s face the world together, Julie. Whatever comes our way, we’ll handle it. As a team."

With one final kiss, they rose from the bed, ready to step into their new roles as king and queen. The challenges ahead were many, but in that moment, they were united, their love a beacon of strength and hope for the future.