Use Me, Royal Stranger (mxm)

Chapter 32 - Outsmart Me

With all the restrictions on him taken away, Carlen felt more free than he had been in this castle for a long time. He had heard that the Queen was the one that had made all these possible, and he was grateful for all of it.

Smiling, Carlen reminded himself that even though everything that had happened to him in the past was unfortunate and he lost something so amazingly precious to him, the goddess had not abandoned him yet. Lance's confession of his feelings for him, and his miracle connection to Lance's wolf was proof of that. Everything could only get better from now on. He had hit rock bottom and almost lost his life along the way, but from this moment forward, only good things could happen to him. He was convinced at least.

Despite his happy thoughts and cheerful spirit, he was still recovering very slowly for reasons that Nana could not figure out. Since being forcefully marked by Alaric, his inner wolf was strangely absent. They feared it had something to do with why he was recovering at such a slow rate. They also suspected that it was because of all his previous injuries that he had not fully recovered from, that he was slow on recuperating this time.

It drove Carlen insane having to be confined to a bed again, but he had no choice on the matter. He could barely hold himself up on his legs long enough to take a walk, even though now he had all the freedom to do so. While there are still guards, Flynn in particular, still assigned to guard him, they were no longer instructed to keep him in the room. They were allowed to accompany him on walks so that he could strengthen his underutilized muscles.

He was simply just waiting for the moment when he could. Perhaps taking a nice stroll with Lance in the flower gardens like they had before would be nice. This time they need not sneak. This time they could really enjoy the sights and the scenery. A good conversation, may be flirt a little? Carlen giggled slightly under his breath at the thought. He was acting like such a maiden.

Three soft knocks on the door woke Carlen from his daydream and he turns from the window he was sitting at. Alaric never knocked when he came by and Carlen wondered briefly if it could be Lance at the door, "Come in." He whispered, his palms began to sweat just at the thought of it.

The door swung slowly open, and a familiar scent wafted through his nose, making his hair stand on end. He stood up instantly, his eyes glancing at the elegant figure that entered his room, before bowing his head respectfully, "My Queen."

"I'm sorry for dropping by without warning, Carlen." Queen Sophia's gentle and sophisticated voice rang out in the room, and Carlen began counting the ways that Queen Sophia was more superior to him. "Should you be standing? You're still in recovery, are you not?"

Carlen shook his head, "I am feeling well, your highness. Very well actually"

"Call me Sophia, please."

"I cannot." Carlen said, bowing his head further, "I am merely-"

"You are to be the King's royal first consort, if you agree, of course. You are no longer a servant, Carlen." The Queen said, moving towards Carlen. Reaching out slowly so as not to startle the man, she took one hand in hers and with the other, she raised Carlen's head by his chin, "You have the right, and the authority to stand as my equal as Alaric's fated mate even if you do not accept you title."

Carlen stared wide eyed at the Queen, her green eyes seemed to sparkle like jewels as she smiled at him. Unable to hold her gaze, he glanced away from her but did not pull away for fear of offending her.

"It might take some getting used to. But you will slowly learn about your new position and authority." She said, tugging on Carlen's arm as she led him towards his bed, "You still look pale Carlen, you should be resting."