Queensmen

Chapter 75

~Paradox~

"Sire, forgive my carelessness," Oris piped up when Hermes returned to her side, ready to play the eager bride and return a sense of normalcy to the situation.

He said nothing as he knelt before her her, dropping a wooden case beside the tea set and cradling her hand carefully in his.

She could not imagine what had come over him but allowed the silence in favor of diving deeper into her thoughts. What is that ring?

Somehow, she felt that she had made a mistake but exactly what it was eluded her because the required information had not been made available to her. What is that ring?

It was magical, had healing properties, and had spilled her blood yet Hermes had worn it all morning without incident.

His surprise meant that it wasn't a defense mechanism of some sort. It wasn't a weapon. It wasn't sharp. Yet it had wounded her.

What is that ring?

Did it alert Hermes to the presence of those who had intentions to harm him? A subtle kiss of death before the enemy could notice?

A sharp sting in her finger made her pull her hand away. Hermes' fingers trapped hers before she could.

She looked at him, flushing a little when she considered the degree of her absentmindedness. He might as well think I am embarrassed, she thought, her gaze drifting to the box on the table, to the needles laying innocently within them.

Is this some sort of test? Is he tempting me with an opportunity so soon?

"Sire," she let her eyes snap back to him, "you should let a servant do this."

"I am your servant," she added.

"You are my woman," he corrected her, his voice the complete antithesis of his touch, hard and unyielding, "and my women do not have scars."

For a moment, Oris was speechless. Implications. Implications. She had scars everywhere.

"Then I am not worthy," she replied softly.

"You will be."

"Sire," she couldn't hold the question in any longer, "what is that rin-"

Her questions was cut off by the ache she felt when he tied the bandage tightly around her finger.

"It hurts," she announced, pitifully, because it was not strange for a woman to fear pain.

Hermes leaned back on his heels and stared at her, clearly amused. "Just days ago you were shot with an arrow yet you look more aggrieved now."

"Sire, don't you know? Wounds are more painful when someone else shows concern over them. Seeing the expression on their face sometimes aches more than the hurt."

Inevitably, her thoughts strayed to Bren. Bren, who had drugged her and run away. He hated seeing her in pain too, especially when he could do nothing about it.

"You are surprisingly insightful." He got to his feet and smoothened his robe out first before sinking into his chair. "It is surprisingly refreshing."

She thought about how gently this same man had held her hand, held her fingers as though her skin was paper and her bones were porcelain. And somehow, she knew that he would have treated any other woman the same, injured or not, ally or not.

Despite the woman's ruthlessness, Wei Wei had not raised her son as a beast. It was commendable, more than commendable it was a marvel, knowing how much of a brute his father was.