CHAPTER 108: THEIR DINNER

Stella could be seen bustling about the room, giving quick orders to the maids as they arranged the evening meal on the long table.

The aroma of mouth-watering food filled the air, making the chamber feel warm and inviting. The food was set neatly, waiting for the master of the house to arrive.

Across the room, Lumina knelt by the low table, grinding herbs carefully in a small stone bowl.

She had spent most of the evening learning new ways to mix nutrients into simple tonics that could help restore strength.

The faint earthy smell of the crushed leaves clung to her fingers as she worked, humming softly to herself.

The quiet sound of boots against the floor made her freeze. She did not need Stella to announce who it was.

She felt him before anyone spoke. Her lips curved in a soft smile that gave her away instantly.

"Ashen..." she breathed, standing so quickly her stool almost tipped.

She didn’t wait for him to come closer before rushing and throwing her arms around him. His surprised laugh vibrated through his chest as he caught her.

"Oh my, it feels good to be home," he murmured, with a kind of relief only she had ever heard from him.

She pulled back just enough to look up at him and grinned. "Come, try this. It will help with your strength."

Ashen glanced down at the small bowl she held up toward him and immediately wrinkled his nose.

"Herbs?" he asked suspiciously. "I am sorry, my lady, but I don’t take herbs."

Lumina blinked, then exhaled sharply, setting the bowl back down with a soft thud. "Never mind, then."

He raised a brow. "Wait, you are giving up just like that?"

She turned her back to him with a small shrug, sitting back down as if he wasn’t even there.

"I wanted to give it to you because it’s good for your strength. But if you don’t want it, you don’t expect me to beg you, do you?" She stirred the mixture slowly.

Ashen’s mouth fell open. He watched her quietly, the corner of his lip twitching despite himself. She always knew how to get to him.

"Stella," Lumina called, holding out the bowl, "Help me to keep this safe. I will take it tomorrow..."

Her words cut off when a shadow passed over her hand. Ashen had snatched the bowl from her grip, and before she could protest, he tipped his head back and drank the bitter liquid in one go.

Stella gasped in surprise, one hand flying to her mouth, while Lumina hid her smirk behind her hand. She had known exactly how to play him.

Ashen grimaced, coughing once, then glared at her. "That tasted terrible." making a gagging sound.

"I never forced you to drink it," Lumina replied sweetly, rising to her feet.

"So don’t even think about throwing it up and wasting my hard work. I spent hours preparing it," she warned and he laughed softly at that, shaking his head.

"So you had the heart to spend hours making this for me, only to nearly refuse me when I didn’t want it?"

"I did it because I care about my husband," she said with a shrug. "If he doesn’t care about himself, who am I to force him?"

"Hey," he protested, but she simply stretched out her hand toward him, ignoring his words.

He caught her hand with a small smile. "Come have your dinner." She let out and and slowly he led her gently toward the dining chamber. When they entered, Ashen froze, staring at the table in awe.

"This... this is for me?" he asked, unable to hide the boyish wonder in his voice.

Lumina nodded proudly, even though she couldn’t see she trusted Stella to have done a good job.

He strode forward, almost too quickly, and was excited to eat, and then turned back when she called out.

"Hey! Help me sit first!"

He chuckled, coming back to her side, and carefully helped her into her chair. She could hear the happiness in his laugh, and it warmed her heart.

"You plan to spoil me tonight," he said teasingly, "and now you want me to wait on you too?"

"Ashen!" she exclaimed, but her voice broke into a laugh when she heard his own.

"Alright, alright," he said, smiling as Stella began to serve them.

They ate together, exchanging light conversation between bites. The food tasted better tonight, perhaps because it was the first time they had shared a peaceful meal in a while.

Ashen looked more relaxed than she had felt in days, and Lumina could feel her own mood lifting as his shoulders loosened and his eyes softened.

When dinner ended, they both returned to his chambers. Lumina was about to head to her own room when Ashen suddenly bent down and scooped her off her feet.

"Ashen!" she yelped, clutching his shoulder.

"You are staying with me tonight," he said simply, ignoring her protest.

Stella and Ero, who had followed behind, quickly looked away with knowing smiles as Ashen carried his wife into his chamber and shut the door.

The moment Lumina stepped inside, she felt the difference. His room was warm, she placed him on the bed and she could feel the bed softer than hers.

"You changed the bed," she said softly.

"Of course," he replied with a shrug, setting her down. "I expected we might share rooms sometimes."

The word already dropped from his lips before he could think twice.

Her throat went dry, and she cleared it, pretending she hadn’t heard this.

He only smirked, loosened his robe, and shrugged it off, leaving only his trousers.

His wounds had closed, leaving faint scars, "I want to be sure if your wound has healed up like you said." he turned to her.

"How will you know?" he asked and she stretched her hands.

"Just come." She let out and he moved closer to her, she slowly traced her hands, and a breath of relief washed through her.

"You overwork yourself again? You promised me..."

Ashen leaned down suddenly, close enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath. "You should be able to tell if I am overworked, shouldn’t you?" he teased, now turned toward her, catching her hands that quickly dropped.

His chest brushes against her arm, her eyes widened as she leaned back. "W-what are you doing?"

He leaned closer until their foreheads nearly touched. "You look beautiful today," he murmured.

Her lips parted slightly, caught off guard by the rare compliment.

"You fed me, gave me medicine, and even spoiled me with dinner," he continued, his voice low. "I should repay your kindness, shouldn’t I?"

Her breath hitched. "Repay... with what?"

His lips curved into a slow, playful smile. "Guess," he whispered, his face so close now that she could feel the heat of his breath against her skin.

"Ashen..."

Her protest was cut off when his mouth covered hers in a sudden, tender kiss.