CHAPTER 44: TEACHING HER

"Who am I?" Ashen asked again, his voice lowered this time, as if hoping she would repeat what he thought he heard.

"You... no one can withstand my eyes," Lumina murmured, her voice laced with disbelief.

She was still reeling from the fact that he was speaking calmly, almost amused as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Ashen let out a low chuckle. "Well... I am Ashen, the last son of the King of Drakonia. What do you expect?"

She shook her head slowly. "No... not that. You don’t get it. Not even your father could resist my eyes."

He tilted his head, intrigued. "You can’t say that. It’s not like you have tested him."

Lumina rolled her eyes, and he found himself captivated again, lost in the unique depth of her gaze sightless, yet full of meaning.

"Your eyes are beautiful," he murmured, reaching forward on instinct.

She raised her hand gently, brushing the air until her fingers touched his.

"My blindfold," she said quietly, closing her eyes.

He hesitated only a moment before letting out a soft laugh, then tucked her hair aside with surprising tenderness and helped her tie the silk back over her eyes.

When he was done, he knelt in front of her, taking both her hands. "I will find someone who can help with your sight. Soon."

She nodded slowly. "Thank you," she whispered, a rare softness in her voice. Just then, the door creaked open.

Ero and Stella stood there, Ero frozen mid-step, while Stella’s mouth parted in shock.

"My lord..." Ero managed, his voice tight.

"Get out," Ashen said sharply without turning, and the door closed just as quickly as it had opened.

Lumina swallowed, her fingers trembling as she gently pushed him back. "Hey," he whispered.

"Ing am hungry," she said suddenly, catching him off guard.

He caught her hand again. "There’s a kitchen now in your chambers," he said, leaning closer.

"You can order anything you want, any time. But tonight, you are having your dinner in the dining hall."

The expression on her face changed, worry flickering at the edges. "Can I just eat here?"

"No," he said firmly. "You want me to improve, then you must too. This is not the time for either of us to show weakness. Not when we are surrounded by enemies."

She let out a long breath and turned her head away, frustrated. "Fine," she grumbled.

Ashen let out a small smile and rose, helping her gently to her feet, guiding her out of the room and toward the dining hall.

Ero and Stella watched silently as the two passed by closer now than ever, even before the wedding vows were said.

At the table, Ashen helped her into her seat while the maids served the dishes. He turned to Ero. "Did you follow my instructions?"

"Yes, my lord," Ero replied, stepping forward. "I made sure the dishes were prepared to suit her preferences."

Lumina smiled faintly, and Ashen tested each plate before passing it to her. When he was satisfied, he placed the spoon into her hand.

She tilted her head in his direction, clearly unimpressed. Even without her sight, he knew she was glaring at him beneath the blindfold.

"I told you, we need to improve," he said quietly.

She wrinkled her nose and pouted, her fingers loosely holding the spoon. She barely ever ate on her own, it was always Stella who fed her.

"You are so good at everything else," Ashen murmured. "Sometimes I forget... There are things you still need help with."

He reached again, taking her hand and guiding it to the plate. "I will always be there to fill your plate. But you need to learn to eat on your own. That’s the most basic thing. You should at least master that."

Lumina let the spoon clatter onto the table, crossing her arms like a stubborn child. "Then I am not hungry anymore."

Stella gasped and rushed toward her. "My lady... please, you must eat alright, I will.."

"Stella," Ashen cut in sharply.

Stella instantly silenced, her hands frozen mid-air.

He didn’t mind helping her. He wanted to do everything for her. But food... food was different.

He wouldn’t always be around before every meal, and if she continued refusing to eat unless someone helped her, she’d only keep growing weaker.

She was too thin and pale. He had noticed the weight she had lost since coming to Drakonia.

"Just try, Lumina," he said softly.

Ashen folded his arms, watching her sulk with a pout that made her lips look even softer, and somehow, made his chest ache.

"I said I am not hungry anymore," Lumina muttered stubbornly, tilting her face away. She sat with her arms crossed.

Ashen exhaled softly, the smile on his lips growing. "You are such a handful," he murmured and leaned closer, his voice dropping to that soothing tone that always made her stomach flutter. Then he whispered, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

"Let me teach you tonight. Just tonight. If it’s too hard, you don’t have to do it again tomorrow. But I won’t let you go to bed hungry."

"I won’t die," she said quietly, chin lifting in defiance, though her fingers trembled slightly in her lap.

"No, but I won’t be satisfied," he said gently, and her breath caught.

"Why?"

"Because it hurts me," he replied, taking her hand carefully. "Every time you refuse to care for yourself, it feels like you’re refusing me. I want to give you strength, not just safety. I want you to be able to stand without anyone’s help if you must."

His voice was soft now, so soft it felt like he was laying down his heart before her.

She swallowed and turned her face slightly toward the warmth of his voice. "...You’re going to keep talking like that until I give in, aren’t you?"

"I haven’t even started," he teased, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. "Come now, let’s start small. Just one spoon."

He guided her fingers to the spoon again. She let out a small sigh, frustrated but yielding.

"Alright... just one."

Ashen smiled like a man who had just conquered a kingdom.

He pulled the plate a little closer and placed his hand over hers, guiding her fingers to curl around the spoon’s handle. "Easy... now lift."

She lifted it but too fast. The spoon tipped, and soup splashed onto her gown.

"Oh!" Lumina gasped.

"It’s alright don’t move," he said quickly.

Before she could react further, he was already dabbing gently at her chest with a silk cloth.

His fingers didn’t linger, but the heat of his hands made her shiver.

From a few steps away, Stella watched with misty eyes, holding a hand over her mouth. Ero stood beside her, expression unreadable but his eyes were soft, proud even, watching his prince become something more than a shadow in the court.

Ashen took her hand again, steadier this time. "Let’s try again, alright? Slowly. Tilt your wrist just a little... there, now lift it carefully. Don’t worry about being perfect, just feel the weight."

"I can’t feel where the food is," she whispered.

"You don’t need to. I will guide you."

He leaned closer, speaking softly beside her ear. "A little to the right... Yes, just like that. Now gently forward..."

The spoon touched the edge of the plate, and this time it held soup.

Her lips parted slightly. "I did it?"

"You did," he said proudly. "Now... bring it to your lips. Slowly."

She raised it, slowly, with both hands gripping the handle. But right as it neared her lips, it slipped again, dribbling soup down her chin.

Lumina’s head dropped. "I am hopeless."

"No, you are learning," he said firmly. He reached forward, cupping her cheek and wiping the liquid with his thumb, then brushing it gently with the silk cloth again.

"Do you know how many times I failed sword training?" he asked.

"No."

"Enough to get six broken ribs and a scar across my shoulder," he said lightly. "But I still fight."

She gave a soft laugh, her smile hidden behind her blindfold, but Ashen could feel it like dawn breaking through the cold.

"Fighting is easy.." she grumbled and Ashen was left confused.

"You can fight?" he asked and she only smirked in return.

"Again?" he asked and she scoffed... proceeding, till she got it right.