As Seren walked to check the books on the shelf, she heard the hushed conversation between the pair of customers huddled on the corner.
ââŠso your husband is still into that mistress of his?â
âNowadays, he visits her even more often, spending days on his alleged âbusiness tripsâ. Before, he used to return after a single nightâŠâ
âTsk. That swine. How dare he treat a pearl such as you this way? If I were youââ
ââŠHe used to be so sweet when we wedded but seven years have passed so I think he wanted someone youngâŠâ
âThat is why I brought you here. Didnât our friend say we can find a useful book here on how to keep your husband with you?â
âWhat kind of book?â
The woman scanned the rows of books and showed a particular one to her friend, flipping the pages in front of the other woman. âThis kind of book.â
Her friend gasped. âW-What is this?! What kind ofââ
âDonât be shocked. This is what that mistress uses to please your husband, thatâs why he wonât come back to you.â
The woman loudly gulped. âWill this really please my husband?â
âRight, and now, you need to find which among these will please your husband more so he wonât go to other women.â
âB-But, this looksâŠâ
âItâs better than seeing your husband spend nights with his mistress while you pine in loneliness in a cold empty bed,â the other woman said and placed that book in her hand. âYou better buy this, study this and do everything to keep your husband the happiest man on this land! That way, no matter what pretty lass bats an eye his way, he will be too smitten with you to look away!â
Her friend nodded quietly and embraced that book as if her life depended on it. Only then did Seren and her lady-in-waiting realize they were so immersed in eavesdropping that they almost forgot to breathe.
For Seren in particular, the words âpleasing your husbandâ caught her entire attention. Back in the ship, Drayce had asked her to please him. This was the perfect opportunity to learn what she needed to do!
She looked at her companion and said in a low voice, âSo that book will tell me how to please my husband?â
Lady Xena shuddered before nodding hesitantly. She could guess what that book must be about. âSeems like it, Your Majesty.â
âThen we should get it,â Seren said, and the other woman could merely agree wordlessly. She didnât stop Seren as she knew the Queen had no governess or older female relative who could provide her guidance about private matters such as this, and neither did she have a friend or peer she could ask. It was best for Seren to get answers to her questions this way rather than lowering herself to such an embarrassing situation where she had to ask the only maidservant of hers who was marriedâŠ
Keeping her thoughts to herself, the blushing noble lady picked another copy of the book the two women got. She handed it to Seren and turned away to hide her expression.
âWhat is it aboutââ Those purple eyes widened the moment she flipped the pages. âThisâŠâ
Seeing all those explicit images of a couple being intimate, she slammed the book close the next moment.
The pair of blushing women looked at each other and Seren asked, âD-Did you pick up the right book, Xena?â
âY-Yes, Your Majesty. This is what those two women were talking aboutâŠabout p-pleasing her husband. Werenât you also curious about it?â
Seren gulped, and she belatedly understood why that female attendant stopped her from going to this section. âBut, thisâŠâ
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âI think you should buy it, Your Majesty. Itâs lessâŠless shamefulâŠBetter reading than asking others, yes?â Lady Xena suggested while her cheeks had turned tomato red.
Seren thought about what those two women said and asked with a serious look in her eyes. âXena, if I donât please Drayce, do you think he will go to other women as well?â
âN-No, Your Majesty. His Majesty loves you a lot and has eyes only for you.â
âThat woman, wasnât she implying he lost interest because they had been together for seven years? Her husband was sweet at firstâŠâ
âHis Majesty is different from other men, Your Majesty. Rest assured, heââ
âStill, I cannot take a chance. What if heâŠN-No, I canât let it happen. We should get this book.â
Lady Xena didnât insist on assuring Seren as getting that book would not change the Kingâs feelings for his Queen. She knew their King would never betray the Queen, as to him no woman existed but his wife.
The pair then walked out of that section to head for the shopkeeper manning the counter. Given the lady-in-waiting needed to pay for the books, Slayer would normally follow behind Seren. But this time, Seren did not leave Lady Xenaâs side, that was why Slayer approached them with the intention of helping the young woman carry the books.
âLady Xena, please hand them to me. They must be heavy to carry.â
Lady Xena looked taken aback, and Seren hesitated between allowing the knight to do a gentlemanly act or leading him away. Both were worried that Slayer would see what kind of books they were buying which they didnât want. They exchanged a firm gaze and then Lady Xena gave a gracious smile to Slayer.
âMuch thanks but allow me to do it, Sir Calhoun. Please stay with Her Majesty,â the young woman suggested as she took a step forward. âI alone am enoughâah!â
Thud!
She bumped into a woman who walked out of nowhere, causing the books in her hand to drop on the floor.
pAnDa (nov)e1â âApologies!â the woman shot quickly before turning away, leaving the shop in a hurry.
Meanwhile, Slayerâs outreached hand stopped midway as Lady Xena was quick to regain her foothold. âAre you alright, Lady Xena?â
âAh, yes. I am fine,â she replied and looked at the books on the floorâŠwhere a particular book was dropped with its pages open, which those two didnât want him to see.
Slayer followed the two horror-stricken womenâs lines of sight, and with an impassive face, the knight immediately kneeled down to pick up all the fallen books into a neat pile. His expressions did not change the entire time as if he had seen nothing and stood up, holding those books in his arm.
The Queen of Megaris and her lady-in-waiting dare not meet the knightâs gaze.
âI will pay for these books. Please wait for me here,â he said and walked ahead to line up.
Seren and Lady Xena looked at each other, unable to say a single word to each other as embarrassment engulfed the both entirely.
Slayer returned in a while and handed the bag filled with books to the Queenâs servant.
âT-Thank you, Sir Calhoun,â Lady Xena said as she tried to hide the red in her cheeks, while Seren felt somewhat grateful she was wearing a veil.
âShould we continue shopping?â Slayer said and the two women nodded quietly before following the knight. However, after this incident. Seren no longer had the will to walk around the market and she decided to return to the Selve Estate.
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