Chapter 15: First Night Together

It had been a long time coming. The first night that King Knox and Queen Amaria would share the royal chambers at the same time. For weeks, the king's duties had kept him in his study until the late hours of the night, poring over papers, meeting with nobles, and attending to matters of state. His presence in their shared chambers had been scarce, with Amaria often falling asleep alone, the silence of the night weighing heavy in the grand room.

Tonight, however, things were different. King Knox had finally cleared his schedule, making time for the one thing that had been absent from his life for so long: his wife.

As the moonlight streamed through the tall, open windows, casting a silver glow over the room, Amaria stood by the vanity, brushing her long hair. Her gown, a soft shade of violet, flowed down her body with grace. She glanced at the clock, her fingers lightly trailing through her hair as she awaited her husband's return.

It had been a day full of royal duties, and though she had tried her best to keep her mind occupied, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty about this rare moment. She had adjusted to life in the palace—caring for Prince Alexander, taking part in royal duties—but there was still so much she didn't know about King Knox. So much she hadn't seen beneath the cold, reserved surface he showed the world.

The door creaked open softly, and King Knox stepped inside, his broad frame silhouetted by the dim light of the room. His expression was as stoic as ever, his shoulders tense with the weight of the crown. Yet, there was something different about tonight. His usual armor of indifference seemed slightly more fragile, as though the night's quiet might reveal more than he intended.

"Good evening, Your Majesty," Amaria greeted him, her voice warm but respectful. She gave him a soft smile, setting her brush down and walking towards him.

King Knox nodded but said nothing for a moment, his piercing gaze focused on her. "Amaria," he said, his voice deep and steady. "I didn't expect you to be awake still."

"I could say the same about you," she replied with a quiet laugh, her eyes softening as she studied his face. "You've been so consumed by your work lately. It's good to see you finally here."

He shifted uncomfortably, the burden of his role ever-present in his demeanor. "There is always something that needs to be done. But tonight, I suppose, I can afford to be here."

There was an unspoken understanding between them as they stood there. They had been together for weeks now, yet this was the first time they would share a true moment together without the interruptions of duty. The air between them was thick with curiosity, the distance of formality gradually closing with each passing second.

Amaria took a step closer, sensing his unease. "Is everything well, Knox?" she asked, her tone gentle but sincere. "You've seemed distant lately."

King Knox exhaled sharply, and for the first time, she noticed the weariness in his eyes, the weight of the kingdom's burdens that always seemed to cling to him. "I suppose I've been preoccupied," he confessed. "There is never a shortage of matters that require my attention. But... it's been more difficult than I anticipated."

Amaria tilted her head, studying him with empathy. "Difficult? How so?"

He hesitated for a moment, then sat down on the edge of the grand bed. His gaze was distant, his mind clearly elsewhere as he processed his thoughts. "There is so much that rests on my shoulders. My son's future, the future of Eldoria... It's overwhelming, sometimes." He paused and then, as though letting go of a thought he had carried for too long, he looked at her. "And then there is you."

Amaria blinked, surprised by his sudden admission. "Me?"

He nodded slowly, a rare flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. "You've stepped into this role as Queen with grace, and yet I have done little to make it easier for you. You are... everything to Alexander, and I cannot deny that he has become attached to you in a way that even I didn't expect."

Amaria's heart fluttered at the mention of Alexander. She had grown so fond of the young prince, and his attachment to her had been a source of both joy and sorrow—joy because she knew she had become someone he could rely on, and sorrow because she was reminded of the absence of a true maternal figure in his life.

"You're not alone in this, Knox," Amaria said softly, stepping closer to him. "We are a family now. I know you carry the weight of a king, but I am here to help you. I'm here to support you... both of you."

His eyes softened, though the hardness remained in his posture. "I know, Amaria," he said quietly. "But it is not easy for me. I've spent my life in control, ruling with an iron fist, keeping emotions buried deep. And yet... I see you with Alexander, and I can't help but wonder if I've failed him somehow. If I've failed both of you."

Amaria placed a hand gently on his shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles, the years of isolation and duty that had forged him into the man before her. "You haven't failed anyone, Knox. You've been doing your best. That's all anyone can ask for."

King Knox's gaze flickered down to her hand on his shoulder, and for a long moment, he didn't move. Slowly, he reached up and placed his hand over hers, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely audible, as though the words themselves were foreign to him. "I've forgotten what it feels like to have someone beside me."

Amaria smiled softly, her thumb brushing lightly against his skin. "Then let me remind you," she said quietly.

For the first time since their marriage, a quiet peace settled over them. It wasn't a grand declaration or a burst of emotion, but a small, intimate connection between the king and queen, a mutual understanding that they were both navigating a world full of complexities, but that they weren't doing it alone anymore.

As the night stretched on, the tension between them eased, replaced by the quiet comfort of simply being in each other's presence. Though the future of the kingdom loomed large, in that moment, it was just King Knox and Queen Amaria—two souls finding their way together in the grand palace of Eldoria.