The Wife of the King's Pay

Chapter 17 The Unexpected Honeymoon (Part 1)

Cleantha put some of her clothes in the bag. A thousand questions still hung in his mind.

There was no wind and no rain, and the king suddenly took her on his honeymoon. I don't know what dream the man had last night, until he decided something strange in the morning.

"Are you done?" ask the King flat.

He turned to the mirror without looking at Cleantha.

"Already, Sir. May I ask?"

The king gave no answer. He was busy looking at the scars on his face.

But Cleantha continued her question.

"Sir, why do we have to go on a honeymoon and..Where are we going?"

"Do I have to answer your question? You are paid a lot to follow my will. No need to ask too many questions."

"Master, but what if Madame Zevira asks me?" cleantha asked reasoned.

Indeed, he was worried about the term "honeymoon" mentioned by the King. Although Cleantha was sure the King would not touch her, the man was very difficult to guess. Moreover, he had a bad temper.

"Vira will not ask you because I will explain to her" said the King turned his back.

"Do you know what it's like to take you on a honeymoon?"

"No, sir," Cleantha answered honestly.

"Later you will find out after you arrive at that place. Now, let's have breakfast. We have to act like newlyweds."

The king approached Cleantha and pulled the girl closer to him.

He opened the door of the room, then wrapped his sturdy hand around Cleantha's waist.

His unexpected movements made Cleantha gasp.

Nervous, that was how he felt at this moment. Although only a small part of his body was touched by the King, but there was a kind of strange tremor crawling around him.

Seeing Cleantha's cheeks that met red, the King seemed to know the contents of his young wife's mind.

"Don't think anything! It's just a charade."

The king sped up his pace while guiding Cleantha towards the dining table.

Along with their arrival, Zevira also entered the dining room with her loyal servants.

At first glance the look on her face changed when she saw the King hugging Cleantha. But shrewdly, Zevira immediately hid her expression of jealousy.

"Good morning, sir," said Mr. Darma bowing.

"Sir Darma, get my suitcase ready now. I'll be leaving for the villa in an hour."

"Well, sir," replied Mr. Darma hurriedly following his master's orders.

"King, are you leaving again today?" ask Zevira to find out.

"I'm going on my honeymoon with Clea" the King replied briefly.

He ignored Zevira and focused his attention on Cleantha.

"Sit down, dear," said the King pulling a chair for Cleantha.

"Thank you."

Cleantha just lowered her head. He felt bad for Zevira for the King's friendly treatment of him.

Zevira, who is upset about being ignored by the King, tries to talk to Cleantha.

"Clea, are you feeling well now? Last night I was worried about seeing you have a stomachache."

"I'm healthy, Brother."

"Where are you going on your honeymoon?"

Zevira's question made Cleantha flounder. He did not know where the king would take him.

"I'll take Cleantha to explore the forest and mountains" the King cut off his confused wife.

"Lord the King will take me to the forest? What would he do in a place like that?"

cleantha thought in horror.

Forests were Cleantha's most feared place.

Every time you hear the word forest, you immediately come across a picture of a creepy area that is lush with trees and filled with wild animals.

What is even more sinister is the existence of invisible creatures who can love him from behind the darkness.

"King, are you sure Clea can accompany you to do your hobby? Not all women have as much guts as I do" Zevira said, doubting Cleantha's bravery.

"I'm sure my wife is a brave woman. Moreover, he is still young" replied the King breaking Zevira's assumption.

"We'll see if Clea's really what you think she is. Or he'll freak out and ask you to come home."

Cleantha was once again caught in the middle of the argument between the couple. It feels so puffed up.

If there was a chance, he wanted to leave the room. It is better to have breakfast with the servants in the kitchen than to watch the tension between the King and Zevira.

I don't know what caused it until the King seemed to hate his first wife.

If his hatred is only triggered because of his wife's condition that is flawed, it means that he is indeed a petty man.

"Daddy," cried Ivyna kissing the King's cheek.

The arrival of the little girl had eased the unpleasant situation in the dining room.

"Ivy, let's sit next to Daddy" said King stroking Ivyna's hair.

In front of his daughter, the King immediately changed his attitude to be affectionate.

Cleantha could see the gentleness in the eyes of the man as she looked at Ivyna. At least behind his arrogance, the King still had a fatherly affection for his daughter.

"Daddy, are we going for a walk today?" Ivyna asked me to eat the sandwich.

"Sorry, Honey. Today Daddy's going with Mommy Clea."

Ivyna pursed her lips.

"Daddy, can't I come?"

"No, Ivy. Children are not allowed to enter the forest and mountain areas. That's very dangerous."

"Good, Daddy. But Daddy had to promise to take me for a walk after Daddy came home."

"Of course, Ivy," said the gentle King.

...****************...

After hugging Ivyna, the King got into his car.

"Sir Vira, I'm sorry I have to leave" said Cleantha before following the King.

"No need to bother me, Clea. Enjoy your honeymoon. But careful. You have to get used to the dangerous hobbies that the King has," Zevira said.

"Clea, get in the car! We must leave now so as not to be late," cried the King to open his car window.

"Sister, I'm saying goodbye now," Cleantha replied hurriedly following the King.

Their journey took about three hours.

Cleantha fell asleep in the car due to sleep deprivation last night. He woke up when the car started to run slowly.

While poking her eyes, Cleantha adjusted to the atmosphere around her.

As he remembered it was still daytime, but the situation around the car was not too bright.

As far as the eye could see, there was only a series of tall towering trees.

"Sir, have we reached the forest yet?" cleantha asked worriedly.

"You're finally awake too. I thought you were going to sleep all day. How think? Does this area look like a forest?" the King asked back.

"I.iii."

"If you have guessed what to ask again," the king said.

The car drove into a small road then uphill. The fairly sharp and meandering streets made Cleantha's head dizzy.

He felt grateful when the King's private driver stopped his car in front of the two-story wooden house.

"Sir Darma, bring my luggage and Cleantha into the villa" the King said to Mr. Darma.

"Good, Sir."

"Let's get off" the king asked to open his car door.

"I gave you ten minutes to get ready. Put on our jackets and shoes, we'll be on foot to the waterfall up there."

"Sir, do you seriously want to take me? Why don't you go alone?" cleantha asked, refusing.

"If I say come, it means you have to come. I don't like to be disputed."

"Well, sir," Cleantha replied in defeat.

Feeling anxious, Cleantha followed Mr. Darma into the Villa.

From behind, the King looked at Cleantha who was stepping her legs hesitantly.

The corner of the King's lips was raised upward, forming a mocking grin on his second wife.

"I'm gonna teach you a little lesson, Cleantha. You have dared to disturb my comfort with all your ridiculous behavior. Now it's my turn to make you feel the same way,"

muttered the pleased King.