## THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) - Chapter 121
What greeted Varkas upon returning to his bedroom that night was a bed with evident bloodstains.
The moment he confirmed it under the intense light, his chest tightened sharply, and a strange coldness seeped into the very marrow of his bones.
He felt the urge to go look for her once more to check her wound, but the memory of her face pleading to be left alone rushed into his mind, preventing him from taking a step forward.
He remained staring at the already cold bed, immersed in helplessness, until a sudden and overwhelming urge to destroy something took hold of him.
Everything was irritating: that woman who managed him at her whim, his own will that allowed itself to be dragged by her, and his body that could not be appeased, chained to an uncontrollable fever.
Varkas gritted his teeth.
She always put him at crossroads due to her reckless and impulsive actions, and that night had been nothing more than an extension of it.
Despite repeating that to himself, his tense nerves failed to regain their calm easily.
—What about the remaining itinerary?
As they were about to approach the castle gates, Daren, who was following him in silence, asked an unexpected question.
Varkas woke from his reflections, raised his eyes toward the sun already slanting over the fortress tower, and frowned.
He was supposed to attend a meeting called by the nobles' league at this hour. However, the main items on the agenda must have already been exhausted. His late appearance would bring nothing profitable, except a waste of time in an absurd dispute for power.
Varkas reached a quick conclusion and changed direction immediately.
—We will return for today.
Act followed, he secured himself in the saddle and urged his mount to set off.
When he arrived at the castle, the sky was beginning to be tinged with a faint violet hue. Varkas raised his head and narrowed his eyes as he spotted light clouds gathering from the east.
He thought the rain might break out again. If so, the tracks of the wolves would be completely erased, hindering the cleanup efforts in the area.
"Lately it seems nothing goes as planned."
Varkas let out a slight ironic laugh, dismounted nimbly from Turk, and began to climb the stairs.
As soon as he crossed the threshold of the main palace, the servants waiting by the entrance rushed to remove the armor and cloak covering his body. He brushed those annoying hands away with a light gesture and walked through the wide hall immediately.
At that moment, his gaze fell upon a short servant woman descending the stairs carrying a bundle of clothes. He strode toward the woman, who froze as soon as she saw him.
—How has Her Highness been today?
At that sudden question, the woman's shoulders trembled, and she immediately began to give a detailed report.
—At noon she took some fruit and honey wine, and in the evening she ingested a few spoonfuls of oatmeal porridge with herbs. She also took a drink made from fermented goat's milk as a snack. All in all, it seems her stomach has improved compared to before, and her appetite increased a little. All thanks to the attention of Your Excellency the Grand Duke.
Varkas listened in silence to the lengthy account and then inquired in a calm tone:
—How did her mood seem to be?
—Her mood...
Bewilderment was drawn on the woman's features. Varkas twisted his lips as he contemplated the clothes she carried in her arms; the fabrics, in bright and striking colors, were torn to shreds and piled together.
It was evident that his wife, whose humor had soured deeply again, had vented her fury against the objects.
—No need to answer then.
—Ah! The lady is just a bit sensitive. However, today she has changed her mind and...
The woman, who had rushed to intercede for her mistress, fell silent abruptly and lowered her gaze in embarrassment.
Varkas waited for her to continue, but realizing the servant had no intention of finishing her sentence, he resumed his march.
Arriving in front of the door of his quarters on the second floor, he saw the light of the sunset filtering through the window, casting a long shadow on the marble floor.
He shifted his gaze to the stairs leading to the third floor. For a moment he weighed the idea of going to see her in person to check her condition, but dismissed the thought knowing that he would certainly be rejected at the threshold. Since that night, she shunned him completely, locking herself in her rooms.
Varkas frowned as he recalled the elusive woman, and then turned his head toward his own bedroom.
Suddenly, an intense aroma permeated his nose, and his body froze. A strange vibration ran down his spine. Without being aware of it, he gripped the handle and pushed the door open abruptly.
—You have returned earlier than I expected.
He stared with static eyes at the woman sitting on his bed.
She wore a subtle deep blue attire, spreading the folds of her loose skirt over the white sheets while leaning her back against a cushion. She pushed aside the book resting on her knees and continued speaking with studied indifference:
—I heard you have been very busy with your official matters lately, so I assumed you would not return until midnight.
—... And is that the reason you are here? —he said, closing the door behind him out of pure instinct.
—Did you think I wouldn't come? If I didn't wish to confront you, why would I wait in an empty room? What I mean to say is... I thought I would have to wait a long time until you arrived.
She pronounced those words biting her red-tinted lips.
He understood that she was feigning detachment but was actually immersed in deep nervousness, so he crossed his arms over his chest. The intense fragrance filling the room leaked into his lungs, crisping his already altered nerves even more.
He organized his thoughts and pinned her with his gaze, as if warning her.
—Were you waiting for my?
—I already told you —she replied quickly, wetting her dry lips.
He contemplated them for a moment before shifting his gaze toward the window. He felt a strong tightness in his lower abdomen and noticed that his body temperature was rising gradually. Annoyed with himself for reacting with the restlessness of a stallion perceiving the scent of a mare, he asked severely:
—Why?
A nuance of involuntary reproach tinged his voice. He advanced with a firm step toward the bed and looked down at her imposing air.
—You have been avoiding me deliberately during the last few days.
—That... I just needed some time.
A flash of anxiety crossed her dark blue pupils. A slight blush appeared on her pale cheeks and on her snowy neck, making the aroma of her body grow denser.
He squeezed his sweat-moistened hands and questioned rigorously:
—Time for what?
She squeezed the edge of her skirt with a tense movement.
—Time to recover...
That voice, which broke out as if forced, appeased the man's hostility in a second. Varkas leaned toward her with a serious countenance.
—That night there was a bloodstain on the blanket. Was the wound serious?
—No, I am fine. They have told me it is something natural, that is all.
The relief her response produced did not last long; his anatomy tightened again at the words that followed:
—The wounds have already healed, so we can maintain relations without any inconvenience.
He remained silent for a few moments, scrutinizing her face. She proceeded lightly:
—To conceive a child, we must do it regularly. My nanny says... it is better to do it as often as possible.
After shaking off his momentary absorption, Varkas let out a dry laugh. Apparently, that woman planned to treat him simply as a stallion destined for the perpetuation of the lineage.
He took the robe resting beside the bed and threw it over her body.
—I am sorry, but the proposal is not tempting to me. Please, leave my quarters now.
—I told you that you have no right to refuse.
She stood up in the seat and threw him a look as sharp as a spear.
—This is a duty. And you must fulfill it, whether you want to or not.
Varkas narrowed his eyes. He knew perfectly well in his heart of hearts that her words were correct; to engender an heir constituted, without a doubt, his responsibility.
The reason he had not demanded intimacy until that moment, even being aware of it, was that he understood very well how much she abhorred the touch of a man. And as long as an alternative like Lucas existed, there was no reason to overwhelm her with an unnecessary burden.
However, if she was the one requesting it, the situation changed. Had he not harbored inside the hope that, someday, this woman would be capable of accepting him? If she extended her hand first, he had no choice but to hold it.
—Will you comply with my orders? —Talia pressed with a haughty tone, worthy of a queen. However, the fear she could not hide vibrated at the bottom of her eyes.
He spoke with determination:
—If you so wish.
A mixture of embarrassment and relief crossed her features. Varkas contemplated her meticulously and added with firmness:
—But this time, we will do it my way.
