Chapter 205: v2- - 24: breakfast II

Marian reached for the serving spoon.

She placed a portion of eggs onto Adrian’s plate.

Then some fruit.

A piece of bread.

She set the spoon down.

"There."

Adrian looked at the plate.

Then at her.

He said nothing.

Marian waited.

There was no smile.

No approving remark.

Not even the faint amusement she had seen earlier.

Adrian simply picked up his fork and began to eat.

Marian stared at him for a moment.

Then she looked down at her own plate.

Fine.

Perhaps she was making too much of it.

She picked up her fork.

She took a bite.

The food was good.

Of course it was.

Everything served in the Imperial household seemed to have been prepared with the assumption that the Emperor’s breakfast was a matter of national importance.

Marian took another bite.

Across from her, Adrian ate in silence.

She glanced at him.

Nothing.

He looked perfectly composed.

She lowered her eyes again.

Perhaps this was what he wanted.

She had asked him what she should do.

He had told her to decide for herself.

So she had decided to serve him breakfast.

It seemed reasonable.

Thoughtful, even.

But looking at his expression now, Marian couldn’t help thinking that perhaps it was also terribly innocent.

She had spent the night with him.

She had promised to prove that she had chosen him.

And the first thing she had thought to do was put eggs on his plate.

She nearly smiled at herself.

Brilliant, Marian.

She took another bite.

Adrian reached for his tea.

His eyes briefly met hers.

Marian immediately looked down at her plate.

She could feel his gaze lingering for a moment before he turned away.

Her cheeks warmed.

She tried to concentrate on her breakfast.

It was surprisingly difficult.

The room was quiet except for the faint sounds of cutlery and porcelain.

There was something strangely domestic about it.

She had never imagined that her first morning with Adrian after all those years would be like this.

Not declarations.

Not apologies.

Not even an explanation of what they were now.

Just breakfast.

And a test she wasn’t entirely sure how to pass.

Marian glanced at him again.

He was still eating.

Still calm.

Still giving her nothing.

She watched him take another sip of tea.

His expression remained unreadable.

He wasn’t displeased.

At least, she didn’t think he was.

But he certainly wasn’t impressed.

And somehow that bothered her.

She wanted to please him.

Not merely because he had told her to.

She wanted that small flicker of satisfaction she had seen earlier.

That smile.

That warmth.

She wanted to know that she had done something that reached him.

Marian took another piece of fruit.

She ate slowly this time.

Perhaps she should try something else.

But what?

She glanced toward him.

Adrian looked back.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, neither looked away.

Marian’s heart gave a small flutter.

Then Adrian returned his attention to his plate.

Marian lowered her gaze.

She felt almost ridiculous.

She had known Adrian for eighteen years.

She had once been able to tell what he was thinking from the smallest change in his expression.

Now she found herself sitting across from him, wondering whether he liked the breakfast she had served him.

Perhaps that was part of the punishment.

Perhaps he wanted her to feel uncertain.

Or perhaps—

No.

She shouldn’t overthink it.

She had agreed to prove herself.

He had asked her to please him.

So she would.

She just had to figure out how.

Marian finished the last of her tea.

Then she looked at Adrian again.

This time, she didn’t look away.

She studied him quietly.

His posture.

His expression.

The way his fingers rested against the cup.

The faint movement of his jaw as he ate.

And gradually, a thought came to her.

If breakfast wasn’t enough...

perhaps she needed to stop behaving like a polite guest.

Perhaps she needed to remind him that she wasn’t here simply to serve him.

She was here because she had chosen him.

Marian set down her cup.

She looked at Adrian for another moment.

Then she slowly rose from her chair.

Adrian’s eyes followed her.

He still said nothing.

And Marian, suddenly very aware of the silence between them, walked around the table.

Marian stopped beside him.

Adrian looked up at her.

He didn’t ask what she intended to do.

For a moment, Marian hesitated.

Then she gathered the sheet more securely around herself and carefully lowered herself onto the edge of his lap, sitting sideways.

Adrian’s hand came automatically to her waist, steadying her.

Marian’s heart fluttered at the familiar gesture.

She tried not to let it show.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"You told me to please you."

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

"I did."

Marian reached toward the table.

"Then let me."

She picked up a small piece of fruit and held it toward him.

Adrian looked at her hand.

Then at her.

He accepted it without comment.

Marian watched his expression carefully.

Still nothing.

She frowned slightly.

Apparently, feeding him wasn’t enough either.

She glanced over the breakfast again.

Her eyes settled on the grapes.

A small idea occurred to her.

This one was considerably more daring.

She picked one up.

For a moment, she simply looked at it.

Then she looked at Adrian.

He was already watching her.

Marian’s cheeks warmed, but she didn’t look away.

She brought the grape to her lips and held it there.

Adrian’s expression changed.

He understood.

Without a word, he leaned toward her.

One hand came to the back of her neck, steadying her gently as he took the grape from her lips.

He drew back just enough to swallow it.

Marian’s breath caught.

For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

Then Adrian leaned in again.

This time, there was no grape between them.

He kissed her.

The kiss was slow, intimate, and unexpectedly familiar.

Marian’s fingers tightened slightly against his shoulder.

She had been trying to please him.

And she had.

Something warm and strangely satisfying settled inside her.

She wasn’t sure which felt better—that she had pleased Adrian, or the quiet reward of knowing she had.

The distinction seemed insignificant.

For now, she simply enjoyed the feeling.

--

Tbc