Conquering His Cold Heart

He gave a gentle nod when he saw Caspian standing right by the open door and held out his hand to display the medicine that the doctor had prescribed to Anastasia, “I forgot and took it with me.”

“Ah! It’s alright,” Caspian took the medicine from Alexander’s hand and then asked him, “Do you want to sit by your sister’s side for a little longer?”

Alexander looked inside the room to see his sister closing her eyes and resting. He didn’t want to disturb her, so he shook his head and replied, “It’s alright, Your Majesty. She needs to rest for now.” He bowed his head to Caspian and said, “I will trust her to your care.”

Caspian slightly curled the corners of his lips and then agreed. “Sure. You don’t have to worry about her. You should also rest well, Prince Alexander.”

Alexander turned around to see Tilla rushing toward the room while carrying a tray in her hand. He waited for Tilla to reach there and when she bowed to him, he asked her, “Tilla, take good care of the Queen.”

“I will, my Prince,” Tilla replied with a polite bow, and when Alexander departed from there, she bowed to Caspian and said, “Your Majesty, I have brought some mushroom soup and drinking water for the Queen.”

Caspian took the tray from her hand and then asked, “Why don’t you bring the necessary things to give her a tepid bath? I will feed this to her.”

Tilla gave a bow and then rushed back to the kitchen, while Caspian walked inside the room and put the tray on the table that was beside the bed.

.....

He swirled the soup with the spoon and then dripped a few drops of the soup at the back of his palm to check the temperature. ‘Seems about right,’ he thought to himself and shifted his gaze to his wife.

“Anna, let me help you to sit up. You can go to sleep after having this soup and taking a dose of your medicine.”

Anastasia opened her eyes and gave a nod.

Caspian stacked the pillows behind her back and then helped her to sit on her bed. He then took the bowl in his hand and started to feed her with great love.

After drinking a few spoons of the soup, Anastasia didn’t feel like having it as it was tasting really bitter due to her sickness. She shook her head and said while wrinkling her nose, “I’m done. No more, please.”

However, Caspian narrowed his eyes and said, “You didn’t eat back there saying you were not hungry. I know you said that because we would also be forced to eat along with you. So, you should at least finish this bowl of soup. Else, you will get weaker if you take your medicine on your empty stomach.”

Anastasia reluctantly forced down a few more spoons of the soup and struggled again. “Caspian... I really can’t have anymore.”

“Okay, this is the last spoon, I promise,” Caspian said while holding a spoonful of soup before Anastasia’s mouth.

Anastasia unwillingly opened her mouth and then closed her eyes while forcefully swallowing it. She took a deep breath through her mouth and immediately covered her mouth with her blanket.

Caspian smiled and put the bowl down on the table. “No more. I know.” He then poured a glass of water and gave it to her. “Here. I will prepare the medicine for you.”

Anastasia took the glass from him and looked at him with appreciative eyes. He didn’t seem to mind all the work at all.

She sighed and mumbled, “I should have brought either Martha or Holly together with me. Then you wouldn’t have to do all this.” She looked him in the eyes and apologetically said, “I trouble you so much...”

Caspian furrowed his brows and very gently flicked on Anastasia’s forehead. “Who told you that you are troubling me? And who told you that I would have left these tasks to some maids? I wouldn’t have let anyone come near you anyway.”

He lovingly caressed her cheek and said, “I like taking care of you. As your husband, it’s my job.”

Anastasia smiled and buried her face in the glass she was holding.

Caspian ruffled her hair and then went back to mixing the medicine with some warm water so that it would be easier for Anastasia to take it.

When Caspian handed over the medicine that already looked bitter, Anastasia took it and gulped it without complaining. She felt like she had nagged him enough, and didn’t want him to feel bad for her.

“This medicine wasn’t bitter?” Caspian asked when she gulped everything without even stopping to breathe.

Anastasia quickly gargled her mouth with the plain water and replied, “It was. But it’s okay because-” She narrowed her eyes in concern when Caspian suddenly turned into a statue with a serious expression on his face.

“Umm...” She watched Caspian slowly turning his around and then looking out of the window. So, she asked in a worried whisper, “Is there any problem?”

Caspian quickly looked back at Anastasia with a smile on his face and replied, “No, it’s nothing.” He pointed at the glass that she was holding and asked, “Are you done with that?”

Anastasia nodded and handed the glass to Caspian.

Right then, Tilla entered the room without even bothering to ask for permission first. The door was already open, so she took the liberty and went to stand by Anastasia’s bed while holding a large bowl of lukewarm water and clean towels.

Caspian made room for those things on the table and while Tilla was putting those things down, he asked her, “Have you packed some thick clothes for the Queen?”

Tilla gave a nod and replied, “I had packed a woolen hood.”

“Bring it to me,” Caspian ordered while soaking one of the towels in the water.

“Right now?” Tilla asked in confusion, and clarified what kind of cloth it was, “It is something that she only uses during travels.”

Caspian wrung the towel and said without even sparing a glance at Tilla, “I know. Bring it here. And make it quick.”

Tilla bowed and immediately ran out of the room.

Anastasia was now sure that there was something going on. She gave a worried glance at the window, but she couldn’t see anything since a sheet of mesh was nailed over it. “We aren’t going somewhere, are we?” she looked at Caspian and asked.

Caspian wiped Anastasia’s forehead with the towel and replied in a calm tone, “No, we aren’t leaving. But... I wanted to prepare, just in case.”

Anastasia still looked worried. So, Caspian gently pinched her cheeks and pulled them up as if to make her smile. And he whispered softly, “There’s nothing to worry about while I am at your side. Even if something was to happen, I will protect you with my life. You understand?”

That didn’t make Anastasia feel any better, rather it made her feel as if she was a liability to everyone.

And as if Caspian read her mind, he said, “Don’t overthink too much and blame yourself again. Just close your eyes and try to sleep.” He carefully wiped her neck and lovingly whispered, “And let your husband take care of you.”