Rogue and Riveting

Chapter 15 Break the News

"T-That's a hard question, Enoch," Adelia answered with a nervous look at her husband. "I guess it depends on what is your secret." They were still hugging each other, but after she said that, Enoch released her so that they could talk properly. "But it's up to you. I may be interested in what you want to tell me, but that is something that you have the sole right to decide on. I can't force you to tell me something that you don't want to tell me."

Enoch nodded. "You're being cerebral with this, Adelia. I'm quite surprised."

"Why? Did you think that I will ask you to tell me now what is it that you have been keeping from me?"

"Yes. And a part of me even want you to beg me to ask what is it," he replied honestly. "I really want to tell you everything, but you know... certain things permit me to do it even if... even if you are my already my wife..."

It was like a lightbulb illuminated on top of Adelia's head. "Of course! It's about something that you can't tell a foreigner, right?"

Enoch hesitated, then nodded. "It is... I realized this when your cousin was here a while ago. I thought I was fine with this setup, but now that I get to know you more, I wanted to tell you everything that you have to know... about me. But until you bear a child with me, I cannot even tell you things that a wife ought to know from her husband."

"I understand, Enoch. So you mean, I just have to have an heir with you for me to finally be on the secret. Is that it?"

"Yes, my lovely wife," said Enoch with a heavy heart. "That's why I want us to have a child already. Aside from the fact that I want a child of our own, it will make you eligible to know what you should know from me."

"Okay, I understand, Enoch," said Adelia who waved her hands in front of Enoch to make him worry less. Enoch was fidgeting, and she knew why. He probably was too scared that Adelia might take this the wrong way and get mad that she can't obtain certain pieces of secret information until she bears a child with Enoch. He probably thought that she would find the situation ridiculous and archaic. And she actually does, but she is a level-headed woman, at least in her own opinion. She knows where this weird law on secrets is coming from.

Romeodel had been closed to the world for years, and naturally, they will have laws and traditions that strictly prohibit sharing them with 'outsiders.' And I guess I was still an outsider to them, even if I'm the Queen, as I still have no child that will link me to their royal family. Maybe to them, marriage was not enough for me to get into the secret. 

"There are certain things that you will only learn if you will have to deal with it, and that's one of those things, Adelia. I just hope that the day where I will no longer have to hold back from telling it to you will come soon."

Adelia nodded because she know that Enoch was just following what he thought was right. 'Alright. I will not force you to tell me anything, Enoch. But please, my only request is if it is a matter between life and death, please let me know what I need to know."

"I promise, my dear wife. And I'm sorry that my hands are tied right now, but someday you will understand why I am like this. I just hope that when the time comes, you will not hate me."

"Why would I hate you?" Adelia asked him. "You are a good husband to me. You have exceeded my expectations. Unless it's something that will make me despise you, I doubt that I will ever want to be away from you."

Enoch sighed, went closer to her, and hugged her again. She could feel his breathing, and it was rugged. His heartbeat too was a little faster than normal, and that's when Adelia realized how serious this conversation must have been for him. But she was not going to make him feel like he was doing something wrong to her when she did not feel that way. In fact, she's impressed and grateful that he became honest with her this early in their relationship because she could not imagine what would it have felt like if he did not tell her these things right now.

Now she had a clear picture of what is it that she should keep an eye on. She reviewed it on her head as soon as they went to bed. While Enoch was sleeping peacefully next to her, Adelia was wide awake and thinking of what has happened and been said to this date. It was hard to fathom at first that something was still making her feel like she don't belong here when she has technically had the highest female position in this country. 

First, Adelia thought of what Ester had told her before. This was what's confusing her, as Ester had made it sound like Enoch had something in him that she should be scared about. Or at least something that she should be wary of. That was what she got from her 'spicy' warnings and ominous remarks about her husband. How she wishes that she could just interrogate Ester, but she knew that Ester was also just trying to make her go home to Sanjolia by scaring her. It was the only possible motive why Ester is trying to scare her with Enoch's 'secret.'

And second, now that Adelia knows that this secret revolves around something that she needs to know about her husband (or perhaps his whole family) and that Enoch does not want to hide it from her himself, it took out the frustration on her part. She even forgot how bad the incident that night, when an unknown man entered their room when she was sleeping alone. It was the most terrifying moment of her life so far, but now that Enoch is back with her, she can't even remember how she felt when she saw that man's face which looked like her husband's.

***

"Are you ready?" Enoch asked her while they held hands as they walked to the courtyard where their car is waiting for them. They were fully dressed for their travel and their luggage was already in the car's trunk. Adelia wondered why their official travels are with cars and not with the Zyklops, and Enoch just replied that he preferred traveling longer as that means he will get more time with her. Adelia had to hide her giggle when he said that to her because it was too much for her heart.

"I was ready since last night," she replied cheekily. And as they went inside the car, they began talking about what they would do once they arrive at Sanjolia, because yes, they were going back to Adelia's country. This was going to be their first official visit to Sanjolia as King and Queen, so Adelia was very excited to go back to where she grew up. 

It was a long drive, but when they finally got past through the borders, and then to Border City, it was only an hour to the palace of Sanjolia. Great crowds of people welcomed them in Border City. They have flags of the two countries waving in every direction that they go, and Adelia could not help but marvel at how her people had accepted the union of the two countries.

And Enoch noticed it too. "Your people are very sweet, my dear wife. Look at them, they can't even see us through these car windows but they are waving to us merrily."

Adelia could not help but feel grateful to the people of Border City. "They just like you. You're charming, Enoch. Everyone loves a charming leader."

Enoch smiled widely at her comment. "Coming from you, I feel so happy," he said while Adelia flushed. And she was sure that if they were just alone now, something would have happened already. One thing that Adelia discovered about her husband is that Enoch is a lover. It's hard to even put it into words, but Enoch is the type of man who seemed like he was born in this world solely for the purpose of loving. It sounds corny, but Adelia knew that it was true for she hadn't met any other man who is like her husband. And even if she did, she's pretty sure that they will not even come close to Enoch.

He is just that intense.

Meanwhile, they saw a great crowd of people in front of the palace when they arrived at the Sanjolia capital. There was a live band, and people were making merry noises and cheers as their car approached. Adelia also suddenly teared up when she saw her father again, smiling and waiting patiently at the entrance for them. 

"Are you ready? Come on and let's meet your father. I'm sure that you miss him."

"So much," said Adelia. "I miss him so much."

Enoch looked at her with concerned eyes. "But my dear wife, are you also ready to break the news to him?" he asked, and that's when Adelia remembered why they were here in the first place. They were about to tell her father about the Noble Service's discovery about those mysterious killings!