Chapter 18 — Something Changing
The days after the royal gala felt different.
Not dramatically different.
There was no grand declaration, no sudden realization, and certainly no conversation about feelings.
But somehow, Mia and Nathan had started spending more time together.
At first, neither of them noticed.
Mia would finish her morning duties and find herself walking toward Nathan's study instead of returning to her room.
Nathan would leave a meeting and somehow end up looking for Mia before doing anything else.
It became a quiet habit.
One afternoon, Mia walked into Nathan's study carrying a stack of papers.
Nathan looked up from his desk.
"You're here."
Mia raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"No."
He returned his attention to the document in front of him.
Mia placed her papers on the small table beside the window.
"I need to finish these."
"You have an entire palace."
"And?"
"You chose my study."
Mia shrugged.
"It's quieter here."
Nathan looked at her for a moment before returning to his work.
"Fine."
That was all.
No argument.
No teasing.
Just silence.
For the next hour, they worked in the same room.
Mia occasionally asked Nathan a question about royal procedures, and he answered. Nathan sometimes asked Mia for her opinion on matters involving upcoming events, and she gave it.
Neither of them thought there was anything unusual about it.
Eventually, Mia leaned back in her chair.
"I'm tired."
Nathan glanced at the clock.
"You've been working since breakfast."
"So?"
"So you should rest."
Mia looked at him.
"Since when do you care whether I rest?"
Nathan paused.
"Since you're my wife."
The answer came naturally.
Mia stared at him for a second.
Then she looked away.
"Right."
Neither said anything else.
---
That evening, Mia went outside to the palace gardens.
She sat beneath one of the large trees, enjoying the cool evening air.
A few minutes later, Nathan appeared.
Mia looked over her shoulder.
"What are you doing here?"
"Taking a walk."
"Here?"
Nathan nodded.
"Yes."
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
"You followed me."
"I didn't."
"You definitely did."
Nathan smiled.
"I saw you leave."
"And then you came after me."
"I was already coming this way."
Mia laughed softly.
"Of course you were."
Nathan sat on the bench beside her.
For a while, they simply watched the garden.
There was something peaceful about sitting beside someone who had known you for most of your life.
Mia didn't feel the need to fill every silence.
Neither did Nathan.
After a while, Mia spoke.
"Do you remember our old hiding place?"
Nathan smiled.
"The place by the lake?"
"Yes."
"You used to complain every time I made you walk there."
"Because you always walked too fast."
"You were slow."
"I was not."
Nathan laughed.
Mia smiled.
For several minutes, they talked about their childhood.
They remembered things they hadn't spoken about in years.
The games they used to play.
The secrets they kept from their families.
The silly arguments.
The afternoons they spent together.
And somehow, the conversation made Mia realize something.
She had missed this.
Not the childhood.
Not the past.
Just having Nathan beside her without everything feeling complicated.
She glanced at him.
Nathan was smiling at something she had said.
For a brief moment, she simply watched him.
Then she quickly looked away.
She didn't understand why.
And she didn't bother trying to.
Nathan also noticed the quiet moment.
But he said nothing.
He simply looked toward the garden.
Neither of them mentioned it.
---
Later that night, Mia was preparing for bed when there was a knock on her door.
She opened it.
Nathan stood outside.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Then why are you here?"
Nathan held out a small book.
"You left this in my study."
Mia looked at it.
"My book."
She took it from him.
"Thanks."
Nathan nodded.
He turned to leave.
"Nathan."
He stopped.
Mia smiled.
"Goodnight."
He looked back at her.
"Goodnight, Mia."
He walked away.
Mia closed the door.
For some reason, she stood there for a few seconds.
Then she shook her head.
"What is wrong with me?"
She placed the book on her table and went to bed.
Across the palace, Nathan sat in his room.
He found himself thinking about the evening in the garden.
He didn't know why.
There was nothing unusual about it.
Mia was his childhood best friend.
Now she was his wife.
Of course they were becoming closer.
It was normal.
At least, that's what he told himself.
And Mia told herself the same thing.
Neither of them realized that something between them had quietly begun to change.
And neither was ready to give it a name.