Chapter 31 — The Morning After
Mia woke up earlier than usual.
For several seconds, she stared at the ceiling, completely unaware of why she felt so restless.
Then she remembered.
The sitting room.
Nathan.
The kiss.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh no."
She pulled the blanket over her face.
Why had she kissed him back?
She knew why.
Because she had wanted to.
That was the problem.
Mia sat up and ran both hands through her hair.
Yesterday, she had been able to blame everything on accidents.
But there had been nothing accidental about last night's kiss.
Nathan had kissed her because he wanted to.
And she had kissed him back because she wanted to.
Mia climbed out of bed and walked toward her wardrobe.
"Just act normal," she whispered to herself.
It was simple.
She had known Nathan for most of her life.
She could certainly have breakfast with her own husband without acting strange.
At least, that was what she told herself.
---
Nathan was already in the dining room when Mia arrived.
He looked perfectly calm.
Too calm.
He was reading a newspaper while drinking his coffee.
Mia stopped at the doorway.
Nathan looked up.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
For one second, the memory of last night returned.
Mia immediately looked away.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
She sat across from him instead of beside him.
Nathan noticed.
He said nothing.
A servant placed breakfast on the table.
Mia picked up a piece of toast.
Nathan continued reading.
Silence.
Mia took one bite.
Silence.
She took another.
Still silence.
Finally, Nathan lowered the newspaper.
"Are you avoiding me?"
Mia nearly choked on her toast.
"No!"
"You sat at the other end of the table."
"That's because I wanted to."
"Exactly."
Mia frowned.
"You're the one who kissed me last night. Don't expect me to wake up this morning and act like nothing happened."
Nathan smiled slightly.
"I didn't expect that."
"Then what did you expect?"
"I don't know."
That answer surprised her.
Nathan placed the newspaper down.
"I'm trying to figure it out too."
Mia relaxed slightly.
"So we're both confused."
"Very."
She nodded.
"Good."
Nathan raised an eyebrow.
"Good?"
"Yes. Because I thought I was the only one."
He smiled.
"You're definitely not the only one."
Their eyes met again.
This time, neither looked away immediately.
Mia felt her cheeks getting warm.
She quickly reached for her juice.
Nathan noticed and smiled to himself.
"You're blushing."
"I am not."
"You are."
"Eat your breakfast."
Nathan laughed.
---
Just as the atmosphere began to feel comfortable again, the dining room doors opened.
Mia's second brother walked in with Sofia.
They stopped when they saw Mia and Nathan sitting across from each other.
Sofia looked from Mia to Nathan.
Then back to Mia.
"Good morning."
"Morning," Mia replied.
Sofia sat down.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Is everything okay?"
Mia immediately nodded.
"Everything is fine."
Nathan picked up his coffee.
"Completely fine."
Sofia looked at them suspiciously.
Her husband glanced between them.
"What?"
"Nothing," Sofia said.
She continued eating.
But she kept watching them.
Mia noticed.
"Why are you looking at us?"
"I didn't say anything."
"You're staring."
"I am observing."
Nathan almost laughed.
Mia gave him a warning look.
Sofia noticed that too.
Her eyebrows lifted.
"Interesting."
"What?" Mia asked.
"Nothing."
---
After breakfast, Mia and Nathan walked through the palace garden together.
Neither mentioned the kiss for several minutes.
Finally, Mia sighed.
"This is going to be difficult."
Nathan looked at her.
"What is?"
"Acting normal."
"We don't have to act."
Mia glanced at him.
"What do you mean?"
"We can just be ourselves."
She thought about that.
Nathan continued walking.
"We've spent our entire lives knowing each other. One kiss doesn't erase that."
Mia smiled.
"You're right."
"And if things become awkward…"
"They already are."
Nathan laughed.
Mia laughed too.
The tension finally began to loosen.
They continued walking side by side.
No pretending.
No forcing anything.
Just Mia and Nathan.
Only now, there was something new between them.
Something they hadn't figured out yet.
As they reached the garden fountain, Nathan looked at her.
Mia looked back.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Nathan smiled.
Mia smiled too.
And this time, neither of them needed to kiss.
The simple smile was enough.
At least for now.