Olivia Sparks

No matter how big the room was, Olivia felt the walls closing in on her as King Alistair's seething glare swept past her. Her grip on Maxen's hand tightened when her imagination made her see things like the printed flock of an egret on the wallpaper, fluttering its wings to fly up and away from the lotus jade pond to escape the king's impending wrath.

"This is not the time for jokes, Maxen. You, of all people, knew how important that protocol is. It ensures our safety just in case, God forbid it won't happen, someone attacks The Highlands."

Maxen protested, "Olivia is safer beside me. I don't want to leave her life in the hands of another person. I am her husband, and I am responsible to keep her safe from any threats. Is this what we should have a discussion on? Our sleeping arrangement? Is this Abbott's idea?" 

"No, it was my idea. News traveled fast, and it reached my ears how you defied the rules of my house." King Alistair then darted his gaze to Olivia. "I'm not blaming you, Livi, of course. I have an inkling it was Maxen who kept you ignorant about this protocol, and your sleeping arrangement has to end today. The room next to Maxen's bedroom had been freshened up for your use. It's as comfortable as his bed. I can assure you of that."

"Thank you for thinking about me." Olivia smiled, yet it did not reach her eyes. Although she looked displeased at the moment, King Alistair held Olivia in high regard for not putting up a fight, unlike his wife and son. "Please excuse me for a second," she said and stood up from her seat.

Confusion painted Maxen and Queen Isla's faces as their eyes locked on Olivia's retreating back. Did she just agree to King Alistair's demand? Wasn't she adamant about sleeping away from Maxen when she asked for his help earlier?

Soon, rushed steps rustled against the rug that adorned the floor announcing Olivia's return, and three heads snapped on the pot in Olivia's hands.

"Please accept my gift for your hospitality," Olivia thanked the king, handing him a pot of a venus trap. It was plump, and its colors were vivid in red and green.

King Alistair reluctantly accepted the gift, although he wanted to gag upon seeing a fly caught in between one of the flower's flaps. 

"Livi darling is the best! This gift is wonderful. I'm sure it would be a beautiful accessory on Alistair's bedside table, right, King Alistair?" Queen Isla fawned.

"Of course. This plant is a delightful addition to my room. What a surprise. Hah! Thank you, Livi," King Alistair nervously said and raised the pot, dodging a bit when the teeth of the plant were at his eye level. 

"Jesus," he prayed and closed his eyes. "This is beautiful," he gulped. He almost cursed when he felt his skin prickle as if the plant's teeth sink in his skin. 

He didn't want to be rude as gifts should be accepted with open arms, so he cut their meeting short and said, "Everyone in this room heard Livi. She agreed that she will be using the room next to Maxen's for everyone's peace of mind. The topic is now settled and your mom, the queen, and I will leave you to enjoy the rest of the day."

The king and queen were standing by the threshold with Maxen and Olivia behind them to walk the older pair out when Olivia said in a singsong voice, "You don't have to feed them today, Dad. I'll have someone deliver the plant's food to your doorstep."

Maxen bowed his head to hide the smirk on his face. He rubbed the skin above his eyebrows to keep himself from breaking out into a laugh. However, Queen Isla beat him to it, slapping King Alistair's arms as she turned red from too much joy.

"I'm giving you a way out from your misery, Alistair. I'll take the plant away from your hand in exchange for Livi darling and Maxen sleeping in the same room."

King Alistair paused and contemplated on Queen Isla's offer. It was tempting and sinful, he almost wanted to say yes. But as the king and m.a.t.u.r.e person between the four of them, he stood his ground and stuck to what kept the royal family safe in decades and that was the protocols that were in place.

"This plant is Livi's present to me so it stays with me. Off we go, Isla." King Alistair grunted and pivoted on his heel, never once looking back on Maxen and Olivia's way.

Later that night, Olivia and Maxen were standing outside on the balcony of their bedroom. He was hugging her from behind as they looked far out on the horizon where the metro glowed in the distance. But no matter how inviting the metro's bursting nightlife was, it didn't compare to the fireflies that glowed on the grassy rolling hills of The Highlands.

"It's beautiful," Olivia mused, tightening Maxen's arms around her waist when a chilly wind blew past.

"You're more beautiful than the stars."

"I'm talking about the fireflies, Max."

"Yes, the glowing stars on the fireflies' b.u.t.t."

Olivia pushed herself off from Maxen's cocoon and angled her head up. She scoffed and shook her head when Maxen's boyish grin welcomed her.

"Can you pick those stars for me?" she challenged and crossed her arms over her c.h.e.s.t. To her surprise, Maxen zoomed in and out of the bedroom in no time, holding out an empty apothecary jar. 

Her imagination ran wild as a portrait of cotton balls scattered in the bathroom flashed in her eyes, but she was instantly snapped out of her reverie when Maxen jumped over the balcony without a word and landed straight on the ground floor like a ninja.

"Max! What the heck are you doing?!" Olivia whispered her shock, her eyes as big as saucers, but it softened upon hearing Maxen's declaration.

"One half of me is yours, the other half yours—Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours, and so all yours."

"But that's Portia's line," she whispered; however, it didn't matter. She knew it was the message that Maxen wanted to send across. Olivia cupped her cheeks when heat crept up from her neck, painting a blush on her cheeks. 

Her eyes mirrored the glowing green and orange on the field as she trained her gaze on Maxen who circled around, catching as many fireflies as he could inside the jar in his hands.

After a few minutes, Maxen climbed up onto the balcony in his room, flexing his agility to his wife.

He was soaking with sweat and panting as Olivia helped and pulled him up to his feet.

"What are these fireflies for?" Maxen asked as he studied the glowing insects inside the jar.

"For Dad's plant."

Maxen took a sharp and pained breath. His clear blue eyes pierced through Olivia's but she just blinked at him.

"I'm not going to sleep in a different room, Olivia."

"What? Why would you sleep in a different room?"

"Because you agreed to Dad, remember?"

"I thanked him for thinking about me, but I don't remember agreeing to him."

A big smile broke out from Maxen's face as he whisked Olivia off her feet, carrying her back inside their bedroom like a sack of potato.