Chapter 992: I Will Protect You

Raphael looked at Rowena with a playful glint in his golden eyes. The woman turned to him with a raised brow before she realized what he meant by his words. And then, immediately her cheeks flushed red.

Raphael opened the door with one hand while his other hand held Rowena's hand and clasped their fingers together. She lowered her head and hid her smile.

Her heart was slowly pounding when she remembered how they made out in their room in the royal palace and almost had sex but a servant came knocking on the door and ruined the mood.

Raphael was right. Here, he was the master and no servants would bother them if he told them not to. And she... she would soon become the lady of the house. This master bedroom was going to be their love nest.

This mansion was such a beautiful house too. Almost everything she saw here was the thing that she would pick herself. Raphael and she were truly compatible.

"This is a nice room," Rowena chuckled. She looked around them and walked inside the room, holding Raphael's hand more tightly. The room was huge with really high ceilings and all the windows were floor to ceiling in height, with thick gray curtains on each side.

There was a beautiful lounge at the end of the room, and on the other end was a big wooden bed with intricate carvings and gold decorations. Everything was perfect.

"The most important place in a home," Raphael chuckled. He was happy to see Rowena look happy.

When she thought he wasn't watching, Raphael could see that she was hiding her glum feeling. This made him worried if Rowena didn't feel welcomed in Cretea, or if she thought she wouldn't be able to adjust to a life among the immortals.

He was even a tad worried that his mother was too pushy, or his father looked overbearing that Rowena was scared to be around them. However, every time he tried to probe if anything bothered her, she never said anything and only told him she was too overwhelmed by the experience.

So, Raphael tried to approach her gently, pretending not to see her gloominess. As long as he could make her feel that he would always be there for her, and keep her safe, perhaps, slowly she would open up to him, once she felt safe and content.

His heart was filled with warmth to the brim when he saw her smile and walk around the bedroom. holding his hand. She liked this place. She softly touched the bedposts, the curtain, the silky fabric, and many more.

"I don't know why I agree with you now," Rowena said quietly as she took a rose from a vase on the table. "When I was younger I used to hate my bedroom, you know. I spent the majority of my time there, like a bird in a cage. My bedroom was really beautiful... but to me, it was hell. I just wanted out."

Raphael understood what Rowena meant. He was there with her for so many years. He witnessed her being locked up, and bullied by her evil father.

He stepped closer and pulled her into his embrace. 

"Well..." Raphael cleared his throat. "I promise you will never feel that way ever again."

Rowena rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. His words sounded so comforting. She hugged him tightly and whispered, "I don't feel caged here. This place made me feel happy."

"I am glad to hear that," Raphael tightened his hug and kissed the top of her head. "That's all I ever want you to feel. Happiness."

Rowena looked up and watched his handsome face in awe. From the moment they first met, that was all she had ever felt whenever he was around.

She truly didn't understand what was it about her that made him feel so protective and devoted. 

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Raphael teased her. "Is it because I am very handsome?"

Rowena rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"You know you are truly handsome," she said, then  quickly added, "However, that's not the reason why I am looking at you."

"Ahh... must be my personality," Raphael said again. "Or my kind heart."

"You have a good personality and a kind heart, that's true," Rowena nodded. "But that's not why I am looking at you."

"Ahh... now you got me curious." Raphael looked Rowena in the eye, trying to guess what she had in mind.

If only his power came with mind-reading, it would be so nice. He could know what was in this beautiful woman's mind.

"Tell me oh my sweet beautiful wife, what is it that you found so interesting about me that you are looking at me this way? You make me blush..." he said playfully.

Rowena touched his cheek and narrowed her eyes. "Hmm... honest answer?"

"Always."

"Well..." Rowena decided to speak honestly with him. "I like looking at my reflection in your eyes."

She was often wondering what was it about her that Raphael saw to make that man fall head over heels. Tonight, out of curiosity, she looked him in the eye and suddenly saw herself.

Surprisingly, for the first time in her life, Rowena liked her reflection that was staring back at her. The woman she saw in his eyes had such gentleness that made her feel in awe. She looked charming, gentle, and elegant. Seeing herself in his eyes reminded Rowena of a calm surface of a lake.

Was this how he saw her?

"Ah..." Raphael smiled so broadly at her answer. "Beautiful isn't it? I always wish that you could see yourself through my eyes, and today it came true. I am glad you like what you saw."

Rowena nodded. "I actually don't like seeing myself in the mirror because I often thought my beauty was a curse. People only liked my physical appearance and sometimes it also put me in danger. I have been lucky because when I was still in Ashland, I had knights protecting me, and when I was with Julian, he protected me."

"Now, I will protect you," Raphael said solemnly. "You don't have to worry about being who you are. You can still become the most beautiful woman in Cretea and all seven realms, and nobody would dare bother you, for I am by your side."