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Cautious

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Chapter 25: Cautious (Delilah's POV)

I woke up the next morning and stretched in place, a small squeak leaving my throat before I rolled over. I could still feel his arm wrapped firmly around my waist as he spooned me. I turned to face him and found him wide awake. I blinked in surprise before letting out a soft laugh. "You're awake," I pointed out. 

He nodded blankly, staring at me, his eyes tracing every inch of my face. 

"Were you... watching me? Sleep?" 

He nodded again. "I was worried." 

I frowned in confusion. 

"About you having a nightmare of some sort. I just didn't want you to be thinking about what happened or what could happen or... what will happen." 

"Did you sleep at all, Spencer?" I lifted one hand, holding one side of his face while my thumb stroked his skin steadily. 

He blinked slowly, drowsily before humming, "Mm-hmm." 

"And how long did you sleep?"

He sighed, closing his eyes in exhaustion. "About two hours." 

I watched him silently for a minute before asking, "What time is it?" 

"Seven." 

"Then go back to sleep." 

"No, it's morning now." 

"That doesn't matter," I scolded. "You..." I trailed off with a huff. "You should stop. I understand that you worry about me, but really. Worry about yourself a little too, please." 

He smiled softly, rubbing his eyes. "Why should I worry about myself? You're right here to do that for me, aren't you?" 

I rolled my eyes, giving him a soft smack on his chest. "You need to stop." 

"Why?" He whined like a child, clinging onto me, his arms around my waist, his legs locking mine as he clutched onto me. 

I laughed, "What are you doing?" 

"Why?" He repeated the same thing, resting his face in the crook of my neck, pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder. 

I stared down at him, trying not to smile while he grinned at me, his hair falling down and into his eyes. "You're acting different. It's suspicious." 

"It's not suspicious, my dear wife. It's more husband-y," he smirked. 

"Ah," I nodded in understanding. "Is that what it is?" 

"Hmm," he nodded, beaming at me. 

"You..." I stopped myself, shaking my head. It's stupid, it makes no sense whatsoever, and it's impossible. 

"I, what?" 

"Nothing." 

"What?" He lifted his eyebrows. 

"Nothing," I laughed. 

"Tell me, Delilah," he demanded. 

"It was just a joke," I lied. 

"What was it?" 

"I was about to say, um... that you look like you're... falling in love," I exhaled. 

"Huh, do I?" He smirked at me. 

I rolled my eyes, scoffing. "Don't drag it on. I was just joking." 

"No, maybe I am."

"Already?" I teased, "Who would have thought the Prince Spencer was so... easy?" I leaned in just an inch. 

"Nobody," he replied mockingly, leaning in. "But now you know." 

"What? That you're easy?" 

"No," he mumbled. "That you had me. Easily." 

"You're not falling in love with me, Spencer," I chuckled. "It's just an attachment." 

"We'll see," he shrugged. 

"I guess we will," I retorted. 

♡♡♡

I settled into the window seat in the library that had a clear view of the backyard where the gardener was watering all the plants and burying some new seeds into the soil. 

Spencer is... pacing. This whole time, we've been trying to come up with a plan. What to do, how to do it, when to do it, and how to get away with it. I reckon that would be easiest, considering who Spencer is. 

But something doesn't feel right. I can't shake that feeling of guilt, it's hovering over me like a lone cloud. I heard Spencer huff before he fell into the seat right in front of me, leaning his head against the window. "Nothing?" I asked. 

He shook his head. "I can't pick." 

I stared out the window, contemplating it again. Was I too impulsive when I agreed? Is it wrong? 

"We need a good opportunity, that's the hardest part of this. I don't like seeing him but I need to see him in order to kill him," he scoffed. 

"We could hire someone," I suggested with a small shrug. 

"I'd rather do it myself," he said, his jaw and fists clenched. 

I watched him carefully. "You really hate him," I mumbled. 

Spencer stared at me. "He killed my mother." 

"I understand that, Spencer. But we have to be cautious." 

"And we will be," he persisted. "I won't let anything happen to you and he can't do anything to me, to begin with." I watched him, torn about what to do, which way to go. "I'll be cautious, Delilah. What? You think he hasn't tried to kill me or had me killed before?" My eyes widened. "I was the sole witness of his crime," he mumbled, letting out a frustrated breath. "I was the only one who could expose him to the world. I left the palace to stay alive, Delilah. I stepped down as the ruling prince so I wouldn't be killed." 

"Why isn't that enough for him? Why can't he just leave you alone?" I almost groaned in frustration, leaning my head against the wall. 

He chuckled dryly, "Because people know. People always know, Delilah. When you have so many eyes on you, and you're stupid enough to lie to your grand audience, they know. The public figured it out. Every bloody person has their suspicions about Giovanni's involvement in my mum's death, and everybody knows why I left. People don't listen to him or Nico anymore. He doesn't have a pawn in the game anymore. He wants me gone." 

"Just so the people have to listen to him? Doesn't he see anything other than himself? Is he nothing but selfish? God! I just—" 

"Want to kill him, I know," Spencer said, finishing the sentence for me. "And we will. We just need to figure out how." 

I clicked my tongue in frustration, looking out the window again. Talking about this with Spencer, hearing the things Giovanni has done, I become more confident in our decision to kill him. Somewhere inside, it doesn't feel right. But it doesn't feel wrong either. He took everything away from Spencer, he even tried taking this castle. I can't let him take anything else. I took those vows only yesterday. I promised to be by his side always. That's what I'm doing now. 

"But for now," Spencer sighed, sitting upright and turning so his back faced the window before he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to stand in front of him. I looked down at him, lifting my eyebrows. "Let's take a break." He gave my hands a soft squeeze. 

"Hmm," I nodded, my eyes traveling across his face. He's my husband, for the love of God. I promised commitment and loyalty to him, no matter what he does or where he goes, or what decisions he makes. I intend to keep my word. 

He chuckled, looking down at my red sundress and tracing the hem with his finger before giving it a little tug. "You look pretty." 

"Oh, do I?" I teased, a smile working its way onto my lips. 

He laughed softly, pulling me into his lap. I sat sideways but turned to look at him. "You always look pretty," he whispered, staring at our hands as he fidgeted with my fingers, tracing the shape of each other before grazing my knuckles with a single finger. "Daisy." 

"Yes?" 

"What if I said I really was... falling in love with you, hmm?" He couldn't look at me when he asked that. 

I bit back a smile, brushing his hair out of his eyes before pinching his cheek softly, teasing him. "Are you shy?" I sang. 

He pushed my hand away gently. "Please," he scoffed, "Why would I be shy?" I stared at him as he questioned, "What would you say?" 

"Hypothetically?" 

He nodded. 

"This doesn't seem very hypothetical." I narrowed my eyes. He rolled his eyes and began pushing me off so he could stand up but I held on. "Okay, wait, wait," I laughed, putting my hands on his chest. "Wait." I chuckled, resting my arms around his neck. "I would say... hmm..." 

"I'd like to know before the sun sets," he mocked. 

I rolled my eyes, smiling. "I would say you're crazy. Because it's very soon." 

"Really? You know what I would say?" 

I lifted a brow. 

"I would say you're crazy. Because you're my wife. And it's never too soon. When you love someone, you say it. No matter how deep or shallow that love is. No matter how old or new that love is. When you love someone..." He trailed off, waiting for me to finish the sentence. 

"You say it," I whispered, tracing his eyebrow with a single finger. 

He nodded, smiling softly in approval. "I love you. Almost," he grinned. "But don't say it back if you don't mean it. Just hold onto it." 

I nodded slowly. "I'll hold on." 

He leaned forward, pressing his lips to mine in a chaste kiss before doing it again. And again. And again until we were simply making out. In the library.

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Chapter 25

I told y'all this story would be shorter, it really will... it probably won't go past 30-32 chapters, tbh I hope that's okay!!!

next chapter: nightmare