The Queen's Back

C

For several days, Mona had been deeply immersed in designing gown. She began by researching Artemis Rain's appearance, body type, and past work, as well as the styles of gowns she had worn before. Artemis Rain, standing at 5.8 feet, was the epitome of a national goddess-fair-skinned with large eyes. Her career had progressed from supporting roles to leading ones, showcasing hier undeniable acting skills. As Mona thought about it, she began to form a mental image of the design, though it was still a bit vague. Her task now was to translate that image onto paper.

Artemis often wore short gowns that highlighted her long legs, which looked great on her but lacked a certain wow factor. Mona felt these styles didn't quite match Artemis's unique aura.

Then, Mona stumbled upon a photo of Artemis on set, wearing a simple white dress with a slit skirt that subtly hinted at her legs, sparking Mona's inspiration. She envisioned a long gown with a dramatic slit, wondering how Artemis would look in such a design. Mona felt it would suit her well.

When Maxwell entered the room, he found Mona seated at her desk, one hand supporting her chin while the other held a pencil. Before her was a blank sheet gradually taking the shape of a gown. Her furrowed brow suggested she wasn't entirely satisfied with her progress. Maxwell had noticed Mona spending a lot of time in thought over the past few days. Without hesitation, he approached her, resting a hand on the back of her chair and leaning in. "What are you working on?" he asked.

His deep voice pulled Mona from her thoughts. Looking up, their eyes met unexpectedly. She realized how close he was, his presence enveloping her, and she felt a bit shy.

Startled, she accidentally dropped her pencil on the paper and quickly averted her gaze. "I'm sketching a design," she replied.

Noticing Maxwell's interest, Mona instinctively laid out two sketches she had been working on. "Which one do you think looks better?" she asked.

Maxwell followed her gaze to the sketches. Both were similar, but the left one featured a deep V-neckline, which he wasn't keen on Mona wearing. It was a bit too revealing for his taste.

The right sketch, however, was more to his liking. It was a strapless design but covered the essential areas well. Comparing the two, Maxwell preferred the right one for Mona, even though he wasn't thrilled about her wearing either. "This one," Maxwell said, pointing to the right sketch.

As he leaned closer, the atmosphere became more intimate, and Mona found her breath slowing. "This one? But I feel the other design might suit Artemis Rain better. She's glamorous and has a great figure; the other design seems more fitting for her."

"Artemis Rain?" Maxwell asked, surprised. He had assumed Mona was designing the gown for herself.

Mona nodded and explained her intention to design a gown for Artemis Rain.

In this new chapter of her life, Mona didn't want to be the idle heiress she once was. She aimed to reclaim her dream of becoming a talented designer.

Back in her early college years, she wore her own designs, which were well-received by classmates who often asked where they could buy them. She proudly told them she had designed them herself.

By her junior year, she had focused all her attention on Teddy, even designing a suit for him. However, while Teddy had seemed pleased and accepted it, he never wore it. Looking back, Mona realized he likely dismissed it because it wasn't a famous designer brand, fearing it would tarnish his image.

3

Reflecting on her past life, Mona couldn't help but feel she had been incredibly naive.

Actually, on closer inspection, the other design seems to suit that actress's look better," Maxwell commented, a hint of jealousy in his voice. His own wife hadn't designed anything for him, yet here she was designing for someone else.

Mona nodded, agreeing that the design was a good fit. As she moved to stretch, she realized how close Maxwell was, his gaze fixed on her.

It dawned on her that if she tilted her head slightly, her lips might brush against Maxwell's cheek. Acting on impulse, she stretched, and her lips "accidentally" grazed his cheek.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

In that instant, Mona noticed a hint of redness on Maxwell's ears, which lifted her spirits. She had managed to fluster him.

The moment Mona's lips touched Maxwell's check, he felt a surge of emotion, a strong urge to hold her.

Feigning innocence, Mona said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that." Of course, she had meant to.

Maxwell shook his head, removing his hand from the chair. As he looked at Mona's lips, he couldn't help but recall the softness that had just brushed his cheek. "It's fine," he said.

After this incident, the dynamic between them seemed to shift. That night, as they lay in bed, Mona noticed how much closer they were. A slight turn could easily land her in Maxwell's arms. Recalling their earlier closeness, Mona hesitated, worried that Maxwell might realize she had done it on purpose, given their marriage was an arrangement.

Mona pondered why Maxwell had liked her in her past life but couldn't figure it out. After her engagement to Teddy, she had lost contact with Maxwell. Eventually, she drifted into sleep. Unconsciously, she turned in her sleep, ending up nestled in Maxwell's arms. His lips curled into a satisfied smile-he had been waiting for this.

Every night, Mona would unconsciously turn toward him, ending up in his embrace. Holding her felt like holding his entire world, and Maxwell contentedly closed his eyes.

He used to struggle with insomnia, often lying awake late into the night. But since marrying Mona, his sleep had improved. Holding her and inhaling her gentle scent lulled him into a peaceful slumber.