Nick carefully shifted the tier stand slightly to the side as it distracted his view of me, picked up my plate and placed one of each type of assorted food on it before serving it to me. Our conversation span between his next plan and the progress of my studies. I briefly informed him about the preparation of my poster by next week and my dissertation proposal to be submitted a week later. Then he shared a few pointers on the preparation of my assignment as I listened to them attentively. Throughout the conversation, we've been talking about individual life goals and plans but there was one more that I've been dying to ask him.

"Nick, can I ask you something?" I asked while he shifted his eyes from the scone in his hand towards me. "May I know exactly what's next for us?"

Nick looked at me in astonishment. "What do you mean what's next for us? I've been enthroned, so that makes me a king and you're the queen," he said pointing the diadem on his head. "Or if you want it to be monarchy realistic, then you're the queen and I'm the prince."

"How long are you going to keep me like this?" I asked further, looking at him splitting the scone in his hand into two.

"Until forever?" he cocked his eyebrows, wasn't really sure if that was the answer I wanted to hear.

"But I want to have a family, you know," I said more specifically, trying to avoid the term 'marriage' or wanting a 'husband' which might upset him and his entire constitution.

"You talk about having a family when you're the one who killed our offspring," he brought it up.

"You killed people too," I pointed out.

"At least I don't kill my offspring."

"How are we to know it's even alive – Never mind," I took a deep breath before continued, "You didn't even ask me if I wanted to have a baby or not?"

"Now you're just confusing yourself," he smirked. "Do you want my offspring or not?"

"Yes, I do want to have your baby but–"

"That's why I chose you to be their mother," he interjected, already anticipated something not worth listening to after I said "but".

"Have you ever thought about our future, Nick?" I went on.

Nick looked at me in disbelief, like I just asked a stupid question. He didn't reply immediately but graciously dolloped some jams on a half scone with a spreader knife.

"I've already had our future in my mind. It comes with steps. It starts with the jam," he explained and went on scooping out the clotted cream from its container. "Then the cream," he continued while demonstrating it.

"What's that got to do with our future?" I scowled.

He reached out his arm towards me with the half scone in his hand. "I'm giving this to you, you'll enjoy it and you'll be happy. And when you're happy, that'll put a smile on your face."

I wanted to believe that his explanation was meaningless but it melted my heart that my endorphins tickled my nerve system and the corner of my lips began to curve a little. But I shrugged off the feeling, forced a made-up frown by scrunching my nose.

"Don't leave it hanging there. I know you love food more than you love me," he coaxed, still holding the scone at me. "Come on, eat it up before Trixie eats it and give me a lap dance."

I finally opened my mouth allowing him to feed me with the scones. I munched up the scone, tasting the sweet combination of jam and cream with much pleasure and amusement that I smiled from the foodgasm.

"Look at that smile, that's the future I wanted to see," Nick beamed in triumph. "Am I a good or what?"

We left Richmond Tea Rooms with his tiara on my head on rental before getting into his X351. We stopped by my flat to collect my packed duffle bag and my academic related items which were already inside a clear storage container to take it with me into his apartment.

I asked him to make another stop at Asda Hulme Superstore on Princess Road for a quick grocery shopping. He declined at first and suggested online shopping but I justified that some items were urgently needed where delivery can't wait, supported by the need to physically be at the store to sniff some new fabric conditioners before deciding which to buy. He reluctantly agreed and decided to wait in the car.