It was almost midnight when King Budegha and his men returned to the royal house of Elarion.
His council was already waiting at the entrance of the giant gate.
Heads bowed when they saw him, and their tense hearts felt at ease.
King Zareth was known as a monster.
Kingdoms and kings trembled even at the mere mention of his name, and his soldiers were known as one of the strongest forces in existence, as victory always awaited them in every battle.
They gathered at the royal hall of Elarion to discuss the situation, but the king seemed bitter.
His face was void of emotion, but his behavior seemed restless.
He paced around for a while before settling on the throne.
“We have a solution,” King Budegha said as his eyes scanned the lords and dukes that stood before him in the royal hall.
“What is the solution, my king?” Lord Valete asked while the others nodded.
“Our princess will be married to King Zareth as the peace holder of the kingdom!” He said, and there was an uproar of agreement.
“That is a perfect choice, my king,” Lord Harrow said, pausing to let his words sink in.
“If you marry Princess Mirelle off to Nebuzza, it will tighten our bonds with them, and we will have them as strong allies as well.
Even the Crown Prince won’t have any problems in the future,” he added, and the council hummed in agreement.
A marriage alliance to Nebuzza wouldn’t only end the looming war, but it would also tighten their bond in a strong way.
Waiting for the king’s response, their voices quieted down.
Eyes fixed on the king.
“My lord!
Is there a problem?” Duke Khan asked.
The king was quiet, unlike him.
“Yes!” He said, raising his voice to look at them.
“There is a problem!” “Every problem has a solution, Your Highness,” Lord Harrow said, and the king’s face dropped.
This must be a serious problem!
“King Zareth has made a choice of the woman he would accept,” the king said, and they all waited for him to speak, and he did.
“Princess Elira is his choice!” He said, and the whole court was silent.
Their eyes were wide as disbelief clouded their minds.
This can’t be!
Princess Elira was like a forbidden word in the kingdom of Elarion.
An illegitimate princess was not entitled to marry a king.
It was like a slap to Elarion.
“That cannot happen, my king!
Princess Elira is not of full blood of the Royal Family.
She carries only your blood without the blood of the queen!
It is a disgrace to Elarion,” Lord Valete said.
“We have no choice!
He has offered us a solution that could end the war, and that is our only option,” He said.
“Then she won’t be married off as a royal princess.
She will be treated as she has always been!” Another lord said, but the look in the king’s eyes said otherwise.
“King Zareth has already given his order.
She must be given her dowry and married off, entitled as a princess.
He would not tolerate disrespect to his decision,” King Budegha added.
“Your Highness!
You….” Lord Harrow was speaking when the king raised his hand to stop him.
“He has made his decision, and that is the only way to save the kingdom.
He will send letters when he is ready to bring his bride home.
And right now, we all must retire for the night,” King Budegha said, and there was silence.
Heavy silence.
And they stood up and left one by one, leaving only the king behind.
King Budegha stood from the throne and paced around for a while.
Elira was his daughter, but he had not treated her as one.
King Budegha closed his eyes as his memories led him to the years gone by.
He had loved Elira, but he couldn’t give her the love and attention she needed because of his own selfishness.
He had not wanted his wife, the queen, and daughter, Mirelle, to feel his love was divided.
He had deprived Elira of fatherly and motherly love after years of Jellah not being with her.
First, he dismissed her from joining the royal dining table after Mirelle complained of being uncomfortable when Elira was around, even though she was just twelve.
He had also made Elira stop showing her face in gatherings like ball festivals after Mirelle complained of Elira stealing her spotlight.
Elira had been like a castaway princess, and he did it to please the queen.
Now, she has been recognized.
Not that he doesn’t want her to, but he knew that title does not belong to her.
And right now, one question still remains unanswered: “How did King Zareth know of her existence?
Has Elira been leaving the royal house?” Quietly, he retired to his chamber, stepping away from the empty hall, and then someone stepped out from the shadows.
Standing next to the throne, he took off his mask.
It was Prince William!
The Crown Prince of Elarion.
He had eavesdropped on their conversation, and his face turned rotten.
He wouldn’t let a bastard take over his sister’s inheritance.
NEVER!
****** It was already dawn the next day.
Elira stood at the jewelry store with Adrian close to her, holding her hand tightly as if she would disappear from his sight.
Adrian wasn’t the playful type, but he did speak of his love and showed it too.
He had made Elira feel love, and he had made her feel wanted.
He fixed the hairpin on her head and slid a bracelet on her wrist.
“Have I ever told you that when your hair glitters under the sun, it makes you look more beautiful and attractive?” he said, causing her cheeks to blush hard, and he couldn’t resist kissing her.
Elira looked at him, and for a moment, there was a shift in her mood.
“Is everything alright?” Adrian asked, cupping her face.
And she shook her head.
“I’m afraid!” Elira answered.
“Afraid of what?” Adrian asked, a little bit confused.
“The looming war!” She said and lowered her gaze.
“It’s raging, and if it happens, Adrian, I don’t want to lose you!
People are scared.
I am scared.
I heard the king has returned from the meeting, but no words have been heard,” she said, looking at Adrian, but he looked at her and chuckled.
Everyone has been talking about it.
King Zareth is not the merciful one if he marks you an enemy.
Adrian smiled at her and brought her close.
“There will be no war,” he said.
“King Budegha is smarter than he seems,” he added, while Elira stared at him.
“You sound like you know him well,” she raised an eyebrow, and he laughed.
Not a loud laugh, but a soft, calculated laugh.
“Maybe I do,” he said and led her towards a route.
“I admire you a lot, Adrian,” Elira blushed, hooking her arm around his and fluttering her doe eyes at him.
“I won’t let the admiration fade away,” he assured, and she laughed.
“I told you never to follow me home, and you never did.
And you never asked me why.
Even when I told you I would love to come home with you one day, you still agreed without questioning me,” she stopped, blocking his path.
“I respect your wishes, Helise!
If I’m to love a woman, I will love you in all the ways you want it.
And I love you!” He said, and her heart melted.
Her cheeks flushed even harder with his thumb caressing it.
“It’s late.
You need to get home before the road becomes dangerous.” “No!
I’m not going,” Elira refused, taking him by surprise.
“What?” “I’m not going home.
I want to go with you… tonight,” she said, catching him by surprise.
He smiled warmly.
“I’m a man, Helise.
I’m not a saint,” he said calmly but warningly.
“You love me, Adrian, don’t you?” “I do!” “Then don’t turn me away from wanting to spend the night with the man I love,” she said, and he smiled after a brief silence.
“You sound drunk, which I’m sure you’re not.
Go home.
You might regret your decision,” he warned, but she refused.
“If you turn me away, then you don’t love me.” Adrian said nothing again.
He just watched her for a long time as though calculating her words.
And then, turning around, he carried her in a bridal style and started walking towards another direction.
That caught her off guard.
They had been walking for a long time, and it seems he didn’t want her to walk.
“Won’t you get tired from carrying me through a long way?” She asked.
“My muscles are not for jokes, Helise!
If I could not carry the woman I love, what else could I carry?” he answered.
She tried to protest, but he told her not to.
He finally got home and laid her on the bed after he had fed her a meal.
Helise wasn’t worried about her servants looking for her.
She had told them she wasn’t returning for the night.
She still remembered their worried faces.
Even though she had asked to follow Adrian, she was still nervous.
“Go to sleep!” He ordered, pulling her out of her thoughts.
“No!” She answered.
“I want you beside me.” “I’m afraid I won’t be able to restrain myself if I’m beside you,” he said, and she gave him a smile.
“I never asked you to,” she answered, and that was the height of it.
“You’re tempting me, Helise.” “I want to!” He slowly walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.
“Kiss me!” He ordered, and she did.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer and kissed him.
Oh, he was loving her little games.
Adrian nearly laughed out at how inexperienced she *was*, but still trying to fit in.
He held her tight and took control.
From a soft kiss to a very hot one.
He teased her lips aggressively, not giving her a chance to breathe.
His hands found the rope at the back of her dress, and with a swift move, it loosened.
Still not breaking the kiss, he hastily undressed her.
He seemed to be running out of patience with the unfinished layers of dresses on her.
Women and heavy dresses!
He broke the kiss and went back a little to admire her.
She was naked.
“You are very beautiful, Helise,” he let his eyes wander over her, and she lowered her head.
She was shy.
He undressed himself and asked her to look at him.
She did, becoming braver each moment.
Her eyes landed on his body, and she blushed.
He carried her towards the bed, and they went wild, with her moaning loudly underneath him.
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