Living in a Fairytale (Completed)

chapter 10

Leather bound books are stacked neatly on top of the table. There were also scrolls, ink pots, wax seals, pages and pages more. On one side stood an enormous bookshelf, the bounds placed by its colors. A heavy scent of fresh roses hung in the air. I looked back at him and was welcomed by his intense stare.

"What are we doing here?" I asked, my voice hoarse and strained. 

I coughed when I caught a glimpse of his bed. It's painfully wide and stuffed with velvet drapes. His bedchamber is beautiful.

He walked towards the table and took off his coat, placing it on top of a chair made of gold and encrusted with rubies. "Talk."

I raised a brow. "I know but why here? Not here." 

I do not trust myself enough to be in a secluded place with him. When he's near, my body seemed to have a mind on its own. Something is definitely wrong with me, I need to visit a healer or a curadora.

"There are eyes and ears within the castle. I don't want anyone to know what we are about to discuss. No one is allowed to be near my bedchamber, that's why." He folded the sleeves of his tunic and looked at me, expecting for my approach. 

Uneasy, I walked towards the table and stood there, not wanting to take the seat right in front of him. The stench of the captain's blood still clings on my tunic, its color a pale rose gold on white.

"Sit down, Cielle."

I shake my head. "Start talking and let's be done with it." 

He sighed heavily, displeased by my defiance. It's not like I want to please him anyway.

"I want word of our betrothal-"

"No" I cut him off, my forehead creased.

"Rothchild's death was because of his wrath when you shunned his offer of marriage. Morgan will continue to be vexed with you. The Vespers will want justice. And soon-"

"I do not intend to please them, or anyone, for that matter." The girl was a fool. She pissed me off.

"Why do you want to keep this a secret?" Because this will not last. I will make sure that it won't. I wanted to say but instead I asked,

"Why do you want to declare this for the whole kingdom to hear?" He didn't even blink when he answered,

"I want them to back off."

My eyes widened at the harshness evident in his voice. I cleared my throat and took a step back. The pain on my chest intensified, like a wound being cut through open again and again. As I tried to keep my cool, he was staring at my uneasiness. His eyes deep and fierce.

"I see no need for that. The suitors will back off once I decline. The clans are hardly of any matter at all. Besides, I told your queen mother that I want no word of this...arrangement to be spoken to the chiefs. I don't want to go against my own word." I tried to explain as simply as I can, ignoring the loud thumping in my chest. Pixies, I need to be drunk after this talk.

"Suitors? Who are your suitors?" He asked, his tone dangerously serious. I frowned. Sa lahat ng sinabi ko 'yan lang ang sasabihin niya?

"It doesn't matter."

"Do you look at yourself in the mirror?"

"Are you trying to insult me?" I fumed. 

What the hell is this guy trying to point out? I am pretty much aware of the dark circles under my bags, the tiredness in my eyes, and the dryness of my lips. I do not need his opinion.

He stands up, both hands on top of the table, leaning. The level of our eyesight made me feel fidgety and thrilled at the same time. My body ached to be close to him, for a reason that I do not know of. I am suddenly aware of the pain in my chest, making its presence intrinsic as it is. My throat felt dry and I am unable to form nor speak words.

I hate this. I should've just died when my kingdom fell than feel this way. 

"Come here, Adelaide Cielle."

Unconsciously, my feet moved on their own. Maybe it was because of the way he spoke of my name. Deep, low, and sweet. His lips curving into a small smile. My mind kept on screaming its defiance, my heart pumped blood with much enthusiasm, and my body moved on its own. I stood there right in front of him, with the wooden table in between us.

I wanted to turn and run away from his stare but I remained rooted in place. A small gasp escaped my lips when he held my chin, his hand soft on my skin. I know that I should be taking a step back, or even put a dagger in between his eyes as he leaned in but I didn't. His face is dangerously close to mine, his eyes pulling me close.

It was devastatingly slow. The wait hurt, the intense atmosphere settled in and I closed my eyes when his lips touched mine. The kiss was soft and slow, pain piercing through my chest. I may have forgotten how to breathe for when he stopped, I was still holding my breath, a need surfacing on my mind.

His hands are still cupping my cheeks, caressing it softly with his thumb. "You curse too much, Cielle." He whispered, his minty breath fanning on my lips. 

His eyes kept on searching for mine whereas I had mine on his lips. A blush crept up to my cheeks but my mind was beyond reason now.

"Fuck." I cursed and let it all take over me.

Throwing all inhibitions out of the room, I sat on the table, never taking mind of the scrolls and ink pots that suffered the damage brought upon the sudden need and fire awakened with a kiss. His eyes widened at my move but it didn't take long for him to pull me close and crashed his lips on mine once more.

It felt like anytime now I'll be exploding. The loud thumping on my chest resonated up to my mind and it felt painfully good to be in his embrace and kisses. I thought of how crazy it is, how unreal and dazzling. Our tongue danced in sync. Like how swords dance in battle. I gasp for a breath and kissed him again, this time fiercer than the last. His hands are all over me and I feel afire, my skin burning. I may have bit his lip once or twice from all the unruly pace that we are taking but he didn't complain. Instead he pulled me close, as if it will never be enough.

And then a door opened.

A muffled scream made us stop and I curse before getting off the table. Niña had a hand on her lips, her eyes wide with shock or perhaps even fear. I combed my hair with my fingers and tied it in a high ponytail, my cheeks flushed but I tried to keep my cool.

"I am truly sorry for the intrusion."

"You don't sound like it," I muttered and rolled my eyes when a teasing smile crept up to her lips. I faced Kaisen, annoyed now. "You said no one was allowed to be near your bedchamber."

He takes a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, disheveled as it is. I avoided his eyes and looked back at Nina. I raised a brow when she kept on looking at us with a smile etched on her face.

"What is it?" I asked, before Kaisen could even speak up.

"The Rothchild clan stands beneath the presence of the queen. Her majesty asks for yours." I nodded in understanding.

Took them long enough. I knew that they would never let this go without the queen's notice. Perhaps I should've ended their clan so that there would not be anymore problems. It is always the aged ones that makes things difficult.

I walked out of the room with Nina by my side. She was mumbling something under her breath and when I threw her a glare, she smiled and pressed her lips together. Kaisen then tried to take my hand as he catches up with us but I pulled the ribbon off of my ponytail and combed my hair, escaping his grasp. I heard him take a deep breath and we walked in silence towards the throne room.