𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹, wmmap

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗜: chapter 2

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 2

"Do I know you?"

There is suddenly a coldness in the eyes of the mystery man. He stares at Achlys like he wants him to stay there and suffer under his piercing gaze, never leave.

Achlys, though the anger of the cerulean eyes is the most evident, can see the hurt in them. He wants to know what he had done to hurt this man. What could have possibly happened?

What did you do, me?

"You don't." The mystery man's voice surprises Achlys, "That is the problem."

And the man starts walking away. And he walks. And walks. And he is gone.

"Your Imperial Majesty!" That is Felix. And Achlys can hear his loud steps as he is running towards him. And he can't move to face the person who says is his friend.

Seconds after he can't see the man with those heartbreaking cerulean eyes, Achlys keeps on looking towards the place that still holds his—coldness—warmth.

"Your Imperial Majesty..."

Achlys' head snaps towards the red head, "Who was that?" He can see the surprise in Felix's eyes, and then he also sees the sadness. So it was someone I should know.

Achlys doesn't show how much Felix's sadness affects him. It is better that way.

"That was His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Claude de Alger Obelia," the red headed knight pauses, "your husband."

Achlys' eyes hold surprise as they stare at Felix.

"My husband."

"Your Imperial Majesty's husband." Felix answers as polite as ever. Achlys wants to say something about that title. It doesn't feel right. It doesn't at all.

"I remember," Achlys pauses to rearrange his thoughts and he can see the hope in Felix's eyes, "you saying something about my husband not coming to visit me.", and the hope is gone, crushed under the pressure of reality.

"That's right. I did say that, Your Imperial Majesty." Achlys' eye twitches. Please don't call me that.

"Why?"

"Pardon me?"

"Why didn't he visit me?"

Achlys can practically see the wheels turning in Felix's mind as he realizes what he was asked. There is panic and discomfort and then panic again followed by some sweating here and there.

"I-I... Well...I..." He is completely lost. He lets his head fall down as he looks at his shoes, his hair covering his eyes. I shouldn't put him through this. He is not at fault for whatever happened.

"It is okay. I will probably find out at some point."

There is silence and Achlys knows that Felix is thinking very hard about what to say. He is struggling to come up with something. After a few very long seconds, Felix looks like he has given up.

"No, Your Imperial Majesty, it is not okay." Felix starts off with a drop of new passion, his head raised again, "That is how the Emperor is. You have to believe me, Your Imperial Majesty! He is a child!... Ah..." Felix covers his mouth, his eyes as wide as plates. He just now realizes what he said. "...but you don't know that from me..." He continues, his voice muffled by the hands still hiding his mouth.

"But even if he is, as you say, a child, isn't this a bit too much? Aren't we supposed to be married?" Achlys asks quietly. If he said it any louder, he is sure it would have hurt his vocal chords.

"Your Imperial Highness, I have known the Emperor for a very long time. He feels attacked by anything and that is because he has been through quite a lot....I would know. I was there..."

Achlys' hands are painfully stiff and cold and sweaty and he doesn't know what to do with them. Why? Why does it hurt him? Why is his heart so heavy? He wants to just rip it from his chest and crush it until it feels no more, until it is dead.

Achlys wants to throw up. He still feels the sweetness of miss Carina's biscuits and the hibiscus tea he previously enjoyed was all coming back.

He clutches his throat in his trembling hands, bending down, looking towards the marble floor through stinging tears that don't dare fall.

It is hard to breathe because the lump in his throat hurts too much.

Breathe

"Your Imperial Majesty!"

Breathe!

"No!" There is a sound of clear struggle escaping Achlys, "Please, don't call me that! I can't—I ca—I...I—"

BREATHE

"Your Imper—"

"STOP! PLEASE JUST STOP!" Painful sobs erupt from Achlys' chest and he is choking on his own saliva that is thick and hard to swallow. It gets stuck in his throat and he feels like screaming because if this is how the rest of my life is going to be then I don't want it!

Achlys starts coughing and it scratches his insides.

"F-Felix—I can't breathe! I am suffocating!" More coughing and too hot tears, "Help me! I'm going to d-die!"

And Achlys really feels like he will die.

But maybe it is so because he should have been dead already.