ILLICIT AFFAIR | mileven

thirteen

an eerie chill ran down his spine as soon as he stepped inside the place. there was something different lingering in the air, it was immediately palpable.

he's been absent from his own kingdom for over four weeks, his days lately consisted of being on the road and spending days in the kingdom of freeland before making his way home again.

it's been over four weeks since he last saw her and perhaps it's simply his nerves corrupting his body now that he's so close to see her.

the distance between them right after seeing utter defeat conquering her eyes in their last conversation was unsettling.

he didn't want to make her worry for all this time but he couldn't reach out to her.

there was a stack of letters he wrote to her that he never sent, anxious that those would get in the hands of someone who shouldn't know about them. he carried those with him to give them to her himself, for her to know the words that echoed through his mind in her absence.

"are you alright, prince michael?" lydia asked from beside him, ripping him away from his thoughts.

she stood there with concern stretching over her delicate features, her hand slightly rested against his elbow to catch his attention.

lydia was kind and welcoming, she was beautiful too — but he still couldn't feel more empty when being with her. she makes him feel absolutely nothing and though one part feels incredibly awful for that, another part of him feels no remorse about it at all.

his heart was promised to eleanor the moment her sorrowful hazel eyes looked into his.

he could bleed, beg, crumble because of her and nothing would make him love her any less.

though he is aware of the severity of his own feelings, he fears that she might not be. what if she will doubt everything all over again now that princess lydia had to accompany him to his kingdom?

it were the orders of her father and she couldn't go against it, how could he tell her not to come along? he couldn't.

he hopes that eleanor will hear him out when he tells her that they have to welcome lydia for only a couple days.

he let our a little sigh, shaking his nerves away before mustering a tiny smile up. "i'm very well, thank you for your concern, princess lydia."

internally shaking all his apprehensive feelings away, he started to walk and stand with a lot more confidence, like a crown prince should.

she gave him a little nod with a friendly smile in response and walked along with him through the marbled and golden corridors of the palace.

"welcome back, prince michael." servants greeted him on his way to his chamber, grinning at him — with what seemed like relief — and sparkling eyes.

he returned the grin and thanked them dearly until he reached the room lydia will be staying in, telling her to rest well and that he'll see her during dinner.

after that he took fast stripes towards his own room, almost running to the familiar four-walls where he felt the safest along with his dearest.

eleanor always visits him when he's back after a long period of traveling and he couldn't wait to wrap his arms around her again.

a shaky breath of relief parted his lips as soon as he was in his room, he didn't know what else to do other than pace around and wait for her to come.

it could've been minutes, hours, perhaps an eternity until he heard a knock on his door. he couldn't conceal his excitement as he didn't even wait to say "come in" but quickly walked to open the door.