Embers of Sun and Flame: Before We Have It (Fuegoleon x OC)

Chapter 18 The pride of royalty

There was a soft thump, barely audible, coming from the soles of shoes hitting against a carpeted corridor. The sweet scent of tea lingered in the air, but no words could be heard for they were all hidden inside the depths of the thoughts that swayed in Solara's mind.

There was an empty feeling in her chest, as if warmth had seeped away from her, because she could only imagine what that apology, no matter how important, would cause as collateral damage. For too many days, too many nights, mornings and evenings, she had listened to his torment, the swaying of his hesitation and doubt, because of what had happened.

And she would do so again, listen through all those times as many times as need be, but having him bear through it even once was too much for her. Even if the fact remained: what had happened, had happened. Now there was only moving forward.

But he needed to talk about it. He needed to process it. And she'd be there to help him on that journey.

Thus, the cups, and the pot of tea on the tray in her hand.

She knocked on his office door, feeling only the flutter of his mana through the door. The strong, swaying mana, like the flames of a fireplace that lick the logs so hungrily.

It seemed so faint. But. It was there.

This time she didn't stop to wait for him to tell her to come in. So many times he had told her to not wait. So many times he had told her to just come to him, if she felt so. And now, she did.

She opened the door to see him standing in front of the window, near his bookcase, as if trying to stand in the far corner of his office, and just watch the world go by outside of his window.

His head didn't even turn to her, he just looked outside. But there was something in the way the glow, the faint lingering traces of his mana flowed through the air, she thought that he must have known that she was there; his mana greeting her in his stead. Or perhaps it was the golden strings of fate, wound into ropes, around their hearts that sung to her. Perhaps it was them that sent vibrations in tune to the beating of his heart, speaking in a language that only the heart understands, to her own.

She placed the tray onto his desk, leaving it as it was, the tea still securely in the pot, and made her way to him.

Her steps were light and careful, as if she was taking time to think of what to say, what to ask. What was there even to ask? The bouquet of flowers was laid on a side table, waiting to be placed in water. The wrapping was no more, nor less, wrinkled than how she had seen it in Josele's hand. The flowers were intact; only one petal having dropped on the floor. Pink... or maybe purple... it was difficult to tell. The long, almost triangle shaped petal with a ruffled edge; the petal of a cosmos flower.

Her eyelids fell in a blink, only to rise again and gaze to him.

"Honey... Come away from the window..." she pleaded, wrapping her arms around him the best she could from the side.

There was a melancholy laced smile that flickered over his lips for a faint, passing moment, until his head began turning to her. His eyelids fell in a slow blink, and opened, although only half way, to look at Solara with a gaze that seemed distant; far away, even if he was right there. It was, as if, there was a veil between them, trying to hide him from her.

"Can't I look out of the window anymore?" There was an attempt of a smirk on his lips, but it stopped right under his nose; the smirk, the smile, the amusement.

She didn't know how to reply. It was a joke, she knew that much, but the punchline was lost. If there was one to begin with.

"Let's have tea," she tried. "It's your favourite."