The sin of gluttony

A breath of fresh air

My first impression of Cael was that he was a strange fellow. He wasn't afraid of assumptions about him. He talked as if he was talking to a lifelong friend, which felt weird, but who am I to judge a man I met a short time ago? Could it be that he just wasn't going to return to this kingdom? Somehow that made me dread this conclusion more than not knowing my fiancé. 

''Why do you have such a somber expression on your face?'' he asked me while he was still eating his cupcake. The cupcake was filled to the brim with frosting. Things too sweet just always made me critique people who ate them. And people who like honey are just a different species, and unfortunately, many people like honey.

''No, no, I was only observing.'' I said quickly without much thought.

''Observing whom?'' he asked with a bewildered expression. He seemed rather distressed, and I could not figure out why.

''Just trying to see if my fiancé has shown up to enlighten me by the mystery surrounding him,'' I said while trying to lie my way out of the situation. Admitting I'd be sad about him leaving would just fuel his ego.

''Speaking of your mysterious fiancé, why don't you join me outside on the balcony. I might have some input on him.'' He said strangely awaiting my reaction. He looked suspicious, but maybe he just realized something, I wanted to give him a benefit of doubt. He had been nice to me all evening, and this was just a small price to pay. Hopefully. 

''And somehow, you failed to mention this earlier.'' I asked while raising my eyebrow while grinning at him. As if he'd know more than me. I was left in the dark, but what could he know?

 And that's when I realized we had to get to the balcony so he could tell me everything.

''Ahem, excuse me, mister, we should really be on our way.'' I said, reaching my hand out and lowering my head like he did when we had our first interaction.

''As you say, ma'am,'' he said, gracefully accepting my hand and dropping it a few seconds later, ''we wouldn't want anyone to see how a man is accepting the hand of a fiancée.'' He winked at me, and I had to get this man out on the balcony. Somehow reading my expression, he started walking toward the stairs, and I quickly followed behind him. The high heels started hurting when we were climbing up the stairs. Once we finally reached the balcony, I came in first then he followed. I quickly hopped onto the balustrade (railing of a balcony). 

''What are you trying to accomplish?'' he asked, seemingly genuinely concerned for my safety.

''Actually, I just want to be closer to the nature, isn't it just marvellous?'' I crossed my leg and rested my elbow on my knee. Showing a rather stern expression. 

''Do you wish an early death?''

''As I said,'' looking straight in his eyes, ''I want to be closer to the nature.''

''Are you so determined you'll hate your fiancé?'' he asked, genuinely awaiting my answer.

It felt like the whole mood shifted. He looked at me so intently. I readjusted my position and crossed my arms. I glanced at the floor and caught a glimpse of my high heels. I started reaching over to them. My dress was crimson red, which matched my high heels, made it in impossible task to try to even get to them. I have to say in this dress, I felt like a true queen, if it meant being uncomfortable for a while. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

While still rearranging my dress so I could get hands on my heels, I started opening up to him for no apparent reason: ''Actually, I've secretly been looking forward to this day.''

He noticed me struggling, probably not comprehending why I was acting like this. ''And why's that?''

''Did you really think I like being alone endlessly?'' I said, looking at him while slouched down, still trying to undo my heel's strap.

That's when he came closer and crouched down. While I was puzzled what he was trying to achieve, he started undoing my heels straps and took them off. My face started heating up, and that's when I averted my gaze. I had wondered what it meant to feel butterflies in your stomach, turns out it was today, that I could finally understand what it meant with a stranger who I had met a few hours ago.

''Thank you, they were a nightmare to deal with,'' I said shyly smiling at him, secretly hoping I didn't look like a fool. I've always wanted to pull out my small mirror to see my facial expressions. I could never tell if I looked friendly enough or the opposite. It did feel great to feel the breeze on my feet, I always associated them with chains. Not because they felt like a prison, no, it was more about the feeling of them always on my feet. But who doesn't like things who make them look and feel better about themselves.

''Carry on.'' when he said that, it felt like the whole mood shifted.

''I'm a bit lost, what do you want me to continue?''

''Why are you reacting so strongly about being told about your husband, especially if you just said you've been looking forward to it.''

''I am sane if that's what you mean, but genuinely I wasn't going to just put up with being married off on my 16th birthday. It's not like the day was ruined, but it felt like everyone was only thinking about my husband. I'm not asking much for only wanting to be noticed or just talked to, at least I think so. Yes, I know I sound rather imprudent, but-''

''You don't sound imprudent, I just asked, it's not your fault you opened up to me. We will see if that was a good decision.'' He said that while winking at me.

God, this man must only know how to wink. This man was just trying so hard, but it felt so awfully sweet like honey. That was my only conclusion I could think about.

''Ahem, anyway, I should stop my rambling-''

''But-''

''As I was saying, I have been talking this entire time, and I must say I'm engrossed in this conversation too. But I shall say, why would you want to only know more about me and not about other women, which, correct me if I'm wrong, means that you could be interested in me or possibly-''

And everything stood still for a while. I could just hear the wind whistling all around us and the moon glistening- making everything look ethereal.

 ''Forget I ever even mentioned this for a moment.''