TBATE: A Hero's Return

A Whole New World

TESSIA ERALITH

It was a beautiful morning in Alacrya, the sun peering through the curtains of the room we were in. The cool air hit my skin, the sheets having been pulled off my feet during the night. And yet, I felt warmer and more comfortable now than I had during my entire stay in Alacrya.

I was happier now than I had been in many, many years.

It is funny how a single moment with a single person can really make you feel so ecstatic. Hearing those three beautiful words from Art was music to my ears. As I pulled myself closer to the snoring, handsome man next to me, I resisted as my body attempted to shake in glee. I would be able to hear those amazing words from him for the rest of my life.

It was a busy day today, and I knew that since I was already up I should probably get ready and start preparing for the talks to be held in a few hours. But I couldn't help but stay in the narrow bed meant for one person, drawn to the warmth of Art's body like a moth to a flame.

As the sun continued to rise in the sky, more of the morning light peered into the space, allowing me to make out the various objects in the room I had not realized before. It seemed like the colors of various objects popped more like I had been seeing the world my whole life through a dull filter that had finally been removed. Or that I had stepped into a whole new world, one filled with gaiety and signs of a bright future.

The light soon hit Art's face, and Art began to grimace in his sleep, clearly unwilling to leave his comfortable sleep and start his day. He looked adorable with his face all scrunched up.

But soon sleep evaded him, and I found myself looking into deep pits of azure blue, a smile falling onto my face at the sight. His sleep-addled mind clearly needed a moment to catch up with him as he looked at me confused for a moment. I could tell the exact moment he remembered what had happened the night before. His eyes widened slightly in realization while he smiled brightly at me.

And I found myself falling. Forever falling. For him.

"Good morning, gorgeous," he said to me. Not Princess. Not Tessia. Not Tess. It was not a phrase he had ever used for me before, and the fact that he said it with such normalcy as well caused a fluttering sensation in my stomach.

I gently touched his arm before leaning up to him for a kiss. As our lips brushed against one another, his hands came up to my face, cupping my cheeks as he melted into our glorious kiss.

We parted, and I felt like I was going to melt into a puddle of happiness from the intensity held within his eyes. The warmth, passion, the love. Things I only thought I would feel from him in my dreams I was being bathed in within the real world.

If this truly was a dream, please don't ever let me wake up.

"Hello, handsome," I reply back, giggling when I see a smile come to his face as a hue of pink begins to dust his face at my response. He grabs one of my hands before pressing a chaste kiss to the back of my fingers, before using it to pull me to him.

My body collides against his own, and find ourselves in a similar situation as last night, our limbs tied together not due to being a jumble of knots, but rather due to a stubborn unwillingness from both us to even be centimeters apart.

But we both knew we couldn't stay in bed all day long. Despite last night marking a huge step forward in our relationship, today was about Dicathen. We both had our roles, and we spent enough time already away from them.

We both got up, and Art walked me to the door of his room before pulling me in for one more kiss.

"I'll see you in just a bit, Tess," he said, smiling warmly at me before I left his room, darting into my own in the early morning hours. I was fine with the whole world knowing that was with Art now, but I did not want it to come in the way of my duties, and thankfully Art accepted that.

After getting washing up and meeting with the Dicathen dignitaries to go over last-minute details, the talks finally began. Arthur sat next to me as was originally planned. He remained professional throughout, the kind warmness he had in the morning all but gone as if it was never there.

Like last night never happened. I felt saddened at the thought.

As if Art knew what was going on in my head, he covertly reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. I couldn't help the smile that came to my face.

Caera's eyes flicked between both Art and me with a raised brow. Art just shrugged his shoulders in silent communication to her. Her eyes widened, a knowing smile on her face.

What did Art just tell her?

The talks went on for a couple more hours as the various dignitaries introduced one another and discussed in detail the terrain, goods, and services their lands offered.

But as we got ready to enter the next stage of the talks, Caera spoke up. "Okay, I think this is the perfect place for us to stop for today. Let us reconvene in the morning after a night of letting all the information settle."

The various people in the room nodded before eagerly picking up their various files and leaving the room, eager to make the most of the short respite.

Art leaned in, whispering into my ear. "I'll meet up with you later. Okay, Tess."

His breath ghosting against the side of my face felt like lighting across my body. I merely nodded in response without looking at him. I knew if I did, I would blush, and that was not something I was ready to have happen in such a formal setting.

As I was about to leave the room after Art did, Caera stopped me. "Princess Tessia, could you please stay behind? I would like to speak with you in private."

"Sure, Regent Caera."

We waited until the straggling members left the room, which suddenly felt empty and barren without the crowds of people within it.

As soon as the door finally closed, Caera's political facade fell off, and a cheerful ecstatic one took its place.

She ran up to me, clasping my hands in her own.

"He confessed didn't he?" Caera had a jubilant light in her eye.

I was shocked. "Y-yeah he did. How did you know?"

Caera shrugged. "We spoke about it beforehand when he realized he loved you. He was so nervous about the whole thing. When I saw how bright and happy he was today, I just knew it had to have happened."

She continued. "Oh, I am so happy for you two! You guys are perfect together!" She then took me in a tight hug, which I gladly returned.

We separated, and she guided me to two nearby chairs. "Okay Tess, spill all the details. How did it all go down?"

I laughed seeing her excitement, but happily obliged her request. It was the least I could do for the world's best wingwoman.