The Enchantress

42.

Princess Mina.

As soon as I closed the door, Sana bombarded me with questions.

"Hold on. I can't answer all of that all at once. Let me just tell you first what happened." I said amused by her being too excited to know the details. Of course I couldn't say everything in front of Papa that's why Sana ask what are the bits I left out.

I told her everything from the moment they stepped inside the cave.

"How is he?" Sana enthusiastically asked.

"What do you mean?"

"How does his body looked like?" I was shocked by her question.

"Sana! Out of all I told you that was the first thing you've asked?"

"Well, I could tell he has a great physique from his clothes. I could also see he looked good in any type of clothes but seeing him almost naked is impossible. Only you have seen that. Your eyes were blessed."

I chuckled on her choice of words.

"My eyes are blessed you say. Tsk. I hardly looked at him in that state. It's embarrassing."

"You're no fun at all." She looked disappointed.

"I said I hardly looked at him, that doesn't mean I didn't see it."

Her face lit up and excitedly asked. "So you did see him."

She squealed as I nodded.

"I admit, he does have a great body. Doesn't have too much muscle which is perfect..."

Sana squealed again. "Mina! I didn't know you could say such a thing. So he does have a perfect body."

I remembered how he looked. He does have a great body. "I'm just telling you what I saw."

She then laughed at me.

"What?!"

"You looked like a tomato right now. Aha! You're remembering how he looked right?"

"No I'm not... it's...It's the beer..."

"Oh please. We're not even drinking anymore." She then took hold of my hand. "Forgive me from saying this. It seems like Rowan chose him to save you for he knows he couldn't make it. He also knows he will take care of you as much as he would."

I looked at our hands. Remembering him makes my heart ache "Funny thing is... He did said that." Sana gasped. "Just before he leave, He said if he couldn't come home. I should move on and live my life. He... He even said he personally wants Chaeyoung for me. That he's a good man and will take care of me." My eyes were now filled woth tears.

Sana was crying as well. "Rowan really loves you. He even thought of you before he passes. I was right then. He also wants you to be with Chaeyoung."

"I chose him Sana. Despite all of those things Chaeyoung made me feel, I still chose him. He proposes but then left me just like that..."

"You know very well that he won't ever leave you intentionally. They're soldiers, groomed to fight for their kingdom. But he did love you, he always does. Let him go Mina, he deserves to rest in peace."

I cried even more. Sana made me realize it's selfish to hate him for leaving me. He always thinks of me, but have I thought of him? His welfare?

"You're right. I'm so selfish. He deserves to live in peace in heaven."

Sana smiled and hugged me. I closed my eyes and talked to him. Telling him that I love him and thanked him for all he have done for me. I also told him that he doesn't have to worry. I couldn't promise that I'd do what he wants me to do, but I'll try. His face smiling appeared to my mind's eye. I smiled seeing that. Heaven have welcomed a handsome angel back to heaven.

"Mina..." I opened my eyes and looked at her. "What if... This is just a what if... What if Papa arranged you to be married to Chaeyoung?"

I was surprised by her question.

"You know my stand about being forced to do something I don't want..."

"Even Rowan wants you to be with him. You yourself are having feelings for him more than Rowan..."

"You're right Sana. But that doesn't mean I'll marry him because of those. I'm not even sure what I felt." I stood and looked at the window. "Marriage shouldn't be forced. Specially without love."

"Mina, those things you've been feeling are signs..."

"I couldn't possibly be in love... Not that quick. I may have been feeling things but love?... It's early to tell." I suddenly remembered something. "And besides I don't think he likes me that much."

I told her about him hugging me and called me a different name when we were by the tree.

"Are you even sure that's his lover? I bet you got annoyed at him."

It made me think.

"Of course! How would you feel being hugged but called someone else's name? And Why would he say a woman's name while hugging me if that's not his woman?"

"I would be annoyed if I have feelings for him." Sana then laughed. "Look how annoyed you became just by remembering that."

I went to bed and lay down.

"You're making fun of me." I said, sulking.

"I'm not. I'm just stating the obvious. And you say that's not love... Why are you jealous then?"

I don't even know how to answer that. I closed my eyes and massaged the sides of my head. It felt like my head is breaking into two.

"Poor you, you must've been exhausted from crying and thinking." She lay down beside me and hugged me. "Take a rest. I'm sleepy myself. Let's take a quick nap."

A lot has happened and it's making my mind go crazy. My heart broke for Rowan. I would be marrying him if this war didn't happen. Or we would've been traveling far if he agreed to run away with me.

I feel guilty too. It took years before he heard me say that I love him. I wasn't even sure if I made him happy at some point in our relationship. I admit I wasn't much of a lover to him. But he was always there for me, always took care of me, loved me even if he knows his love is greater than mine.

How I wish I could've spent more time with him and made him happy. But it's too late for that, for he have left me.

Tears kept falling while my mind kept thinking about him. I soon succumb to my exhaustion and slowly fell asleep.