ENCHANTED: Guardian Series #1 {COMPLETED, UNDER REVISION}

CHAPTER 12: Dark Magi

CHAPTER TWELVE
ARRANGED MARRIAGE

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ETHERION REALM

-Tahomma Kingdom-
This was the first time that Leviathan has narrated his love story. It was a painful journey yet a worthwhile one, for his side at least. The orange skies soon had blue tints to them. It appeared as an expensive painting being sold in an auction as the strokes of yellowish light mixed through the clouds.

Leviathan looked upon the skies and took a deep breath, recalling the time when he met his wife. "You see..." he smiled in a bitter manner, which surprised Leonard since it was unusual for his father to express as much emotion in front of his children.

"Dahrleen, your mother had a lover that died in a battle against Dark Magi. She was heartbroken to the point that she would not eat her meals. She starved herself, waiting for her death."

Leonard's eyes widened for he had never once thought of his mother committing a slow-paced suicide like starving herself. Her figure appeared to be mighty as her aura was overwhelming to look at. Even standing beside her could give someone immense pressure.

"It was also the time when I was searching for a bride. My father, the current king of Tahomma Kingdom, disliked the daughters of the aristocrats and even had no interest in Village Princesses."

"Oh, I wonder why?" Leonard mumbled so he wouldn't interfere with his father's narration.

"That's when he opened an audition for young ladies throughout the kingdom to be my bride. Those that will capture both our hearts and captivate our minds through diplomatic talks will be betrothed to me. However, we found nothing."

Leviathan had an embarrassed chuckle when he realized how high their standards were. On the bright side, it was a standard procedure for the safety of their political realm. He clenched his hand, then held it with the other as he continued talking.

"Days passed, a family from the outskirts of town presented their only daughter out of desperation to save her. She's skin and bones, nearly to face her death. I don't know what's got into me, but I accepted her as my bride over the thousands of healthy ladies."

'Clearly out of pity,' Leonard puffed, spreading out his legs while placing his arms on his thighs. "What about King Grandfather?"

"Oh, Father was offended by the idea, but he also felt sorry for the woman after learning about her background given that she had once said that without him, her life was useless, haha."

They had a pause in their conversation, at which Leviathan was able to collect himself.

"Therefore, she signed the contract. What's left was a proper wedding ceremony. And, for some reason, I don't want this lady in front of me to die. Well, that must be because I still had an ounce of sympathy back then."

As the clock ticked, Leviathan kept stating his story as Leonard silently listened to it.

"I kept visiting her room, and I kept showering her with gifts, but still, her heart was meant for someone, and that someone was not me."

'Oh...'

Leviathan fidgeted with his thumb and then his palm, trying to calm his heart and the incoming emotional tears.

"I couldn't remember the time when she actually cared for me. It all started when she woke up in the middle of the night, opposing the forces of her deadly nightmare. Fortunately, I was beside her that night and immediately called for help. Oh, but sadly, her nightmare was still all about her past lover—she said that she was with his last moments. That's when I knew that I had no place in her heart."