Queen Carlisiann (BWBM)

SIX

C A R L I S I A N N

"The view is like no other," I commented with an amazed smile while my eyes gazed into the mesmerising distance, taking in the glowing sky that held light shades of blue as snow fell from it like a baby crying.

In each kingdom the sky glows the colour that represents it, so if anyone were to be lost they won't have a problem navigating their way back to their kingdom.

"It is." He replied, closing the balcony door and this made me raise a brow.

"Should I be worried?" I questioned him and he chuckled, shaking his head.

"No, I just don't want the snow to get in. Speaking of snow, is it hard adjusting to the cold?" He inquired curiously as he stepped next to me, his eyes immediately focusing on the world below.

"The fire inside me makes my body regulate at the same temperature as Sejlky," I informed him and before he had the chance to say anything I spoke, "Were you going to offer me your jacket?"

"Would you have taken it?"

"I guess we'll never know." I voiced, pulling an amused smile from him as he met my gaze.

"You aren't what I was expecting." He confessed, earning furrowed brows that greeted each other with confusion and amusement.

"Is this why you brought me out here? To talk about what you expected me to be?" I questioned him and he shook his head with the same smile on his lips.

"I brought you out here so I could get to know my fiancé without prying eyes."

"You do realise everyone is still watching us?" I pointed out, referring to the see-through balcony door that gave us the perfect view of our bodyguards, Ghalen and the maids, observing us, trying to interpret the words we were speaking.

Amanté did the unexpected when he took my hand in his, pulling me into the corner with him before dropping my hand.

"How about now?" He asked me and I allowed my eyes to head back to the door that was barely in my line of sight which told me we were hidden.

"Much better, so tell me what do you want to know about your fiancé?"

"Why me?"

"I could ask you the same thing," I stated, and he made a gesture with his head that indicated his disagreement with my words.

"Actually you couldn't because I didn't know about this arrangement until today." He disclosed, but somehow I didn't feel very surprised because his parents had barely mentioned his thoughts on the arrangement.

"I thought you had a choice in who you marry."

"I also thought that, but you are the Queen of Sejlky which is why my parents won't let me choose my beloved, because if a Queen of such a powerful kingdom offers to marry you, you accept without question." He expressed, seeming frustrated with the whole situation, and I couldn't blame him because I knew first-hand how it felt to have your options ripped away from you. "And it doesn't help that you have also put my people in danger with your choices, so by marrying you, I am saving my kingdom."

"Did you have someone you wanted to marry?" I inquired, deciding not to respond to his last statement because he was right.

"Is this something I should be sharing with my future wife?" He remarked, gaining a shrug from me.

"I thought we'd be honest with each other," I replied and I watched as the amusement in his eyes slowly dimmed.

"Well in that case yes, I did have someone I wanted to marry, I was actually going to propose on this very balcony," Amanté confessed and I could feel the sadness that resided in his words.

"I'm sorry."

"This is why I'm asking you again, why me? You could marry any noble of Lvaiekian blood and you and your kingdom would retain your magic without any problems."

"I chose you because you were the most obvious answer," I told him, dragging confusion onto his features.

"What does that mean?" He questioned me, and I tore my gaze off him to stare out in the distance.

"You are a Prince and will be a King by the time we are married which means my kingdom and I will get the protection we have craved for many years," I answered and received a sigh in response.

"So you want protection from the assassins? I can offer you that without this arrangement." He guaranteed, drawing my orbs to his which allowed me to see the determination in his royal blue eyes, and this only told me of the love he held for the woman he could never have again, at least not publicly.

"Unfortunately I cannot take such a risk and I know better than to trust a man's word," I replied and this added to his visible frustration that was caused by our situation.

"You do realise you are taking away my chance of living my life the way I want to?"

"If you really think about it, you were never in control of your life if all your parents had to do is say a simple word to change your entire reality," I pointed out.

"That may be true, but I can handle my parents and you can marry another Lvaiekian royal who can grant you the same protection that I can."

"Can you handle them? Do you think anything would change if I found someone else? Do you think your parents wouldn't find another Sejlkyian royal to marry you off to just so your bloodline can be a part of my kingdom and share an inch of the power I have?" I asked him with a growing frown because I was getting tired of this conversation.

"I think you underestimate how much I love this woman, I would run away with her." He notified me and I crossed my arms, furrowing my brows slightly.

"And think you are underestimating my love for my kingdom—my people." I retorted, not receiving another word on the matter, instead he said,

"We should head back inside." He suggested but didn't wait for me to respond as he headed for the door.

I looked back to the sky as my mind allowed thoughts about Amanté to drown me.

It was plain as day that he was very upset about the outcome of our conversation, but I knew the words he wanted to hear from me couldn't leave my mouth as it would jeopardise my safety and my citizens'.

And somehow he'd just have to live with that...we both had to.

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