"Do you have any siblings Roshan?" Rasmus asked as they took a walk in the castle.
"No," Roshan replied.
"Then you probably don't know how I feel."
"How do you feel?" Roshan asked even though he already knew since he could read his thoughts.
"My sisters are all I have. I have raised them, educated them, protected them, provided for them and in return, they gave me a reason to live. Now, both of them are leaving." He paused.
Rasmus had a difficult time letting go of his sisters.
"I want them to be in good hands. Yes, being a king and ruling over big lands feels good but I would leave it all for my sisters. So if anyone ever hurts them, I'll look for them whatever they hide." He continued.
Roshan nodded.
"Klara is not as tough as she looks. Her toughness is only a shield. She has been through a lot and seen a lot that she shouldn't have seen. She keeps it all inside and hides it with her tough attitude but on the inside, she is a kind soul. Someone who can't sleep in peace if she has done something bad. She even escaped home just to help those she thought she had wronged." He chuckled. " She is very stubborn."
Roshan already knew all this. "She is." He agreed. "She agreed to marry me with one condition."
Rasmus came to a halt. "What is the condition?"
"To visit you once every month."
Rasmus was shocked. When a woman left her family she never came back home. That was a disgrace to her husband's family.
"I can't believe it. I'll speak to her." He said.
"No need. I already agreed to her condition."
Now Rasmus seemed even more surprised. "Why?"
"Why not? Who made those stupid rules anyway? If people can make rules they can break them as well and create some new ones more suitable for them. I don't follow rules I don't like." Roshan said.
Rasmus nodded impressed. He was thinking of doing the same thing. He was a king after all so he should abandon rules he didn't like set new ones. Ones that society would slowly accept and changes would take place eventually.
"This is Klara's quarters. Here is the dining room. I'll let you two have dinner alone while I accompany your father. I am sure you want to discuss a few things with each other."
Rasmus motioned for him to go inside. Roshan had to admit that Klara's brother was openminded. He liked that about him. Helping him as a king would not be a bad idea.
Roshan got seated at the table and waited for Klara once Rasmus left. A few servants were setting the table when Klara arrived.
They still had to pretend like they didn't know each other since servants were present and they could spread gossip.
They had already spoken earlier but only for a very short while, and about the one condition, it was all a lie. He knew she would want to meet her brother at least once every month so he lied about it.
"So My Lady. Tell me about yourself. I am very curious." He said picking up a fork and a knife.
"Well as you can see, if you are not blind of course. I am extremely beautiful, charming, smart and...isn't that enough?" She asked straightening her shoulders.
He knew she was playing with him but he could see the servant struggling to keep a straight face at her comments. They probably thought that she was shallow.
