Heart's Desire

Chapter 15

"Is this why you and Odessa were so close? Because you had feelings for her?"

"Y-Yes, father."

He sighed, sitting down in the throne. He was rubbing his index finger and thumb against the bridge of his nose.

"I take it you know about her little secret? Not so little now is it?"

"It doesn't change how I see her. How I feel about her. And it shouldn't have gotten in the way of your and her father's friendship."

"He did not do what his Caesar told him to do."

"And for what?"

"I was going to be doing Odessa a favor."

"By having her killed?"

"It would have saved her from keeping the secret for the rest of her life."

"If she managed it this far, she can manage until her dying breath."

"You will do as I say now," he said. "I tried to let you have a choice in your marriage. I lined up a nice young man that would be more than happy to treat you right. Treat you with respect and love. But look at what you did. You threw it all away to be with some," he didn't even know how to find the right word for Odessa. "Some monster."

"That's a first," I said.

"She is one. Having both. She should have been killed. If her father was a real man."

"Her father was a real man by letting his daughter live," I said. "Would you have done the same thing to me if I was born with both and someone ordered you to kill me?"

"Without a doubt," he said.

"Really says something about you," I snarled.

"Odessa is to not come around here anymore. If you are to leave the palace, you are being supervised. You're not allowed near her. And you will marry Aetius and you will produce an heir for the empire. Is that understood?"

"Yes, father," I sighed, knowing there was nothing I could say that could persuade him.

"I will give you today to say your final goodbye to her. Afterwards, no more. No more conversing with her, sneaking out at night to meet her, nothing. Not so much as a glance in her direction."

"Understood, father."

"Go."

I walked out of the throne room and towards the gates of the palace. Once I was a good distance away, I ran towards Odessa's house. When I found the small house, she was sitting by the door. As soon as we found one another's gaze, she stood up and I rushed towards her. Her arms opened up and was immediately enveloped in them. I was going to miss everything about her. From her amber eyes, her strength, her height, to her warmth. Everything about her was admirable.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I should be the one apologizing."

"We got caught. That was my fault."

"My father suspected it. It was just a matter of time before we finally came together."

"What did he say?"

"I can't see you anymore after today," I said, tears forming in my eyes. "I am to marry Aetius and produce an heir."

"As much as it pains me to say it, it is probably for the best."

I pulled away, looking into her dull amber eyes. She didn't want this either. Neither of us did.

"What are we going to do?" I asked.

"We'll figure something out," she whispered. "I promise."

She pulled me in for another hug, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. I hugged her tightly, but she pulled me towards the door.

"Is something wrong, Odessa?"

"Get inside," she said.

She opened the door and ushered me in. I stepped into her house and she almost bonked her head on the door frame. She bent down and closed the door tightly behind her.

"What's wrong?"

"Aetius."

"You saw him?"

"Yes."

"Did he see us?"

"Yes. I made direct eye contact with him."

"Shit. I know he has an inkling that I like you, but if he saw us," I began.

"He knows. He saw everything from the moment I pulled you in for a hug and kissed your head."

"Shit. He's going to rat us out."

"If your father already knows, not much he can do."

"He can give my father a few ideas on things."

"Such as?"

"I don't know. But whatever he is thinking, it's not a good thing."

"We need to lie low," she said.

"I'm not allowed to see you again," I said. "This is my last day with you. Afterwards, I can never be with you."

"Hey," she reached down and grabbed my hand. "I just got you. You are everything to me. With the very little time we had with one another, you've understood me, accepted me just like that. There were no questions asked and you didn't treat me any different. You are the person I have been looking for my entire life. Not just as a friend, but as a partner. And I am not about to let you slip through my grasp."

She pressed a kiss to my knuckle as she held my hand tightly.

"I'm not going to lose you," she whispered. "I can't afford to."

Tears formed in my eyes once more. I grabbed her hand and pulled it up to my cheek. She swiped a tear from my eye with her thumb.

"Oh, darling," she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. "I promise you, I will find a way to keep us together."

"How, Odessa?"

"Something you'll know in half a month's time."

I nodded my head.

"I have a plan. Don't worry."

"Alright."

She hugged me tightly once more, afraid of losing me. I hugged her just the same. I didn't want to lose her. I can't lose her. She too was everything to me. The minute someone knows I am the Caesar's daughter, their attitude towards me changes. She knew all along and didn't change one single bit. I know her secret and I didn't treat her any differently.

I pulled away and she pressed her forehead against mine.

"I'll see you real soon."

I nodded my head, "Don't die out there."

"I won't."

I opened the door and walked out, heading back to the palace.

The rest of the month went by brutally as I trained harder than before. I had to win this challenge. There was nothing stopping me from winning this. And I was going to make sure of that. The morning of the challenge, I grabbed my helmet that was by the door and held it in my hands. I let out a sigh as I brushed some dirt off of it.

"Nervous?" my mother asked.

"A bit," I said.

"You're going to win. I know you will. Got everything planned for when you do?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

"You never told me," my mother said, opening the door to our house, letting the sun's rays shine through.

"Told you what?"

"What you're going to ask the Caesar when you win. You know you get what your heart desires."

"I know."

"So, Odessa, what does your heart desire?"

Y/N.