"Cap?" I call out, my voice laced with reluctance as I push open the heavy, ornately carved door to Capricorn's room, allowing myself to step cautiously over the threshold.
I find him standing by the grand, floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze fixed on the flurry of activity unfolding outside as the palace guards prepare for our imminent departure. But there's a distinct air of contemplation about him, a tension in the slope of his shoulders that sets off a twinge of concern within me.
"I don't think I can do this," he murmurs, the words barely audible as he turns to face me, his striking, angular features etched with a look of sheer helplessness - a vulnerability that I don't often see in the typically composed Capricorn.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, my brow furrowing with concern as I leave the relative safety of the doorway and move closer to him, my steps measured and deliberate.
"...Seeing my parents again," Capricorn admits, shaking his head in a subtle gesture of resignation, as if the mere mention of them has triggered a thought he'd rather not entertain. "I know exactly what they're going to say before I can even get there."
I can't help but feel a twinge of empathy, realizing there must be a specific discussion he's dreading. "And what's that?" I press, my tone gentle yet probing, my eyes searching his face for any clue as to the root of his distress.
Capricorn briefly looks away, his lips pressed into a thin, tense line. "Can I tell you something?" he asks, a hint of hesitation coloring his usually confident and commanding demeanor.
Without hesitation, I nod, my gaze unwavering as I reach out, placing a reassuring hand on his well-muscled arm and giving it a light, comforting squeeze. "Anything," I murmur, letting him know that I'm here to listen, without judgment or expectation.
He takes a deep, steadying breath before continuing, his shoulders rising and falling with the motion. "Now that I've secured my position in the Zodiacs, my parents want me to focus on the next step," he tells me, crossing his arms defensively over his broad chest as he tilts his head back, letting out a heavy, resigned sigh. "...Marriage."
I can't help but let out a disbelieving laugh, shaking my head in sheer incredulity as Capricorn's words sink in. "Marriage?" I repeat, squinting my eyes as if to make sure I'm hearing him correctly. Capricorn's lips immediately pull into a deep frown that instantly sobers my reaction, and I stop laughing, realizing he's anything but joking. Of course, I should have known - his ruthlessly ambitious parents have always been obsessed with power and status. Having an elite child serving in the military is a massive bonus, and securing a strategic marriage into another powerful zodiac family would only further elevate their standing. "Like...to a zodiac..." I ask, my tone tinged with distaste, and Capricorn's solemn, regal nod confirms my worst fears. My expression softens as I shake my head, utterly dismayed that his own parents would demand such a thing from him. "No, Cap, that's ridiculous," I say, my voice laced with conviction. "We're way too young to even be thinking that far ahead. And this is your life, not theirs. You should be able to do whatever you want with it."
Capricorn sighs deeply, a hint of resignation in the sound. "I know, but..." he mumbles, his brow furrowing as he runs his fingers agitatedly through his hair. "There's a part of me that's still trying to get their approval."
I can't help but furrow my own brow at the implication, "Yeah, but you're dating a planet," I remind him, my tone laced with a subtle concern. "Aren't you worried they'll find out?"
Capricorn shrugs, a slight frown tugging the corners of his lips. "A little," he murmurs, before turning and walking over to his four-poster bed, falling face-first onto the plush mattress. "More importantly..." he continues, his voice slightly muffled by the pillow, "I'm worried they'll find out that I'm still in love with Libra. They hate her..."
YOU ARE READING
Who We Are (A Zodiac Story)
FantasyAnother world exists - a universe above made up of multiple realms. Discover the lives of the Zodiacs, a military faction whose fates are predetermined from birth. As they come of age, they not only face a battle between good and evil, but a journey...