The holy ruler

Chapter 2 - An Unlikely Encounter

Anastasia's POV:

The grand hall of the English palace buzzed with activity, the arrival of the French King, Louis, and his family causing a ripple of excitement. There was talk of a treaty, of political marriages that could shift the course of kingdoms, and of uniting families through strategic unions. For Anastasia, the weight of these negotiations pressed heavily on her shoulders, as her father, King Henry, proudly introduced her to the foreign royals.

Anastasia didn’t care for these displays. She had seen them too many times—her father parading her in front of prospective suitors, every gesture, every word calculated to position her as a pawn in his grand game. Prince Louis's gaze lingered on her longer than necessary, and though she was used to being admired, something about his look made her skin crawl. She wasn’t interested in the politics of marriage, not with this man or any of them. But duty was duty, and Anastasia knew her place.

She had to escape, if only for a moment. The weight of her responsibility, the endless smiles and superficial conversations, was suffocating. She made her way down the grand hall, her heels clicking sharply against the stone floors, her silk gown rustling softly behind her. She was aware of every gaze, but none of them truly mattered. She needed air. She needed freedom.

As she rounded a corner, lost in thought, she collided with someone—strong and unyielding—who caught her effortlessly before she could stumble.

"Kye!" she exclaimed, her voice full of surprise, as she looked up into the face of the one person who had always made her feel grounded.

His smile was warm, wide, and completely genuine, his deep purple eyes crinkling at the edges as he held her steady. "Ana, it’s been far too long," he said, his voice low and soothing. His arms lingered at her waist for a moment too long, and though his touch was comforting, she felt a strange flutter in her chest, an unexpected wave of warmth.

"You’ve grown!" she teased, a laugh bubbling up. “I always forget how much taller you get.”

Kye chuckled, his deep voice resonating through her. "And you’ve grown into a breathtaking woman," he said, his words carrying a seriousness that caught her off guard. “I see I was right to be impressed when I first saw you.”

Anastasia felt a soft blush rise in her cheeks, a rush of warmth spreading across her face. She had known Kye since childhood. Her father allowed her to visit his family, and in those moments, Kye was her safe haven. But as they grew older, the bond between them had changed, grown into something deeper, something more unspoken.

For years, Kye had been the one person who truly understood her, who never treated her like a pawn or a princess to be married off. He was the only one who didn’t look at her with expectation, the only one who treated her like she was more than just a piece of royal property. And now, standing before him again, she felt the depth of that bond even more keenly.

"You still act like I’m just some little girl," she teased, poking his chest lightly.

Kye smiled softly, but there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes. "You're not a little girl anymore, Ana," he said, his voice dropping lower, more intense. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin. "And I’ve never treated you like one."

Anastasia felt her pulse quicken at his touch, a shiver running down her spine. There was something different in Kye’s demeanor now, something far more commanding than she remembered. He had always been protective of her, but there was a fire in his eyes now—an unspoken promise that made her heart race.

"You look like you need a moment away from all this," Kye continued, his gaze narrowing as he looked down at her. “Come with me. We can get away from all this... political nonsense.”

Without waiting for a response, he took her hand and led her through the shadowed corridors of the palace, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet hall. Kye’s hand felt warm in hers, strong and steady, and she found herself following him without hesitation, as if he held some power over her, some magnetism that she couldn’t resist.

As they emerged into the castle gardens, the moonlight bathed them in a silvery glow. The air was cool, the scent of blooming flowers mingling with the soft sound of crickets in the distance. Kye led her toward a secluded bench, and they sat together in silence for a moment, the calm and tranquility of the garden wrapping around them like a shield.

"I hate it here," Anastasia said, her voice quiet but filled with frustration. “All of them, they just see me as a piece in their game. My father... this treaty... Louis… they all want something from me.”

Kye’s expression hardened, his jaw clenching slightly as he looked at her. “You’re more than their game, Ana. You’re more than your father’s pawn. You’re a queen in your own right, and I’ll make sure they all see that.”

Anastasia glanced at him, her heart pounding at the intensity of his words. There was a determination in his voice, a fire that matched the fierceness in his eyes. She had always trusted Kye, but now, as she looked at him, she realized just how deeply he cared for her. How deeply he wanted her to succeed, to be more than what others tried to make her.

“I don’t want to just survive, Kye,” she whispered, her voice shaking slightly. “I want to be free of all this... all the expectations. I don’t want to marry for power. I want to marry for love... or not at all. But I have no choice.”

Kye reached out, cupping her chin gently in his strong hand, lifting her face to meet his gaze. "You don’t have to marry anyone you don’t want, Ana," he said softly but firmly. "I’ll make sure of it. You have me. Always."

Her breath caught in her throat as she looked into his eyes, the depth of his promise echoing in her chest. Kye wasn’t just offering her comfort; he was offering her something far more valuable—his power, his protection, his willingness to help her climb to the top, to take control of her own destiny.

Before she could speak, her father’s voice cut through the moment. "Anastasia!" he called sharply from the direction of the palace. "It’s time."

Anastasia’s heart sank. Her time with Kye, the only person who made her feel truly seen, was being cut short. She pulled away slightly, the weight of reality settling back in.

“I have to go,” she said softly, a lump forming in her throat. "I’ll do what they want. It’s what I have to do."

Kye’s grip on her wrist tightened, holding her in place. His voice was low but insistent. “No, Ana,” he said, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that left her breathless. “I won’t let them break you. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want. Promise me.”

“I... I promise,” she whispered, the weight of his words pressing on her chest. “But I can’t fight them yet, Kye. Not now.”

Kye didn’t let go. His gaze softened, and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. "I’ll help you fight. When you're ready, I’ll help you take everything you deserve."

As Anastasia looked into Kye’s eyes, she realized the truth of his words. She wasn’t alone anymore. He would be by her side, pushing her, helping her rise above it all. And in that moment, she knew her future wasn’t as set in stone as it seemed. She had a choice—she had Kye.

With one last lingering kiss on her forehead, Kye released her, and Anastasia stood, her heart heavy yet full of hope.

“Go,” he whispered. “Show them who you are.”

With one final look at him, Anastasia turned toward her father’s call, her resolve steeling inside her. She wasn’t just the princess they wanted to control. She was going to be something much more.

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