Royal Mystery

Chapter 16: Our Feelings

The next morning, Ivana woke to the sound of birds chirping and the smell of breakfast cooking. She slowly sat up, her body still sore but significantly better than the night before. The room wasn’t as grand as hers, but it was impressive, from the large windows through which she could see workers going about their daily duties, to the polished wood floors and furniture. The bed, fit for a queen, occupied a significant portion of the room. Alex’s mother appeared in the doorway, a warm smile on her face.

"Good morning, Queen Ivana. I hope you slept well. Breakfast is ready if you’re hungry."

Ivana nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude. "Thank you. I could use something to eat."

When she arrived at the dining area, everyone was seated except for Mica, Alex’s elder sister, who was helping their mother bring the dishes. Watching them work happily together reminded Ivana of what she never truly had—a mother who cared. Alex's younger sister suddenly rushed over, grabbed her hands, and brought her to the dining table, prompting her to sit next to her. Ivana was always amazed by her boldness.

As she joined Alex’s family at the breakfast table, she noticed the atmosphere was much more relaxed. They chatted and laughed, making her feel like a part of their family. Even Alex’s younger sister, who had been so eager to see her powers, was now more respectful and kind. The warmth and hospitality they had shown her eased some of the tension she felt. She remembered all the times when she had a proper family—when she used to have one. As she ate slowly, watching how Alex constantly fought with his elder sister over who got to finish the last bit of food, she couldn’t help but smile. It reminded her of how she always fought with Sera over the littlest unnecessary things. But the weight of her responsibilities suddenly settled heavily on her shoulders. She needed to save Sera. She knew she had to leave.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me, but I need to return to save my friend," Ivana said, her voice steady but firm.

Alex's family exchanged glances, a mix of concern and understanding in their eyes. Alex, however, was not ready to let her go just yet. He couldn’t even continue eating; he lost his appetite as he watched the Queen, not understanding why she didn’t think everything through.

“What?”

“You heard me,” she replied nonchalantly, her voice cold and calm. She stood up from her seat in an attempt to leave, surprising everyone. Alex quickly rushed and gently took her arm, leading her into a quiet corridor, away from the others.

"Ivana, you’re not strong enough to leave yet," he said, his tone a mix of worry and determination. "You need more time to recover."

"I’ve been through worse," Ivana replied stubbornly, her eyes challenging his. "I can’t stay here and hide while my people need me."

“Who said you are hiding? I understand that you are concerned about Sera…”

“What do you know about me? I brought you back to your home, and what joined us is no more, so let me be.”

“Look at yourself. You need to rest. I know Sera would agree too,” Alex declared.

“Shut up! You don’t know anything about Sera,” she yelled, the pain in her voice evident, but she was still trying to appear strong. Since her mother died, she had to live with the curse of carrying her name and legacy. She tried to walk away, but the more she walked away the more it drew her back to the darkness.

Alex sighed, realizing she wasn’t going to back down easily. His expression hardened with determination. "You’re acting stubborn, Ivana. And if you won’t listen to reason, then I’ll have to make you."

Before she could react, Alex pressed her against the wall, his hands firmly but carefully holding her arms in place. Ivana's heart pounded in her chest at the sudden closeness, her breath catching in her throat. The intensity in his eyes made her feel both vulnerable and strangely captivated.

"Why are you doing this?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, a mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite place. “Let me go this instant.” She tried to pull away from his grip, but surprisingly, she couldn’t. She was using her strength, but he wouldn’t even react. The force she used should have been able to rip his hands off, but he managed to still hold her in place. She found Alex strange, but this was making her lose confidence in herself. Looking into his eyes, she kept looking at her. “Why… why?” she cried, lowering her head as she admitted defeat.

"Because I care about you," Alex said, his voice softening but his grip still firm. "I can’t bear to watch you like this, hurting yourself more when you’re already in so much pain."

Ivana's resolve wavered as she felt the sincerity in his words and the gentle pressure of his hands. Her heart beat even faster, a mix of emotions swirling within her. She wanted to argue, to push him away and prove her strength, but the truth in his eyes disarmed her completely. Tears welled up in her eyes as the realization hit her. She had always been so strong, so unyielding, but here was someone who genuinely cared for her, someone who saw through her facade and still stood by her. Why would he even declare that he cared for her? She didn’t need anyone's care.

“I don’t care about anybody…”.

"Ivana," Alex whispered, his voice breaking as he saw her tears. "Please, just let yourself be vulnerable for once. It’s okay to need help."

A sob escaped her lips, and she collapsed into his arms, burying her face in his chest. Alex held her tightly, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. The feel of her trembling against him, the raw vulnerability she was showing, stirred something deep within him.

"I'm here for you, even though I am not as strong as you," he murmured, his voice soothing. "I’ll always be here for you."

They stood there for what felt like an eternity, wrapped in each other's arms. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their moment of shared vulnerability and connection.

Alex gently lifted her chin, his eyes locking onto hers. "You don’t have to do this alone, Ivana," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let me be there for you."

Ivana nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Thank you, Alex," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I’ve never felt this way before."

Alex leaned in, his forehead resting against hers. "Neither have I," he admitted, his voice filled with emotion. "But I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything."

Their lips were inches apart, the tension between them palpable. Alex hesitated for a moment, searching her eyes for any sign of hesitation. When he found none, he closed the gap, pressing his lips gently against hers. The kiss was tender, filled with all the unspoken emotions that had been building between them.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, their hearts pounding in unison. Ivana rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"You know I can have your head cut off for this," she muttered again.

Alex smiled, his arms still wrapped around her. "I know, but it was worth the risk."

“What the..?” His elder sister interjected, her mouth wide open as they quickly separated from each other. She had witnessed everything.

“....”

“Wow…,” she muttered.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

“Mom wanted to know whether she is still leaving,” she added. “Well?” Alex looked at the Queen, waiting for her response, but she just nodded and kept her face straight.

“Alright, I guess I will leave you two to continue your love thing or whatever.” She turned and left, leaving Alex and Ivana in awkward silence. They couldn't even look into each other's eyes again.

“This is awkward,” he declared.

“...,” she turned to walk away. “This still changes nothing. You will pay for kissing me.”