In the Shadows of Love: Billy's Romantic Odyssey.

9 || His Highness.

Summer had arrived a week ago, and we were all gearing up for a splendid Christmas season. It was going to be Nathan the Great's fifteenth Christmas with many relatives gathering to celebrate.

Christmas Eve had arrived, and a gathering of uncles, aunties, and friends from within the valley had come to the palace. We enveloped around a warm fire, sharing stories and legends with Nathan, who seemed greatly captivated by the world of fiction and fables, just like his mother Anna.

Nathan had reached the age of fifteen, and he had requested permission to start tending to cattle in the woods with his peers. This idea worried his mother, who was reluctant to let her son out of her sight. She preferred him to run errands where she could easily keep an eye on him.

At the age of ten, Nathan's curiosity was boundless, and he was eager to explore a wide range of ideas. It was a phase when a child's interests could appear unusual to parents.

Anna, my beloved, was a warm and passionate mother with deep sensitivity towards her family. She was as sweet as honey or peaches, you could say. Since our reunion, I had felt incredibly happy, and with our son joining the picture, it felt like the missing piece of the puzzle had finally fallen into place.

We were delighted every day of our lives. The love between Anna Marie and me had a profound impact on the entire valley, reigniting the hearts of even the most hopeless couples.

On that special day, we had all gathered, and the tables were laden with delicacies. Drinks flowed freely, from bottles of whiskey, margaritas, to wines, and the room buzzed with excitement. Every face in the room wore a smile as wide as an elephant's, and the music, slow and romantic, simmered like a pot of soup under a gentle flame.

It was an hour when we wished the party could go on forever. The women, dressed in floor-sweeping silk gowns, captivated the men. When the dance session began, the lovebirds were drawn into the dance floor, and the final dances served as a prelude to what would become an unforgettable Christmas party.

Every love tank of the villagers looked filled up.

Anna and I sat arm in arm, in the seat that we had earned through the years. It was a gold plate seat, firmly placed at a strategic angle that allowed us to spot and converse with anyone in the grand room without the need for elaborate protocols.

As per our tradition, we used this moment to discuss our plans for reforms and societal ambitions. The one who wished to speak would take their seat next to the royal gold-plated chair, and today, a young and charming woman stepped forward. She wore a warm smile as she played with the hem of her pink dress, and we eagerly awaited the sound of her voice.

She didn't sing; instead, she began by sharing her dreams. She spoke of how the leadership in the valley had been an important part of her aspirations since she was a young warden. Her words were heartfelt, and as she shed tears, we all felt the sincerity of her testimony. Smiles lit up our faces, and we couldn't help but be moved by her mere immortal words.

Nathan, our son, was amid a crowd, and from a distance, I spotted a girl who was exceptionally beautiful. Long, wavy hair with fresh plucked roses adorning her head. Her eyes as soft as cheese piece. She moved with such exuding confident that I instantly admired her for my son.

She, too, was like a lingering dream amidst the congregation. They sat close to each other, engrossed in a steamy conversation, like two inseparable ducklings. Nathan led the conversation, and the girl's heart was clearly captured. She cracked passionately under her laced bonnet from time to time.

Her radiant face and enchanting demeanor reminded me of the intense connection Anna, and I had shared and the fantasies we had indulged in. They both looked utterly entrancing, and it was evident that this girl had stolen my son's heart.