Darling Soul

Chapter Six

So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.

She walked to the garden, the same one she found her stranger before, and there stood a man in the middle. He was dressed in dark blue, the same as her, and his hair was pushed back by hair gel, an unusual style from all the times she had seen him, he always left his hair messy like he just rolled out of bed with his wild and dark waves falling in a short mullet.

"You look absolutely breathtaking, my Lady.", he extended his hand, she grabbed it and he kissed her knuckles like he had done before. He stared at her, his gaze not faltering, and after a couple of seconds she started to feel self-concious.

"Thank you", she smiled and he returned it. "I was hoping we could talk?"

"Of course.", they sat down in the familiar bench and she crossed her legs, while he fully faced her.

"I thought about what you said, but I couldn't decide anything without talking to someone else...", she talked and he listened, nodding as the words left her mouth, "I talked with my fiancée and you were right, he intends to treat me like an object to be used and set aside when its purpose is fulfilled and I do not wish for that future to come true. However, if I am to take your offer you have to promise me that my future will be brighter than what my parents secured for me."

He grabbed her hands and brought it to his lips, he kissed her again and just like before the moment felt intimate and both of them felt vulnerable.

"I know you are throwing what you know of life away based on a chance, but I want to be clear and only tell you facts. I will treat you like the Queen you deserve to be treated, you will have everything and anything you want, you are allowed to make decisions for yourself and for the kingdom and your safety will be one of my priorities. But you must know, I'm a very hated man and you could be in danger just for staying by my side."

"How?", she interrupts with curiosity. Who in their right mind could hate a man so kind as the one sat holding her hands, she thought.

"How? I don't understand.", and he didn't. Was she asking how he would give her the world?

"How are you hated by many?"

"I'm not this charming all the time, Darling. I am a powerful man with powerful enemies... I'm Eiran Dracnar, the King of Dragneeds, Lady Astra.", and her mouth fell open. The Kingdom of Dragneeds has been closed off ever since the Great War ended fifty years ago, the rest of the world couldn't enter their walls and they didn't leave them either, their Royal Family refused every single invitation the other Kingdoms sent and no one knew their whereabouts or their political situation. But one thing the world knew, Dragneeds had the most powerful army and their Royal Family was ruthless when it came to protect their people.

"You're the King of Dragneeds?"

"In the flesh. I wanted to tell you now because you need to know what the future might look like for you, I promise there will be roses, but there might be storms too. Your parents won't allow you to live like you want to, you'll marry Kallis or another Crown Prince, but you won't be satisfied with the roles they will give you."

"And you? Will I be satisfied with you?", he caressed her cheek with his right hand and she leaned  into his touch. Astra felt weird for being too comfortable in his presence, she barely knew him, no wait, she found out a big deal about him, a key information.

"Your light will shine the most with me."

"Why me? Why this weird obsession with me, you barely know me."

"I met your brother once, in one of his travels. His military sergeant sent him away from camp as a form of punishment and I was passing by, I had some business to attend to outside the walls, but of course my identity was unknown. Atlas got hurt, he broke his ankle and was all alone, I stayed with him until someone came to look for him, but he told me about his twin sister and how kind she was, he told me of the times she got scolded for sneaking bread to the poor children in the outside of the city they lived in, he said she would be the first to defend and protect another person even if it was a stranger. When I heard you were looking for a husband, and an invitation was sent to my door, I recognised Atlas last name and I connected the dots."

"Just because my brother told you about me?"

"I was curious and, as you know, I keep my identity a secret so it's not hard to be a ghost and investigate on my own."

"You decided to marry me because I am kind?"

"One of the reasons.", his hand went to her chin and he tilted her head upwards so he could get a better view of those miss-matched eyes he learned to adore.

"Tell me more."

"We have a ball to attend to, Darling.", he kissed her forehead and got up. He extended her hand and she took it. "How do you want to do this?"

"I haven't said yes yet, Your Grace."

"Oh, God, no. Don't call me that.", she giggled.

"What should I call you then?"

"Eiran, just Eiran.", she blinked. Calling a monarch just their name meant a big level of intimacy between the two, it was a big deal in their world.

"I'll marry you, Eiran.", she got onto her tiptoes and kissed his forehead, he sighed of content and grabbed her hand.

"So?", he asked noticing a new light in her eyes, he wanted it to be hope or curiosity or any other good emotion. Truth is Eiran couldn't quite pinpoint a reason behind his obsession but he didn't want anyone to feel how he felt, it was something special to him and he didn't want to lose this feeling.

"I'm supposed to enter the room with my fiancée."

"Then let's go, Darling, we wouldn't want to be late."