Womanish Lady

Chapter 34:

Prince Tuquor was not in the same place he last was, so Fuyaiyah looked around for him to no avail. But it was when she sighed in defeat and made her way out of the Queen's Palace, she saw him standing with his horse by the Queen's Palace Gates. They both acknowledged each other, and, silently, made their way back to the main palace.

The Prince stopped midway. So did she.

"Of all of the people to marry; my brother? Really?"

"The marriage is not approved yet."

"That's not the point! Don't you know? It was Kyuni who both offered and led the mission that burned down and enslaved your village. Even afterwards - he continued to bother you! And now you're agreeing to marry him?"

At hearing of her village again, Fuyaiyah sighed and tried to keep her temperament.

"As both a Royal Prince, and his brother, you shouldn't be trying to turn me against him."

Prince Tuquor was saddened.

"You're always like that Fuyaiyah. While I'm speaking to you with a warm heart, you're always responsive with a cold one. As if my warmth to you hasn't melted that heart one bit!"

"It's because you're a Prince, Prince Tuquor! You should begin to act like one! The first moment I realized that you've taken a particular liking to me - you put me in danger in many ways! I have to be receptive to you, but you just don't understand!"

The Prince was taken aback by her firm and rough tone. Then he thought for a minute.

"Then," he looked at her. "If I wasn't a Prince, could we have been more comfortable with each other?"

Fuyaiyah looked to the side.

"If you wasn't a Prince, we would've never met." Then she shook her head. "You still don't get it, Prince Tuquor. Why are you worrying about a relationship with an enslaved woman instead of the well-being of your Kingdom?"

He smiled sadly.

"That's exactly what my father and brother also said to me." He locked eyes with her. "Didn't you hear me last time? It's because I love you. It's only natural to want to look after those you love."

"If I'm one you claim to love and care for," she said steadily. "You wouldn't be endangering me nor betraying your brother by talking about this relationship with ours behind his back."

The Prince took a gulp.

"I'd normally let you say as you please, but I won't allow you to undermine the fact that I love you."

Fuyaiyah took a breath. She wanted Prince Tuquor to understand without her needing to mention that they're siblings.

"- But fine." He continued. "Let's cease talking about you and me. Why did you suddenly come back? And what happened that you're even agreeing to marry Kyuni?"

She stood straight.

"I had returned for personal reasons. I am agreeing to marry Prince Kyuni for the sake of my Village."

"Your village? Your village burned down two years ago."

Her heart tinged.

"It's the people that make a village. Not the land; in exchange for my hand in marriage, he promised to set my remaining village free."

"It's not like you to believe the promise of someone who hates you."

There was a moment of silence.

"More than me, you should know that Prince Kyuni does not let his feelings interfere with his duty. There are two sides to the promise."

Prince Tuquor knew that she was indirectly talking about him.

"What's the other side?"

"When I become his partner, I also agreed to help him reshape this Kingdom."

Prince Tuquor was genuinely surprised.

"Prince Kyuni is always thinking of his Kingdom. I am always thinking of my village. We're in an agreed business marriage." She lowered her tone. "There is no further reason to be upset."

"There still is a reason," he said in a low tone. "-after all I did to try to make you trust me, you didn't confide in me first. I would've helped you with freeing your village. You didn't have to take as drastic measures as marrying Kyuni."

"It wasn't about who I trusted enough to confine in. It was who the opportunity first came with. Marrying Prince Kyuni is nothing to me."

His shoulders slumped.

"Now you're the one who's not understanding the wrong in this."

"I do understand. I just need you to ease up on something you're not even in the place to be worrying about."