A Face that launched a thousand ships

Part 8

part 8

"Ah, Carriedo, how nice of you to be able to join us!" he said with a warm smile, greeting the newcomer. Maria got happy as she saw one of her friends also in the occasion. "Antonio!" she called out, happily approaching the brunet. The man forced a smile upon his tan face, "Maria..." he said weakly. The girl stopped on her tracks and stood before him, "What's wrong, Antonio?" she asked. The man turned his head away, hiding his pained expression. "Have you two known each other?" the blond man asked, breaking the tension between the two. Maria faced her husband and smiled, "We just met a month or so ago." She then approached the blond man and stood beside him—inserting her hand in his hand.

Antonio's eyes widened as anger filled him. "Mon Cherie, Antonio!" a voice called out from behind him. The said man turned around to see another blonde man with a longer wavy hair together with an albino. "Francis, Gilbert..." he smiled. "Oi! Since when did you get here, Tonio?" the albino spoke up with a proud tone. Antonio chuckled, "Just now." He replied. Francis pulled him close to the albino and himself, "We will be borrowing Tonio for a while. I hope you do not mind, Arthur, Maria." Maria shook her head, "Not at all."

The three left with the albino—named Gilbert Beilschmidt, by the way—putting his arms around the brunet's shoulder, "We need to talk." The blonde said in a serious tone. Antonio kept his eyes on the ground as the three of them walked out of the grand palace and into the elegant garden full of red and blue roses and white jasmines. In the middle of the elegant garden was a circular fountain with an angel statue in the middle of it. The brunet sat down on the fountain's ledge and the albino sat beside him. The blonde man stood in front of the two; crossed arms on his chest and a serious look on his face.

"What do you want?" the brunet asked impatiently.

"Do you know the girl of whom Kirkland married?" Francis asked directly. Gilbert leaned back with his hands resting just a little bit behind him to support his upper weight. Antonio looked to his right with a pained expression and meeting brows. "Oui?" Francis asked with a raised brow. Antonio nodded and Gilbert smirked.

"She is the one I hath told you in my letters." He replied. "Oh," the blonde man was intrigued by this, "She is the one you love then?" Gilbert chuckled, "Awesome choice, Tonio!" Antonio punched the albino on his arm, "Yes, she is the one." He replied coolly. The blonde smirked, "Mon Cherie, I have a plan. I believe this might work."

The two men cocked up their heads as they heard the blonde say this. "What is it?"

"Kirkland, I will not take long here. I will go back tonight to my country." The man said, talking in private with the king. "I understand." The blonde replied. From his pocket, the brunet took out an envelope and handed it over to the man opposite to him, "Please read it and try to consider it." The blonde took the envelope hesitantly, "What is in this?" he asked.

The other man turned around, "You'll know once you have started reading it." He walked away and went down the stairs and into the carriage awaiting him. For one last time, he turned around and gave the blonde a smile and a curt nod. The blonde in turn nodded and smiled back.

The carriage started moving and left the grand palace of the king of Britannia.

The door creaked open and in came Arthur. He was holding a letter in his hands and made his way to the king size bed of the room. On that king-sized bed was Maria. She wore her loose white night gown and read 'Inferno' written by Dante. "What did he say?" she asked, offering a warm smile to the man. He sat beside Maria and opened the letter given by Antonio:

To Mister and Missus Kirkland,

I would like to invite the both of you to attend the party I will be holding in a week's time. It may be a little too sudden, but I would really appreciate it if the both of you arrive. It will be a simple party on the seventh of the evening of the third day of the week. This event would be held at Reino de España's palace. I would await your arrival.

Sincerely yours,

Antonio Fernandez Carriedo

"What is written on it?" she asked, curiosity written on her eyes. Arthur closed the letter and placed it down on the side table. He leaned closer to her and kissed her cheek, "I will tell you tomorrow. Sleep tight, love." She puffed her cheeks and placed the book on her lap, "You are not to sleep beside me?" she asked. Arthur chuckled, "I will be joining you a bit later; I will finish some things first. Sleep now, love."

"Arthur!" she called out, the man turned around to look at her. She gave him a big smile, "I love you too, do not stress yourself." Arthur then smiled and went out of the room.

The door shut close; the room became silent. She sat still where she was and stared at the emptiness beside her. How she wished he'd sleep beside her on their first night together as husband and wife. She had longed for this day for so long, now that it was there, it still felt lacking.

Her eyes crinkled up as she gripped the bed cover. She took the book on her lap and placed it on top of the side table.

She went inside the comforter and tucked herself, "Tomorrow's another day."

Her eyes opened slowly—squinting as the sun's gentle rays spilled all over the room. She sat up and rubbed the sleepiness away from her eyes. Her hazel orbs caught sight of something yellow beside her. It was Arthur, he was sleeping beside her. She giggled at the sight of the man having a bed hair in front of her. She had to admit, he looked like an angel as he was sleeping. His infamous scowl did not have a trace on his dashing face; his thick brows looked relaxed. Her hands reached to his cheeks and caressed them, "Wake up, darling."

Arthur squinted, his brows met at the middle as he tried opening his eyes. The first thing he saw was Maria. Her face wore a gentle smile and her hand still on his cheek. He smiled and held her hand, "Good morning." He sat up and stretched his arms above him.

"Oh, I just remembered," he said, "Carriedo invited us to a party he is holding." Maria tilted her head, "Antonio did? Where will it be held?" she asked. Arthur faced her, "In his palace, in a week." The girl's eyes widened, "His palace? I did not know he had a palace!" Arthur looked at her in question, "Of course he does, he's the king of Reino de Espana." He replied coolly.

"Antonio? A king?" she asked within herself, "Then why was he alone and lost when I met him?"