**Amelie's POV**
Once I walked downstairs, I saw that Ike was sitting at a small wooden table. He was drinking coffee, black as night.
"Hello.." I said, timidly.
"Mornin'." he grunted, "Sit with me, eat your breakfast." he nodded his head toward the opposite side of the table.
I sat down and looked at the plate in front of me. Eggs, toast, and bacon all sat there waiting to be tasted, accompanied by a cup of milk.
"I figured you wouldn't want coffee." he said, when I looked up his eyes met mine.
"I-I like coffee." I stammered.
"I'll make a note of that."
We sat there in silence for a few minutes. I ate my food, nervously trying to come up with conversation topics.
"You live alone?" I asked, finally.
"Yes."
More silence.
"I used to live with my sister, but she wed and moved out to live with her husband"
"Oh, that must get rather lonely."
"Hmm." he responded, shrugging his shoulders.
"How long am I allowed to stay here?"
"As long as you want." he replied, meeting my gaze with a stern look. "If you do not wish to go back ever, I would see no fault in that."
"B-but, I can't let you just take care of me!" I jumped up, nearly choking on my milk.
"Why not?"
"We aren't married! You have no obligation to take care of me!"
"So?"
"S-so-.."His gaze stopped me.
'He's serious..' I thought, 'No way..'
"I don't mind taking care of you. It'll keep me from living alone forever and you deserve to be happy. So as long as you're happy here, Amelie, please stay with me."
I met his gaze, my heart racing and face burning hotly.
"I-I.. I cant thank you enough, Ike. You're really too kind to me. I'll stay with you as long as I am welcome."
...
The days after that were calm. Ike and I spent most of our time together riding horses, completing house work, or just laying together and looking at the stars. Life seemed so perfect, so quiet. That is, until Ike got a knock on his door one sunny day.
"Just a second!" I shouted, rushing to dry my hands of the soap and dish water.
Another knock came, this one much rougher than the first.
"Coming!" I shouted, running to the door.
"Can I help yo-.." my heart stopped.
'N-no..'
YOU ARE READING
The Hero King
RomanceLove is a delicate thing. One day it's here, the next there's no sign of it. Sometimes you fall in love with something you can't have. Do you overcome the pain? Or do you succumb to it?
