Treason

The Truth Comes Out

For the rest of the week, Felix tried to decipher his feelings towards Marzia. He knew since the moment he saw her, that things were different. That she was different.

But why? What is so special about this princess?

Maybe it's because of her accent, who doesn't love that. Maybe because of how beautiful and smooth her hair is, or how he's the only one she ever laughs in front of, or how he's the only one who gets to hear her stories and secrets and hold her hand in the dead of night. Or maybe it's how her eyes shine whenever she sees him.

Felix only reads about these things from books in the castle library. He has to know what this is.

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"Dad, how did you know that you loved mom?" Felix's dad puts down his fork.

"What do you mean?"

"Like, how did you figure out that you were in love with her?"

"Hmm, well I think it would have to be when we were on our fourth date. Nothing super amazing happened to make me realize it. I had driven her home and walked her to the door, like I always did, and she took my hand and leaned in and kissed me. After, her face turned pink and she started tugging on her hair like she always did when she was nervous. And before I could stop myself I had blurted out 'I love you.'" Felix's dad laughs at himself.

"Of course that made her turn bright red, we had only gone on four dates and here I was saying the 'L' word after our first kiss. But I meant it, I really loved your mother." There's a soft silence between the two as they sulk for a moment, remembering the woman they called mother and wife.

"Why do you ask anyways?" Felix shrugs.

"I just wanted to know more about her, about you guys."

"Ah, you use to ask a lot of questions about her when you were little. Did you know that she was a witch?"

"Really?"

"Mhm." His dad nods as he chews his food.

"I was convinced that she had put a spell on me to make me love her for the longest time. I had first started to like her when I saw her sneeze and drop two cups of tea down her front. She had yellow water and yellow snot dripping off her."

"Ew."

"Exactly, but I decided to help her clean up, and ask her out at the same time. Therefore I thought she put a spell on me. In the end, I was thankful that it wasn't."

The alarm signally dinner is over rings and the two males take care of their plates, say their goodnights and head to their rooms.

Something so simple made him fall in love with her. The way dad talked about her, I act the same when I think about Marzia. I'm always thinking about her really. Sometimes I find myself wanting to hold her hand all the time, and more even. Could I..

Love her?

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"I'm so happy I passed the test! I've never had two days off before!"

"Yeah congratulations princess, you'll be able to sleep in now." Marzia laughs and rolls to her side so her head is resting on Felix's chest.

Please don't hear my heart, please don't hear my heart.

"I wish you had the day off too, that way we could spend all day together."

"Yeah," Felix answers softly as he wraps an arm around her.

Do it. Do it now. Tell her.

Felix clears his throat.

"Marzia, I..I need to tell you something. But don't worry it's not serious like how it is in the movies when they say that." Marzia giggles.

"Ok, what is it?"

"I...I love you." Marzia stiffens.

"That sounds pretty serious to me."

"Not really."

Awkward silence.

"Are you gonna say anything?" Felix asks.

"You can't."

"I can't what?"

"You can't love me."

"Why the hell not? It's taken me four years to figure this out and I'm not going to just push it aside." Marzia sits up, Felix follows.

"You just can't, alright? It could never work between us."

"Why? Because you don't love me back? Because you're a sorcerer? Because..I'm a soldier?"

"No! I don't care about our positions."

"So you don't love me."

"It's because I love you!" Marzia covers her mouth.

"I don't understand." Marzia's hand slides down her face and her eyes start to water.

"Haven't you ever wondered what I'm doing here? Why a princess from another kingdom is in yours?"

"Since the day you got here, but nobody  would ever tell me so I just gave up on trying to figure it out."

"Well let me tell you. I'm here because I am going to be the black prince's wife." Felix's eyes go wide.

"What? His wife? But he's not even here yet!"

"I know.. But once he returns and becomes king we are suppose to wed."

"Wha- but- can't you just tell them no?"

"I can't just say 'mm no thanks I'll pass' to two kings. If...if I didn't love you, I could just tell you no and that would be the end of it but.." Marzia looks away as the tears start to fall, and Felix quickly reaches to wipe them away.

"Well I don't care what they say. I love you, and I will always love you. Even if you do marry the prince, even if you have children with him, I will always love you. And we still have the night. Right now, and tomorrow."

"But come Monday morning..this will have to stop. I can't risk us being found out and you being hanged for treason."

"Then we should make the most of what time we have left to each other." Felix slides his hand across Marzia's face and cups her cheek.

"I..I want to spend the night with you." Marzia looks away shyly as Felix stares at her confused.

"But we-"

"The whole night." Felix's face turns red, Marzia's reciprocates it.

"You.." The brown haired girl scoots closer to Felix.

"Will you?" Their foreheads touch.

"Anything for you, princess." Slowly, Felix closes the distance between them until their lips connect. They're awkward and uncoordinated, but warmth and happiness spreads throughout their bodies.

Marzia places both hands to Felix's face and gentle pulls them down onto the bed.

"I love you." Felix kisses her nose.

"I love you." He kisses her cheek.

"I love you." A kiss to her forehead.

"I love you." Lastly, a kiss on her lips.

Marzia smiles and strokes Felix's cheek with her thumb and whispers,

"I love you."