Eldarya: Imagine

Ezarel | Can't

He screwed up.

He knows he screwed up the moment he pulls back and sees her stunned face. He takes his time to process just what exactly he's just done and what consequences will follow.

"Shit." The curse spills from his lips, that just a moment ago parted from the woman's soft ones, as he takes a step back and hides his face in his palms.

He isn't allowed to do this. He isn't allowed to kiss a woman before she is picked by his father for his future wife. He isn't allowed to fall for anyone else than his fiancé, nor should he break his love's heart.

"Ez..." he catches the hand that reaches for him, inches from his face, his free hand running through his hair.

"I..." He doesn't know how to say it. Especially now when he was the one who made the move to kiss her. He seriously fucked this up. "I'm sorry."

Confusion is written all over her face, before light blush dusts her cheeks, as she shyly looks down.

"Don't be, I liked it."

She looks up at him, when she notices the hand holding her wrist is shaking.

He lets out a shaky breath, before muttering response. "You don't understand... I can't do this." He can't even look her in the eyes.

"I still... don't get it..."

"I'm noble-" he starts, but doesn't add anything and she scoffs either from amusement or annoyance.

"And?"

Ezarel's still not looking her way, so she sighs and reaches her free hand towards him to get his attention. He catches it as well, fingers digging just a little harder in both her wrists than before.

"I'm not allowed to be with anyone, unless my father tells me so," he says, as he turns to her, not wishing to see her reaction but being drawn to it.

"What?" He doesn't like how weak this word sounds on her lips. Nor does he like the small quiver in her shoulders and the paleness of her face, when it dawns on her.

"I'm sorry."

The grip on her wrists lightens and soon is fully gone and now they're just staring at each other wordlessly. She doesn't throw a fit. She's observant enough to see she's not the only one hurt by the occurrence.

She takes a step forward to close the gap between them and to Ezarel's surprise supports her forehead on his chest.

She waits for an outburst, but instead feels fingers entangle in her hair.

They don't know how long they stay like this.

But when they part in their own directions, it feels like whole lifetime had passed.