Forgiveness

The first date

"I...I was looking for you," Esteban said trying to sound professional but alluring. His attempts seemed to backfire when Shuriki began to realize what he was going for as she giggled. "And here you are."

"Not so good at flirting, are you...Chancellor Esteban?" She raised an eyebrow along with a seductive smirk. Esteban swallowed his own saliva thinking more in how to answer. Then she began to chuckled "Look at us. Acting like a couple of teenagers."

Esteban chuckled too. He was relieved that neither Shuriki was willing to continue with their awkward flirting. Even though he could continue flirting due to his little idea that might get them into trouble but he actually wanted to do something to show her...he had forgiven her.

"Can we talk for some minutes?" Esteban said glancing anxiously at the halls before seeing Shuriki giving a quick nod.

Elena, Isabel, and their grandparents on a trip for a day to form an agreement with a faraway kingdom and have a little break after everything that had to happen during the last months. Esteban offered to take care of the palace, he had already a backup plan if there were some issues in his plans. Esteban and Shuriki had become very close Friends and understand each other past for a very long time and had become very fonded. Esteban had always been that figure that Shuriki could trust and eventually love, especially through this whole thing about reforming. He wanted to do something for her because he loved her.

"Are we going to the what?" Esteban could expect a more dramatical reaction of Shuriki when she found out that Esteban was willing to break a rule by a little contradiction of Francisco's orders.

Esteban had asked a favor to Higgins and Armando which kept silence of their plans, luckily both of them had agreed in their own way. His plan could be risky but he had the argument that Francisco didn't say Shuriki could be taken outside the palace with some company and guards watching them. He might seem like he had fallen to Shuriki..but he wanted to show her that things might be as good as the opposite she thought they were. The next day Elena and the others headed early giving the couple more time.

"Everything is how you requested chancellor" Capitan Nuñez said before looking suspicious at the 'trading merchandise' "I thought it was Doña Paloma's duty have some of the merchandise for the trading, but well you are in charge for now." Then he was dismissed.

"I don't know how you two get me into this" Armando sighed as he entered to the carriage while some guards were going down "Let's hope that the Crown princess or your grandparents found about this."

"I Will make sure of that, Armando" Esteban smiled as he dismissed the little man. Then he gave a long sigh, he was actually regretting his whole plan. "I don't know how you are always the main reason getting me into breaking the rules."

"It was your plan in the first place" Shuriki groaned as Esteban rolled his eyes "You were the one who dragged me into this."

Esteban couldn't help but chuckle at the irony in their situation. When Shuriki was in power, she was actually the one who dragged Esteban into her insane plans. The carriage began to move in a short amount of time heading to the beach. Esteban dismissed the guards and help Shuriki getting off the carriage.

"you look beautiful." Esteban smiled as he released her hand.

"Good attempt to get me into forgiving you" Shuriki scowled before smirking to him. "But you are such a wimpy sweetheart so I will consider it" Esteban groaned at her vain response before preparing for a picnic "What?"

"I guess you should take some classes in how not to be such a vain person, " He said sarcastically "Oh wait, you are."

Both sat down on both opposite sides on the towel used for their little picnic. Esteban seemed to be, even more, his choice. Shuriki still was cold as ever but he couldn't help seeing her expression. She was actually showing guilt by her attitude but was too proud to apologize to him. He gave a long sigh before touching her shoulder.

"Are you feeling alright?" Esteban said trying to start a conversation and giving Shuriki a chance "You seemed to have struggled with something."

"I'm sorry," She said quickly. He said nothing "I really need to work on my own behavior and vanity." Then she slowly got closer to him "I am very thankful that you tried to talk first. You are actually a very nice guy and I think...that you are a very likable person." He was flattered by her struggling to sound nice.

"I'm impressed," Esteban said as he slowly placed his arm around her"You are improving a lot on yourself. I believe that is pretty surprising." She simply gave him a soft smile and chuckled.

They spent most of their day talking, eating and enjoying a good time in the cold seawater as they began to bond with each other more. Esteban would tell her about how was his life after her defeat, he actually highlighted many important details and how actually he passed through many hardships. He wanted to explain how much he missed her and what she actually meant to him in his own life.

"You know," Esteban said slowly after they returned to see the sunset. He took her hand "I never thought that we could end like this. Looking at the sunset and holding each other hand." She sighed as she placed her head on his shoulder."

"In my whole life," She softly began to cuddle closing her eyes "I always thought that I had no one but myself. I felt like I was all alone and I was the only one who could be her own company. I thought love was a dead thing until...I met you, Esteban. You changed my life and stole my heart"

"You also stole my heart, you are my weakness and my own strenght," He took her chin and lifted as both began to get closer "Loving you confuse me, makes me insane and makes me think of you as a wonderful woman who I loved for many years."

Their foreheads met each other as their own breaths mixed along with the warm air of the noon. Their eyes were closed as their lips were getting closer and closer. But when it seemed like they were going to share a passionate kiss...they suddenly stopped.

"It's getting late," He softly said as both raised up "We better go now."

Both packed up quickly and returned to the palace without having anyone seeing them or finding that they were gone for a while. Neither of Esteban's family was around in the palace, giving both a relief. The chancellor and the sorceress agreed to never speak about the subject matter before going to their rooms to take a long bath.

"I just want to say," She saw her wearing a white robe, she was already in her sleeping gown underneath. Her expression was soft and she was smiling at him. "Thank you for expending an indescribable day with me, Chancellor."

"The pleasure is mine." Esteban said smiling back before he was caught by surprise when the sorceress gave him a soft hug."I hope you have a good night of rest. We had such an exhausting day together."

"I know." She whispered before giving a quiet giggle. She then got closer to his ear "I love you, Esteban"

"I love you too, Shuriki." He slowly chuckled before Shuriki and he slowly broke the hug and stare at each other eyes. He moved her dark and soft raven hair behind her ear and kiss her cheek as both returned to bed.