This Time, I'll Marry You

Chapter 5: Husband?! Part 1

Why did that man look so familiar to him? Augustus had no memory that involved him with that young man. As if the thought was a trigger, vibrations were felt all over his body.

His vision caught his hands, looking at them they were trembling, quite fiercely so. Every step he took, showed how drastically his physique was weakening. He got paler by every second. Each inhales he took, sharp pain stabbed over his torso. And as he started to descend the spiral staircase, his back was getting heavier and heavier almost making him tumble down.

Opening his mouth, he let out a shaky breath, only to take in a mouthful of air filling his lungs. This sudden action called upon more complications. Slipping away he gripped the nearest support he could find. Legs weakening, for the first time, he felt lost. His body was no longer in his control.

Right now for him, even a gulp of fresh air was an elixir. Accelerating and louder, he tried to take in more and more but he couldn't. He was short of breath and soon not a pinch of air reached his head. It was breathlessness that made him dizzy.

"Lord Addington, Lord... dingto... L" alarmed and worried voices were fading away. Ears were shutting down on its accord.

Nothing in front of him made sense, his eyes and all his functions were all jumbled up. The whole palace stirred together and made patterns that were foreign to him. Is this real? With every little consciousness felt in him, he questioned. Looking around, he felt he was floating inside a giant kaleidoscope.

Colours burst, patterns changed upon his every consecutive blink. He felt as if he transmigrated into a new world and he was marvelled by its sight. Though Augustus didn't know how long he was here for, what he saw would always ingrain in his memories. In this realm, even if it looked as if he was the only living person but every tiny object was a living breathing entity. Things came alive that he thought could never exist in reality.

But soon his euphoric experience came crashing down and suddenly all the images started to blend into one colossal piece. Automatically, his hand reached out to touch it, but as a cloud of smoke, he could see it but never touch it. The image in front felt nostalgic but Augustus knew this picture too was never included in his memory. And as if saying his time was up, an enormous white light took over and fully engulfed him.

Knowing what happened was all in his brain and not physical, Augustus gathered himself. Blinking some more, he was adjusting himself with this never seen before light only to find himself waking up from his unconsciousness.

Coming back to reality, now he felt that his body was being vigorously shocked by a few men. Blurred vision recognised blurred faces. Were they his kins or his enemies? Where was he? Thoughts were running all over the places.

"Sir! Sir! Si..." panicked voices continued to call him. Irritated, he pulled up his other hand commanding them to stop. While the other still gripping his unknown life support. But he still was getting in and out of consciousness.

Augustus' head was splitting. Every muscle in him was shutting down, dismissing all his efforts on staying awake. Eyes blinking vigorously, trying to reach out for something, anything familiar to him. 'Is that how people faint?' The only question that was clear in his mind.

And the answer would probably be a definite no. '

'Or maybe what I went through was a near-death experience.?' He scoffed at his running ideas. Just looking at some unknown man's back he was an inch away from the death's door.

Ridiculous!

Even a child would laugh at him.

"How long was I out?" a hoarse and unfamiliar voice came out of his throat. Augustus didn't look at them if he was right; the clear sky must have welcomed the dark. He expected to be out for at least five to six hours.

Those soldiers who circled him were bewildered yet concerned. They were mum for quite a while until one hesitantly spoke out.

"A-Ah, S-Sir you suddenly slipped down the flight and was staring into spaces. We called you out quite a few times and tried to get you up. B-But you were holding the railing tightly, so we couldn't..." Whoever spoke was smart. He knew that a nobleman never showed weakness and even if they did, others must turn a blind eye to it.

Sensing the death grip, Augustus loosened his hand and combed his hair. Didn't know what to think, his annoyance was showing on his face. Abruptly he stood up and as he started to fix his posture. That familiar white light invaded his eyes.

His sudden action and the white light took a toll on him and made him dizzy, consuming him into it while creating darkness, taking him along with it.

Just before he lost himself to this fully newfound darkness, he felt something or someone filled him up in full force. Perhaps he was falling into nothingness or maybe falling to the pits of deadly fire. He couldn't tell where he was going.

But the last image before getting consumed, he saw was that man's back, who was the one that most probably triggered his mind into a mess.

***

A soft silken blanket was wrapped around him, opening his eyes Augustus looked around, finding himself in an unfamiliar room. The room illuminated with gold ornaments and designed in traditional Alsisar style. He took in the unfamiliar room and tried to observe the situation he was in.

Looking around the room, he saw a man, must be younger than him, sleeping on an armchair beside the french window. The outside landscape told him he was at least 2 floors above the ground.

Tracing back his eyes to the young man who was asleep with his guard down. Augustus traced the unknown man's face and failed to recognise him.

'Should I call him or not?' When he tried to move on his own, pain spread over his back. He can't move, his whole body was aching. Opening his mouth with much effort, in his scratchy voice, he tried to wake up the sleepy man.

"Excuse me, wake-"

Cough! Cough! The dryness in his mouth was making it difficult for him and he was soon gasping in pain.

"Shit! Are you okay?" concerned, the unknown man voiced out. "How many times do I have to tell you, just ring the bell." The man poured Augustus a glass of water and troubled him as he sat beside him.

Gulping down the water like no tomorrow, he asked for a second. The man kissed his forehead lightly and chuckled, "The water is not going anywhere."

***

After quenching his thirst, Augustus sobered up. Confused he looked at the man in his eyes and asked, "Umm, may I ask who you are supposed to be?"

As if not expecting the question, the man raised his eyebrows. "Is that the first thing you want to ask?" voice laced with mild annoyance.

Augustus was getting uncomfortable with every passing moment. He knew the look, this exact expression, one that was a bit annoyed yet filled with love. Even if he tried to deny it was impossible to do so. The man's eyes twinkled with love.

'What the hell is going on?' Right before his head made another spin, he asked "Your name, can I know your name? Please."

Clenched jaw, the man took a sharp breath in. Sighing the other man whispered "Eugene Alsisar..."

"Wait, WHAT!"

Shocked by such a response, the other man flinched. Eugene continued his answer that was previously interrupted, "The prince you are married to. Your lawfully wedded husband..."

"Is that even possible!" Augustus almost shrieked.

The other man, or Eugene, eyes dimmed. Expecting such denial from Augustus.

But for Augustus, this was getting more and more confusing. Just a few minutes prior he was single and was proceeding towards the meeting room. Now he was married to a husband sitting beside him. This is getting absurd.

However, before Augustus could question more about this crazy situation. Eugene suddenly voiced out, "It doesn't matter if you love me or not, divorce is still out of question and that is final. And please stop recklessly riding the horses. I am scared the next time you will break your neck."

'Huh?'