As we crossed the borders to the human country, aka, Destoa, I kind of regretted something. That something being, I'd made a rather stupid decision by just sheer impulse.
And I didn't even bother consulting anyone for that. Maybe, I was being stupid, maybe I was being disrespectful while trying to be respectful but- I took a deep breath.
"Turn left."
"Left?" Ve let out a small growl. "To?"
"Where we first met."
There was silence, almost as though she was expecting me to say the very same thing….
"Very well."
Ve didn't say anything and just turned. The two bunny girls in front of me and behind me didn't say anything either. Meanwhile, our minister and his guard- Zack were quite confused. They didn't bother saying anything either though.
***
Instead of going back to Xylax, we went to Tehram. It was a long flight and kind of late.
I dreaded the whole way. This was my decision and yet I couldn't help but wince at the fact that I actually didn't have a good response to what I'd done.
But this was unavoidable. I couldn't run away forever and I didn't have much time anyway.
It was late and since they was no moon, it was entirely possible, no one even noticed, something was in the air.
Some soldiers, despite the darkness, still spotted us in midair but they refrained from firing. I had no idea if they knew it was me or just assumed the town would get eradicated if they attacked a dragon or something.
"You sure you want to do this?" Alisa whispered as we set our feet on the ground.
She hadn't talked in a while, in fact, everyone was quiet.
Oh sweet, sweet ground!
"Uh-huh." Mostly definitely, not.
Lianne would chew me up! I'd just broken her trust.
But yeah, I had to come out clean.
She deserved to know the truth.
The soldiers in the garden were flustered but as they spotted me, they all settled down with bows and salutes. Some were even shedding tears and stuff.
More and more soldiers, maids, guards, even nobles in their nighties were here to greet me.
Talk about an exaggeration!
"Lead me to where she is." I ordered one of the soldiers.
"Right, away my lord!"
Good to know, he actually understood what I meant.
Would have been nice if he'd misunderstood me and taken me elsewhere though, cause I really didn't want to run into Lianne. I came to see her and to talk to her about the mess I was getting myself into but- I- I really didn't know….
***
The halls seemed oddly empty.
It was maybe, ten-eleven?
And though the pyres were burning it felt rather cold.
Oh wait, then why was I sweating?
Was I… afraid?
I couldn't be, right?
Right?
"You okay?" Ve whispered.
"Uh-huh, totally."
Like, totally.
Even my mouth was slightly shaking. Everything was under control though.
"Well, you sure don't look the part…" Alisa mumbled.
'Hey, I heard that!'
Like totally.
The road just went on and on.
Each step reverberated in the empty halls and even the smell of this place brought back memories.
I remembered the gardens we'd passed by, the merciless training I had in there, and all that.
'I love her and she loves me… she'll understand, right?' I really hoped she would. But what if she didn't.
Then what?
I didn't have an answer.
***
After what seemed like an eternity, we reached a double door. It wasn't the throne room, rather one of the royal chambers. Not a bedroom, but rather an administrative room of sorts- or so I'd been told along the way.
'Should I really...'
I was really hesitant but after coming this far, after all this time…
I gave a firm knock on the door.
"Come in."
And entered. I did not want to think about this, no sir!
There was only one girl inside- the high elf.
"Daarc!" Lianne jumped from her seat and ran my way, grabbing me and kissing me without a second of delay. She really was fast. "I've missed you."
Well, she sure wasn't expecting me.
This was probably the fourth time I actually saw this elf this emotional. She almost looked cute.
Mature, but cute.
And I felt guilty.
"Is everything alright?" I kissed her as well and cleared two stray strands of hair from her face.
"Yes, it's just, that letter…" Her voice trailed off as her gaze drifted towards my companions behind me.
I instinctively straightened my back and gulped. "I can explain?"
"And I'd love to hear that." Lianne smiled, rather radiantly.
I'd seen that smile before, that day when we shared our first night. That smile of doom.
I cleared my throat, shoved the soldiers and the minister of Xylax out of the room, and locked the doors, and well, began a discussion I never, ever wanted to have.
But I created this mess and I had to do something about it.
***
"SO, because you think it's insincere of you to ignore their love, you'd acknowledge them and make them your concubines? Is that what you're trying to say?" Lianne was seated on her chair, legs crossed, and a hand on her chin while the rest of us just stood in front of her like naughty children being scolded.
This was not how I planned this to go.
My plan was to slowly break the ice and with a bit of a romantic mood, make her understand that I loved her the most and though I did like the others, I was merely respecting them.
Then again, even I knew that was just stupid. And I, myself wasn't convinced. And I didn't have a definite plan. My plan was more or less a ploy to fool myself into thinking all of this will work out.
Just what the hell was I thinking?
And, I might have come out a little too desperate in my attempt too.
Then again, considering I was going to die in three months regardless, what was the point of even doing all this.
Honestly, I didn't know.
I really didn't know.
Was I even remotely close to doing the right thing?
I didn't know.
"Tell me," As I was silent, Lianne continued. "How many do you plan on marrying? I've heard that you already promised to wed the princess of Xylax and now these three? Are there more? Did you even mean what you said that day?"
I cleared my throat. "I'll be honest. Everything happened due to the circumstances. I can't do anything about them. You, however, have every right to criticize me and even… leave me. But, I love you and-"
Lianne sighed. "And now you tell me, you love me." She looked distant as she stared at the floor. "I always believed in love and my youth was quite colorful. I had countless experiences and almost whenever I thought maybe, this guy is the one, he wasn't. I made a rule for myself, that I'd refrain from being in a relationship with someone unless I was one hundred percent certain that the other person felt the same and yet… I've made the same mistake all over again." She chuckled slightly. "History does repeat itself."
I took a deep breath. This was getting out of hand.
And I knew she was old, but really, countless experiences?
Well, the past was history anyway. More like, I didn't want to think about it.
'And forgiving her and acting like a great guy? Nice going Daarc Green.' Even my own subconscious was mocking me.
"let-let's talk. I know, I've wronged you but- let-let's talk."
"I don't wish to talk to you tonight." Lianne didn't look at me. "You should already know where the guest rooms are. It's late so preparing the royal chambers would be a hassle. The guest rooms are always prepared, so go rest there. You must have been traveling for a long-" Halfway through Lianne stopped as she violently wiped her eyes. She didn't let a single drop show.
God was this woman strong…
And, here I was… the hypocrite.
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