••• Prince •••
Her talks make me believe she could never think of turning against me. Her words are killing the doubt building in my heart instantly.
‘How can I turn facile about the love glimmering in her eyes?’
“Are you okay, Prince?” She asked, boring her exquisite eyes into mine, passing er a faint nod, putting my hands over hers.
“It sometimes feels like a nightmare.” I confessed.
“Nightmare?” She tilted her head in confusion.
“Yes. Because the dread of not having you in my arms will drive me insane. Then in that sense, this feeling…”
Stopping, I pressed her against the railing, taking a strand of her hair in my finger, stroking it gently, not removing my eyes from hers.
“It would be no less than a nightmare to lose this warmth.” I whispered.
Pressing my lips lovingly over her to feel her in-depth connection with my soul which never fails to race my heartbeat.
“It’s real. I am here and always will be.” With a breathless laugh, she pulled away.
Running her fingers in my hair as I was holding her waist, the rhythm our moments create are explicitly rapturous.
After remaining like this for a while, I gathered some courage and spoke up, “Cinzel…”
“Hmm?” Loosening my grip, I lowered my head, trying to pursue my words.
“What happened, Prince?” She asked softly, lifting my head to face hers.
“Do you know… who killed Astrid’s husband?”
A silence came between us, she was hesitant but nodded, “Astrid told me.. He was your-”
“He was my fucking best friend. I believed in him more than I believed in anyone and he.. He.. betrayed me.” I hissed, moving my hand and holding the railing tightly, gritting my teeth in fury, looking up at her.
“Because of that motherfucker, my relationship with Astrid is on the brink of destruction. It hurts me every time to see her. It hurts me to see I am the one who made my sister a widow. You have no idea how difficult it is for me to meet her and her kid's eyes…”
I couldn’t speak more, the lump in my throat didn’t let me, turning my voice broken, cracking my feelings. I don’t want to go through that terrible feeling again.
If.. If Cinzel also turned out to be like Hadith, I would lose my identity.
She led me inside as we both sat on the bed, “I.. I thought at least he loved Astrid but he was only playing with her feelings to get close to me. He.. he put up a wall between us. I feel afraid to go near my own sister, Cinzel.”
My posture could break, Cinzel hugged me, burying my face in her neck, I wanted to tell her what was on my mind but couldn’t.
“Hey… You did the right thing. Astrid understands that. There’s no wall, it’s just your imagination.” She tried to console me.
“Look from my perspective, Cinzel. When her kids say where their father is, it makes me realize I am nothing but a goddamn monster, I took their father away. I destroyed her life…”
Whispering desperately, my hands held her shoulder, gasping for air to control my overwhelming feelings.
Every tribulation falling on my head is making me weaker.
“I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to end this all.” I said breathlessly, holding the hem of her shirt.
“Cinzel, I-” Before I could speak further, she crashed her lips upon mine.
Keeping me in place to rush the sensation of her lips into my soul as a source of equanimity, holding my breaths captive where her morning rises.
“It’s nothing like this and if you don’t believe me, talk to Astrid yourself.” I opened my mouth to argue but she pressed her index finger on my lips.
“Shh. You simply did your job, no need to blame yourself.” She said as we both laid down and I wrapped my hands around her petite body, loving the ecstasy received by her touch lost in the city of my heart.
“Cinzel…”
“Hmm?” She hummed sweetly, rubbing my arms to soothe me.
“Nothing… I love you.”
“Me too..” She giggled softly, kissing my cheeks as we both fell asleep in each other’s embrace.
••••••
My heart was serene, living in the place where my soul belonged. Not wanting to leave her redemptive shelter.
I bought some roses for Cinzel to express my gratitude for her divine presence in my life and went home, wanting to take her out on a date and spend some time with her, knowing it all too well, she is going to let Sky come too.
I got a Lily for Sky too.
“Hey, Princess, where is your Mama?” I asked, giving Sky a lily. Her face lit up in rejoice, kissing my cheeks.
“Thank you, Papa, I love it and Mama is with Brother Zaniel on the rooftop.” She told me.
My smile faded for a second but shaking my head, I got up and was about to leave to see Cinzel but Astrid came with a wide grin.
“Wow, you bought roses without even knowing.”
“Knowing what?”
“You will see.” She smirked and left, leaving me more baffled.
Sighing, I went to the rooftop and heard Zaniel saying, “Oh then tell me it wasn’t your idea to claim the throne and assassinate Prince, huh?”
No...
“It was but-”
“It doesn’t matter, Cinzel. Drop this act of love, you are only Prince close because he could protect you, you are using him. You still love me.”
This was the extent I could listen. That’s what she and Nathaniel were talking about huh? That she is still cheating on me.
With a heartbroken expression, I called her, “Cinzel.”
She gasped when I called her but when I looked at Zaniel it enhanced my fury, grabbing his collar, I punched him in the jaw.
“How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from her huh?” I growled and punched him again.
"Lay a finger on her and face death!"
“She called me here, Prince.” He growled back.
Stiffening, I turned to look at Cinzel who had tears in her eyes, narrowing my eyes in sorrow, my lips began to tremble, wanting to say something but no words came out.
Scowling, I came to her and grabbed her arm, taking her back to our room with me.
“P-Prince, listen.”
She was convulsing badly from fear, the terror I was hoping to impede but now it’s visible in her eyes once again, begging me to stop.
“Shut up.”
Throwing her back inside, I locked the door, “Prince.” She whispered, taking a step back but I grabbed her hair, taking her face to me.
“Of all people, I believed in you.”
Growling, my grip tightened, earning a wince of pain blended with anguish from her as a few tears rolled down her cheek.
“This is not what you think, Prince, please… believe me.”
Pressing her against the wall, I hissed, “What else is left to believe huh?”
“He was right.” She whispered desperately, putting her hands over mine. My whole being immobilized by the agony knitting on my hollow chest once again but immeasurable woe.
“But, it was months ago, the time when I first came here. It was when I first came, Prince. I.. I wanted to manipulate him, I never thought about hurting you, I promise, Prince.”
“Still, you used me!” I yelled, pushing her away and getting back.
Running my hand in my hair in frustration, not knowing how to react. My mind was lost in fathomless rage, turning me incapable of thinking straight and properly.
“You hated me but needed my presence to teach you this, to help you claim this power. Loving me was never a part of your plan.” I scowled, losing my senses, grabbing her arms.
Sensing her flinching but this time she wasn’t afraid, only staring into my eyes with no glint of distress, “Don’t you trust me?” She whispered and was about to touch my chest but I whisper-yelled.
“Don’t manipulate me!”
“Manipulation?!” she yelled, pushing me away.
“You are such an asshole. Do you truly think I would cheat on you with Zaniel?”
“Okay, I admit, I do intend to get both you and Zaniel out of my way but unexpectedly I fell for you, I fell for my once teacher, for my fiancé's uncle, I fell for you and you dared to distrust me, Prince? How dare you think like this for me!?” She yelled at me, leaving me staggered.
“I, who loves you dearly. You surely have lost your senses to think something this ridiculous. Come to me when this hothead of yours will cool down until then don't talk to me!” She said angrily, pointing her index finger at me infuriatingly, leaving me confused about her reaction.
“Tsk, you even ruined my mood.” She muttered and stormed out.
Her reaction made me feel what I thought was nothing but a misunderstanding and I shouldn’t have said this to her. Before repentance could arouse in me, Astrid came with a frown.
I arched a brow, not knowing why she was displeased.
“You are unbelievable, Brother.” She sighed, holding her forehead in disappointment.
“What?” I asked in confusion.
“You are becoming a father again and that’s the first thing you do? Send your wife crying?”
What?