Romance With The King

Chapter 2

Well, I guess he still is as chivalrous as how I expected him to be. He was nice enough to prepare a personal carriage for me, helping me get on the carriage too. On the other hand, he has a horse of his own, and I believe that was what he will be using as we go on back to the great kingdom of his.

I don't really know how long we've been travelling now, but as I looked outside the carriage window, I am pretty sure that we were still far away from the town.

"Excuse me, Princess, but do you not mind if I talk to you throughout this trip back to the kingdom? I do not wish to waste this opportunity to discuss things about our agreement. I will be a busy man when I get to step foot within the kingdom's grounds."

I nodded at him as I pushed the window's curtain to the sides, wanting him to know that I was willing to communicate.

"I believe in equality. So if you conclude that within our agreement, only I am getting benefits, then I have to prove you wrong," he said, passing me a brief glance, then looking back to the road ahead. "When you get to marry me, I will assure you that your kingdom will be provided some assistance. I will send men to add up to your military force. I believe that could strengthen your military."

I just nodded, not really feeling like talking.

I guess he has seen my nod, so he continued to talk.

"Aside from military power, I will provide you some useful natural resources, as well as expensive stones and jewelries. I do not know if that is a necessity, but I know that it will help on its own way. There will also be a provision of livestock, and some farming goods.

"I have also noticed that your father is ill. I will promise to send him a skilled physician from my kingdom. Is there anything else you wish to ask? I shall grant it as long as it is appropriate and within my power."

My people will get benefit, my father will get a skilled physician. Do I wish for something more? 

"I am not certain that I have something else to ask for now. But can I ask you some questions?" I replied, looking outside the window to see him.

"What is it?"

"Can you tell me specifically what I have to do as your wife?" I asked.

"Halt," Prince Oliveros said, and his men surrounding us for safety purposes paused, and so did my carriage.

The prince got off his horse, and moments later, he was by the entrance of the carriage. "May I sit together with you? I believe that what we will be discussing about should be something only between us."

"Please do," I said politely as I moved to the left-most part of the carriage seat. Creed settled himself down at the right part. 

“Your tasks are simple. It won’t be hard for you, given that you are already a composed and well-grown lady,” he said while putting the curtain of his side of the carriage to the sides, his face welcomed by the cold yet calming wind. “All you have to do is act all lovey-dovey with me in front of the crowd. It will be all for show,” he had let go of those words as if it was so easy. So, I’m just there to put on a show?

Well, you’re getting a lot of benefits, too. Do not be so narrow-minded.

“With the people gone, go find a lover, I don’t care. Just make sure that your actions won’t get people talking about us. Be discreet.”

‘What if I only want you?’ I so wanted to tell him that, but I couldn’t. Not when I knew it would be hopeless, anyway. I don’t want him to be laughing right at my face. It would make me feel like the lamest person in the world, and that is the last thing I would ever want.

“Then…. What about you, Your Highness?” I asked, searching for his eyes.

“Me? I’m not quite sure about that. The girl ended things between us. I just want to make her feel the pain she inflicted upon me,” he said, letting out a soft chuckle.

“That girl… I believe she’s beautiful.”

“Oh, she is. Very, very beautiful,” he smiled. He smiled genuinely.

I wanted to just close my eyes and act like I haven’t seen him smile like that. I mean, I do love to see him happy and smiling and all, but… not when the reason behind it is because of another girl.

“Then, I am just a mere princess. I don’t have an outstanding beauty to compete and make her jealous of us. Do you really think I would be of any help?”

“Do you know what you have that she doesn’t?” He raised a brow, and I shook my head no. “The royal blood running in your veins.”

“So, simply being a princess?”

“Yes, that.”

“I… I don’t quite understand what’s with being a princess. Perhaps, is she a low-born? Is it what you people call peasant? Is that why she ended things up with you? To not get hurt any longer?”

“No. Not at all. She’s a noble’s daughter.”

“Then it is clear that both of you are compatible in the eye of the public. Why would she do that?”

“That, Your Highness, is something I’m going to chase her for. At least a closure would give me a peace of mind,” he said, pointing at me for some rapid seconds. “So, I just have to show her what she has made me feel, then ask for closure.”

“Is t-that really something you think is worth the military power, livestock, skilled physician, and many things you promised me for? Is she that important?”

He froze. Seconds passed, and after almost a minute, he broke into laughter.

“I don’t see what is there to laugh about.”

“Foolish girl. You’re just not there as a prop to make her feel bad. As I’ve said, a King cannot be King without his Queen.”

“Then, I also have to be a public figure?”

“Yes, most likely. You know, attend royal balls, banquets, gatherings. If you want, you can aid the people’s concern. Your life would be easier when you get to make my people grow likes for you. They are really simple. Just be kind, and they will reciprocate that kindness you show.”

‘Well, that’s pretty easy, I guess.’

“Questions?”

I shook my head. “None as of the moment.”

No one spoke after that.

It was kind of awkward when silence enveloped us, however, I have nothing important to talk about. I don’t want to get him mad at me over minor and small talks.

When I looked outside the window, ahead us were gigantic walls extending to both East and West.

We were nearing his kingdom.

“S-“ Such gigantic walls you have there, Your Highness. I wanted to say those, but I decided to stop myself from saying it. It would probably make me sound like an ignorant lady. No thank you.

I cleared my throat as I sat properly, but still, my eyes were looking at the trees we were passing by, as I wholeheartedly let the wind fan my face.

“About what you said earlier,”

“Huh?” I looked at him.

“About just being a mere princess,” he said, his eyes looked sharp and out of patience as he tried to specify things for me.

He sure has short temper.

“Yes?”

“That’s not true at all,” he said as he looked away from me, breaking the contact between our gazes, his eyes are now focused outside the window. “You are a beauty yourself. A woman should not compare and question their appearance with other ladies. Beauty is on the eye of the beholder.”

This time, I froze.

How could he say it with such a straight face that it was almost scary?

A laugh escaped my lips before I could even stop it.

Usually, I would feel shy or embarrassed when receiving such compliment, but it kind of felt comfortable with him saying it.

“Your tongue seems to drip with honey, as you are such a sweet talker, Your Highness. That must be why ladies fall deep for you,” I said to him, not bothering to stop my laughter as I talk.

I could see his face getting flushed, his ears turning red, and the lightest shade of red tinted his cheek.

“S-shut it.”

“Oh? Are you perhaps… embarrassed?” I said with a teasing voice.

“I have a younger sister. As her brother, I would not want her to feel any less than what she is. So, you can say that I understand women, just at the very least degree. I always make sure to remind her her own worth, so what I said just seconds earlier, it was out of instincts. I wouldn’t want to make women feel like any less than what they are.”

If our conversation at the carriage was light and somehow fun, like an unannounced rain, the happenings in his kingdom was the opposite. It was scary, upsetting, and full of heartbreaking words and events…