Love Can Come Later

White Haired stranger

From his white hair and blue eyes Diana could tell immediately that he wasn't a person from their kingdom as men in her kingdom were known for their brown hair. She instantly became interested in him as she reasoned him as the perfect stranger for her plot. He took a few steps towards her with the smile still on his face making her heart tremble. It was what she wants but she couldn't bring herself to it yet.

"Can I join you at this table" He requested as he sat down not waiting for any reply. He could tell she was only as he had watched her from the moment she walked in.

The pub keeper brought two bottles of his strongest wine and placed them on the table between them. Before Diana could make a move a reached out for the first bottle and gulped down half its content ignoring the cups on the table.

Diana observed the man before her. His clothes didn't look cheap and the aura around him didn't give a pleasant feeling to her stomach. From his facial expressions, she could tell he was going through a lot as he said when he spoke for the first time. He seems to have a story she would love to listen to.

"Who are you?" She finally asked after some seconds of silence between them

"I am just a passerby " He replied taking a drink from the bottle again. He had a fascinating way of drinking from a bottle that interested Diana. He always made a gulp sound

'What are you doing here? You don't belong here " He questioned her staring at her with those blue eyes that she couldn't stop looking at.

" No matter how hard you try to blend in I can tell this is your first time here" He continued

'How do you know that? Diana asked almost in whispers wondering if everyone around had the same senses as the stranger before her.

" No matter the kingdom a pub is the same all over. The kind of people who come to the pub at this time of the day usually come in groups. And they always look miserable most times maybe from hard work or present circumstances around them" he explained to her like an expert.

Diana concluded in her heart that he must be a frequent person in pubs.

" I can also tell this is your first time here" Diana informed him trying to sound like him.

" That's easy, it's probably because I am the only one with white hair " He replied sounding not impressed as he knew what she was trying to do.

Diana bit her lips in frustration. He took the words from her mouth. She wondered how she was going to propose the idea of s*x to him without sounding desperate. That was the most difficult part of her task for the day. She decided to make him talk about himself. At least she should know something about the man she wants to sleep with.

"Why are you here? You don't look miserable and you didn't come with anyone? She asked with interest.

Instead of a reply, he opened the second bottle of wine before them and as earlier gulped down half of the content. He was about to continue when she snatched the bottle from his hand

" You have to tell me your story if you want to continue drinking " she stated with a hint of frustration in her voice

"What can I say, I have been living in a family where my every move is being monitored, I am scared of what I eat and drink and now I am to marry a woman I don't know. Someone I don't love someone I can never love.." He said with his voice trailing with those last words. His brief narration suddenly made him look miserable before Diana. She felt pity for him.

" Why did you say you can never love her," She asked looking very concerned.

' I don't know what love is, love is for the weak and I don't wish to be weak" he replied snatching the bottle from her hand.

"I am here because I want to run away from my troubles " he added as he took the last content of the bottle into his mouth.

Diana reasoned that both of them were in similar situations but taking different approaches. He must have left his kingdom to escape his fate while she was here getting set to embrace hers.

" I believe I deserve another bottle but that can wait, I want to hear your own story 'he said his speech not as organized as before. Diana suspected the wine was already affecting him

Suddenly he fell to the ground shaking vigorously sending Diana into confusion. People in no time were already around the table trying to see what was happening.

" Lie him on the table someone shouted " The table was quickly cleared and he was placed on it. The men hurriedly tore his shirt as they seem to be looking for a clue to the cause. Diana was shocked when she saw him shirtless. He had so many sword wounds on his body that she wondered if he was a warrior.

"What happened to him? The pub keeper screamed at her bringing her to her senses. It was then she realized she would be the first to be held responsible if anything happened to him.

" I don't know we were just drinking " She replied with a shaky voice. One of the men picked up the empty wine bottle to examine it. At that moment Diana tried to comport herself and access the situation before her. The stranger was still on the table shaking with his fist clenched tightly. Some of the men tried to hold him down. Sweat began to break out from his body at the same time he began gasping for breath. Many things seem to be happening at the same time but Diana tried not to panic as she tried to make sense of the situation.

'Get me Brutazel" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

" He has been poisoned " She added