Concealed Love

Chapter- 28 His past IV

         Minerva was standing in front of the castle when Al came out of the castle holding Asfet in her arms.

              She looked at the girl in his arms and asked " Who is she? "

             Al just answered, " She was a captive of the demons. " He had no intention to hide her true self and was just saying it for the sake of it.

              She didn't ask anymore and just followed him back. The war was over with the human beings attaining victory.

        The victorious humans celebrated their victory for over a month, praising Al and his wisdom. But instead of celebrating the victory with them he shut himself in his own chambers, only attending to his work.

               It had already been a week since their attainment of victory but Asfet had still not waken up. He went to look after her from time to time, most of the time when no one was around.

                Finally after some weeks she finally woke up, she had forgotten everything, even her origin. The people told her he was saved by the prince when he found her deserted on his way back from the war and that she will be named as Ella from then on.

              Al watched her grow cheerfully, she was a happy and playful child, she helped the people around her and is always looking to learn more.

             He knew she respected him and treated him specially, inside he always secretly enjoy her special treatment for him. He felt the chills of excitement in his veins the moment he named her, Ella, it was like she belonged to him as long as she had that name.

               He knew what he felt for her was love, not any type but the one where he wants her to be his, to be his possession, to have every single one of her attention and feelings but it was not possible as long as he stand in his position.

               He chose to remain a loyal ruler to his people, keeping himself as an emotionless puppet. He went on with their ideas of marrying with Minerva, never did he felt an ounce of love for her, all he had for her was some respect and a little comradeship but if marrying her can bring a more stable nation than he'll marry her without a word.

                  As long as he can support Ella from the side, watching her grow slowly supporting her dreams, and keeping her safe he would be satisfied. He knew she would grow different from the humans but she was determined to keep her by his side and he didn't want to hide her, he didn't want to suppress her freedom, suffocating her like she had lived all her life.

              But as some time passed, what he had never ever expected happened, she had started to fall for him and he noticed. The little girl trying to hide her feelings as she blushed was just so adorable that he wanted to embrace her tightly in his arms only that it remained his wishful thinking.

             One day when he was told by his father to oversee how the people of the country was doing as a future ruler of the kingdom, he decided to go out in disguise, dressed as a humble common man.

           On his way out of the castle he purposefully walked a path where he can meet Ella and as expected she was returning from her daily chores so he invited her to go with him.

           She happily agreed, and they along with three other guards went out of the castle.

          He went out of the castle many times in secret so he didn't really need to  specially oversee the situation today, but what was new was his outing with Ella, he secretly fixed his eyes on her and looked at her every step adoringly.

          He noticed that the other person was also excited and couldn't help feeling the warmth of the moment in his heart.

         When she stopped in front of a stall to stare at a plain, red hairpin he pretended to notice it incidentally and bought it for her out of pure generosity but inside he knew he had to get it for her. This will be the first gift and probably the last, he can ever give to her without getting anyone suspicious.

             The day was perfect for them and anything felt possible at that moment but it could not last long.

            Her feelings grew day by day along with his faltering resolve, he had almost given in but that was not to be decided by him.   

              One afternoon, his father called him to join him at his afternoon tea and when he reached, his mother and Minerva was with him.

            He sat with them on the table when his father finally spoke, " It's time you choose a date for your marriage ".

             He was shocked, he had almost forgotten that he had consented on their proposal to marry Minerva. He stayed silent for some time and the atmosphere on the table became grim.

             He wanted to defy him but suddenly a hand grabbed his under the table. His mother squeezed his hands tightly as she kept on drinking her tea, her expression looked severe and her hands shook slightly.

           At that moment he quickly snapped back to his reality, him showing his love would cause her nothing but scorn, pain and hardship. The kingdom would also be in chaos when they found out that their trusted heir to the throne had been betraying them. He could not risk nighter.

             He closed his eyes, straighten his lips and before his father noticed anything unusual he uttered a small, " Ummn. " He continued, " Lady Minerva can choose it as she like. "

                Minerva smiled and said cheerfully, " I will go with whenever your highness think will be best for us. "

               His father was pleased, he nodded his head in content and said, " Then it shall be in this coming new year. It is perfect to start a new year with a new king along with his new queen. "

             They ended their time peacefully and Al went back to his room. When he entered his study, Ella was holding a paper on her hands and waiting for him patiently.

             Seeing her face brighten up quickly on seeing him, Al couldn't look into her eyes anymore. He felt ashamed for his weakness.

            He listened to Ella read through her poems for the day and send her back, he saw her disappointed face and closed his door before he loose his composure.

             The next day, the king declared his marriage to the whole kingdom as they rejoiced. He went to visit Ella but she was no longer her cheerful self, the first time he visited she rejected him. The next time he went in secret to witness the girl crying herself to sleep.

            His heart broke, he went to gently and secretly wipe her tears off, he tried to make himself believe that her suffering will end and she would find better happiness later on in her life and left unable to see her in such agony.

              When he went out of her room, he noticed some maids coming his way and so, hid in a corner.

             The maids who didn't know of his existence went on with their gossip, " I secretly hoped that the prince will love our little lady. "

2nd Maid : " don't say such words, the king will kill you for treason. " She half joked.

3rd Maid: " But what's going on with the rumours? Some say that she's not a normal human. " She whispered quietly but Al could hear her, " Do you think the prince really brought back a demon child? ".

      The fist older maid shushed her, " Don't say such foolish words just because people are saying them. They're just jealous that the prince treat her nicely. Besides if she really was a demons the prince would have known. "

         The 3rd maid defended her innocence, " Of course I was just saying because the little lady was so sad the last time she heard them speak about it that she didn't show her face around them anymore. "

          After saying that, their voices died from the Hallway from where he was hiding along with their figures and Al came out.

           "They doubt her? Since when? And Ella knows too, why did she never told me. " He clenched his fist and went back to his chamber right away, he investigated quietly of the rumours which were going on and suppressed them unnoticed.

            It had been a week since that day and his marriage was going to be held tomorrow, the lanterns were lit, the decorations were almost completed but he was aggrieved. He had not seen her since he last visited her at the start of the week.

              ' Is she safe? How is she holding on? I wish I can just go see her.' His mind killed whatever feelings his heart could not control, in the end he remained a weak and selfish puppet for his people.

              Before the day ended, Ella finally appeared before him, the child who thought he still didn't know and would probably never know her feelings smiled like the bright sun in front of him.