Bab 19: Exploring Selene(1).
As the morning rays of the sun hit the Earth, Cyrus sat alone in his carriage, the noisy wheels carrying him away from Nila and deeper into the enemy's territory. He stared out the small window, watching the landscape rush by in a blur of green and blue. His heart and mind drifted back to the image of Nila's quiet, hopeful face from last night. For the first time, he admitted to himself that his feelings for her had grown beyond his control. There had been no plan for this, no strategies or war that could prepare him for the way she made him feel.
He let out a slow breath, his mind wandering further back, to their wedding day, a day he had watched from afar, rather than showing up as her husband.
Now that he thought about it, that was shameful and cowardly on his part.
It had been his choice, one he thought was noble at the time. Rumours had painted him in an unfavourable light, and he hadn't wanted to confirm Nila's likely impression of him, the cold, power-hungry king she had only heard about, the kind of man she would loathe to marry. No, he had wanted to show her a different side of him, step by step, to approach her not as a distant king but as a man.
He had wanted her to meet the real him, the man who lived behind the crown. And so, on the day of their wedding, he hadn't shown up, letting her arrive at the kingdom of Selene without his presence, hoping to court her gently, from afar. He hadn't realized just how hard it would be, though, or how foolish it was to expect patience on her part, especially after the abandonment she had likely felt. What a strange plan he had set in motion. Now, he was far away, torn between his sense of duty and the longing to return and finally tell her the truth.
His brooding thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. Darius had slowly crept up next to him in the carriage, his trademark grin and mischievous eyes ready to poke fun at his elder brother.
"Well, well, look at you. The mighty king, leaving his wife to fend off the quiet terrors of that mansion all alone, just so he can go to war," Darius teased clasping his hands together and feigning pity. "How pitiful. I thought you'd at least try to convince her to come along and play nursemaid to the kingdom's greatest warrior."
Cyrus gave his brother a sideways glance, though a smirk tugged at his lips. "I'm not sure what amuses you more, the tight spot I am in or the thought of Nila keeping me company on the battlefield," he said dryly.
"Oh, it's absolutely the idea of you two together. Darius had a slight laughter in his voice. "Honestly, it's almost a tragedy how smitten you are. It's a wonder you made it to this carriage."
Cyrus leaned back, exhaling a tired sigh. "One day, Darius, you'll understand. And when you do, I'll be there to remind you how amusing it is to see my younger brother in love's claws." He paused, then added softly, "I may not have told her everything. But this war won't last forever. I'll return and explain it all to her, even if she doesn't understand my reasons. She deserves that."
''Now, don't joke around when we are going to war, if I see you getting any weaker while fighting, you will have it from me, '' Cyrus warned him, his eyes and tone turning sharp.
Darius gulped as he moved away from his brother feeling a chill run down his spine.
Back at the mansion, Nila's morning was quiet, though she felt the emptiness keenly. Still, she kept busy, wandering the mansion and taking in the grand, unfamiliar rooms. She was interrupted by a light knock, and two maids entered with warm smiles, carefully carrying a breakfast tray filled with more food than she expected.
"Good morning, my lady," one of the maids greeted her, bowing slightly. "We thought we'd bring you breakfast and see if there's anything you need."
Nila looked at them curiously. "Thank you," she said, trying to hide her surprise. She rarely received attention this way, the maids here always just went along with their work, never opening their mouths, this was surprising.
"Is there anything you'd like to do today, my lady?" the other maid asked, glancing at her with a warmth that felt genuine.
Nila hesitated. "I'm not sure… perhaps I'd like to see more of Selene. I haven't seen much beyond the mansion."
The maids exchanged a knowing look and nodded. "Of course. Whenever you're ready, we can arrange for a few of the king's guards to accompany you into the markets of Selene. They are all trusted men," one maid explained, "so you can explore safely."
It was as if they had been expecting her to want to go out, Nila noted. She nodded in appreciation. She missed the comfort of her kingdom, but if she were to be here, she wanted to learn more about this kingdom and perhaps feel more a part of it.
Nila was ready, she was dressed in a light blue gown paired with hanging light blue earrings, the clothes of Selene varied a lot compared to Navaria. In Navaria women often wore a two-piece, a blouse and a skirt with a veil covering either their chest or waist, their daily wear jewellery was also vast but Selene's fashion seemed simple, elegant and limiting.
Once ready was escorted to the entrance by two guards who had been appointed specifically for her. They looked young and earnest, and they seemed eager to fulfill their duty.
One of them, likely noticing her reserved expression, offered a reassuring smile. "The king made sure we were assigned to you personally, my lady. He wanted you to be safe, and he told us to ensure you enjoyed your time here as much as possible."
Nila blinked in surprise. Cyrus had arranged all of this for her? Even from afar, he was looking after her, making sure she was cared for, safe, even entertained.
Inwardly, her heart softened, and her mind was filled with thoughts of him, wondering if he was as safe as she was right now. He had put so much care into every detail, yet he hadn't told her about it himself. It struck her deeply, and in a way, she felt a longing to see him again, to thank him, perhaps even tease him a little for his attempts at quiet care.
Hadiah
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