Chapter Twenty-Five
Serafina
Our dynamic changed that night. Every time I looked at him or attempted to carry a conversation, the vivid memory would play in my mind and I felt as if I were on fire. And each time he brushed up against me, the heat would return over and over again - leaving me breathless with each flashing memory. Romance novels didn’t hold a candle light to the experience, nor accurately express the giddiness that came afterwards.
What started as a mutual transaction and my using him to travel, turned into something I couldn’t wait to explore in the future. I wasn’t an expert on the beginnings of love, having never experienced it, but if it was anything like this feeling I could die satisfied that I had experienced it. Though, I was certain the bond had a hand in the way I was feeling. But instead of finding it manipulating, it became more comforting knowing that we could be so exposed to one another in such a short amount of time and that it was meant to last.
The castle remained crowded after the ball, much to my discomfort. It seemed many did not want to travel the great distance home just to travel back in a couple of weeks for a royal wedding. It even was to the point where I would meet Regina in her private rooms to help plan the extravagant affair, with Celina accompanying us.
On this particular morning, Regina seemed almost fidgety, casting glances between Celina and I. It wasn’t until after three cups of tea that she cleared her throat and slid in front of us small booklets for each of us.
“I’m not exactly sure of proper customs before such things for stepdaughters and daughter-in-laws but I wanted to make sure you both were prepared for this next chapter in your lives.” She said with a shy expression.
When I looked down at the thin booklet, no more than twenty pages, I felt my entire face catch on fire.
‘Female Marriage Bed: What to Expect’
I didn’t even have the dignity to look up at her. I just stared at it in horror. Did she somehow know about the other night? No, that was impossible. Was it?
“Thank you very much, Regina.” I heard Celina say, not an ounce of embarrassment in her voice.
I mustered up a glance towards my stepmother, whose face looked as awkward as I felt, but I managed a quick thank you before stuffing the small book into my pocket of my summer dress.
My wedding had officially been set for two weeks after Zander’s, but in Demarcus. I was leaving the morning after their wedding with Elek and Marek to my new home. So, it wasn’t necessarily an inappropriate gift, but certainly not one I was expecting, and not really needed anymore.
When I returned to my room after seeing Regina, Leena ushered me into her room before I had the chance to greet anyone.
“We should probably talk about something before we leave for Demarcus.” She began.
My heart sank. Was it bad news?
“I know we have never really discussed what could happen if you were to be married and I want you to be prepared.” Leena continued and I immediately began to head back towards the door.
“No thank you, Leena! Regina already gave me a book!” I said, I bit louder than I intended as I opened the door to see four sets of eyes looking up at me with curiosity. Seeing Elek watching me only made it worse.
“I want to go into the city today. I need to get out of this castle and I want to see the children.” I declared, turning my head towards Leena to watch her soon leave the room to get the proper permission.
“Why is your face all red?” Jelena asked from the sofa.
“Never you mind!”
But those words seemed to become just cause for the Kai princess to leap to her feet and approach me, mischief in her gaze.
“Whatever caused it must be extremely embarrassing.” She said with a wicked grin.
Instinctively, I reached over to insure the book was still in my pocket. That was a mistake, as Jelena’s eyes darted for it soon after and she was on me. Not wanting to be out of the loop, Laney and Elisa soon followed. I would have asked Elek for assistance, but would have rather died than have him see the book. Instead, he kept back with a small smile curling upwards as he watched our antics.
“Show us!” Laney cried, her fingers managing to infiltrate the opening of my pocket.
“It’s a book!” She said.
“A smutty book?” Elisa asked, eyes glittering towards me.
“Never you all mind!” I shouted, fighting for an opening to leave the dog pile.
Then a light thud met my ears and I could feel all of the color drain from my face. Jelena got to it first, with the others reading over her shoulder at the title. Their eyes widened in unison before Jelena handed it back to me.
“Well, that wasn’t interesting at all.” She lied loud enough for Elek to hear.
“Yeah, just another topic on philosophy.” Elisa added, backing away.
I rolled my eyes as I held the book at enough of an angle to hide the title as I put it into my bedside table.
“Can I read it?” Elek asked, expressing genuine curiosity for the small booklet.
“Not in your life or the next one!” I said harshly as I slammed the drawer shut.
Rather than seem taken aback, he instead gave a sly smirk, as if knowing what it was. Regardless of our newfound affections, I wasn’t going to openly discuss them with so many spying eyes around us.
It was going to be one of my last trips to the orphanage. The thought sunk deeply within me as we passed by the cherry trees in an open carriage.
I had been making plans for some time of what to leave them when I was gone and it all had to come in its own carriage. Toys, clothes, books, and various treats traveled snugly behind us.
“The children don’t need all of that.” Zander commented when he saw the pile but I ignored him and took my seat across from him and Celina.
We still hadn’t made much progress in ways of apologies, but I didn’t want to cave first. Elek sat close by my side and I fought the urge to blush as he laced his fingers with mine. Though I did catch Zander’s scowl, he was quick to turn away, keeping a polite distance from his bride.
“I’m sure they will love the gifts.” Celina encouraged, and I was grateful for the boost of support.
The children were at the city green when we found them. I asked for the presents to be sent along to the orphanage as we stopped to interact with them. As soon as we were spotted the hoard was racing towards us, all with smiles plastered to their faces, except for one.
Dante held back from the rest of the children, his head hung low. When I knelt down to see him better I could make out stained streaks down his small cheeks.
Over my last few weeks with them, I grew especially attached to him. From his sense of humor to his kind heart, I had gained more of a soft spot for him than the others.
When he looked up at me new tears began to form.
“Are you really leaving, Sera?”
My heart broke just as harshly as his face once the words were out and I embraced him tightly.
“I’m sorry Dante, but I’ll still visit from time to time.” I answered softly as I patted his head.
“How often?” He wiped his nose on his sleeve.
“I’m not sure.”
It took all I had to fight the tears as he clutched onto me as tight as his small arms could. Then a presence came from behind me and knelt down. I turned to see Elek accessing Dante with what seemed to be sympathy. Dante paused in his weeping to look up at the foreign prince.
“Do you have to take her away? I love her.”
An arrow to my heart would hurt far less at this point as I watched the exchange. Elek placed a hand on Dante’s shoulder and looked him in the eye.
“She is very fortunate to have someone love her as much as you do. I promise that I will take good care of her and will bring her to see you as often as I can, although I cannot promise when.”
“And no one will hurt her anymore?”
It was then I knew it wasn’t only him missing me, but he thought I wouldn’t be alive to come back. It made me want to just pack him up and take him with me to experience a new life.
Henrietta once disclosed to me that Dante was seen as a problem child by many in the town. Any time it seemed as though someone would try to adopt him, he would force the adoption to fail every time. I don’t imagine his thought process, but it broke my heart that he behaved in such a way as he waited for the right people.
Elek rested a palm on the pommel of his sword.
“Not unless they want to meet the end of this.” He answered after a long pause.
Dante’s eyes widened at the sword and then nodded with a grin.
“Good.”
The afternoon was bittersweet. I allowed for the children to cling to me as much as they desired, inwardly smirking at the fact that hardly any were hovering around Zander. Although I knew it was unreasonable, I took some joy in him still simmering over nothing. The contracts were practically ready to be signed anyways. But still…
When we returned to the castle that evening I pulled on my brother’s arm. Elek gave me a curious glance but then continued on up the stairs. Zander turned to Celina.
“I’ll escort you to dinner in a little bit.”
She gave a gentle smile and followed after her twin.
His strong steel eyes seemed to melt as he turned to me, the fight within seeming to have run its course. Rather than speak I flung my arms around his neck and gripped him tightly. No matter how angry I was with him it wouldn’t change my love for him.
A sob escaped my lips as I felt his arms embrace me in return, causing me to grip even harder as I cried into his shoulder.
A large hand came up and softly stroke the back of my head.
“I’m sorry too.” He whispered.
