--Vincenzo POV--
I looked at the lady who had plagued my mind and watched as she laughed with her newfound friend. Her face lighting up in a way that made it impossible for me to look away.
"Enzo... Vincenzo..."
"Huh? What?" I turned my head around to look at my brother-in-law who was giving me a pointed look.
"Lucien? When did you get back?" I asked.
"He's been standing here for some time but you were too busy ogling how beautiful Eleanora looks thanks to my handy skills," Charlotte said with folded arms.
I glared at her then turned to look at Lucien who stood a bit shorter than me with blonde hair and brown eyes and clean-shaven, dressed in a royal blue suit.
"How was Viaseth?" I asked and he nodded.
"Good, it's all good," I nodded and turned to stare at my twin who was smiling up at her husband with a bright smile.
My gaze turned to look at my wristwatch.
"I think it's time to go outside," I mumbled and as if on cue, Don turned up beside me.
"It's time for the dance outside, everything's ready," He said and I nodded, watching him as he ran to the announcer who called for everyone's attention and instructed them to go outside.
It was optional for people to stay or leave for the rest of the festivities. At this point, people would go and dance around Nora's statue if they wanted or simply mingle around in the beautifully decorated garden which was lit up with fairy lights and lanterns.
"Let's go, let's go," Lucien laughed at his wife as she dragged him outside with the rest of the guests but he didn't seem to be complaining.
No one would be able to guess that Charlotte was 25 years of age, even I have to question myself sometimes since she acted more like an immature 16-year-old than a mature adult but I can't blame her, father and mother spoiled her as she was their only daughter.
I turned to go to Nora but stopped in my tracks when I realised she was no longer there. Seriously? I turn my head for a few seconds and she disappears.
"Where's Eleanora?" I asked one of the passing servants.
"S-She has already gone outside with Princess Amira," He stuttered out, looking as if he were about to wet his pants.
I turned to glare at the ground and he ran away. Amira! That annoying woman.
With an annoyed breath, I left with the other guests and went outside where a golden chair was waiting to be sat on by me with a few, less extravagant chairs placed beside mine for the rest of my family.
The rest of the guests sat around the circular tables placed around the large plot of land and in the centre of everything was a statue of Eleanora, my guest of honour, in which people had already begun dancing around in full-fledged happiness.
I slumped down on my chair and crossed my legs, resting my hand on my cheek while my eyes scanned over the crowd and automatically landed on Nora, she wasn't hard to miss.
She was still talking to Amira with a smile on her face and the people around her weren't oblivious to her but she was oblivious to all of them and their gazes.
"Why don't you go to her?" Father leaned in to tell me.
"Why would I do that?" I scoffed and he chuckled.
"Because... you look at her the same way I look at your mother," I gave him a humourless laugh. "That's not possible. I've only known her for a few weeks," I defended.
"Love knows no bounds," He sighed.
"We're you always this cringy?" I asked with a raised brow.
"No, your mother made me like this,"
"In that case, I'll prefer to stay as I am now,"
"You'll regret that. Love is all about timing. It doesn't matter that you saw her first or anything, if another man comes in and captures her heart then you won't matter," I glared at the idea of another man holding her the way I wanted to hold her.
But it was different.
"That's the thing, father... because I have to matter," I could tell he was confused.
"Nora's freedom is in my hands. I'm her wielder, Achillies is my sword and it's my choice in what I want to do. I have to matter because she won't be here without me. She'd still be sleeping away in that sword if it weren't for me,"
After that, no more words were exchanged between us.
"You'll understand what I mean sooner or later," He said after a while before getting up and grabbing mother's hand. I watched as he lead her down to the crowd and the two of them danced around Nora's statue with a loving gaze.
I scoffed at the sight, turning to look away.
When my eyes moved to where Amira and Nora were supposed to be, I only saw Amira talking and trying to flirt with my second-in-command.
Where is she?
My eyes began scanning the crowd once more and when I did eventually catch her, I jumped out of my seat in a state of fury.
Silas, he had his arms wrapped around her waist and his hands were in hers as they both twirled around the statue, laughing and talking to each other like lovers would do.
Father's words echoed in my mind.
'If another man comes in and captures her heart then you won't matter,'
No.
I will matter, I have to matter.
In a jealous rage, I stormed down the stone steps and marched towards the two unsuspecting people while the rest of the crowd parted in two ways upon sensing my anger.
Seeing her get comfy with a man that wasn't me was a horrid sight to look at and all I saw was red, rage bubbling in me and wanting to tear them away from each other.
Lovesick? Yeah right, it was more like an obsession.
I didn't need to become whipped cream like my father to have her because she was already mine and she'll stay mine for as long as I want.
Nora was mine and I wasn't planning on sharing her with anyone.
Reaching out, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from my brother. Leaning down to whisper in her ear, I angrily muttered out: "What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
"Huh? I was just dancing with Silas, he's-"
"Don't lie to me," I glared down at her and she finally caught onto my anger, slowly tilting her head up so her eyes met mine.
"What?" She narrowed her eyes at me and her disobedience only began to fuel my anger even more. She's the one that was getting chummy with another man so why was she looking at me as if I had just cheated on her!?
"Brother, relax. Nothing happened, we were simply talking-" I cut him off, not wanting to hear his voice or even see his face right now.
"Come," Not waiting for a reply, I dragged Nora back through the crowd and re-entered the palace, walking through the ballroom and down an empty hallway before pushing her against the wall and slamming my hand down beside her head.
"I'm the one that got you out of that sword. I'm the one that woke you up and I'm the wielder of the sword, not my brother,"
"I know that," She looked at me.
"Then why were you getting all comfy with him!" I couldn't help but shout as she jumped.
"I was just dancing with him,"
That's right. She was just dancing with him but the mere sight of that hurt me more than I would like to admit. Just as she had been plaguing my mind since the moment I saw her, I thought I was the same for her.
But I guess I was wrong.
I placed my hand on her cheek and stared down at her before leaning down and attempting to land my lips on hers but I wasn't quick enough. She snapped her head to the side and my lips landed on her cheek.
Humorlessly, I laughed to myself.
"I see how it is,"
I didn't try to kiss her again but stroked her hair and leaned in to whisper in her ears quietly, enjoying the feel of the goosebumps on her skin. Only I could make her feel like this.
"It doesn't matter who you love, Nora because your life is mine. You're mine... only mine- I don't share and I don't plan on sharing you. You're just a mage that I woke up from 300 years of slumber,"
I stared down at her emotionlessly as her eyes began to glitter with unshed tears and then I froze, realising how stupid I was.
...