Chapter 13
"W-what?" I asked dumbfounded, my brain could not comprehend what was happening.
It took me some time to collect my thoughts, I immediately pulled my hand away from him and took a few steps back.
"That was not a funny joke your majesty." With furrowed eyebrow and trembling clenched fist I tried to contain my anger.
Does he thinks that I'm a joke? Is he here just to insult us?
"I'm serious Tia--"
"Nova. Don't call me Tia, only my love ones call me Tia." I stated.
With a perfectly carved grin he looked at me and said-- "Tia."
This son of a---
'Calm down Tia, he's an Emperor. Don't do anything stupid.' I thought to myself before taking the deepest breathe of my life and exhaling the air I gathered as if I was letting all my problems disappear into thin air.
"Tsk. If you don't have anything more to say your highness, then please leave." I turned my back to him but before I could even tale one step away from him he grab my hands and pulled me towards him.
"Your majesty!" I shouted in shock, my face is now touching his chest.
I tried pushing him away but the more I do the more he tighten his embrace.
"I'm not joking Tia, please be my Empress." He whispered in my ears.
I blushed at his words, but I'm not that stupid to say yes to someone I don't even know.
"How could you propose to someone who doesn't even know you?" I asked him.
"Then lets get to know each other."
"I already have three children your majesty."
"Then I'll be the best father I could possibly be."
"I'm a convicted felon."
"not in my kingdom."
"Your majesty!" I shouted in gritted teeth I couldn't contain my irritation.
"Why? Give me a reason why you would turn down my proposal." He said still not letting me go.
"Do you know how weird this is? A man I do not know came to my house claiming he's the Emperor of the Moon kingdom and proposing to me?"
"I know its weird, but I know my feelings and it will not change."
"What feelings is that your majesty?"
Then a sudden cold felt silence filled the air. We stared at each other's eyes for god knows how long before he sigh.
"I like you Novaliches Tia Villasis."
At that moment I felt the air inside me literally escaping from my lungs.
Not because I felt moved by his confession, but because I was shock that such brazen person exist.
"I don't know how you could like someone you only just met once your highness." I stated firmly and aggressively, the tone of my voice didn't hide the fact that I was angry.
I'm not going to be betrayed again. I'm done with that bullshit of a love, I'm not searching for it nor do I want it.
A warm smile plastered in his lips "I know its weird. But please believe me, I came here to propose to my future Empress and I'm not going back without the four of you." I can feel the heaviness of his words and the sincerity that comes with it.
I'm not going to lie being Empress again does sound tempting, if ever it would be my stepping stone for revenge.
But I have to be careful, I don't want to make the same mistake I did the last time.
I have to fight smart.
"Give me time to think." I stated while looking away. I only said that because I knew that he wouldn't take no for an answer and I really do need time to think.
I want to use this opportunity to plot my revenge but I have to consider the consequences, if he finds out that the reason I'm going to say yes is because I want to use him for my revenge he might take out his anger on my kids.
"Alright, take as much time as you need." He said.
I turned my back at him and quickly walk outside to see my sons.
I saw them with at least ten knights, sparring.
Aiden, Asher and Arlo against three knights.
The knights look like they were going easy on my sons, well. No matter how good my sons are with swords they still couldn't lift a heavy metal sword because of their age.
Nevertheless they look like they were having fun, the three of them are holding on their own.
"They're very talented." A very soft and warm tone said, I didnt have to turn around to see who's voice it was.
"Of course, they're my sons." I boasted proudly with my chest puff my nose pointing upward and a grin on my lips.
A light chuckled then followed after, "I will be the happiest father if they become my sons." The Emperor of the Moon kingdom stated while looking at my sons who was happily sparring with the knights.
"My sons don't need a father. The last one they had ended kicking them out of their own kingdom." I scoff while rolling my eyes on the air.
"But that's not what I'm going to do. If you give me a chance I can show you."
I don't know what is up with that desperate eyes of his like it would be the end of his world if I don't say yes.
"IF and IF I say yes, where does my sons fit into that plan of yours?" I asked him, making sure to emphasize the word 'IF' to not cause any misunderstanding.
But this guy--- his eyes instantly light up as if I already said yes to his proposal.
"Of course our sons would be considered as Princes! Aiden would be the crown prince, Asher would be the second prince and Arlo would be the third prince!" He said with so much enthusiasm. Which caught me off guard.
I didn't think he would allow any of my sons to be princes at most I thought they would just be nobles by name.
"You're going to let Aiden be the crown prince despite not being your blood?" I asked dumbfounded.
"Yes. Why not? If we get married he will be my son, the three of them will, regardless of their blood they are going to be mine and will be treated as such."
"Is that your way of getting me to say yes?" I asked with one brow raise in suspicion.
"No. Its my way of telling you that you don't have to worry about your sons because I will be the best father they could ever ask for."
"Don't get your hopes up, my sons are not that easy to please. I don't think they would easily accept you as their father aswell."
"I'm willing to work my way up to their heart until they could accept me as their Father of course that goes the same for you."
I didn't answer him. I didn't really know what to say.
"Mother!"
I shift my attention to my three sons running towards me, they were covered in sweat and dirt but the smile on their faces is something that warms my heart.
"Did you have fun sparring with the knights?" I asked them.
"Yeah! I still need to practice my swings." Aiden answered while swinging his wooden sword in the air.
"It was fun mother! Although I lost I still learned a lot!" Asher stated, I shuffled his hair and leaned in close to him to kiss his forehead.
"I'm proud of you for just trying and acknowledging your weakness." I said comforting him.
"I'll train harder! Next time I won't lose!" He yelled confidently punching his fist to the air.
"I prefer daggers over swords." Arlo said.
"Whatever you like to do, I will support you Arlo, me and your brothers." I said to him.
He smiled warmly and hugged me.
My sons know their way around the swords, and when desperate time comes they won't hesitate to kill to protect each other but that doesn't mean they're invincible.
The time in the weapons store with the owner it only happened because they saw that I was in danger so they didn't hesitate to kill.
But some part of it is also because that owner is not that powerful, he was big with no power or skills.
If ever we came across someone who is skilled I don't know if we would ever be alive right now.
"You guys stinks, its time to take a bath." I said to them.
The three of them smelled each other as if confirming whether they truly do stink.
I lightly laughed at their action.
"Let's go inside." I stated while wiping the sweat off their forehead.
The three of them nodded in response, we were about to head back inside the house when I felt the Emperor following us.
I turned around to him only to see him smiling.
"Your highness thank you for your time today but my sons and I have to retreat for the night. " I said to him while I curtsy, hoping he would get the idea that I want him to leave.
"Then we should all head back inside and prepare for the night." He stated which made me looked at him with knitted brow.
"What do you mean 'we'?" I asked.
He took a step close to me and with his hands he grab a few strands of my hair, I stiff at his action not really knowing what to do.
"I told you I'm not going back to my kingdom without the four of you." He stated before kissing the strands of my hair on his hand.
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[End of Chapter]