He wasn't sure how to deal with those unfamiliar sensations rising in him and sighed, coming up with something he believed would console the princess. "It is a very fair idea; this marriage will be built on compromise, and… and it doesn't make much sense for us to rule over two kingdoms while residing primarily in one. If you're expected to spend time in Strexxa, it is only right that I spend time in Aephis."
Celeste offered Aestir a soft smile, touched that he was willing to compromise on something like this. "Thank you, Aestir… that truly means more to me than you'll ever know."
Aestir relaxed once he saw that the princess was beginning to calm down, relief flooding through him. Only when they awkwardly resumed their meal did he realize he'd agreed to do something that would significantly inconvenience him just to appease her.
Sympathy, grace, and compassion even, were all foreign concepts to Strexxans, and the dark elf took a moment to examine himself to determine why he'd exhibited such emotion towards a mere stranger.
He'd watched his own mother not shed a single tear at his father's funeral, witnessed countless examples of elves in his kingdom regarding the weak and the slighted with no more than a shrug of the shoulders, and had been responsible for decimating entire regions throughout his life, without any concern for their people.
Individualism, ruthlessness, and ambition at any and every cost were the core tenets of a Strexxan. Who cared about how you got to the top as long as you made it there and it benefited the kingdom?
Empathy?
Charity?
Goodwill?
They were such insignificant, trivial feelings that hindered more than they helped. Going out of one's way to assist someone at the expense of oneself made no sense to Aestir. And he couldn't understand why he'd exhibited that principle for Celeste, who he barely knew. Granted, she would be his wife in three months, but… he still struggled to understand why he'd agreed to an arrangement as he suggested. It went against every core tenet of his beliefs, staining the very fabric of his identity.
As Aestir sat there, brooding over his actions, Celeste watched him from the corner of her eyes. She knew he was struggling with something and couldn't help but feel a tinge of guilt. After all, she was the reason he was in this predicament. "Is everything alright, Aestir?" She asked, breaking the silence that had settled over them.
Aestir's head abruptly snapped up at the sound of Celeste's voice, his draconian glare meeting Celeste's worried compassion. He seemed incensed, acrimonious even, as his frigid beryl gaze teemed with fury. The rage -however horrifying- was short-lived, his features twisting into that of dismay the longer he scrutinized the princess. The silence between them became more apparent as Aestir regarded Celeste, transfixed and confused by the concern emanating from her expression as if he were a child staring without understanding at something unknown.
The silence between them stretched on like a taut rope, threatening to snap at any moment. It was only when the silence became unbearable that Aestir spoke, his words piercing through the quiet. "I just...I don't understand why I compromised with you. It goes against everything that I am." His voice grew terse the longer he thought about his actions, and he shook his head in frustration, bitterly looking away from the princess when her brow furrowed in further concern for him. "I just don't get why you're so different, Celeste."
Celeste understood Aestir's confusion on some level and took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding, wanting to effectively convey her stance. "I think it's because we come from different worlds, Aestir. You were raised in a kingdom that values individualism and ambition above all else, while I was raised to value compassion and empathy for others. It's not that one way is right and the other is wrong, but rather that they are different. And so are we. And that doesn't have to be a bad thing."
Aestir scoffed at the statement, his strong jaw tensing. "You think our differences hold merit? That's why Aephisians are so weak and inane; how can you value something that doesn't benefit you or your kingdom directly?"
Celeste smiled as if she had expected such a response, her voice gracious yet obstinate. "I believe that when we show compassion and empathy towards others, it not only benefits them but ultimately benefits us and our kingdom. A leader who genuinely cares for their people will earn their loyalty and respect, and in turn, their kingdom will prosper."
The prince looked bewildered as Celeste explained her viewpoint, sighing and shaking his head as he tried to wrap his mind around this concept. "That doesn't explain why I compromised with you."
The princess offered him a small smile. "Maybe it's because, deep down, you're not as heartless as you think. Perhaps some part of you wants to do good, even if it goes against your beliefs."
Aestir bristled at her words, feeling as if she could see right through him. Becoming the ruthless monarch he was had been a laborious undertaking, and it infuriated him to have his choices or convictions contested. Yet, here was Celeste, a woman he barely knew, making him question everything he stood for.
The prince remained motionless, his eyes revealing a disturbing melange of disdain and esteem for the princess. How could anyone have such a tremendous capacity for kindness? He was filled with indignant rage as these sentiments wrenched his mind in conflicting directions, driving him insane as he tried to make sense of his emotions. Aestir had heard stories of Aephisians being weak and spineless, yet Celeste's behavior was a complete antithesis to that judgment. She had a diligent strength within her that he had never witnessed, brimming with a serene determination that he found both fascinating and disconcerting.
Few still alive could hold his gaze and not snap under its weight; even fewer could incur his wrath and still live to tell the tale; only one person had ever been bold enough to challenge his convictions. And Celeste had managed to accomplish these feats in a matter of days, with an unwavering smile, compassion never once leaving her cerulean gaze.
As the prince sat there transfixed by the princess, Celeste reached across the table and took his hand, her touch gentle yet firm. "Aestir, I know we are different. But I genuinely believe we can build better kingdoms if we work together. We can find a way to balance our beliefs and strengths and make our union something that benefits Aephis and Strexxa."
The sudden touch ripped him from the torment of his ruminations, and he looked down at their intertwined hands with a jolt. He had never allowed anyone to get close to him -especially so intimately- yet here was Celeste, holding his hand and trying to bridge the gap he'd deliberately put between them. His first instinct was to wrench his hand away, but he found himself hesitating, wavering on the brink of possibility and promise. "What you're suggesting is nearly impossible, Celeste. It will take endless time and be monumental drudgery for both of us."
"I know," Celeste agreed, her voice softening as she squeezed his hand in reassurance. "But I believe it's worth it. And I get the sense you do, too."
Aestir's suspicious, beryl gaze searched hers for a single trace of deceit or manipulation, eager to condemn her observations if he found even the slightest hint of falsity. But all that reflected in her depths was the sincerity and honesty that she'd held for him since they'd met.
And it made him feel exposed in ways he couldn't comprehend.
For a moment, he considered running away from this arrangement, away from this woman who was already making him question everything he stood for. But something stopped him.
Perhaps it was as simple as the way Celeste's hand felt in his. Or perhaps it was how her adept delivery and gentle words managed to reach him in ways no one else's ever had. Whatever it was, Aestir found himself giving into her touch, his indomitable walls of protection crumbling brick by forlorn brick.
He thought of the kingdoms he was set to rule, the countless battles he'd won, and the blood he'd shed to become a Dark Liege. He couldn't let it all go to waste. He couldn't let his father's legacy crumble under his rule, and couldn't lose the respect or loyalty of his people. He couldn't give into Celeste's inclinations, the very notion of her desires filling him with uncertainty. And yet, despite his misgivings, Aestir felt himself relent.
Perhaps Celeste was right about some of this.