Caspian walked towards her, taking careful steps that showed his grace and purpose. He raised his hand, signaling for her to stop apologizing.
"No need to feel sorry," he told her kindly, his voice calm and soothing.
He smiled gently, making his face look even more charming.
Surprisingly, Lady Elara turned to face him. Her green eyes squinted a little as she looked at him.
Then she asked, "Have we met before, Your Majesty?"
Caspian felt a little uneasy but tried to hide it by pretending to cough. It was a way for him to buy some time to think.
His knowledge of her personality from their previous meeting caught him off guard, making him momentarily lose his composure in front of Elara.
But he quickly regained his regal demeanor, concealing any sign of recognition.
Speaking carefully, he asked, "Could you tell me, Lady Elara, where we might have met before?"
He held a hopeful tone, curious to see if she remembered their earlier encounter.
Lady Elara tilted her head, her gaze shifting to the side as she thought deeply.
"Your voice... it sounds familiar," she murmured softly, her forehead wrinkling as confusion flickered in her eyes. "And your lips..."
Her words trailed off, leaving a sense of intrigue in the air.
Caspian's breath hitched in his throat, his gaze instinctively drawn to her partially parted lips.
Memories flooded his mind, recalling the moment when he caught her in his arms.
An intense heat surged through Caspian's body, causing him to unconsciously lean forward towards Elara.
It was the same strange emotions that stirred up within him during that time.
Despite being aware of her impending marriage, his emotions overwhelmed him, momentarily blurring his judgment.
"For Veridia's sake, Caspian, control yourself," he growled at himself.
Determined to regain control, he closed his eyes and directed his thoughts towards rationality, much like he would during a battle.
Battles were not unfamiliar to him; he had faced numerous challenges in the past.
However, this particular battle proved to be unlike any he had encountered before, catching him off guard with its complexity and emotional stakes.
Fortunately, Lady Elara dismissed her own musings. "No," she said firmly, her voice laced with certainty.
"There's no way we could have met, your Majesty. I've never even been to the Palace before."
A soft smile graced her lips as she met Caspian's gaze once again, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
Finally, Lady Elara's lips parted, her gaze sweeping across the grandeur of the palace.
"I must say," she began, her voice light and filled with admiration, "this place is truly captivating."
Her words hung in the air, carrying a touch of wonder.
Caspian couldn't help but be captivated by her charm, his own lips curving into a gentle smile.
His wanton desires slowly dissipated.
"Would you fancy living here, then?" Caspian blurted out, catching himself in the middle of his sentence.
His lips clamped shut as soon as the words slipped from his tongue. And he was left momentarily flustered.
Lady Elara's eyes widened as surprise washed over her delicate features.
Caspian sensed her bewilderment.
And he quickly interjected. "What I mean is, like all the other noble ladies, you can grace this place with your presence every now and then."
Caspian's statement hung in the air, leaving Lady Elara momentarily stunned.
She responded with a forced, uneasy laugh. Her hand swept through the air.
And she attempted to dispel the awkwardness that had settled between them.
"Oh, your Majesty, you must forgive me," she said, her voice tinged with unease.
"I misunderstood your intentions. I thought you were proposing that I become your Queen."
A small cough escaped Caspian, his eyes flickering with disappointment. Elara's voice softened as she continued, her words tinged with a touch of melancholy.
"Being a Queen is a grand position, filled with opulence and power. But deep within me, I sense that it is not a path meant for me to tread."
Caspian's face fell as disappointment washed over him. "And why not?" he questioned, his voice tinged with longing.
Caspian's desires were not driven by a longing for Elara to become queen. Instead, his yearning stemmed from a simple wish to have frequent encounters with her.
Lady Elara's gaze softened. And she responded with humble sincerity.
"My freedom holds greater worth than any worldly possession, your Majesty." Her words carried a quiet strength, resonating with conviction.
Caspian nodded, his understanding evident in the slight tilt of his head.
She had spoken of this freedom before, when they first met amidst the Whispering Groves. And she was right.
"Being a ruler... it's not for everyone," Caspian muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.
A sigh escaped his lips. The weight of his responsibilities pressed heavily on his broad shoulders.
He didn't have a Queen, and there was a reason for that. He refused to burden another soul with the immense weight he carried.
With a conflicted expression, Caspian took a step closer to Elara. His hand reached out to touch hers, but he hesitated just before making contact.
He withdrew his hand, curling it into a fist.
How could he burden her with his responsibilities? How could he ask her to sacrifice her own freedom for a life of duty and obligation?
And besides, she was about to be married to another man.
Instead, he masked his true emotions behind a mask of indifference. His voice was steady and measured.
"Being a ruler demands more than most can comprehend," he stated, his tone laced with a hint of melancholy.
"It's a path fraught with sacrifices and hardships. Not everyone can bear that burden."