The silence stretched on, thick with unspoken emotions. Kazi, unable to meet Azrael's gaze, busied herself with picking at the hem of her gown. "What now, Azrael?" she repeated his question, her voice trembling slightly.
Azrael ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that mirrored Kazi's own frustration. "What do you want to happen, Kazi?" he asked, his voice softening.
Kazi searched his eyes, a flicker of hope igniting within her. "I... I thought we could talk," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Communicate, understand each other."
"We are communicating, Kazi," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Perhaps not in the way you envisioned, but we are."
Kazi bit her lip, the weight of his words settling on her shoulders. "But what do you want, Azrael?" she pressed. "Do you still want to go through with this marriage?"
Azrael sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I want a lot of things, Kazi," he admitted. "I want a love built on honesty, a future where deception doesn't hang between us like a dark cloud. But I also have responsibilities."
"Responsibilities?" Kazi repeated, her voice cracking slightly.
"I am the second prince of Althea," Azrael explained, "I do not have the power my brother wields, the power to change laws, to break centuries-old traditions."
"And I suppose I am just some woman from a barbaric kingdom, expected to bend to your will?" she countered, her voice dripping with little bit of anger.
"No, Kazi, that is not what I am saying. But I have a duty to my people, just as you do to yours." He paused, searching for the right words.
"And are you suggesting I should abandon Niameda to become a trophy wife in Althea, trapped in a palace, silenced and expected to churn out heirs?" Kazi asked, her voice trembling with anger and betrayal. Kazi met his gaze, her eyes blazing with defiance.
Azrael's gaze softened, the anger fading from his eyes. "No, Kazi," he said, his voice gentle. "I do not expect that from you. I know how much you love and are loyal to Niameda. It is a part of you, just as being a prince is a part of me.
"Azrael... what are you saying?" Kazi asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt as if the world had been turned upside down, the foundation of everything they had built together crumbling before her eyes. "Do you still want me to be your wife?"
He walked up to her, met her gaze and cupped her face, "I am saying, Kazi," he began, his voice wavering slightly, "that I love you. More than life, more than breath itself. More than this stupid crown that sits on my head." He paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself before continuing. "I love your fire, your strength," he murmured, his thumb gently tracing the outline of her lips. "I love the warrior beneath the beautiful gown."
Kazi's chest felt warm, and the sensation threatened to overtake her. Azrael, the arrogant prince, had just confessed his love for her.
Before she could respond, he crashed his lips against hers, his tongue demanding entrance into her mouth. He cupped the back of her head, holding her close as he kissed her with a passion that left her breathless. She could feel the desperation in his touch, the need for this connection between them. Her heart raced as she gave in to the sensations, returning his kiss with equal fervour. Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling him even closer, their bodies pressing tightly together.
Azrael's touch ignited a firestorm within Kazi. His hands roamed her back, sending shivers down her spine. She clung to him, her fingers digging into his shoulders, feeling the hard muscles beneath her palms. Their kiss deepened, their tongues tangling in a dance of desire. The kiss felt endless, consuming, as if the world outside of this moment did not exist. She could feel his heart racing against hers, their breath mingling in the air between them.
They broke apart, gasping for breath, their foreheads touching. Azrael's eyes, dark with passion, held a hint of sadness that mirrored Kazi's own.
He traced her cheek with his thumb, a tender gesture in stark contrast to the intensity of their kiss. "Kazi," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, "I love you.... but we both want different things."
A flood of dread surged over Kazi. The thrill of his confession was soon overshadowed by the terrible reality of their circumstances. "You want a future where you can fight for your kingdom," Azrael continued, his voice low as he caressed her cheek. "And I... I cannot offer you that in Althea."
Kazi looked into his eyes, "And what about me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"What about you, Kazi?" he echoed, his voice rough with emotion. "I cannot ask you to live a life without purpose. You deserve so much more."
He took a deep breath, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Maybe... maybe we shouldn't move forward with this wedding."
Kazi's breath caught in her throat. A life with Azrael, a dream she had held for a few moments, was passing through her fingers like sand. "No," she said quietly, shaking her head. "No, Azrael. Do not do this."
"I do not care about Althea's traditions! I do not care about the court or the expectations," she confessed, her voice trembling. "I just want you, Azrael. I am willing to leave Niameda, my family, everything. As long as I have you, nothing else matters."
Azrael's eyes widened in shock, a flicker of pain crossing his features. He gripped her hand tightly, his touch both comforting and desperate. "Kazi," he said, "you are the fiercest warrior I know. You were born to lead, to fight for your people. I can never ask you to abandon that, to become a shadow of yourself in Althea."
His words felt like a physical blow, the weight of his sacrifice pressing down on her. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she wiped them away, refusing to let him see her pain. She took a deep breath. She took a few steps back, putting some distance between them. "I.. I understand," she managed to say, her voice shaking. "You have your duty, and I have mine. Perhaps it is best if we just...end things here."
"Kaz-" Azrael began, but she held up a hand to silence him.
"Goodbye Your Highness," Kazi said, her voice steady despite the ache in her chest. She curtsied deeply, the movement feeling stiff and unnatural. Azrael stared at her, his expression torn, as if he wanted to say something more. But he remained silent, and she couldn't bring herself to look at him any longer.
He bowed and walked out of the room without another word, leaving Kazi alone with her conflicting emotions. After a few seconds, the tears that she had been fighting back finally escaped her, streaming down her face. She covered her mouth with her hands, trying to muffle the sobs that racked her body.
Then the drawing room door opened and in walked in Ife. Ife saw Kazi and ran to her side, enfolding her in a tight embrace. "Kazi, what happened?" Ife whispered, her voice trembling. "What did he say to you?"
Kazi wiped her tears and pulled away from Ife, not wanting her sister to see her like this. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "He said that he cannot offer me a future in Althea, Ife. He thinks it is best if we do not go through with the wedding."
Ife's eyes widened in shock. "What? But...why?"
"It is nothing, "Kazi replied, trying to sound stronger than she felt.
"Kazi please, talk to me," Ife pleaded. "What did he say? Did he change his mind?"
"I said It is nothing!" shouted Kazi, her voice trembling with anger and pain. "Let us not talk of it further." Kazi gathered her gown and walked out of the drawing room, leaving a confused Ife. She walked past a worried-looking Adanna, who had entered the room with Tanisi. Her father stepped forward; his face etched with concern.
"Kazi, are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle.
"I am fine, Father," Kazi lied, forcing a smile.
"Kaz-" her father began, but she cut him off with a sharp shake of her head. "We have more pressing matters, Father," she declared. "The missing trade ships. We need to focus on finding them and stopping these attacks."
With that, she marched towards the stairs, leaving her father and the others behind. Asha, who had quietly entered the room during the exchange, leaned towards Ife and Tanisi.
"Oh dear," Asha murmured, her brow furrowed with concern. "I do not think anyone expected him to react quite like that. Perhaps we should give her some space for now. She needs time to process everything that is happened."
"This is bad," Ife whispered, following Kazi with her eyes. "She must be heartbroken."
Tanisi, sighed. "Men," she said simply, shaking her head. "Always causing trouble."