Damien.
I zoned out.
For the first time, I zoned out during a meeting. An important one at that. I could not stop thinking about her, the way she smelt, her aura and everything about her had this pull on me.
I sighed in frustration, and everyone paused and turned to stare at me confused.
"Is there something wrong, Your Majesty?" Lord Phillip, the head of the council said, his eyes zoning in on me, unkind.
"There's nothing wrong, forgive me, please carry on," I said, and they all stared at me for some more time before they finally turned around and continued their meetings.
I hated the council, I think every young leader could relate. They loved to act like they had more power than the crown itself, and in some instances, it also seemed that they did have more power since they were the ones In charge of every single decision we took.
I was more than tired already, after I left Aurora's room this morning, I had not even sat for up to thirty seconds, I understood it was my job, but still. I held my breath as I kept hoping for an interruption, something to get me out of here, and just then the door was opened, and a guard walked in.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked, hoping for the answer I was looking for.
"No, there is however someone here to see you." He said, his head still bowed.
I tried to hide my smirk, I wasn't sure it worked, but I could also not care less. I stood up as the council members stared at me, obviously offended by the abrupt end I was about to give this meeting.
"Alright, you're dismissed tell the person to wait for me in the study," I said, and the guard nodded before he walked off.
"I apologize for this interruption, I think we shall have to continue this meeting some other time, excuse me," I said and walked out before they could respond as I headed for the study, trying my best not to smile.
After a while, I arrived at the door of my study and walked in. I smelt her before I saw her, and I saw her pretty soon. There in the middle of my study stood Princess Aurora, pacing up and down as she waited for me with a nervous expression on her face.
"Princess?" I said, and she turned and stared at me directly before offering a weak smile.
"Hi, I'm so sorry for interrupting your meeting I was only told you were in a meeting when the guard had already left to call you, if I had known beforehand I would have stopped him, please forgive me." She said, her voice so soft I had a lean a bit forward to hear her.
"It's alright, you don't have anything to be worried about," I said with a smile and closed the door shut as I walked in and stood close to where she stood as I studied her, waiting for her to start the next conversation, the one that related to her being here right now. When it was clear she was not going either, I cleared my throat and offered her a little smile before I said,
"I figured you wanted to discuss the offer I gave earlier?" I said, and she looked at me for a while as if she were calculating her next move before she nodded her head calmly, and I smiled, I couldn't help myself. I had never smiled this much at one person, but I could not help myself, she was adorable, and I loved the fact that she came to a decision so fast, one could only hope it was the better choice she decided on.
"Yes, I thought well about what you said and even discussed it with my trusted friend." She said, her voice still soft and her body language showed she was being extra careful, as if she were walking on eggshells.
"Alright, what did you decide? And I want you to know there is no pressure at all and whatever it is you decide I will respect that." I said, lying through my teeth. That seemed to calm her down though, she visibly relaxed and offered me a smile that didn't look like she was about to vomit her intestines out.
"So whatever choice I make, my people will still be safe, and you'll let us go?" She said as she watched me carefully.
"Perhaps," I responded I could not lie that I would let them go just like that If she rejected my offer. We had won them at war, and it was normal for us to take over their Kingdom, but I liked her and wanted to give her a chance for an alliance with us, but it was on one condition if she would let me court her. If she did not, I was not sure if it would be possible for me to let her go, at least I knew the council would never let that happen. The only way I could convince them that we were gaining something from them to be able to allow them their freedom was if we could ally.
She smiled as she nodded as if she had already expected that answer from me.
"Well, I accept your offer for courtship." She finally said after what seemed like an eternity.
I smiled so hard I felt like my heart was going to burst from the Joy I felt at that moment, I could not explain my strange pull and obsession towards her, but I would rather not understand it anymore. All I knew was that I wanted her, and she had given me the chance to court her, that was all that mattered to me.
"Well then, it will be wonderful doing business with you, Princess Aurora," I said with a smile as I extended my hand for a handshake.
She smiled, tight-lipped as she extended her hand and accepted mine, "Likewise."