After she arranged and combed his hair well, Gabriel looked at the girl sitting near the window while eating the apple he brought her and reading her thick book.
The book in her hand talked about ancient Roman civilization and the glories of the Roman emperors.
The charming woman in front of him was immersed in the writer while he was still sitting in the dressing table chair.
He rubbed the silver cross around his neck instinctively while his turquoise-green eyes did not leave her beautiful appearance while she was immersed in her own world.
"Is it common for women to read books in the Kingdom of Petra?"
He asked in a low male voice, breaking the silence that had settled in the room.
He had asked the question that had been on his mind.
In this era, it was not common for women to read.
In Europe in general, women were seen as beings created to please men and produce children.
They were seen as lesser beings, so Gabriel was secretly impressed when he saw a woman holding a book for the first time in his life.
He had been curious about it from the beginning
Are women allowed to read in Arab countries??
"Yes, reading is a common hobby in my country, but not only women read, but also the common people, the poor, and all classes of society. Some even brag about the number of books they have read, thinking that this increases their nobility in front of people."
Gabriel was a little surprised when he heard that
Not only women, but also the poor and the common people are allowed to hold books and read them??
In Europe, the church prohibited reading for the common people and women
Even the noble class of noblemen were only allowed to read limited books
Only kings and sons of kings were allowed to read books freely
Also, people in her country used to brag about the number of books they read and believed that it increases the nobility and honor of the person!!!!!
This information he had just heard had piqued his interest as he got up from the dressing table chair and approached the chair she was sitting on.
Laila watched Gabriel leave his seat and approach with his eyes still fixed on her. She closed her book and placed it on her lap and met his eyes as he stood in front of her.
She said with a forced smile on her lips.
"You seem to be fascinated, monk."
Her tone was light and exciting as if she found his interest amusing.
"The beauty of a woman delights the face and surpasses all the desires of man." (Sir 36:24)
Gabriel said one of the words of the Bible as he looked at the woman sitting comfortably on the chair in front of him while the sun's rays hit her face.
Those brown eyes were so captivating that he could not take his eyes away from them.
Hearing these words, Laila thought that He was flattering her to say sarcastically
"Are you flirting with me, monk? Isn't that forbidden in your religion?"
Gabriel replied while swallowing his dry saliva harshly
"I'm not flirting with you, princess. I'm just reciting some words from the Holy Bible."
He said while trying not to touch his cheek that suddenly started to heat up while quickly looking away as if he realized how immersed he was
Upon hearing that, Laila laughed with enjoyment while looking at his reddened face with amusement to say softly
"Funny monk."
Layla laughed in amusement as she looked into Gabrielle's turquoise eyes.
"Your eye color is truly unique. It's almost like turquoise, but your eyes have a touch of green in them, which makes them so beautiful."
She said honestly.
As Layla commented on the color of his eyes, Gabrielle felt a strange flutter in his chest. He wasn't used to receiving such compliments, and he certainly didn't expect them from her.
"Thank you, they're... they're just eyes like any other."
"No, Monk, your eyes are unlike any I've ever seen. Their color is truly unique and mesmerizing. Your dark gray hair flows into your pale white skin."
Gabriel could feel the heat creeping up his neck, his cheeks now visibly flushed at her compliment. No one had ever described his appearance with such attention to detail, and it was strangely unusual and delightful.
"I..."
He muttered, somewhat surprised.
"... you're very observant, aren't you? "Likewise?"
Seeing him blush like that, Layla laughed in amusement and said in a cheerful tone
"Yes, I am so observant that I can notice the very faint golden freckles on your face."
When Layla pointed to the faint freckles on his face, Gabriel felt even more confused than before. His hand moved to his cheek as if he was trying to hide the freckles from her alert gaze.
"You..."
He started and then stopped, finding himself at a loss for words.
No one had ever looked at his face so closely before, let alone noticed such minute details.
"I am very meticulous and quick to observe, so don't be so alarmed, monk."
Layla laughed again at his slightly panicked reaction
Gabriel tried desperately to regain control of his emotions. He was a monk after all and should be above such petty reactions.
But something about Layla's presence and her penetrating observations made him feel weak, almost flustered.
"I'm not panicking," he protested.
The color on his cheeks betrayed him.
"I'm just… surprised, that's all."
"Monk…" she said in a soft voice.
Gabriel felt his heart flutter as Layla spoke to him in a soft, gentle tone. The way she said the word "monk" with a subtle hint of sarcasm made him feel a strange mix of annoyance and… something else he couldn't quite put a name to.
He tried to maintain his composure but the way she looked at him with that playful smile on her lips made it almost impossible.
"You seem to enjoy teasing me," he said, his voice a little hoarse than he had hoped.
"Do you… You find it amusing? Making the monk so upset?"
He tried to look stern but the effect was somewhat spoiled by the slight pinkness on his cheeks.
"What did I do to make you upset?"
Layla laughed amusedly as she took another red apple from the basket she had placed near the window.
Gabriel crossed his arms trying to maintain a stern expression on his face but Layla's laughter made it impossible to maintain an annoyed appearance.
"You…"
He said then stopped realizing there was no point in protesting.
He let out a sigh and muttered.
"You know exactly what you're doing, don't you?"
"I really don't understand what you're talking about. What did I do that made you so upset, monk?"
Laila said innocently while taking a big bite of the apple
"It's your voice for Jesus Christ's sake... Don't ever talk to me in that soft tone. It's true that I'm a monk, but I'm a man after all."
Gabriel said while biting his inner lips in embarrassment as he turned his eyes away from her
"My voice??? What's wrong with my voice?"
Laila almost choked on the apple she was eating when she heard him mention her voice
"It's... It's so cute."
Gabriel almost mumbled, still refusing to look at her. He could feel his face getting warmer by the minute. He felt pity because he was affected by her voice. It was just a voice for God's sake!!
"Nice? Do you consider that a compliment, Monk?"
Layla laughed in amusement as she swallowed the apple stuck in her throat roughly in one go.
Upon hearing her laughter, Gabriel rolled his eyes and decided to turn to look at her.
"Is it really funny to you?"
He asked with a mixture of irritation and helplessness in his voice.
"Yes, your voice is beautiful. Are you happy now?"
"I've always been told that I have a golden throat, so your compliments don't help anything, Monk."
She said as she smiled an arrogant smile.
"How many people have complimented your voice?"
Gabriel suddenly said nervously.
"Well, a lot of people."
Laila said confidently as she took another big bite of the apple.
"How many exactly?"
His tone was sharp without realizing it.
"Why are you talking to me like that?"
Laila looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
She didn't like the way his tone suddenly became sharp.
Gabriel immediately realized that he was letting his emotions show too much. He cleared his throat and controlled himself, trying to sound as neutral as possible.
"I'm just curious."
He said.
"Is it wrong for me to ask about the number of your fans?"
He tried his best to sound indifferent but his tone, which seemed closer to grumbling at the moment, betrayed him.
"How many fans do I have? Well I have a lot."
Layla said proudly as she swallowed the apple in her mouth.
Gabriel clenched his jaw as his patience was tested by her proud stance.
He repeated his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"So you have a lot of fans and how many of them are men then?"
"I am the daughter of the Caliph, how many suitors and admirers do you expect me to have?"
Layla laughed with amusement at the memory of the number of men who proposed to her.
She was of marriageable age by the standards of this era, so many suitors from the upper classes had proposed to her.
Gabriel's expression darkened from her words. The thought of other men who were admiring and suitors following her like a needle gnawing at a sensitive place in his heart.
"And what do you say to these suitors then?"
He said in an unexpectedly harsh voice
"When they come to you with these… proposals?"
"Well I usually decline because all these men weren't to my tastes to be honest."
She said in a lazy feminine voice as she continued to nibble and swallow the apple in her hand that she seemed to be about to finish.
A strange mix of relief and curiosity swept over Gabriel.
On one hand he was relieved that Laila had rejected her suitors but on the other hand he couldn't help but wonder what she was looking for.
"So none of them met your standards. How picky you are."
He said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"I'm not picky. I didn't ask for much. I just wanted someone stronger and greater than my father."
She said as she reread the thick book in her hand.
When Laila mentioned that she wanted someone "stronger and greater" than her father, Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
"Someone stronger… and greater…?"
He repeated, a hint of disbelief in his voice
"You do realize that these standards are very high, don't you?"
"Why are my standards so high?? I will not accept someone less powerful, less prestigious, and less great than my father."
Layla said while her eyes were still fixed on the book in her hand
Her father, Caliph Abdul Rahman III, was the de facto ruler of the world!!!
The East and the West were at his feet
The man to whose capital the kings of Europe still go every year to pay tribute at his feet so that they are not exposed to his brutality
This little princess is seriously asking for someone greater and more powerful than her father??
Gabriel couldn't believe such a request. The idea itself seemed ridiculous and even unrealistic
"And if no one can match his power and greatness? Will you wait forever?"
He said in a low male voice as his hand instinctively went back to the cross wrapped around his neck
"Yes, I would rather wait than marry a weak man"
She said frankly as she raised her eyes from the book to look at him with her pair of shining brown eyes
A weak man...
Gabriel had to suppress the discomfort creeping into his heart. Her saying the word "weak" made him feel strangely uncomfortable
He said with a hint of frustration in his voice
"You have no idea what you're asking for. Do you think that strength and greatness are all that matters? What about love? Or loyalty? What about kindness and compassion?"
"Love?? I don't care about that nonsense. There's no real thing called love"
She said coldly
Her cold words surprised Gabrielle. How could this princess, this beautiful young woman, deny the existence of love itself?
"You... you don't believe in love?"
He asked, unable to hide the shock in his voice
"Yes, love between a man and a woman is just nonsense, they just cover up their vile desires"
She said coldly as she looked into his turquoise green eyes with her big brown eyes with a charming sparkle
Her words hit him like a sharp arrow, Gabriel was silent for a moment, stunned by the cruelty of her belief
"Love is not just a cover for vile desires"
He protested a little louder
"It's... it's much more than that, it's about connection, intimacy, and trust, it's about knowing someone and getting to know them in return"
"You're a monk who has dedicated himself to the Lord, as you say, and what do you know about love to try to convince me that it's real? Love is just an ugly cover that men use to get what they want from women, and when they get what they need, they simply abandon women"
She said in a firm feminine voice as she threw the apple she was about to finish into the apple basket
Her words were as stinging as a slap, and it took all of Gabriel's self-control not to get angry. His jaw dropped as he resisted the urge to argue with her about something she clearly didn't understand.
"You're wrong," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"You're very wrong. Love isn't about taking advantage of someone and getting rid of them. True love is giving yourself completely to someone else. To love them unconditionally, with all their flaws, and not expecting anything in return."
"To love them unconditionally, with all their flaws??" What a fantasy description far from reality "
Layla mocked as she looked into Gabriel's eyes intensely
Her sarcastic mockery only served to increase his anger Gabriel let out a frustrated sigh
"It's not a fantasy description far from reality"
He replied in a loud, annoyed voice
"It's the essence of love, to love someone with all their faults doesn't mean ignoring them or pretending they don't exist, it means accepting them as part of the whole person, flawed and imperfect as they are"
"That's why I said it was a fantasy and unrealistic description, monk"
Her constant mockery was driving him crazy but Gabriel did his best to maintain his composure, he took a deep breath to calm himself down before speaking again
He said in a firm voice
"Let me ask you then, have you never seen love before? Even in small ways?" Between a father and a child, between friends, or even in the simplest acts of kindness from strangers?"
"The love between a son and his father, between a friend and his friend, is different from the love between a man and a woman."
Laila said insistently while continuing coldly
"A man looks at a woman as a beautiful being in which he empties his desires and then throws her away to look for another beautiful and innocent being that no one has touched before."
Her mocking look at men angered him, but Gabriel tried to maintain his calm
He said in a voice mixed with disappointment and frustration
"You speak as if all men are the same, as if they are all heartless monsters willing to give up love for temporary pleasure. Not all men are like this, Laila. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean there aren't loving and loyal men."
"....."
Laila looked at him coldly at this point
In that luxurious room, the monk in black clothes stood in front of the woman who was sitting on the chair near the window while holding a thick book In her embrace in a stifling silence
The two were talking in the language of the eyes at this point
Those turquoise eyes looked at those brown eyes with insistence
The look that the young and beautiful girl held in front of him was extremely harsh
"Get out of the room, monk, I no longer want to see your face"
Layla said in a cold, icy voice
"Why suddenly... you no longer want to see my face now!!"
Gabriel said in a shaky, stuttering male voice while looking at her cold stance with disbelief
"Yes, I no longer want to see your face, leave"
She said sharply while grabbing the basket of apples that he brought to throw it forcefully under his feet, causing those red fruits to scatter all over the floor of the room
"Princess... Why... Why suddenly?"
Gabriel looked at the red fruits that Layla threw at his feet indifferently
Those fruits that he He picked it with all his love to give it to her...
"Leave, I just hate you"
Laila said in a slightly loud voice
"....."
Gabriel felt a sharp pain hitting his heart as if a thousand knives were stabbing his heart cruelly in a direct way
His throat was dry and his lips were trembling unnaturally at this moment
He wanted to leave...
He wanted to save what was left of his dignity and leave, but at this moment his body was stiff in place
His eyes looked intensely at the red fruits falling under his feet
It was like seeing his heart thrown under his feet indifferently
"I said leave damn it to understand!!!"
Laila screamed very sharply when she saw Gabriel standing stiff in place and he did not move or leave the room yet
At that moment Gabriel raised his face to look directly at her face
"....."
At that moment Only when her eyes fell on his did Laila freeze in place.
"You...you...are you crying, monk?"
She said in a trembling and astonished feminine voice.
"I...I am not crying..."
His voice came out choked and shaky, clearly indicating that he was struggling to hold back his tears. Despite his denial, a stray tear did manage to escape, leaving a wet mark on his beautiful face.
"Why are you crying? Because of this damn fruit?"
Layla's cold facade was slipping away, replaced by a hint of surprise and disbelief. She expected him to simply leave, but his tears seemed to catch her off guard.
"It's not about the fruits."
He managed to say in a broken voice.
"It's about me…"
Gabriel's hands were tightly clenched into fists at his sides. He was fighting for his composure, but the door to tears was already open.
He wanted to save what was left of his dignity.
He wanted to leave this room, but his feet were frozen to the floor.
He was internally stunned by himself.
Why was he crying? Why were tears streaming down his eyes like a waterfall, for God's sake?
He despised himself for crying in front of her
He despised his weakness and helplessness in front of her coldness
Gabriel was a monk and he was supposed to be strong and calm but here he is...
Crying like a child!!
"Stop crying… you damn monk"
Layla's voice came out sharp and cold but there was a hint of worry hidden inside it. She tried to maintain a cool facade but it was clear that his tears were affecting her more than she wanted to admit.
"Don't call me a damn monk!!! I have a name."
Gabriel said in a shaky male voice while tears were still streaming down his cheeks.
Even his pale cheeks had a slight blush on them.
He hated the fact that she had brought him to this state.
She had turned him into a broken emotional mess.
And worse yet… he hated the fact that her cold attitude was affecting him more than he wanted to admit.
"Don't cry."
Layla said in a soft feminine voice as she got up from the chair she was sitting in causing the book that was in her lap to fall.
He was shocked by the change in her tone… her voice… it was soft.
He watched her stand up from her spot and look directly at him. She stared at him intently
Gabriel swallowed hard as he tried to hold himself together but his tears were still streaming down his face relentlessly
She approached him to take the handkerchief that was in her dress pocket and handed it to him while saying in a low feminine tone
"You are a man who shouldn't cry easily"
His breathing was choppy and irregular and his chest was rising and falling rapidly
He looked at the handkerchief in her hand and then at her face. Her eyes seemed… a little softer, less cold than before.
He took the handkerchief from her hand and brought it close to his face, wiping the tears from his cheeks violently.
He managed to say, his voice still trembling.
"You're… too cruel."
"..."
He was still struggling to control his emotions, his heart still pounding in his chest. His eyes met hers again, and there was a clear mix of frustration and something else deep inside them. Maybe… pity? He wasn't sure.
He asked, his voice less trembling now.
"Is the word 'I hate you' so easy for you to say it so carelessly, without any regard for the person in front of you, princess?"
"....."
He was silent for a moment as he watched her silently. His emotions were still turbulent and his eyes were still red from the tears he had shed.
Finally, he spoke. His voice was still trembling but calmer than before.
"You... you are a very cruel woman, do you know that?"
"Yes, I am cruel."
She finally opened her mouth to say coldly as her captivating brown eyes faced his swollen and red eyes.
He felt intense pain when she simply replied, acknowledging her cruelty.
He stared at her with swollen eyes, frustration and resignation mixed in his gaze.
"You... you don't care, do you?"
"....."
"Don't you care how much your words hurt?"
He said with a slightly broken voice due to excitement
His eyes were still fixed on her face studying her expression... or rather her lack of expression
"Monk"
"Don't call me a monk, I have a name for Jesus Christ!! My name is Gabriel"
Gabriel said excitedly
He tried to control his emotions but failed
Why was he acting this way? Why did her words affect him so deeply? Why couldn't he maintain his composure in front of her?
Gabriel's grip on the handkerchief tightened and his knuckles turned white
"I don't want to call you by your name, I'd rather address you as a monk"
She said coldly as she looked into his turquoise eyes defiantly
He felt a wave of anger wash over him when she responded with her usual coldness
"Why is that, huh? Why do you refuse to mention my name?"
He said in an annoyed tone and his voice was a little louder
"Because I don't want to have any kind of connection or relationship with you"
She replied in a loud angry voice while her brown eyes were flying with sparks
He felt his heart clench tightly upon hearing her words
Why were her words... so painful?
Why did he feel like a knife had stabbed him directly in the chest?
He swallowed his saliva with difficulty trying to control himself but it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain his composure in front of her
"You... don't want to have any connection or relationship with me?"
"Yes, monk, I don't want anything to connect me with you, I don't even want to say or remember your name."
She said sharply.
He felt a mixture of anger, pain and despair overwhelm him. He couldn't understand why her words affected him so much.
He gripped the handkerchief tightly in his fist, his body tensed and his eyes narrowed as he looked at her.
"Why... Why do you hate me so much? What did I do to you to make you despise me so much?"
"You are my enemy, monk. Have you forgotten the enmity between our two kingdoms??"
Layla looked at him as if she was looking at an idiot as soon as she heard his question, whose answer was very clear.
He felt a pang of frustration and annoyance when she answered his question with a clear answer. Of course, he had not forgotten the enmity between their two kingdoms.
Gabriel tightened his jaw and his eyes narrowed even more as he looked at her.
"I haven't forgotten. I'm not an idiot, my princess. But that doesn't change the fact that I've never done anything directly to you. I've never hurt you myself."
"..."
He paused for a moment and took a deep breath to control his emotions. His heart was still pounding in his chest, but he tried to maintain a somewhat calm demeanor.
He looked at her face, her cold expression, her eyes... and felt a mixture of frustration, anger, and...
Despair
"Why… Why do you treat me like an enemy? Is it just because of the enmity between our two kingdoms?"
"Yes, that's why you are my enemy and the son of my enemy, Prince Monk. Your father is still part of the alliance that fights my father the Caliph and my country, my kingdom and my people, and you stupidly expect me to treat you as a friend? You are my enemy, Monk."
Layla said sharply while looking directly into his eyes with her beautiful brown ones.
He shivered slightly at her harsh words.
The reality of their situation shocked him once again. Their kingdoms were at war, their families were enemies, and they were enemies by extension.
Gabriel felt a mixture of frustration and resignation wash over him.
She was right. He was foolish to expect kindness from the princess of the enemy.
"Leave."
She said coldly while giving him her back.
He felt a sharp pain when she coldly asked him to leave and turned her back on him.
He stood there for a moment, his mind a whirlpool of thoughts and emotions.
Gabriel wanted to say something to her, to try to make her understand… but he knew that would be impossible. Jadwa
With a heavy heart he turned and started walking towards the door
When he reached the door he stopped for a moment and put his hand on the handle
He wanted to look back and take one last look at her but he resisted the urge
He opened the door and left the room, his heart still heavy with unresolved emotions
As he walked through the hallway of the castle his mind was still a tangled mess of thoughts and emotions
Why did he feel so moved by her words? Why did her hostility hurt him so much?
Gabriel tried to focus on his breathing and his steps echoed in the empty hallway. He needed to regain control of his emotions, calm down, and find some inner peace.
But his mind kept replaying her words, her cold tone, and her cold eyes that looked at him with disdain...
____
Gabriel returned to the church to do his work as a monk, the handkerchief she had given him still in his hand.
At the altar, under the cross, the handsome young monk knelt on his knees, clasping his hands holding the white handkerchief tightly together.
He knelt, closing his eyes that had begun to shed tears profusely.
He gripped the handkerchief tightly in his fist, trying to suppress a sob that was about to escape his lips.
He felt like a foolish child crying over a girl who hated him, but he couldn't help himself.
He couldn't explain why, but her words cut him deeply, and hurt him in a way he couldn't understand.
He tried to focus his thoughts on faith, on God, and on anything that might bring him peace and comfort, but all What he was thinking about was her… her and the way she looked at him… the way she talked to him
He couldn't get her out of his head no matter how hard he tried. He was trapped in a whirlpool of conflicting emotions and there was no way out.
(I hate you)
Her words echoed his atheism in his mind
The words echoed in his mind over and over again like a painful spell
(I hate you)
(I hate you)
Every time he heard it, it was like a stab in his heart. He gripped the handkerchief in his hand tighter as if that could ease the pain
Under that cross, the young monk couldn't hold back his feelings any longer. The sound of his sharp, masculine crying echoed in the altar
He tried to hold back his sobs as much as he could, but the pain inside him was too strong
He couldn't continue denying his feelings and he couldn't pretend that everything was okay
His body trembled with every sob that escaped his chest. His tears streamed down his cheeks, wetting the handkerchief which was tightly clenched in his fist
"It hurts, it hurts so much, why do those words hurt my heart so much?"
She asked in a hoarse, trembling male voice
It was just a word coming out of a young girl's mouth
It wasn't like he hadn't been hated in his life
Being the king's legitimate son from a commoner's concubine, Gabriel had been hated by many people, but he had never felt this burning pain when people looked at him with poisonous eyes
He was used to looks of disdain, whispers behind his back, and judgment in people's eyes because of his circumstances
But with her… it was different, her hatred was different
Her words… her cold eyes… cut him deeply in a way that no one else had before, and he didn't understand why
Just at that moment, the altar door opened, revealing a young man who looked to be around seventeen years old, with golden blonde hair and bright green eyes, holding a sword at his waist
"Recluse monk, are you still praying in the church?"
The sound of the door opening and the familiar male voice startled Gabriel.
He closed his eyes trying to clear his mind and quickly wiped the tears from his cheeks with the back of his hand.
He took a deep, trembling breath trying to calm his emotions and regain his composure.
He replied with a voice a little hoarse from his last crying.
"Yes, I was praying."
"Crying? What made you cry like this, in such a pathetic way? You are a man after all, you shouldn't be so fragile like women."
Rough male laughter echoed in the altar.
The young boy who had just entered was King Gunther's second son and Gabrielle's half-brother.
The Queen Mother's younger son.
{Eduard von de Deutschland}
"Brother, what are you doing here??"
Gabriel asked hoarsely
His turquoise, bulging eyes were looking into the green ones of the Second Prince
"I just came to check on my younger brother. How are you doing in your monastic life? Are you enjoying secluding yourself from women and worshipping every day?"
The Second Prince's voice was laced with mockery and disdain.
He moved his feet to walk towards the seat near the cross that Gabriel was kneeling under to sit on the wooden church bench while crossing his legs.
"You're here to make fun of me, aren't you?"
Gabriel said as he stood up, his voice still a bit hoarse from his recent crying and his eyes were red but he tried to look calm.
He stood in front of the second prince as he looked at him with a cold expression.
"I'm not that free, I'm busy with my first rival for the throne of Germany as you know, but curiosity is what led me to your church, Third Brother."
Edward laughed in amusement as he looked at Gabriel's secretly swollen eyes.
Gabriel felt a bit annoyed by Edward's sarcastic tone but he tried to keep his facial expression neutral and calm.
He asked as he raised his eyebrows.
"Curiosity? Or boredom?"
"It's actually curiosity as I heard that father has appointed you in charge of watching the imprisoned Arab princess until negotiations with Caliph Abdul Rahman III are completed"
Edward said in an amused masculine tone as his gaze fell towards the handkerchief in Gabriel's hand
Gabriel gripped the handkerchief in his hand more tightly as Edward's eyes fell on it
Gabriel said in a carefully neutral voice
"That's right I was assigned to watch the princess during her imprisonment"
"I'm curious about that infidel princess from the East, is she as beautiful as the rumors say or are people exaggerating her beauty"
Edward asked as he looked at Gabriel with a meaningful look
Gabriel felt a bit annoyed at the way Edward referred to the princess as an "infidel" but he kept his emotions in check
He said as he chose his words carefully
"She is... attractive but physical appearance isn't everything brother"
"Of course physical appearance isn't everything but I'm curious Really, towards that Arabian princess, could she be as beautiful as people describe her? The son of the Caliph of the world, Abdul Rahman III, who subdued the Vikings and sea monsters, what would a woman like that look like?"
Edward said with excitement shining from his bright green eyes.
In the altar, the dialogue of the two half-brothers echoed in the air.
Gabriel was a little annoyed by his half-brother's enthusiasm. It bothered him that Edward seemed so interested in the princess's appearance.
"Appearances aren't everything."
He repeated in a colder voice this time.
"But if you must know, she is attractive. Her beauty is stunning, almost regal, but I'm sure you've seen many beautiful women before, my brother."
Hearing that, Edward smiled a harsh, masculine smile, showing his fang-like teeth, which had an irresistible masculine appeal to many German women.
"Yes, I have seen almost every kind of beauty in Europe, but I am curious about the beauty of that desert princess."
Gabriel couldn't help but feel Annoyed by Edward's smile and insistence on the princess's beauty, he tried to hold back his feelings, but a hint of jealousy began to rise inside him.
He muttered through clenched teeth
"She is... unique."
"Hair as black as the night, and a wheatish complexion the color of gold, similar to the grains of desert gold, captivating brown eyes, and a slender, seductive feminine body that rivals the bodies of the most beautiful beauties on the continent."
Edward described the description that people were passing around while licking his lips secretly.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed slightly as Edward described the princess's appearance. It seemed that every word echoed in his mind, which stirred something inside him.
He said in a voice tinged with annoyance.
"You seem to be well aware of her appearance."
"Of course everyone in the palace was talking about her, to the point that I couldn't help but come to you to ask you about her."
Edward said amusedly as he looked into his brother's eyes, his green eyes shining with a boyish, masculine glow.
Gabriel felt a kind of mockery in his brother's words, which increased his annoyance, but he kept his expression neutral and answered as calmly as he could.
"Yes, she is... She is definitely attractive."
He answered reluctantly.
"But there is something more important "Just from the person's appearance, my brother."
Upon hearing that, Edward seemed to feel annoyed.
"You often say that appearance isn't everything, and this is starting to get annoying, my little brother."
Gabriel was extremely annoyed by Edward's words, and his annoyance increased. He clenched his fists slightly, and the handkerchief was already wrinkled in his hands.
He replied in a brief voice.
"I keep saying this because it's true. It seems that you are overly concerned with the princess's appearance. I thought that you already had many beautiful court ladies in the palace."
"You really are... hahahahaha."
Edward laughed loudly.
He was enjoying seeing his brother's clearly troubled expression.
"The handkerchief in your hand explains why you are so upset by my question about that beautiful Arab princess."
He said with pure amusement as he pointed to the handkerchief in Gabriel's hand
Gabriel felt extremely shocked when Edward pointed to the handkerchief in his hand
His heart pounded and he instinctively tightened his grip on it. He tried to control his expression but a blush crept into his cheeks
"I... I don't know what you mean"
He stammered trying to sound calm
"This has nothing to do with..."
Just at that moment Gabriel got up from the church pew and suddenly snatched the handkerchief from Gabriel's hand
Gabriel's eyes widened in surprise when Edward suddenly snatched the handkerchief from his grip
He tried to reach out to retrieve it but Edward had already pulled it to his side
He said hoarsely with panic and anger mixed in his voice
"Give it back to me!!"
Edward raised the embroidered white handkerchief high as he looked at the Arabic inscriptions on the handkerchief with a mocking smile.
"The handkerchief has Laila's name written on it in Arabic."
Gabriel's heart dropped when he heard Edward's words. He felt a pang of fear and humiliation when he was caught by the handkerchief.
His face was flushed with shame and he felt exposed and weak. His mind tried to find an excuse but he couldn't think of anything.
He said in a weak voice as he reached for the handkerchief again.
"It's... it's nothing Edward."
"Well, even though I'm a failure when it comes to studying, I can at least read Arabic. At least Laila's name is really written on the handkerchief."
Edward raised the handkerchief higher than Gabrielle's hands could reach.
He had learned Arabic as a potential heir to the throne, so he didn't make a mistake in reading the inscriptions on the handkerchief
Gabriel felt a wave of frustration and helplessness as Edward spoke. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, but he knew he couldn't reach the handkerchief due to his brother's height, which was taller than him.
He said in an angry voice.
"I don't care what you read. This is none of your business. Give me back the handkerchief."
Edward ignored his little brother's angry tone and sniffed the handkerchief in front of Gabriel's eyes.
He inhaled the handkerchief forcefully.
"This...this smells like a woman. This is definitely a woman's handkerchief."
The handkerchief smelled of musk and jasmine.
Gabriel felt a lump in his throat as Edward inhaled the handkerchief, the familiar scent of musk and jasmine reaching his nose.
He felt a mixture of anger, shame, and pain at the way his half-brother was handling something that belonged to the woman he had feelings for.
He clenched his teeth and resisted the urge to snatch it back.
He said in a stern voice.
"Stop it. Give it back." You have no right to-"
"What an intoxicating scent"
Edward continued to inhale the feminine scent emanating from the handkerchief intensely
Gabriel felt a new wave of anger and humiliation wash over him as he watched his half-brother smell the handkerchief with obvious enjoyment
He said sharply and his voice rose
"Enough! This is not a game Edward, prepare it"
He reached out again to try to take the handkerchief but Edward held it high above his head out of reach
"Layla, the name of the owner of the handkerchief is Layla, could it be that imprisoned princess?"
A crazy and amused gleam emanated from those bright green eyes
Gabriel's heart dropped when Edward said the name out loud, the same name Gabriel whispered to himself almost every night
He felt a mixture of jealousy and annoyance at the thought of his half-brother saying her name
He said through clenched teeth
"Yes, it is her handkerchief, her name is Layla, but that is none of your business"
"That explains why you were so evasive and evasive when I asked about that princess, could it be that you have become infatuated with her"
Edward said in disbelief as he looked at Gabriel as if he was witnessing a great sin
Gabriel felt a kind of panic and shame at hearing Edward's words, his face flushing as he tried to avoid his half-brother's gaze
"I... I..."
He stuttered trying to find the words to deny what he said to defend himself but deep down he knew he was completely fascinated by her
"Damn is she so beautiful that she made a monk like you fall in love with her?"
Edward cursed in surprise as he looked at his brother's face flush with disbelief and disbelief
"Edward Deutschleid put the handkerchief back and left"
Gabriel said in a loud voice that echoed throughout the altar while biting his inner lips tightly trying to suppress his feelings
Seeing Gabriel's reaction Edward couldn't help but smile sarcastically inside he had always thought of his younger half-brother as a serious and pious monk and never expected that he would fall in love with an Arabian princess
"Oh come on little brother don't be so upset"
He mocked as he played with the handkerchief of the woman his brother loved
And in one moment he threw the handkerchief at his brother
"You just make me so eager and eager to see the woman who made an ascetic monk like you so fond of her. It seems that I will be going to visit her soon."
Edward seriously considered clearing his schedule to go visit the imprisoned Arabian princess.
Gabriel grabbed the handkerchief with one hand before it fell to the ground. He held it so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
He looked at his half-brother with great anger. The thought of Edward visiting her made him feel inexplicable anger and discomfort.
He said firmly.
"You… stay away from her. She has nothing to do with you."
Edward laughed in amusement upon hearing that as he placed his hands behind his head lazily as he walked out of the altar with measured steps.
"I really can't wait to see her soon."
Gabriel's jaw clenched tightly as he watched his half-brother walk out of the altar with indifferent arrogance.
He gripped the handkerchief in his fist even more tightly, frustrated and angry.
"You won't do that."
He shouted Unable to hold back the anger from his voice
"I won't let you do this"
Edward left the entire church, ignoring his younger brother's angry shouts
Gabriel stood there watching his half-brother walk out of the church without even bothering to look back
He gritted his teeth as he still clutched the handkerchief tightly. Panic and jealousy were taking over him and he felt the need to run after him
He muttered in a low voice as he ran his hand over his face in frustration
"For Jesus Christ's sake!!! Patience, patience, just patience"
He said in an attempt to control his anger as much as possible.
Anger was not something that represented the virtue of a true believing monk.
He tried as much as possible to contain his anger and restrain it as much as he could