Fifth time. This was already the fifth time that August won against me.
No one could beat me at chess, even my parents who taught me how to play this never beat me again. Frustrated, I unconsciously glared at him, forgetting that he was king.
"Are you sure this is your first time playing this game?"
August can't help himself anymore and chuckled softly looking at the board with a hint of amusement. "I assure you, Rina, it is indeed my first time playing chess. Though I must admit, I find myself quite captivated by the game."
Nerina can't believe what she's hearing and blinked in disbelief, watching Augustus chuckle—a sound she hadn't expected from the man famously known as the Ice King. Her heart fluttered strangely, and she suddenly felt as though there were butterflies around him, softening his once intimidating presence.
"Am I… going blind?" she mumbled under her breath, feeling her cheeks grow warm.
Augustus raised an eyebrow, his usual expression surfaced as he leaned slightly forward. "Rina? Did you say something?"
Ahhh whatever! Shaking her head quickly, she tried to focus on the chessboard, "Let's continue the game until I finally beat you!"
For the whole night, they played round after round, but she never managed to beat him. Her determination was endearing, but as the night wore on, her eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment.
Eventually, while waiting for August to make his move, Nerina drifted off to sleep on the sofa.
Augustus noticed her head slowly nodding forward, and by the time he glanced up, she was sound asleep.
It was already the first light of dawn as August carefully lifted Nerina from the sofa, cradling her in his arms. She remained sound asleep, her breathing soft and steady. He gently placed her on the bed, ensuring not to disturb her peaceful slumber.
For a moment, he stood there, watching her, his expression softening as he observed the peaceful look on her face. Then, with a quiet sigh, he turned and left the room, leaving her to rest as the day began.
It was already noon when I woke up, and the soft light streaming through the windows gently nudged me from my slumber. I stretched, still groggy from the long night. Eliana was standing nearby, a bright smile on her face, but I was too sleepy to ask her why she seemed so happy.
Rubbing my eyes, I mumbled, "Why didn't you wake me up earlier, Eliana?"
"You seemed so tired, Your Highness," she replied cheerfully. "I thought you deserved the rest after last night."
Still feeling the remnants of sleep, I simply nodded, unsure of what she meant but too drowsy to press further.
That night, Augustus entered my room once more, a wooden board game tucked under his arm. He seemed more relaxed, a small smile playing on his lips as he approached.
"I brought something different tonight," he said, setting the game on the table. "This is a popular game from Nokturna. I thought you might enjoy trying it."
Curiosity piqued, I nodded eagerly. "I'm interested. What's it called?"
"It's called Stratega," he explained as he began setting up the pieces. "It's a game of tactics and strategy, not too different from your chess."
Intrigued, I sat across from him, my competitive spirit awakening. "Alright then, let's see how it plays."
And so, we dove into the game, each move engaging my mind more and more. Augustus was skilled, his sharp mind evident in every decision he made, but I was determined to keep up. The room filled with quiet concentration as we battled in this new game, and I found myself enjoying it far more than I expected.
This went on every night. We alternated between playing Chess and Stratega, but no matter how hard I tried, I could never manage to beat Augustus. Each night, he would win with ease, his expression calm, though I could swear I caught glimpses of amusement in his eyes.
I would glare at the board in frustration after every game. "I've never lost this much in my life! The board gods must favor you more than me."
August chuckled softly, which was becoming a familiar sound in our late-night games. "Perhaps. Or maybe you're the one who needs more practice, Rina?"
I pouted, though I couldn't help but laugh along. It was strange how comfortable these moments had become.
That night, word had begun to spread throughout the castle and beyond: rumors that the Emperor, the feared and stoic Ice King, was madly in love with his Empress.
I dismissed the idea, finding it almost laughable. Augustus, madly in love with me? It seemed absurd. He was always so composed, his emotions carefully guarded, and yet the whispers were persistent. The servants exchanged knowing smiles, and even Eliana couldn't hide her amusement as she helped me get ready for the evening.
"They're saying His Majesty looks at you differently," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she combed my hair. "As if you've melted the Ice King's heart."
I blushed, waving her off. "Don't be ridiculous, Eliana. We're just… spending time together, that's all."
But deep down, I couldn't deny that things had changed between us. Augustus had softened around me, and there was a warmth in his gaze that wasn't there before. Could there really be some truth to the rumors? I shook my head, determined to focus on the game for the night. However, my mind kept drifting back to the possibility, and I found myself stealing glances at Augustus as he calmly moved his chess pieces.
'Is the Ice King truly falling for me?'