Once Upon an Obsession

Startled, she turned to face him, her eyes wide with a mixture of apprehension and sadness. “Cethian,” she responded softly, her voice tinged with the sorrow of her people’s plight. “What is it?” He closed the distance between them, his eyes never leaving hers. “The war is tearing our worlds apart,” he said, his tone as cold and precise as the strategy forming in his mind. “But there is a way to end the suffering and bring about a lasting peace.” Airi’s eyes filled with tears, her heart breaking at the thought of the destruction already wrought. “How?” she whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of her grief. “How can we stop this?” Cethian’s gaze intensified, his emotions a volatile mix of cold logic and burning obsession. “Marry me,” he said, each word a command that brooked no refusal. “Marry me, and I will end this war. Our union will bring peace to our kingdoms and secure the future for both our peoples.” Airi’s breath hitched, her mind reeling from the impact of his words. “Marry you?” she echoed, struggling to comprehend the gravity of his proposal. “But… why? Why would you…” He stepped closer, his gaze piercing into her soul, filled with a dark, possessive hunger. “Because I love you,” he said, his voice both a whisper and a declaration. “But my love is not the gentle, romantic kind you dream of. It is fierce, consuming, and I will do whatever it takes to make you mine.” Airi’s eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding as she tried to process the intensity of his emotions. “Cethian, I…” He silenced her with a look, his expression hardening with determination. “This war is about power, yes, but for me, it is also about you. I want you, Airi. I have wanted you from the moment I saw you. Marrying you is not just a political maneuver; it is a necessity for my heart and soul. You are mine, and I will not let anything stand in the way of that.” Airi felt a shiver run down her spine, her mind torn between the desperation to save her people and the fear of becoming a pawn in his ruthless game. “But… what about my people? How can I trust you?” Cethian’s eyes softened slightly, though his resolve remained unshaken. “Trust is earned, Airi. And I will prove my devotion to you by ending this war, by saving your kingdom. Marry me, and I promise you will see that my love, twisted as it may seem, is unwavering and true. Together, we can shape a new future, one where our people thrive, and where you are by my side, as my queen.” She looked at him, her tears flowing freely now, her heart aching with the weight of his words. “You will marry me, Airi,” he repeated, his voice a blend of command and desperate longing. “Not because you are forced, but because it is the only way to bring peace and because, deep down, you know you belong with me.”