"So that's who bewitched my brother!" — an elegant tall girl in a long silk dress of gray-pink tints entered the living room and smiled coquettishly, taking off her hat.
Ray stared at her in confusion, noticing the resemblance to Arlow: the same strawberry blond hair and sly smile.
"Ninel!" - She extended her hand to him in greeting.
"Nice to meet you, princess! I am Ray!"
"How pretty you are! Where did he find you?"
"Mmm… You probably don't know about this small town in the southern continent. It's Bertau!"
"And how do you like our cold lands? Will you live here in the palace? - the charmer bombarded with questions.
"A freeze climate! Arlow does not intend to stay long. We will travel somewhere again."
"You look so young! And how do your parents feel about your relationship?"
"They don't know and I don't think they will be happy for me ..."
"Arlow kidnapped you, didn't he?"
"I myself agreed to work for him, but then it turned out that he needed not a servant, but a lover."
"It's his style. When he returned in his youth after escaping, he tried to have affairs with guys, which greatly annoyed not only our parents. These were difficult times: society is not loyal to such deviations, especially when it comes to the royal family…"
"Is this a rare case?"
"Not rare, this is carefully hidden, but the brother's behavior as an open gay has hit our reputation hard. Therefore, Arlow purchased a merchant ship, went into business and sailed to seek his fortune overseas, intending to find himself a life partner. More than ten years have passed ... And here you are, his chosen one!"
"I… actually had no intention of getting married, and only yesterday I was shocked to learn that Arlow is the crown prince of the Northern Continent…"
"One of them, there are quite a few descendants. I am married and have two children. So we are not offended that the brother will not have blood heirs."
After a long sweet conversation, Arlow showed up, pressing Ray from his back to him.
"Well, sis, how do you like my husband?"
"Ah, I expected that someday you would bring a graceful youth, but not a so young. How not to be ashamed to seduce him?"
"What to do, I didn't want to wait more. He could have been taken away..."
Ninel, after talking a little, left them alone.
"She liked you, - Arlow purred, tightening his embrace. - One of fine days, I will host a party and introduce you to society."
"U-um... - Ray drawled absentmindedly. - Is this necessary? Ninel said that such relationships are condemned. Why expose yourself to people in such a shadow?"
"Are you embarrassed of me?"
"No, I love you…"
Arlow turned him towards him and looked into his eyes with passion.
"And when did this happen?"
"What!?"
"Your love for me..."
"Probably as soon as I saw… on the pier… our eyes met… your face was in amazement, as if you saw something awesome…"
"Just now decided to confess? And I felt guilty that I had seduced you ... I kissed your lips, and you dutifully accepted everything ..."
"… was fascinated by you... and shocked by your pressure... Give me your ring!"
Arlow breathed excitedly and took the jewel out of his pocket.
The diamond ring sparkled in the sunlight with rainbow tints.
"I... wish to bond our union, my beloved... Prince Arlow!"
Ray's voice and fingers trembled as he placed the ring on finger of his beloved.
"My angel... thank you for choosing me again..."
"Again!?" — Ray was taken aback, his eyes wide open.
"My name was different and yours too, when we met for the first time in another world…" - the Prince of the North cryptically told. - And we fell in love..."
"Ah… how do you remember that?"
"You and me are immortal Essences of different spiritual origins. You are above me and I follow you, sliding into the worlds where you incarnate at the behest of your Owner."
"What the Owner?"
"The Lord of one Realm… he took away you from me when we lived together on my own planet."
"Did he take me by force? Maybe he's just creepy looking?"
"No, - the prince chuckled, shaking his head. - In the high dimension world, everyone is beautiful, and he is also powerful! Stronger than me ... but let's not talk about sad things. Sometimes he allows us to meet, but not about a sympathy, but for the sake of developing your emotionality."
"My head is about to explode… - Ray got nervous, grabbing his hands. - But I don't remember anything like that! Sounds like a fairy tale!"
"You are being deprived of your memory on purpose, but you will remember something when the moments come that bring what happened to you from the depths of your soul."
"Was it like that with you or do you remember something about yourself from birth?"
"No, such memories are caused by severe shocks on the verge of despair or death… but I don't want you to suffer from any kind of trouble. Just take my word for it until you feel during this mortal life through self-awareness that you are much more than a beautiful young man."
"It's... so amazing what you're talking about. How can I become free from that Owner?"