chapter 02: Unforgettable incident

Archie's POV

During this cozy night, lying on the soft bed all I should do is sleep peacefully but what I'm actually doing is looking at the sleeping beauty that's in front of my eyes. He looks handsome even when sleeping and I can't take my eyes off of him. I was pretending to sleep and when I realised he's into deep sleep, I turned to him and gently made him lie on his back. From then on, my eyes are fixed on him. It might have been few hours but I don't want to sleep yet because that would mean the time I have with him would reduce. And in no way I want that to happen. It's like a God given chance seeing how desparate I'm for kian and I don't want to waste even a single second.

I loved Kian the first time I saw him. It was like five years back when he, along with his father came to our kingdom.

I was in my room painting some figures on the canvas which was at the huge window. I was stuck at what to draw next and thinking of what would fit my figure. In that process, I happen to take a glance out of the window and that was when I saw him. He looked too good in his dark blue Prince dress and I couldn't avert my eyes from him.

The moment my eyes saw him, my heart skipped a beat and my whole body shivered. I liked him from the first glance and I couldn't stop even if I wanted. As I was too into observing him, I didn't see which way he walked off. Dropping the paint brush onto the floor, I left my room and ran towards the king's chamber as that was where people who visit us for the first time will be escorted.

After reaching the chamber, I stopped myself and stood behind the back window seeing my parents and the person that came along with him started talking. I didn't want to interrupt them and I could clearly see him from where I was standing so I choose to stay there. My ears went deaf as I didn't even bother to listen to what they were talking because all I did was stare at his beautiful face. Why is he so handsome? All throughout my life I have never seen anyone this looking good.

It was like God took his extra time to create something this beautiful. And the way he sat on his chair was so effortless and graceful. In all my life I never wanted anyone or anything but that moment I prayed with my whole heart that he would be mine and that thought alone made me smile. However, the words spoken by my father the next second made me lose my breath.

"Thank you for accepting our offer and agreeing to marry our one and only daughter." My father says to which the other person, who I assume is the prince's father nods.

"It's our pleasure. I have heard how great your children are. I know our kingdoms together will be stronger than one could think off." The king replies with a smile.

That conversation of them broke me and my heart. Even then, I followed him again when they were going to leave. From a far distance, I saw how he was looking at my sister with a hint of hope in his eyes and that was when my world crumbled.

After that, I never looked up at him whenever he came to visit our kingdom because when I see him all I think is wanting him for myself. And that want would only increase if I looked at him. So I decided I'd maintain my distance from him. I never introduce myself to him and I know very well my family wouldn't even bother to tell him anything about me. So it was no surprise when he asked my name.

After every struggle I went through to stay away from him and to forget about him, my father suddenly ordered me I should be the one marrying him and not my sister for the reasons I don't know. I'd say I was shocked, who wouldn't when they were all of a sudden asked to marry their sister's groom? But that shock and thoughts of what would happen to my sister lasted only for few seconds as I eagerly agreed to my father.

I didn't have choice as well, if I wouldn't agree, he would force me but he didn't need to because the one he's asking me to marry is the only person I have ever loved. I was on cloud nine and been happier than I have ever been in my whole life. After that day, everything happened in a blur and now we're already married and he became my husband.

The dejected emotion on his face I saw when we walked to the elders together for the rituals made me realise how he doesn't want to marry me or simply any person that's not my sister. I may not understand how it feels to marry a stranger and not the woman he was told to five years ago. But I can understand that he is sad for not able to marry my sister and not okay with marrying me.

So, when he said we should just pretend and part our ways at the right time, it wasn't shocking to me to the least. I'm happy that I'd atleast get few days to be with him and to wholeheartedly call him my husband. Even if he would never accept me as his better half, I'll always do. He will be my only love till my last breath. As I leave when I time comes, I'll still live with his memories. All these thoughts somehow made me sleepy and eventually I felt asleep.

Little sounds wake me up from my sleep and slowly I open my eyes to see what's the commotion about. The other side of the bed is empty and I frown as I think why did Kian leave so early.

"Sorry to disturb you while sleeping. Apologises, my queen." The lady who seems like in her early forties apologizes as I sit up in the bed.

"Is it okay to call me as queen?" I ask even though I woke up just now the way she addressed me surprised me.

Honestly, it's not like I don't like to be called as queen or I'm embarassed by that name. Infact, it made me shy slightly and I feel overwhelmed to be Kian's queen but I just want to know why as I'm curious.

"You married the king, so I thought that's how we should address you. The person who marries the king will always be called queen. It's like our tradition in here and also either the previous king or queen told us anything about it. So we all assume it would be queen. But if you don't like it, I won't address you as queen anymore." She says as if she read my mind.

"That's fine. You can call me queen." I tell her after thinking for a minute, if others had no issues then I don't have any as well.

"As you like, my queen. Also, I'll be your personal guard to take care of you. Any needs of yours will be accomplished by me." She bows her head, "would you like me to prepare a bathe for you?"

She asks and I nod at her. As she goes to leave to prepare the bathe, I stop her to ask about Kian, "where did the king go?"

"The king had to attend a meeting. He told me to inform you to get ready when you wake up." She says and leaves after I nod at her.

I yawn as I look around the room in search of a clock. At the other corner wall of the room, I find one. It looks like an antic one. Like something we wouldn't get even if we try to find. My eyes widen when I focus on the time that reads as ten o'clock. I slept till ten? I usually get up by six, how did I even sleep for this long? It must be because of me sleeping late last night. Climbing down the bed, I hurriedly leave the room and walk to the bathe area. When I reach, I see the lady has already prepared a bathe for me.

"Have a bathe, my queen. In the mean time, I'll pick your clothes and make other arrangements." After saying that she gets ready to leave.

"Wait!" I stop her, "what is your name?" I ask because she said she's going to be my guard from now on so I want to know her name.

"Rema, my name's Rema." She answers with a smile and then leaves when I smile back at her.

I take off my clothes and get into the huge bathtub in which the water is filled with sandalwood fragrance. When my body merges into the water, I sigh in relaxation. Few minutes of spending the time in it, I scrub my body of dirt and clean myself. Getting up from the tub, I step down and pull the long towel that's lying on the towel holder. I dry the water with it before wrapping it around my body and leaving the place.

Walking into our room, I see the clothes that are already placed on the dressing holder. Grabbing the first layer cloth, I remove my towel letting it fall onto the floor. And suddenly the front door to our room opens showing Kian and in the shock I let go of the piece of garment I'm holding. His eyes widen seeing me naked and I must look like a tomato with how shy I'm feeling.

"I-I'm sorry, I'll come back later." He shutters before leaving and closing the door behind him.

I stay rooted where I'm stunned by the incident. Maybe a minute later or so, I come out of my daze and put on the clothes hurriedly. When I'm totally done, I make my way towards the door to meet Kian because Rema said Kian told me to get ready. Just I go to open the door, I hear a knock from outside and open it to see Kian standing there with his face flustered alittle and that causes me to turn red. I might not forget this incident anytime soon and he seems the same as me as it keeps popping up in our minds wherever we face eachother.

"Um, are you ready?" He questions.

"Yes." I reply in return.

"My father asked us to meet together but because you were still sleeping when I left, I asked Rema to pass the message." He says, "let's go now."

With that he turns around and starts walking, I follow his lead. After a step or two, Rema stops me, "my queen, you didn't eat anything yet."

Kian looks around and asks while glancing at me, "you didn't eat breakfast?" And I shake my head no.

"Eat first, we'll leave later." He states and nods at rema.

She then leaves and Kian asks me to get into our room again. We enter inside and I sit on the chair at the tea table while he walks to the giant window as he looks outside. Rema comes back sometime later with a trolley of food with many varieties. Filling a plate of almost all the varieties available, she hands it to me.

"Because it's your first day today she brought the food here. But remember, from tomorrow onwards, you'll have to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the table along with me and my parents." Kian says still looking out of the window.

"Okay." I mumble and start eating my food while Rema looks at me with a fond smile which brings a smile on my face instantly. I eat as I dread about what Kian's father is going to say.