Lake Lysoria, West Elysvarre
Twilight cast its enchanting glow, a week after Sheena's fateful night that bound her to Fitran.
The golden-orange sky painted a magical atmosphere, as if the sun's brush gently caressed the surface of both water and land. Gentle waves reflected the twilight light like a softly cracked glass surface, enhancing the charm of the serene dusk. Small birds flitted through the air, returning to their nests, creating an idyllic backdrop. The refreshing aroma of foliage and water brought calm relief to those present.
On the simple wooden dock, a small boat awaited; not a royal ship with grand designs, nor a mysterious enchanted vessel, but merely a modest rowing boat sufficient for two.
Fitran stood at the edge of the dock, dressed in a dark blue shirt without insignia, soft leather trousers, and lightweight shoes. His hair was tied back with a small black ribbon.
Sheena emerged from the flowering path, her simple yet elegant white dress swaying softly, while her golden hair cascaded, adorned with a violet ribbon. Behind her smile lay a churning turmoil; the weight of her destiny as a princess felt heavier, yearning for the freedom enjoyed by an ordinary woman.
Her violet eyes conveyed a blend of questioning—and suspicion. Deep within her heart, there was an urge to embrace this moment, yet a whisper within cautioned her about the inescapable responsibilities that loomed ahead.
"What is all this for?" she asked softly, her gentle voice carried away by the wind.
Fitran smiled gently.
"It's not about politics, the will of the world, or the assembly of leaders."
He reached out his hand, offering an escape from her reality.
"It's just... a date—an opportunity for us to escape our realities, if only for a little while."
Sheena stood frozen for a moment, her heart racing. She wanted to say yes and take the time, but her mind was ensnared by responsibilities, agonizing over the fragile balance between love and the obligations that always bound her.
"I don't need a date. I just need you by my side," she confessed, diverting her gaze, even though her eyes revealed a deep longing.
Fitran held her fingers. Warm. Firm. Gently, he leaned closer, his face reflecting a sincerity that was hard to resist. It felt as if his voice pierced through the walls of rigidity she had built.
As their fingers intertwined, a wave of relief flowed within her. Here, she could be just as she was—a woman longing for love. Was there room in their demanding world for such simple happiness?
"And I will be by your side. But today... I want us to be like before."
"Before obligations, before war, before the concept of magic."
"Just you and me. Ordinary people."
Sheena gazed at him for a long time, a profound longing filling her chest as she reminisced about their previously shared moments, free from the burdens that entwined them. She struggled against the roles that sought to bind her; as a princess, she was expected to wield power, yet beneath the crown, her heart yearned for love that was genuine, unconditional, and real. After a gentle nod, she felt that the peace of the moment was a fragile thread within her.
They climbed into the boat.
Fitran rowed slowly, each stroke rhythmic and deliberate, the sound of water parting creating a natural melody akin to a soothing lullaby.
The Lysoria Lake mirrored the twilight's light, slowly transforming into a soft purple hue that seemingly echoed her innermost feelings. Sheena felt the wind brush against her face, offering an illusion of freedom, yet shadows of responsibility lingered in her mind, a constant reminder of her duties that awaited her. Each of Fitran's movements seemed to dance in rhythm with her heart, stirring in her the profound realization of how much she loved this man—a protector, not merely a king to his people.
Sheena sat at the edge of the boat, her dress billowing in the wind.
Her gaze was soft, yet her violet eyes still held shadows of a strong will, hinting at her internal struggle. She felt torn between her duty to lead her country and her desire to love genuinely. "Is what I want so wrong?" her mind questioned as her fingers brushed the edge of the boat, as if trying to reach for something deeper than what was merely visible on the surface of her responsibilities.
"Why are you doing this?" she whispered, her voice nearly drowned out by the gentle flow of water, yet the essence of her question soared high, filled with both hope and vulnerability, showcasing the intricate dance of her emotions.
Fitran looked at her, a slight impish smile on his face. That smile—a glimmer of hope, an escape from the burdens he had long borne.
"Because I am a dangerous man."
Sheena furrowed her brows. "Dangerous?" Although she tried to sound skeptical, her heart raced with every word spoken by Fitran, pulling her closer to the reality that this love was a violation of all the rules set before her.
Fitran nodded, his eyes gleaming with intensity. That confession warmed the compassion hidden within Sheena, offering a glimpse into the soul of the man who dared to approach her despite the significant risks that loomed over them, a testament to the way love often defied logic.
"Because I know that behind all the desires, all the magic, all the sacrifices... you remain a woman who wants to be loved. Cherished. Pampered."
Sheena looked down, her cheeks flushing warmly at the thought. Within her heart boiled an extraordinary turmoil. As a princess, every decision she made always carried heavy consequences that weighed upon her shoulders. Yet in this very moment, she simply craved to be an ordinary woman experiencing love with unrelenting joy.
"You... always know how to leave me speechless," she thought, hiding her worries behind a smile, aware that these feelings could very well be her Achilles' heel.
Fitran moved a little closer, pausing his rowing to allow for a moment of silence.
The boat floated motionless in the middle of the lake, creating a serene setting. Sheena found herself captivated solely by Fitran's gaze, which delighted her more than words could convey. It felt as if time had momentarily ceased, yet simultaneously, the nagging voice of her obligations as a princess whispered that she needed to exercise caution.
"Because I learned the most dangerous desire in the world."
Sheena lifted her head. "What is that?" Her curiosity overwhelmed all the anxiety within her.
"A woman's heart."
Fitran picked up a small flower that had fallen into the boat—a mini purple rose. He tucked it into Sheena's hair, his heart vibrating at the soft touch. Was she ready to open her heart? Could she dismiss her status, even for just a moment?
She realized that every second beside Fitran was an escape from the world outside. She longed for these moments, but the fear of losing control over her life haunted her.
"You know, I've learned various kinds of magic—from Fire Bolt to Resol Sanctis," Fitran continued, his eyes mischievously squinting. Sheena felt her heart racing with excitement; her responsibilities demanded sacrifice, yet her heart longed for simple yet meaningful happiness.
Sheena nodded, trying to focus, but her thoughts oscillated between longing and duty. She remembered the promises she had to uphold as a princess, but her heart screamed to challenge those norms, yearning to experience true love.
Unaware of Sheena's gaze filled with admiration, Fitran continued, revealing his own struggle between the weight of responsibility and the desire for joy in simplicity.
"But there is no magic that can compare to this singular truth I am about to share."
"What?" Sheena whispered, her voice barely audible, yet her heart trembled with hope.
Fitran leaned down to her ear, enveloped by the fragrance of the mini roses he planted the night before.
Gently, Fitran whispered in her ear, "I cannot live without you." The feelings he expressed arose from the depths of his heart, igniting a new hope within Sheena.
Sheena was stunned, her breath caught in her throat as she pondered the heavy role that often made her forget her own desires. In an instant, all doubts and fears intertwined with a burning longing.
And the Willcraft glyph he had instilled in Fitran that night... began to vibrate.
Not because of magic.
But because her emotions resonated. She felt as if two worlds were conflicting within her: one that made her a leader and another that wished for her to be a woman in love.
"Fitran... you are truly cruel," Sheena said, gently touching her lips, trying to hide a smile that was hard to contain.
Fitran smiled, their eyes meeting and seemingly conveying a multitude of unspoken thoughts. He understood the heavy burden Sheena carried, but her heartbeat challenged every doubt.
"You were the one who said you didn't want me to let go. I just wanted to make sure you didn't want to leave either," he replied, gently reaching out to touch Sheena's face, dispelling the doubt in her eyes.
The night breeze began to descend, brushing softly against his skin like a comforting embrace. Fitran removed his blue coat and draped it over Sheena's shoulders, a simple act that added warmth to his heart, which was fraught with uncertainty.
His words, filled with gentle hope, made Sheena reflect on every challenge they had traversed together and all that she might need to sacrifice in the name of love.
Sheena gazed at the fabric with nostalgia, her mind drifting back to the moments when she sat in the park, surrounded by immense hopes and dreams. "This is the coat you wore when we first met in the park," she recalled, remembering that significant moment.
Fitran nodded. "I kept it. Because I knew, in the end, I would drape it around you."
Sheena clutched the fabric tightly, its weight in her hands reminiscent of all the hopes she bore. Memories flowed through her mind like a river that never recedes.
"Why are you always like this?" Her heart trembled between gratitude and guilt, torn between her responsibilities as a princess and her desires as a woman yearning for love in a world that often feels unforgiving.
"What do you mean?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Fitran cupped her face, his thumb gently touching Sheena's chin, instilling calm amidst the surging emotions. She felt a tremor within her as her gaze met Fitran's confident eyes.
"Because for me, the highest will is not the freedom of the world."
"But your freedom to love me." Each word added weight to her emotional spectrum; she longed for that love but feared its consequences.
In that silent moment, Sheena contemplated the two distinctive sides of her life, desperately endeavoring to reconcile the heavy mantle of her destiny as a princess with her inner need to be both loved and to love in return. What would happen if everything fell apart? She bit her lip, attempting to dispel the anxiety enveloping her heart, grappling with the question of whether the sacrifices demanded by duty were indeed justifiable in light of the price she was paying.
Above them, stars began to appear one by one, creating a mesmerizing tapestry in the sky. Sheena gazed at Fitran, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, torn between her duty as a princess and her longing as a woman who craved love. "Fitran..."
Sheena felt as if she were trapped between two conflicting worlds. The blazing love within her pushed her to defy all rules, yet her responsibilities pulled her back, constraining her freedom. "Yes?"
"What if... what if I lose my sanity from loving you too deeply... will you leave me?" Her question came out in a desperate tone, reflecting her deepest fears. She bit her lower lip, trying to hold back the tears that seemed ready to fall, even as a small smile still graced her face.
Fitran replied without hesitation. "I will love you even if your sanity is lost."
"Because I do not love your intellect; I cherish the essence of your heart," Fitran answered, instilling a deep sense of connection within her.
She took a short breath, finding solace in the warmth of his words. Her tears fell, but a smile appeared on her lips as she felt a slight relief at Fitran's unwavering response, her heart racing as she sensed a new hope emerging in the midst of her confusion. She wrapped her arms around Fitran's neck, feeling the tension in his body begin to ease, and kissed his lips under the first star of the night, sealing a silent promise between them.
A kiss unbound by Pactum. Unbound by the will of the world. Just two hearts. In that kiss, Sheena felt all the burdens she had been carrying momentarily disappear, granting her the freedom she had long sought.
After the kiss, Sheena whispered into Fitran's ear:
"Then... I will love you even more crazily."
"Not because of magical will."
"But because you taught me that this obsession... is my right as a woman."
Behind her mischievous smile lay a cacophony of doubts pounding in her heart. Sheena felt trapped between her responsibilities as a future queen and the freedom she experienced while being with him. She should have never gotten this involved, yet love had transformed everything she knew.
Fitran chuckled softly, his gentle sound amidst the pain they endured, showing that even behind all the seriousness, there was still room for happiness.
Fitran said, his smile half-playful, "but that's what makes it all the more impossible for me to walk away." Each word bore weighty honesty and strength, compellingly touching upon their deepest feelings.
Sheena replied with a mischievous smile, but the glimmer in her eyes hinted at her inner turmoil. She tightened her grip on Fitran's hand, feeling his presence as though he were an anchor in the midst of her emotional storm.
"Or I'll plant a glyph on your foot so you can't walk out of the palace."
Deep down, Sheena desired more than just this fleeting feeling. She longed for a life where love and duty did not clash; this small moment pulsed with her hope, revealing another side of herself that remained hidden.
"Alright. The princess's promise is steadfast in its own right."
"Not a princess," Sheena whispered, her expression serious as she realized that her role could shackle her desires.
"Wife," Sheena replied seriously, her tone firm, acutely aware that her role could restrain her desires and shape her future.
As the boat returned to the dock, Sheena tightly held Fitran's hand while they walked beneath the drooping willow trees. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her tumultuous heart, realizing that at least for now, she could live like this, enveloped in genuine love.
No magic. No glyphs. Just two hearts willingly intertwined against the uncertain tides of fate—their commitment creating an unyielding bond they were both ready to fight for.
Just fingers intertwined against the uncertain tides of fate, creating an unbreakable bond that they were willing to fight for.
A love that transcends reason.
But also a love they have chosen together.