Heavy Question

“You just returned from the frontlines, and your men wouldn’t ever forgive me if you got hurt on my watch.”

Leon’s laughter echoed off the walls, deep and throaty. He gave a single nod, his eyes crinkling in amusement. “I trust you with my life. But you may have a point.”

Elizabeth smiled as she added her thoughts to the conversation, her voice proud and her cheeks blushing with happiness. “Well, I’ve bought plenty of dresses for the ball tomorrow. This will be James and I’s first ball together as an engaged couple.” She leaned in closer and tenderly grabbed his hand. “And I can’t wait.”

“That reminds me.” Leon’s eyes roamed over Emelia’s face as he spoke. His throat felt like sandpaper, and his heart thundered so loud he was certain she could hear it. “Will you accompany me to the ball tomorrow?”

The entire room felt like it had been plunged into an icy abyss of silence. Emelia’s heart stopped as Leon uttered the words she thought would never cross his lips. She was rendered speechless, her mouth hanging agape. Elizabeth sprang up on her feet, clutching James’ arm tightly as if it were a lifeline. Her mind was already made up as soon as she spotted that handsome royal displaying his charisma in order to impress the girl sitting beside him. Not a moment was wasted as she immediately declared her approval of the scene unfolding before them. With a broad toothy grin and a mischievous wink, she quickly swept out of the room, her voice trailing behind her, “By the way, I totally give my permission for you to date this hunk of a king.”

Leon glanced awkwardly away, the tips of his ears and cheeks turning an embarrassed crimson. He barely mumbled, “I think she’s had too much wine,” before quickly averting his gaze.

Emelia’s lips curled into a barely-there smile as her gaze lingered on the closed door, grateful for the privacy it provided. “Maybe,” she whispered.

“So, will you?” He asked.

As Emelia nervously looked at the door, her eyes darting back and forth, she stuttered, “I don’t know.” She glanced at Leon, who was watching her with an unreadable gaze. His brows furrowed as she spoke slowly, “You understand what it would mean if we showed up together? The implications of that?”

“Yes,” he said without hesitation.

Emelia’s gaze lingered on her plate, her fork slowly playing with the peas as if they were tiny marbles. She sighed heavily before lifting her eyes to meet Leon’s. “I don’t know, Leon,” she said softly. “I’m not royalty or of noble blood. I’m just...” She trailed off, unable to find the right words, and her eyes fell back to her plate.

“I don’t care,” Leon’s stern voice interrupted Emelia’s self-pitying thoughts. She looked up from her plate of peas, surprised to see compassion in his gaze. “You’re all that I care about.” He reached out and brushed the back of his hand against her cheek. “Emelia,” he whispered,” I’ve fallen in love with you.” His voice was soft yet full of conviction, and her heart raced at the sound.

“You love me?” She felt her heart thudding against her ribs as she looked into his eyes. “Since when?”

“When you were here.” Leon’s face lit up with nostalgia as he stared into the distance. He slowly turned his gaze back to her and said, “I can never forget those six months we spent together here. It was the happiest time of my life.”

“But I annoyed you,” she said, her voice quavering. “You told me many times to go back to Cornea like I was a bothersome gnat buzzing around your face.”

Leon’s voice was tight with remorse as he spoke, his fingertips fidgeting as he hesitated before starting his sentence. “And yet you didn’t,” he said finally. “You stayed when you would have been justified in leaving from how I treated you. I was struggling with my parents’ death, and you showed me your heart and loyalty when you care for someone. It would have been easier for you to abandon me because my anger towards you was unfair.”

Emelia looked into Leon’s wet, red eyes and exhaled, her heart heavy with sorrow. The wrinkles on his forehead had deepened, betraying a deep anguish. “I knew you weren’t angry at me, Leon,” she said softly. “You had just lost your parents.”

“See...” he stared at her in disbelief, taken aback by her response. His eyes were brimming with emotion, and his voice cracked. “It wasn’t hard to fall for you. We’d been side-by-side for months, you caring for me as a friend and helping me become the ruler I was meant to be.” His hands trembled as he spoke. “I was going to tell you at your debut ball.”

The words hung in the air between them, and she could feel the tension as if it was a living, breathing thing. Her expression was heavy with sorrow and curiosity as she asked, “You were?” She twisted her fingers together, wondering what would have happened if he’d told her that night instead of leaving without a word. Would it have made a difference? Could he have spared her the heartache she went through with James? “Why didn’t you?”

He shook his head slowly and looked out the window. A lump formed in his throat as he articulately spoke, “I-I realized that James was in love with you too, and I didn’t want to stand in the way of that.”

“Wow,” She said, her voice trembling. He had taken a risk and put James ahead of himself, and this vulnerable gesture tugged at her heartstrings. “Leon, I still love him, and I don’t want you to feel like I’m using you….”

His face softened as he said, “I could never think that,” He reached out to take her free hand, holding it tenderly in his own. “Just answer me one question,” he looked into her eyes, imploringly asking, “Do you think you could ever love me the way you love him?”