45. Acknowledging His Feelings

**Chester**

I watched as her eyes widened. “Wow. That’s something I never knew.”

“It’s not something I like talking about. I don’t need everyone to know that I’m stupid.”

She giggled. “I hardly call that stupid. You were a kid and curious.”

“A little too curious, I would say.”

She bumped my arm with her elbow. “Don’t say that. You met a magical creature and survived to tell the tale. Not a lot of people can say the same.”

“I think you’re making it out to sound more amazing than it is.”

“That’s because it does sound amazing. Give yourself some credit! The last recorded fairy sighting was four decades ago, yet here you are telling me that you nearly went into their equivalent of a white van.”

I laughed and I couldn't control it. Something about the way she said it tickled my funny bones. ”Do you think the driver would take me back home if I asked nicely?”

“Good question. Maybe if you offered to throw the fairy a birthday party they’d drop you off at the next bus stop.”

I started laughing again and she laughed with me.

“If only things were that easy.”

Ester shrugged. “Nothing is impossible. My grandmother said that things only become impossible when you don’t even try.”

“That’s somewhat true. You seem to love your grandmother a lot.”

The smile on her face dimmed. Her expression turned somewhat sour. Her eyes were downcast, focused on the plate in her hands.

“I do love her,” she said gingerly, her voice becoming lower than her knees. “She’s like a second mother to me. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without her. It’s been a while since I’ve last seen her.”

Remembering what Amanda said to me regarding the broken photo frame, I frowned. My smile resurfaced when she looked at me.

I gave her a suggestion. “Then why don’t we take a trip to your grandmother some time before the wedding? I’m sure she would be happy to see you.”

“We? As in you and me?”

“Precisely. I already know other members of your family, but I’ve never seen the old mistress of the Hermonia household. This would be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other. Maybe she can give me some advice on how to be a leader. You’re never too old to learn.”

Ester jokingly rolled her eyes. “You’re not old at all, Chester. You’re a strong and healthy *and* handsome man. Don’t put yourself down like that. Also, I like that idea. I’m sure she would love to meet you too.”

The mind is a funny thing. It generated an image of Ester and I standing side by side outside on her grandmother’s front porch as her grandmother shakes my hand. In the fantasy, My left hand was around Ester’s shoulders and she leaned into me with a giant grin. We were both wearing fancy white clothes.

No, no, no! I realized that that looked and fanned the fantasy away. Just an image didn’t make sense. It was as if The both of us were newlyweds visiting our family for one last time before going home to pack for our honeymoon.

We stood in silence. Ester must of thought I’ve chosen not to reply and proceeded to pick up another card to read it

In actuality, I was struck with a reality that was too absurd to be true.

I didn’t hate it. I should have had more of a negative reaction to an intrusive thought of me marrying my daughter in law, but i didn’t

I felt… joy. A strange kind of joy that felt foreign. The only thing I could compare it to was when I came home after a long day and sunk into the soft, cool sheets on my bed. It’s a feeling that nothing else could replace.

Why? Why wasn’t I more repulsed?

“I think that’s enough sweets for now. I need to wash off my tongue. Did you bring water with you?” Ester asked the chefs.

Millie smiled, assured her that she did, and offered to get her some water from their water dispenser.

“Do you need any, Chester?”

I blinked several times to gather myself before I responded. “Yes! Sure… I’ll be right here when you come back.”

When she smiled at me, I noticed that the corners of her lips pushed her cheeks up, making her eyes appear slim. And oh Scepter, her smile.

The issue was staring me right in the face, and so was the answer.

I didn’t want it to be real. Then I felt bad because I knew that the only reason I didn’t want it to be real was because a part of me knew it shouldn’t happen. What kind of father would that make me if the only thing stopping me from acknowledging and acting on my feelings was my moral compass?

Feelings…

Those are what I have for her, aren’t they?

The reason something stirs inside me when I’m in her presence.

The reason why I’m always so tempted to reach out to her.

The reason why I have to stop, freeze and stare when she passes by.

It’s not that I like her or anything as simple as that.

My feelings are stronger than I suspected.

And I’m scared to put a name to it. Knowing that it has the ability to destroy the relationships I hold dear is frightful.

_______

**Sirius**

“That’s what he said. I hope it isn’t a problem,” I said.

The other ministers present stared at me without saying a word. Some of them shared looks.

The minister of trade cleared his throat. “I can understand what his Majesty is thinking in regards to the new ships,l but i can’t understand why he wants to pull back funding for the agriculture and emergency supplies in the cause of a disaster, especially since what happened at Tetherfield County.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Adam crush one of the papers from his file in his hand. I had to stop myself from smirking.

“I think Father is trying to be more cautious about what’s most important,” I said with a smile. “But I also agree with your point. Being that as it may, would you like to hear the budget proposal that I’ve prepared? I believe it might solve most of our problems but present and upcoming.”

I opened my briefcase and pulled out the folder with my father’s name on it. Because of where I sat, no one in the boardroom could read the writing on the cover. In it was my father’s request for the agriculture budget to be increased and for extra money to be put aside in case of an emergency in regards to unpredictable disasters. I smiled.

“I only ask for you to listen. If you agree, I’ll do what I can to make sure King Chester approves it.”