A few days have passed since Celia vanished. King Julius sent out a search team with no avail, meanwhile the princess has recovered fully along with her unborn child.
The event that took place that night hes been kept between Prince Xerxes and Prince Jackson. What exactly happened though is still a mystery to Xerxes. His brother in law refused to say a word of the contract, only admitting it was out of desperation.
The day Xerxes has to depart from his sister finally came and with tears and relief they said their goodbyes. The way back is longer and colder as his mind goes back to the confession Ceila spoke to him.
He knows that in the start him and Esmeray continued their relationships, minding their own. Although she has assured she has ended things on her side, he has his own secret, he never ended things with the young lady.
In fact he never wanted to, the excitement of seeing her in secret, of being wanted by two women uplifted his ego. Now, he is facing a challenge.
If Celia's predicament is right then that would mean one or both could be pregnant. If that is the case, their is no way of lying his way out of it. There could only one heir, but who would it be?
He knows he must speak with both to figure out if indeed one is pregnant.
Arriving to the entrance if the Estate he spots the commander a cigar in one hand and a bottle of rum in the other. Xerxes approaches his gaurd up "Commander " he calls out "I wasn't expecting to see you here, this late at night"
Zaiden doesn't bother showing interest "Please call me Zaiden your majesty. I heard about your sister. I hope she is will yes?"
"Yes. And you? It's late at night but here you are rum in hand" Zaiden smiles "Yeah, I guess so"
Xerxes looks for the words to speak, he doesn't want to seem as though he's accusing the commander but he can't help but question his presence. As if he knows what he's thinking Zaiden speaks "Don't worry, I am not here to see Esmeray. I simply can't " he expresses "Would you like a drink your majesty?" He extends his hand out shaking the rum.
Xerxes takes the bottle "Xerxes, just call me Xerxes " he adds before taking a sip. He spits out the drink is face contorts in disgust "You have a horrible taste my friend " he says handing back the drink.
Zaiden laughs "In drinks yeah maybe, in women..that's different. " the silence of the night is loud as he speaks those words. Xerxes frowns knowing what he means, he holds back his anger.
"Esmeray has been my first, my first crush, my first love. She became everything to me, my morning sun, my warmth in the winter, my breeze in the summer. She's my strength, my weakness too. "
Xerxes jaw clenches, he tries to keep his composure reminding himself how important Zaiden is to the military. "She's my wife you speak of, commander "
Zaiden giggles." Wife, one day I planned to marry her too. In fact I was in the process 9f proposing" he takes a beautiful rare Opal ring from his pocket. "She had sent word to me about the contract as I was out in training. I hoped that time was on my side, unfortunately it wasn't. The same day I came back, you two were walking down the aisle"
"Tell me Zaiden why didn't you speak to the king about it?"
"I had planned on marching with my army, a grand proposal, unfortunately due the distance of both kingdoms it became harder each time. Not to mention being sent away constantly, didn't help. "
"I see. So this whole time you've been seeing her, with no fear, even in my presence"
Zaiden takes a smoke, then a sip "I like the challenge. Even when It's clear I have lost" Xerxes takes note of his words "lost?"
"When I came for her sisters she had confirmed my fear, she wished to keep her distance as you two became closer. Although uncomfortable I didn't argue, after all she is a married women"
"Is that why you're standing outside of her estate drinking ?" Xerxes adds, looking back at the place he calls home.
Zaiden looks down at the almost empty bottle and ashes on the ground. "My mother passed away, a few days ago. I wasn't present, I wasn't there to see her green eyes one last time. " tears began to pour down his face "I-I lost everything to me. In all honesty I came here hoping to find comfort in her, to find myself lost in her warmth. Lost in her body, haha how pathetic "
"Watch your words commander, you might have been her first but I am her last. And I love her "
Zaiden laughs bitterly, shaking his head. "Love? You don't know the meaning of the word. You're just jealous that I got to her first."
Xerxes leans in, his face inches from Zaiden's. "Stay away from her," he warns. "Or you'll regret it."