Another World

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Elton's POV

Ever since we became friends since we were kids, I have always seen her differently. She's more than a friend to me, and I wanted her to be my wife someday and make a lot of wonderful memories with her. 

Sometimes, I watched her ride her horse for the first time, eyeball her first arrow, even the first time she danced. It was the wonderful stalking; father always says that stalking Lady Devina wouldn't make me a man. It will make me a coward who always hides in the bush.

"Tomorrow is a big day for Lady Devina." Mother just came home from the Land of Ashailia.

"Why, mother?" I rested my chin on my mother's thigh.

"Well," she caresses my hair. "She'll be the first-ever Royalty to volunteer in a charity. She'll be teaching village kids how to dance." My eyes were sparkling as my mother told me how great Lady Devina was.

"Wow, that's a nice mother! But when will she come back?" My mother chuckled.

"I don't know, but maybe a week or two. She'll be doing it for the rest of her life. Because joining in that charity means giving your life to it." I nodded my head and stood up.

I ran towards the big window in my mother's bedroom. An 8-year-old was fantasizing about his ultimate love. 

But things happened...

The war came, and the barbarians attacked our land. We weren't ready, and nobody knew about the barbarians attacking. I was a mere child when I heard flesh getting ripped because of their sharp axes. We lost many men; we lost land, but we were determined to rebuild it and take it back from them. But the thing that broke my heart is, I lost my mom, and my father lost his woman.

"I should've known!" Another glass has fallen.

"I should've protected your mom instead!" I am underneath the dining table, where I am silently crying. It breaks my heart to see my father blaming himself for the death of my mother.

My mother was brave. She protected us at all costs. Knowing that she'll be losing us. I was a mere child, not knowing how to fight. Crying in the corner, asking heaven why did they take my mother? They could've chosen another person, but why my her?

That's why when I reached the right age, I tried learning how to fight back. How to hold a sword and how it works. I even taught myself archery while my father was busy.

The second war came, and they attacked the Kingdom of Ashailia. Where the woman I love lives. The barbarians kidnapped her and molested her. It took us barely a month before we got a letter from the village that a woman with colored brown hair was lying on the ground with her clothes ripped. 

"The guards came back from Lady Devina's kingdom. They found a letter that should have been sent to me." I looked down at his hand, where A golden ribbon tied a roll of paper.

"But that's unusual," I stated while pointing at the rolled paper. He sighed before answering.

"The golden ribbon represents an offer for marriage." My heart pounded as my father untied the knot.

Dear King Neidus,

I know it's strange that at this time of war I am sending you a letter. We lost land from High hills where my villager's crops are produced. I am feeling bothered about losing everything and give nothing to my daughter. I am asking for your cooperation wherein I want my daughter to marry your son, Prince Elton, and help us rebuild our Kingdom.

King Nikolav

"Does Lady Devina know?" I asked.

Father shook his head.

"I will help them, Elton, but fate became playful. Like what your mother says: The Earth is round." He placed the roll of paper on his table and massaged his temples.

"Where is she, father?" I asked nervously.

"She's being fetched by the guards now. Pretend that we'll have her in questioning." Father let out a deep sigh.

"I'll follow them. They are not aware that it is a Lady that they're fetching. I'll be right back, Father." I quickly went out of the castle and called my horse, Peggy.

She was on the ground when I saw her. She's wearing unusual clothes. Her bare skin was showing, which made me angry. And her brunette hair was a mess, and her hair looked like a bird's nest with small branches and leaves. The barbarians turned her into a pig. So, I shooed the guards away and took her to the castle myself.

After she woke up, she was reticent. It felt like we were eating with a ghost because she was only listening. I couldn't tell her that her father had sent us a message about us getting married.

I feel like she's not ready yet. I couldn't sleep that night that I decided to go for a walk. That's when I saw her standing in front of a huge window in front of her room.

"Are you okay?" I whispered.

She gulped. "No, my mom's going to kill me."

"Mom?" I tilted my head to the side.

"My mother," She whispered.

Maybe she still doesn't know. What have they done to her? A rush of anger and guilt enveloped me. I am such a fool that she'll still remember a bit of her past after being abused for so many weeks.

I could've helped her. I can't make the same mistake twice. I had already lost my mother, and I could not afford to lose her. Not now, not this time.

"This is awful news, father; we must help the Kingdom of Norbus." The poorest Land, they are beneath us. 

"We have little guards, Elton." My father seemed too stressed. His hair is turning white.

"Why don't we ask the villagers?" I walked towards my father, whose head was resting on the table.

"I don't want to bother them, plus we can't lose a man. I don't want to intrude." The Kingdom of Norbus is one of our trusty partners. 

"Then what do we do?" 

My father stood up and went to the window. "Call out for Ravina. We must ask her for help." I nodded my head at him and ordered the guards to send a letter to Ravina.

The barbarians unexpectedly attacked the Kingdom of Norbus. They weren't ready as we were before. Norbus is the smallest Kingdom of all.

Ravina had been loyal to us. She never had a family. We met her when we went to the Kingdom of Ashailia. She was just a child back then. The good sorcerers raised her in the village. 

"King Neidus, you're looking for me?" Ravina walked inside the throne room wearing her coppery red robe.

"We need your help, Ravina." I looked at my father, who was exhausted.

"Anything for you, King Neidus." She kneeled. "What do you need?"

Ravina went back to her house. Father had asked Ravina to look out for the barbarians and where is their next lead. I went back to the garden, knowing that Devina would be there wandering around.

"Lady Devina." She turned to me. 

"Hmm?" She answered. I noticed that she was holding an unusual flower.

I walked towards her and held her waist. "What's that?" Referring to the flower, she's holding.

"It's called Camellia." My forehead creased.

"Camellia? I have never heard of that flower." She chuckled and turned around to look for another flower.

"It's an extraordinary flower." She said, facing her back on me.

"Really?" 

"Uh-huh," She nodded. She placed the flower on my palm. "That's my favorite flower."

I smiled at her.

"You're dashingly beautiful, my Lady," I whispered.

Her smile widened, and she shook her head. She mumbled something, but I didn't hear it.

"What did you say?"

She acted as if she was zipping her mouth. Shaking her head, not wanting to tell me what she whispered.

"All right," I gave up.

Is it highly exaggerated that I felt my heart stopped beating? Is it weird knowing that a guy like me also gets butterflies in their stomach? Call it gay, but I didn't know that this was the feeling of falling in love. No hesitations, no disagreements.

I love her.

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Another World

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NOTE: who could've thought Prince Elton really loves Lady Devina!! What about you guys? Have you met someone who loves you too deeply?

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Edited by trynabeabadass