CHAPTER 121: THE INCIDENT
At one point, as we were discussing a particularly amusing incident from training, our eyes met across the table. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. A blush crept up my cheeks, and I quickly looked away, feeling a fluttering in my chest.
What just happened?
We finished the meal with a decadent dessert, a chocolate cake so rich and so delicious that Kieran smacked his lips so loudly. As the last bite disappeared, a comfortable silence settled between us.
“Thank you, Kieran,” I said. “This has been… wonderful.”
He met my gaze. “Thank you, Clara,” he replied, his voice a low murmur. “For sharing this evening with me.”
I smiled and stared at him.
“Of course, it has been an honour. My King,” he blushed.
“Oh did you just blush?”
“What?” He held his cheek shyly.
“You just blushed.”
“Oh stop Clara. Kings don’t blush.”
“Oh please don’t be rediculous. But it did look good on you though.”
He smiled.
Finally, Kieran signaled for the waiter, and we reluctantly made our way out of the restaurant. The night air felt cool and crisp after the warmth of the restaurant, but the warmth remained within me, glowing brighter than the gas lamps illuminating the street.
As we walked back to the car, Kieran placed a hand on my back, guiding me gently over the uneven cobblestones.
The drive back to the palace was much quiet. But I knew that we were in our thoughts. Probably thinking about what had just happened. I couldn’t help but think that we had a kind of connection. I leaned back against the seat, with this feeling of satisfaction over me. Today, Kieran hadn’t just shown me a gorgeous place. Perhaps the finest place in rage city but he had opened a door within me that revealed something new and pure. Maybe it was there but I never knew that. And as the car moved on, I couldn’t help but wonder where the path would lead us. If maybe, it was something. Just couldn’t put away the fact that he made me laugh so hard that I nearly forgot about every messy bit that has been going on.
The weeks that followed focused more on training. My connection with Kieran grew stronger. It was like a silent understanding that weaved itself into the fabric of our interactions. He wasn’t just the king; he had become a friend Someone I could rely on without reservation.
The training sessions had become more intense now, pushing me to new limits. My control over my energy improved, allowing me to focus it into powerful bursts, both for offense and defense. With each passing day, I felt myself becoming stronger, and more confident in my abilities. It was good and Kieran made it feel better. Although the people hadn’t stopped their nagging worry. Kieran’s presence made it much easier. I didn’t go anywhere without him. We went out more often. Like we were actually living the life even with the looming war.
“Hey, beautiful.”
I turned towards the door of the training hall. It was Kieran.
He winked as he caught my eyes.
“Are you flirting with your queen?” I said wiping sweat off my face.
“It’s a beautiful evening. I’m only here to take you for a walk.”
“Look Kieran, I’ve had a long day.”
“It’s just a walk. Come on.”
“Alright. Alright. That’s fine.”
The setting sun cast long shadows across the neatly trimmed hedges, painting the sky in a canvas of fiery oranges and pinks.
As we walked, we didn’t need words to understand each other. It was a cool evening. Kieran really knew just what I wanted. The breeze hit against my skin as we moved and the edges of my dress were nudged by it. I felt lighter than I would have been if I had buried myself in the duvet.
“You’re improving,” Kieran finally said.
“Thanks to you,” I replied, a smile flitting across my lips. His relentless training had made me want to do this.
He chuckled. “We both have a lot to be grateful for,” he said, his gaze lingering on me for a beat longer than necessary.
His words held a double meaning, and a blush crept up my cheeks. Was it just me, or was there something… more… in the way he looked at me lately?
“What?” he said.
“Nothing, just that you have that look.”
“I’m just a bit thrilled.”
“Thrilled?” he asked.
I didn’t know if I should tell him about the way that I now saw him. Or the way that his gaze now lingered on me. And somehow, I loved it.
“Yeah, thrilled. The weather is thrilling enough.”
“I see,” he took a glance at me and smiled. I smiled too. We continued our walk, the only sound the crunching of gravel beneath our feet. The sky darkened. I have never really been out of the palace by that time. It felt different. As dusk deepened, casting the gardens in an eerie twilight, a movement in the distance caught my eye. Through the dense leaves covering the path, I saw it a pair of red eyes, glowing like glowing coal in the darkness. I froze grasping Kieran’s hand tightly.
“Did you see that?” I whispered; my voice was barely a breath.
Kieran frowned, peering into the growing darkness. “See what?”
“There,” I pointed towards the bushes where the eyes had appeared, “a pair of red eyes.
He moved closer and I held him back.
“Where are you going to?” I asked.
“I want to go check it out.”
“Kieran,” I called out.
“Hey come on. I’ll check it out. Just hold on.”
He checked in between the bushes but there was nothing. Only the rustling of leaves and the chirping of a lone cricket filled the air.
“I don’t see anything, Clara,” he said, his voice laced with concern. “Are you sure you saw something?”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
“Yes, the red eyes.”
“But there was nothing there. Look, calm down. Don’t get all that in your head. It’s okay that you can feel a little scared from all that has been going on.”
I hesitated, my grip tightening on his arm. I was certain I had seen something, a presence watching us from the shadows. But maybe it was just my imagination, perhaps a trick of the fading light.
“Maybe I imagined it,” I mumbled, feeling kind of relief although, I felt somehow embarrassed. I haven’t been out by this time since the accident incident. Maybe it was beginning to mess with me.
Kieran pulled me close putting his hand warm against mine. “Don’t worry,” he said, his voice sounded reassuring. “We’ll be back at the palace soon. And if there is anything out there, the guards will handle it.”
His words calmed my racing heart. The glowing eyes I had seen felt… different, unlike anything I had encountered before.
The silence that had settled over us during the walk back to the chamber felt suffocating now. Kieran shrugged off his jacket, his movements were deliberate.
He stopped in front of me, his gaze searching my face. “Are you alright, Clara?” His voice was a low murmur.
I forced a smile, the gesture feeling unnatural on my face. “Yes,” I mumbled, the word barely escaping my lips. “Just… tired.”
I knew that he didn’t believe that. I hoped that he would because I didn’t know what else to tell him.
He didn’t respond immediately, his eyes holding mine for a bit too long. I began to feel uncomfortable. Maybe he saw the way that I felt.
“Alright, then,” he said, his voice gentle. “Get some rest. We have a busy day tomorrow.”
“Good night,” I mumbled and slipped past him, the silk of my dress brushing against his arm in a fleeting touch. Our contact was brief but it was strong bringing up a spark that I desperately tried to ignore.
Reaching my bed, I collapsed on the soft sheets. The exhaustion from the whole day finally claimed me. But as usual, sleep wouldn’t come.
The warmth of a body pressing against my back startled me. I turned slightly, my back coming into contact with Kieran’s chest. His arm wrapped gently around my waist, pulling me closer. My breath hitched in surprise, a blush creeping up my neck.
“Kieran?” I whispered.
He didn’t respond, but his chin rested on my shoulder. His touch, initially unexpected, sent a wave of warmth through me. The tension that had been coiled within me began to reduce. The comforting rhythm of his breath against my ear thrilled me. Like the evening breeze that I had felt earlier. Without a word, I snuggled closer into his embrace. The worries that came up after seeing those eyes suddenly evaporated.
As the exhaustion from the day finally caught up with me, my eyelids grew heavy. The warmth of Kieran’s embrace and the gentle rise and fall of his chest lulled me into a sleep deeper and more peaceful than I had experienced in weeks.