6

Diana followed Ella's instructions, finding Cayn smoking behind a corner, his eyes closed. His eyelashes are so long, she thought.

He slowly opened his eyes, making her hide behind a wall, taking deep breaths. She laughed at her cute side having no trouble cutting people but having one trying to speak to the man she likes, stupid.

She got herself ready to talk to him, held the perfume fidgeting, then sprayed it on herself. "Even as a princess I will never get used to these fancy dresses," she says with a sigh.

She walked out, only to find that he was not there anymore, she started looking around, still not in sight, she sighed with disappointment. Turning around to leave she bumped into something sturdy, "what the," smelling a strong scent that made her dizzy, a tall figure was standing in front of her, she heard it snaps its fingers, making the scent disappeared.

She kept quiet, raising her eyes slowly, her bright honey eyes meeting with his, goldish yet calm.

Cayn had a calm expression yet a thought flashed his mind, the warrior who was slaughtering people with flaming eyes, now stands in front of him fidgeting from his gaze. He started remembering the way she moved in the forest, that figure, those eyes, the smile she gave the children to reassure them. Now looking at her closely, her flushed cheeks, her red lips…

Noticing him staring at her so intensely she got embarrassed, even more, turning her head away shying from his eyes. She decided to break the silence, "how did you know I was here?" while still feeling his cold stare.

"Your heartbeat was loud," he calmly answered.

She was surprised by his words, she turned to meet his eyes, finding him fixated on her, for some reason she felt he got closer, and she could smell his perfume, making her cheeks feel hot.

"And it's, getting faster," he continued.

She knew and felt so embarrassed about it that she wished to die.

"Are you scared?"

Hearing him utter such words, she snapped back to herself, turning to lock eyes with him. She could notice his tired self, hiding behind those shining eyes.

Many things were running through his mind while he was looking at her. The way she smiled remained on his mind all day, even his mother noticed him spacing out. Even though he did not mean to, he knew she felt scared of him when she noticed him back in the forest, he didn't think he would meet her so soon. In the guest room, she recognized him, she was unharmed. He felt relieved, but he decided not to dwell on what he felt, we could say it was an inner trait, before living a lonely life.

A little bit earlier he heard her footsteps, her heartbeat raising, hiding behind that corner, he was confused when felt her spray that perfume, then it hit him, he found it cute. Now standing so near her, looking at her figure so closely, staring at her gorgeous face, his mind wondered. Then again, listening to her heartbeat she still seems scared.

"Yes I am," she calmly said.

He kept meeting her eyes.

"But not of you, don't misunderstand," speaking these words she looked down at the ground, not knowing what to do.

Cayn got closer, "then, why?"

Looking up at his close face her eyes widened, her cheeks got hotter, she couldn't utter a word.

"Why is it beating even faster," he spoke as he got closer, "why use a perfume I like."

She did not think he cared since he did not mention it, thinking about that, he still dared to ask her.

She tried to push him away, only to push herself putting her back against the wall. "Stop teasing me, you bastard," she said as her voice quietened down.

On the other hand, Cayn was smiling, she just called him a bastard, and she just cursed at him.

On her mind she was thinking of burying herself six feet deep, not only did she fail to push this beast, but she also cursed at him just because he teased her feelings for a bit. Swimming in her thoughts she suddenly heard him laugh, opening her eyes to see him catching his stomach and laughing hard. "Beautiful…" she said only to catch her mouth, not in her wildest dreams did she think that this thought would be said aloud, he heard it. That was the first time she saw him laugh, he looked so charming in her eyes, truly.

Hearing her, he stopped, meeting her eyes, "you were saying."

Diana looked shy before answering, "I didn't think, you could laugh like that."

Cayn kept watching her expression, then he asked seriously with his deep voice, "Why, aren't you afraid?"

Diana's eyes turned calm, she didn't look away, took a deep breath, "because you are, an amazing person. And I don't see no reason to."

"Amazing?"

"You are a good man," she continued.

Cayn's eyes widened, those simple words coming from this specific person hit him deeply.

Reminiscing on his past life, he had to be perfect, to protect the people under him, in constant war emotions were a hard thing to show. He was a different kind of ruler, one who spent his entire life on the grounds of the battlefield, standing at the pinnacle, unwavering, becoming a symbol of order by becoming the chaos itself, to protect the peace he wished to create, a figure, of absolute authority. In this life, he decided to use that power to protect his loved ones. Even if what he did was right, he never thought of himself as a good man, a good king, or, a good emperor. He lived for others' sake. Food? Shelter? Security? A peaceful life? He gave his people whatever they wished for. But we all know human nature, he had to fight the roots themselves. To maintain peace, he had to become, different. He had too much blood in his hands.

A good man she said, a good man.

Cayn only smiled at her words.

Diana took a deep look at him, she sighed, the air around her became different, confident but not arrogant, standing her ground. "Look, I saw, what happened with Daciel, your prowess, that time at the forest too. That was embarrassing for me, but across the day, I saw u enough, heard about you, and watched you enough to feel like I knew you forever. I am sure you had to dirty your hands many times and do what a normal person would deem inhuman to protect your loved ones. My father thought me, that a good man, is a very dangerous man, disciplined and civilized, who can use that under service for his family."

Cayn's eyes were cold as he listened to her, hearing her heartbeat. He knows himself, his character is simple enough. It didn't take him long after meeting her the first time to also figure her out. He met a lot of confident and strong women in his life, but none of them could meet his eyes. So why her of all people? He was reminded of what happened in the forest. Diana was different, and Cayn already figured that out in the forest when he smiled at her. She was scared when she felt his existence yes, she still evacuated the children and the women first, was that sacrifice? No. What he saw was not a woman trying to sacrifice herself, nor a stupid one desperately fighting unaware of the danger, no, her eyes were that of a survivor, she stood there challenging him, even though she shacked, even though she almost passed out whilst standing, she challenged him with a smile. Both her warm and challenging expressions did not leave his mind, becoming conscious of her. This kind of interest, has he always been this fickle?

She continued, "Everyone in your surroundings can feel your warmth and care covered by your cold demeanor. I am not afraid of what you had to do to protect your people, and I am sure you are not regretting doing any of that yourself, or are you?" asked him while cracking a laugh.

Cayn smiled, "I don't."

They both started laughing.

"Hmm, hey," said Diana softly.

"I will send a letter of engagement to your father by the end of this week if, everything goes well."

"Wait what, you made your decision that fast?" Diana jumped from her place with both a surprised and confused look.

"I have made up my mind, and if we are meant to be seeing each other I wish to do that under your father's approval." He answers smiling.

"…." Diana turned her head away slowly, thinking *Is he, doing this on purpose? This is a form of bullying, right? "Bastard."

She was facing the wall, while Cayn noticed her blush reaching her ears, he chuckled, she was cute.

Everything felt like a dream for Diana, it was normal to marry this fast, the concept of dating did not exist in this world. Most married after meeting once or a few times, others without knowing who is their bride to be. She found this man, she felt lucky, unaware of her face who was smiling happily.

Cayn saw her beautiful smile, and couldn't help but bend down and hold her hand, not giving her time to be surprised, he kissed it softly. Diana's heart just skipped a beat, her face was too stunned to make an expression. He slowly raised his head to look at her. She stared at him, not knowing what to do.

"It was a long day, your brother must be worried about you disappearing for so long." Woke her up from her thoughts.

"Oh yes, I should probably head back for now," she said as she looked up at him, "Can you, show me around the city, maybe this week?"

Cayn stared at Diana who was full of expectations. "No."

Before the disappointment could be seen on her face he continued, "I dislike crowds."

"It's okay then,"

Interrupting her, "Let's have dinner tomorrow night." Her lips slowly formed a smile and her eyes shined, he got closer and whispered in her ear, "this time wear something you are comfortable in."

Diana was too happy to notice him suddenly getting so close, she could feel his breath on her ear, she was stunned, turned red till her ears. She could only look down, shying, nodding her head.

He slowly got away while watching her cute reaction. "Be ready by then."

She nodded again, "I will, head back," she said as she threw a last glance at him and walked away.

He looked at her small figure disappearing in the distance with a calm expression. He then pulled out his pack of cigarettes, putting one between his lips.

Suddenly an image of Diana's pink lips appeared in his mind, he halted before lighting it, sighed, and slowly put it back in the pack.

He looked back at the distance where she went for a moment before walking away.