Chapter 33: I loved you since we were fifteen.

Damien's POV

I watched as the little girl before me awkwardly shied away and fidget her fingers. She was obviously uncomfortable. I am too. What was I thinking I could do this? This may be the hardest thing I have ever done. How do I get to know my sister who just emerged out of nowhere?

"You don't like me, do you?" she asked, forming her arms over her chest. "That's alright, Prince Damien. A lot of people dislike me too. You don't have to force yourself to spend time with me in order to please my lady, the princess."

"No, no, no," I said in a panic, "It's not that, Lady Alicent. It's..." I don't know what to say to her. Do I just tell her the truth?

"No, it's alright," she assured me. "We don't have to do this." The tone of her voice insinuates that she doesn't want to do this.

"It's not that I don't want to do this," I said, "It's just that I don't know how to do this. I've always been an only child. Now that you're here, I don't know how to do this whole thing."

She laughed, watching as I struggled to say the words. "I don't know how to start this either."

"Okay," I said, "At the beginning then. I was born on December 9, on a cold winter evening. My mother was Queen Alicent Strong and King Richard II of House Cross."

"I was born on December 13," she says, "I am an orphan who was found by a lady called Georgina."

"I was raised by Maidservant Rose because my mother died," I said.

"Oh," she says, "That sucks."

"My father married Queen Grea eleven years ago. They didn't bother waiting a month," I continued, "Queen Grea didn't want me around so she sent me to live in the Cross Estate. Maidservant Rose decided to follow and raise me as her own in honor of her dearest friend, my mother. She wasn't able to marry after that. Silver also took me in and raised me as his own."

"I grew up in the streets of the capital," she says, "It was a hard life. The woman who took me in left me when I was ten. I spent most of my time rummaging through people's trash."

"I'm sorry," I said. She didn't look sad at all, but my heart ached for her. She grew up alone without the privileges I had.

She smiled, "Don't be. I don't see it as a loss, but a gain. I grew up knowing how to survive. I picked up everything I knew from the streets. I didn't steal or do anything bad in order to live and I'm proud of that. So really there's no need to feel sorry for me."

Despite living such a horrible life, she managed to be so positive. She must've inherited that from her mother. I sure didn't; that's why I turned up like this. But my sister turned out positive and bright. She's very admirable.

"You are a very positive child, Alicent," I complimented, "I hope that part of you never changes."

She nodded happily. "Are you also positive, your grace?" she asked, "Maidservant Rose gave me such colorful stories about you. No offense, but from my perception, you look rather gloomy than bright. I thought you were fun."

I chuckled, shaking my head. She has my attitude and a big opinion. "Tell me," I say, "What do you do for fun?"

"Train," she replied, "I don't do it just because I have to. I do it because I enjoy it. When I'm training, I don't think too much; I just do things. I'm good at it, so that's a plus."

"But you do need to think," I said.

"Strategy," she replies, "I think about strategy. When I said that I didn't have to think too much, I meant things like who my parents are; why am I here; what do I do when I finally debut? When in training, I think about how to strike my opponent down. The quicker and strategic I do it, the less chance my opponent has to strike me."

Interesting. I suppose we have the same thinking. I thought about the same thing when I was her age. All I could think about was to get stronger in order to avenge my mother. I suppose we have a lot in common.

Curiously I asked, "What would you do if you find out you have a family? How would you feel?"

"I would be grateful," she replied almost immediately, "I would love to meet them and get to know them, but for me that's but a fantasy. I rather not dream and just live in the reality I'm in. Besides, I have a family now and I am very happy here. Lady Hera is a really nice person who teaches me a lot about court life; Maidservant Rose is a mother who takes care of me; Princess Angelique is sweet and ever so loving; and now I have a brother—you. I'm happy as it is."

"Mind if I join you?" Maidservant Rose entered, taking the seat next to Alicent. "It's nice to see you two getting along. It makes me so happy."

"Your son is very kind, Maidservant Rose," Alicent says cheerfully, "Speaking honestly, at first it felt so awkward. It appears he's not that bad. He just looks gloomy."

Maidservant Rose laughed in amusement. I haven't seen her smile this happily since my mother passed away. She held both our hands, saying, "We're a complete family now, children. Now that we're complete, I won't let anything happen to either of you. I am very happy."

I hugged her, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Don't cry, Mother," I said, "There's no reason to cry now. All that's left is for you to marry Silver."

She blushed immensely as Silver also entered the scene.

"Good morning," Silver greeted, taking the seat next to me. "Wow," he says, "She does look like her. Hello, child. I am Silver."

Alicent took his hand, shaking it. "You must be the one who's in love with Maidservant Rose!" she says happily, "Wow! It's exciting to finally meet you!"

Silver smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. It's awkward for him to say words of affection out loud when it comes to Maidservant Rose. He couldn't find the right words to say ever.

"Well," he stammers, "I suppose that's true."

Maidservant Rose looked at him, still blushing. She couldn't believe the words she just heard. "Silver..."

Without warning, Silver pulled out a velvet box from his back. He opened it, showing it to Maidservant Rose. "I thought this would be the best time since the children are here," he says, "We're a complete family now. As I heard Damien say, all that's left is for us to marry... Would you do me the honor of being my wife? I have always loved you... I loved you since we were fifteen. For the longest time, the odds were never in our favor. Now, everything seems to fall into place for us. So... Would you?"

My mother was teary-eyed by the end of his speech. Even I was touched by his words. I suppose this is true love, huh? They had what my parents never had. True love is withstanding. Their love stood the test of time. They'd loved each other for twenty-five years now. At least they will have a happy ending. I could only dream of that. My reality is far different because of my duty to my country. Angelique and I will never have this.

Shaking, she nods, accepting the ring. "Of course, I'd marry you, Silver. There's no one else in the world I'd spend the rest of my life with. I love you with all my heart, and truth be told, I never thought you'd ever ask."

"I feel so happy," Alicent says, hugging Maidservant Rose.

"Me too, kid," I agreed with her, "They deserve this. I feel so happy for them."

"We're engaged!" Maidservant Rose said happily, "After twenty-five years, we're engaged!"

"This calls for a lavish celebration and wedding!" I said.

"We don't need that, Damien," Maidservant Rose assures me, "Really, we don't."

"Nonsense," I said, "This is the wedding of the two most important people of my life. You deserve the wedding of the century! I would like nothing more than to help you plan it. I'm sure my father and evil stepmother would love help out as well. Even though I loathe that wicked witch, I know she secretly still cares for you, Maidservant Rose. A few years ago, I overheard her talking to a spy. Apparantly, she hired someone to secretly protect you whenever you left home. Who knew tat awful woman still has a soft spot for you."

"She wasn't an awful woman twenty-five years ago," she said, cupping my cheeks. "If it pleases you, I will let you take care of our wedding. I'm just happy that this is the outcome of our stories."

"I have to go!" Alicent stood up. "I forgot that it's time for sparring in the courtyard."

I stood up, letting the couple stay. "Please," I said, "I will go with Alicent. Enjoy your time together, alright?" With that said, Alicent and I left for the courtyard. Surprisingly, our journey to get there was filled with chatter. I almost got tired of talking.

"Here we are," I said, watching the children train. There were plenty of people training and a couple of female trainers whom I assume are knights. I approached Alicent's supervisor, receiving a curtsy from her. "Please excuse Lady Alicent," I said, "I kept her from training therefore it was my fault for her tardiness."

"Please," the knight says, "This is the first time Alicent has been late. She's our prized member. For certain if she ever were tardy, she has a perfectly good explanation for it." She then turned to Alicent and said, "Go on, Alicent. Your opponent is Keara Grez."

Dutifully, Alicent left to start training with Keara.

"It's a surprise to see you here, Prince Damien," said the knight.

"Ah, she's the adopted daughter of the woman who raised me," I said, "I just wanted to get to know her. What's your name, by the way?"

"Lady Karina Grez," she replied, "I'm one of the nobles who volunteered to help Angelique's organization. My sister is your adopted sister's opponent right now. I prepared them so my sister could learn a thing or two from Alicent. I heard your people discriminate against women, is that true?"

It's shameful, but I nodded. "Yes," I replied, "Angelique's organization has spread about the twelve nations by now, and for that I am proud. She has changed people's perception of women."

"The Princess is remarkable," she nodded, "I've known her since we were kids. She's a fierce warrior. To see her pregnant and married is something we all expected but never really thought seriously about. It's really... I don't know. It's really shocking. A woman as cold and ruthless as her married to a person who's just as cold and ruthless... I suppose that's a twisted right. I can't picture her with anybody else, to be honest."

"Should I thank you?" I asked confusedly.

"No," she giggled, "Ah, there she is."

I looked in the direction she pointed, seeing Angelique making her way to us. "Karina, Damien," she greets, "Everything good?"

"Princess," Karina curtsied, "The children had just begun. I'll leave you two."

Angelique looked at me with triumph across her face. "So," she says, "How did it go? Did you get to know your sister?"

"I did," I said, "Thank you for that. I appreciate the effort." I felt the need to thank Angelique. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be reunited with my sister. This was all possible because of her. Damn it. Everything she does makes me not want to use her. I can't go soft now. I have a duty.

"Don't mention it," she says, "I assume it went well then. The smile on your face seems to brighten up the people's days. No one ever sees you smiling like that; not even I. You almost appear angelic instead of monstrous."

I chuckled. I hadn't noticed that I was smiling.

"We have a lot to work on, don't we?" she says exasperatedly.

I nodded, leading her to the bench where we sat. "Let's enjoy the rest of the day together," I said unconsciously. And with that out of my mouth, the day set its course. I don't know why I said it, but it just escaped my lips. For some unidentified reason, I wanted to spend the day with my wife.