Secret of Ardenia

Astra tightly grasped her dress poised to attack the person, that is if they dared to touch her even in the slightest manner. Though she appeared strong, that was just a wall she had built not so long ago after her dear brothers were killed. Her heart became numb and the determination to protect her remaining family members arose in her. She still had two younger siblings and her parents who survived. 

"Who is there?" a voice deep and resonant, like the rumble of distant thunder on a stormy night asked startling Astra. It carried an icy, almost magnetic quality that seemed to cut through the air with a chilling precision.

Astra still did not turn as she shook lightly with fear, knowing the man she wanted to slay was behind her and he could do anything to her with no one to help her. There was no way out, especially when she heard the advancing footsteps, which brought her to the brink of losing her composure. 

The person stood behind her for moment and then she felt his hand on her shoulder. Without thinking twice, Astra closed her eyes tightly before turning around and landed a punch on the individual's face. Silence enveloped the room making Astra anxious as she was expecting the worst to befall on her. She warily opened her eyes but there was no one in front of her.

"Waaah! Waaah! Why did you hit me? Waaah!" a childish yet masculine cry brought Astra's attention to the ground.

Instead of a child as Astra expected, a man was sitting there burying his face on his palms crying loudly, which left her dumbfounded. Astra was puzzled as confusion continued filling her mind. She squatted slowly to his level, narrowing her eyes at him. She could not lower her guard yet. Who knew, it might be a trap to lure her into a slow torturous death. 

Astra opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She reluctantly stretched her hand and patted the man's shoulder lightly, making him stop crying. He slowly folded his fingers on his faces revealing his deep emerald, green eyes that were stained with tears. Astra felt a bit guilty thinking maybe her punch did hurt him. But thinking of it, how could her feeble blow hurt him when she had never even slapped anyone before? 

"Why are you crying?" Astra asked in a low uncertain or rather confused voice.

The man stopped his sniffling sobs and looked at Astra painfully. "You are the one who hurt me." His voice was unmistakably childish, with a high, clear pitch that carried an innocent lilt, and Astra was certain she had not heard it wrong this time. Warning alarms rang in her head making her more cautious and alert than before.

"Why are you crying and... speaking like a child?" she directly asked her heart beating rapidly.

"Because I'm one. Can't you see how small I am? Why did you hit me? Bad bride! Bad bride!" he chanted childishly while trying to wipe off the tears on his face.

Astra shook her head in disbelief unable to comprehend his words and actions. Her inner strength was drained, and she ended up falling backward sitting on the floor. Her first thought was the queen of Ardenia had decided to confine her with this man in order to prevent her from rebelling or causing any problem. Her entire body was frozen in place, eyes wide and unblinking, as if she were caught in a trance. Her face was ashen, and her lips barely moved, forming silent words that failed to come out. She was pulled out of her state of disorientation when she felt something warm moving closer on her face. Astra jolted back and pushed the man away without thinking.

"Wha... what are you... doing?" her cracked and terrified voice fell on the man's ears.

He pouted his lips and looked at her with a sullen expression. "I wanted to see what you were staring at, but you just pushed me. Don't you like me? First you slapped me and now you are pushing me away," he complained and went on to kneel before her.

Astra shook her to clear her mind head and then questioned the man in return. "Why are you here in this locked room? Why did they keep you here?" She wanted to know. Her theory was maybe the man had also been captured by the people of this kingdom and his mind became that of a five-year-old child after being kept in that room, only them knowing for how long. 

"Locked? Why would anyone lock me in here? This is my room." His eyes were widely opened as he blinked from time to time. 

"Your room? What do you mean? Where are you from? Were you also brought here against your and they put you here in this... room?" Astra asked in devastation trying to understand the situation she had been subjected to. 

"Huh? Don't you know who I am?" He asked innocently furrowing his brows with a finger tapping his cheek. "But they told me who you are. They said you are... my beautiful bride." He blushed deeply as he whispered the last two words, but Astra still heard him. 

Overwhelmed by the sudden shock and confusion, Astra remained seated on the floor, her gaze fixed on him unblinkingly. Instead of getting her questions answered, his words added more puzzlement to her tired mind. "What did you say?" 

The man's smile fell, and he looked at Astra anxiously. "Don't you really like me? Why do you look sad? Don't you want to be my bride?" His continuous questions only intensified Astra's worry and perplexity.

"No, I didn't mean that, and I don't... dislike you. But cany you first tell me your name?" Astra calmed herself down and decided to go slow in order to unravel the missing parts.

"My name?" he repeated her question, and when he saw her nod, he continued. "I won't tell you because you punched and pushed me away. You are like those bad people who hit me, so I don't like you anymore." He looked at the other side feigning anger. Astra noticed his faked indignation and could not help smiling a little. He looked like a sulking kid waiting to be soothed. She dragged herself in front of him, but he turned his head the other way. 

Astra sighed defeatedly then said, "I'm sorry for hitting you earlier and for pushing you also. I was just scared so I did that. I promise I won't do it again." She crawled to his face again holding her ears apologetically. 

"No, I won't. I don't like you anymore. You are bad! You are bad! I'll tell mother you are bad!" he denied and hid his face on his palms.

 Astra did not know what else to do or say in order to pacify him. She was about to give up but then an idea popped up in her mind. 

"Well, since you don't like me anymore, I'll just go and tell your mother to find you another bride." Astra stood up and was about to turn around when she felt him hold her hand.

"I like you! I like you! I don't want another bride. Please don't tell my mother, "He pleaded and stood up hurriedly still holding Astra's hand.

Astra smiled triumphantly and instinctively; she ruffled his neat hair but stopped instantly upon realizing what she was doing. It was not right to get too comfortable. "I won't tell her. So, will you now tell me your name?"

"If only you promise you will never hit me anymore," he said pointing his finger at her.

"I promise. I won't ever hit or push you away," Astra gave her word while raising her hand like she was taking a vow.

The fellow smiled clapping happily making Astra to also smile unknowingly. 

"My... name... is..." he said word by word pausing, and the kept quiet with a playful grin on his face.

Astra was waiting eagerly for him to tell her, but he said nothing. "Your name is?"

"Theron!" he shouted and tightly hugged Astra who was already frozen the moment he uttered his name. She had a doubt of him of him being Theron, the crown prince of Ardenia, the moment he said she was his bride but had brushed the thought thinking it was impossible. But to her horror, it seemed it really was so. Which only meant the Crown Prince of Ardenia was mentally unstable, with a mind of a five-year old kid.