Chapter 53: "I want you"

Ethan was drying his wet hair and getting dressed. After a nice bath, he went to the balcony to enjoy the view of the palace garden. Since the palace was relatively high above the city, he could see the cityscape. While Ethan was taking in the view, there was a knock on the door. "It's me, Anna," Ethan headed towards the door and opened it. Anna asked for permission to come in, and Ethan stepped aside to let her in.

"I wanted to talk to you before you leave today," she said, taking a seat on one of the chairs in the room. Ethan sat across from her, saying, "I'm all ears."

"I have both good and bad news. Which one would you like to hear first?" Anna asked, her face tinged with a bit of sadness.

"Give me the good news first," Ethan said, curious about what Anna was about to say.

"My mother now believes that Jeheria is dead and therefore wants to groom me as her successor. I need to stay by her side for this, which means I won't be able to come to Aurendale with you," she said.

"Is that the good news? Then what's the bad news?" Ethan asked.

Anna tried to speak with a troubled expression. "The second prince of the Merdonbia kingdom in the north, Arkion, has sent a marriage proposal to me, and my father is considering it favorably," she said. Anna's worried expression and her tight grip on her dress indicated that she feared Ethan's reaction to this news.

Trying to hide his emotions, Ethan began speaking, "Why would this prince send you such a proposal?"

"I don't know. I've only heard that he won the throne war and wants a child to solidify his position. Also, my father and Prince Arikon's father were close friends. Maybe this influenced Prince Arikon's proposal," Anna said. Anna was too anxious to look Ethan in the eye. He noticed Anna lowering her gaze and approached her. Gently holding her chin, he forced her to look at him.

"Tell me Anna, What do you want?" Ethan asked.

Anna waited in silence for a while, looking into Ethan's eyes. "I want you... Ethan" Anna's eyes widened in surprise as he said those words and she was about to pull back when she saw Ethan's face approaching. She closed her eyes in excitement but opened them again when she felt that nothing was happening. When she opened her eyes, she realized how close Ethan was to her.

Ethan placed a slow kiss on Anna's lips. At that moment, he realized how soft Anna's lips were. Ethan was about to pull back when he realized that Anna had her arms around his neck. Anna pressed her lips to his. She was obviously quite inexperienced and didn't know exactly what to do, but her instincts told her to kiss Ethan more.

Ethan accepted this and started kissing Anna. Soon he moved his tongue, trying to penetrate Anna's lips. Inexperienced Anna, trying to keep up with Ethan, parted her lips and let him take the lead. Ethan slipped his tongue inside Anna's lip and touched Anna's tongue. This innocent kiss soon turned into a passionate kiss. Anna, although inexperienced, was a quick learner and kept the kiss going by moving her tongue. Soon, Ethan's hands began to move and explore Anna's body. Only feelings and impulses controlled the two of them now. Ethan lowered one hand to Anna's waist and the other to her stomach.

Just as the two were about to take the road of no return, there was a knock on the door and their kiss slowed, but they didn't stop. "It's me, Emily" the person at the door called. Ethan tried to answer by pulling his lips away, but Anna insisted on holding them as if she were eating a very sweet candy. Ethan brought his hands to Anna's face and began to caress her cheeks. Anna was awakened from her sweet dream by Ethan's hand caressing her face and she pulled her face back in shame. Anna's cheeks and even her little nose were flushed. "I love you, Anna, and I will never give you to another man." Ethan said as he continued to caress Anna's cheeks and look into her green eyes.

Anna was even more embarrassed at these words and stammered, "I-I- I love you too... Ethan." She couldn't look Ethan in the eye, and her hands were trembling with excitement.

"Ethan? Are you going to keep me waiting any longer?" Emily asked. After giving Anna one last kiss on the lips, Ethan stood up. Anna, trying hard to stand up despite the difficulty, savored the taste of the last kiss. "Don't worry, I'll make up for this day in the future," Ethan said. Anna could only nod in response. "Also, Refuse this marriage proposal and if your father says anything, tell him to talk to me. Tell your mother Theodora too, she will help you." Ethan said.

"I understand, Ethan, and thank you for accepting my love," Anna said, her face still flushed.

"It's mutual, Anna. That's why I asked what you wanted because I already knew what I wanted," he said. After these words, Ethan walked towards the door and opened it.

"At last! Oh," Emily realized why she had been kept waiting when she saw Anna's flushed face. "I'm sorry for coming at a bad time, Ethan, but everyone is waiting outside," Emily said.

"Then let's go," Ethan said, leading the way into the hallway past Emily. Emily looked suggestively at Anna. Anna began to blush with embarrassment and quickly left the room.

When Ethan reached the main door, he noticed Richard and Luciana waiting there. Luciana, noticing Ethan, walked towards him with her arms open and hugged him tightly.

Seeing her daughter's flushed face from behind Ethan, Theodora approached Anna happily and massaged her shoulders, saying, "I'll teach you everything I know, my daughter, including dealing with men."

"I'll miss you again, little Ethan. I wish I could have come with you," Luciana said.

"I'll miss you too, Mother," Ethan said. Ethan parted from Luciana and approached Richard. Richard hugged Ethan and whispered in his ear,"Always be prepared for anything, Ethan, and take care of yourself."

Thinking about what his father said, Ethan pulled away and hugged Emily. "Visit the academy sometime; I'm now the head of the scientific department. I'd love to talk to you about my new research," she said.

"I'll consider it, but I don't have as much free time as you, My cute sister " Ethan joked.

"Maybe when you stop flirting and stealing girls' hearts, you'll have more time, huh?" Emily replied teasingly. They both smiled and walked away.

Finally Ethan got into the carriage with Luna and they slowly drove away from the palace. Anna sadly watched Ethan leave, perhaps not to see him for a few years, then wiped away her tears and returned to the palace with a serious expression.

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The man standing on the cold, hard floor reached out to eat the meal brought by the guard to avoid starving. The food was as tasteless and disgusting as usual, but he had to eat it to stay alive. After all, he had two sisters he missed. He heard that one of his sisters had married a baron and in the letter she wrote to him; she mentioned having a very happy life. His younger sister was also curiously close to the third prince of the kingdom. And from what the guards had heard, this third prince had recently achieved great success and was the heir apparent closest to becoming king. His litle sister had never written to him, so he heard this news from his other sister.

After finishing the disgusting meal, he sat back on the hard ground. He looked up at the sky through the small hole above and tried to sleep. As his eyes began to close, he noticed the voices of the other prisoners rising. A few minutes later, all the prisoners fell silent, and the only sound heard was the footsteps of a few men. The man curiously stood up and looked to see who had arrived.

In front of him stood a tall, black-haired boy with eyes as blue as the devil's sea. He was staring directly at him, as if scrutinizing and measuring him. There was an authoritative aura around this man, as if everyone had to bow before him.

"Are you Jackson? Aphrodite's older brother," the man said.

"Yes, my lord," Jackson said.

"You're coming with me, Jackson. Guards, Open the door," he said.

"Forgive my impertinence, sir, but you haven't told me who you are," Jackson said.

"I apologize for my mistake. I am Ethan Asina Lenistark, the third prince of the Asina kingdom, and I am here to get you out of this prison."