Rejected

"Where did she go now?" Achilles asked himself out loud. He put on his clothes and went out to find her.

"Kristen? Where are you, my lady?" He called out. "I'm right here." She answered behind him. He turned around and was dumbfounded. She had on a white chiton with a golden belt accentuating her slim waist. She also had some gold necklaces and large bangles. She had her hair tied up with a fork pin.

"Do you like it?" She asked as she twirled around to give him a full view. "Y-yeah, I love it, actually." He replied. She smiled happily.

"I kind of want to rip it off of you, though. " he walked towards her and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Oh really?" She asked. "Very much so, yes." He leaned closer and kissed her.

"You look so gorgeous, labella." He said. She smiled at his compliment. "Thank you." She said in response.

"Who put this on you, by the way?" He realized he never asked. "My new hand maiden. She said her name was Thea," Before Achilles could say anything further, someone called his name. It was Myles.

"You gotta get ready, too," Mykes said. "Ready for what exactly?" Achilles was confused. Myles, however, didn't answer. He simply put his hands on his brother's shoulder and left with him. He looked back at Kristen and shrugged and mouthed 'I'll be back'

She nodded and went downstairs to eat.

Later that day...

Zale was walking in the Palace courtyard. He was pacing back and forth but stopped when he saw Kristen and Achilles walk out of the Palace with two guards behind them. They were all dressed up, and so he was demented.

He was gonna call him until he noticed he had something in his hand. Achilles had his hands behind him, so he caught a glimpse of what he was holding.

...

"So you planned all this?" Kristen asked Achilles. She held unto his arm and rested his head on his shoulder. "No. Well, not entirely." He answered. "My brother helped me."

"Then why did you ask who put the dress on me?"

"That's the part he helped with. I didn't know he would ask someone to be your hand maiden and dress you up." He said.

"Ok, but -"

"Enough questions, my lady," he cut her off. "Let's just cut to the chase." She was perplexed. "What do you mean?" She asked. Her brows creased.

"I mean," he got down on one knee and pulled open a box. He took out a magnificent ruby oval clustered silver ring.

"Will you be my princess?"

She was stunned, utterly stunned. Her hands flew to her mouth in utmost shock and surprise.

"You want me to marry you?" She asked. "I want you to marry me, yes." He answered.

She huffed. She didn't even know what to say.

"Just say yes, my lady." He urged. She then nodded her quickly. "Yes," she finally mustered up and said. He beamed at her. He stood up and put the ring on her finger.

"It's a perfect fit, how did you know?"

"I didn't. It was my mom's. She wanted me to give it to you." She hugged him. She was so happy and so was he.

After pulling out of the hug, she couldn't stop smiling. He kissed her hands and they started walking again.

"We'll get married soon." He announced. She looked at him with even more surprise, but then it clicked. Maybe he had to get married before his coronation.

"I thought the queen had to be a princess or a noble born." She said, looking down at her feet.

"You're not going to be queen because I'm not hoping to be King." He replied.

She immediately stopped.

"What?!" She blurted out. He took her hands and sighed. "I can't be king if I want to marry you, so I'm not going to be King." He explained.

"Excuse me?" She was even more confused. "My father said if I marry you, then I have to marry a princess he chose for me too. I certainly wouldn't do that, so I yielded the throne so I could marry you." He further elaborated.

"Just so we're clear, you're going to give up being king just so you can marry me?" She asked.

"Yes." He replied strength forward.

"No," she then said. "I won't let you throw your life away just for me. I absolutely won't."

"I'm not throwing my life away. I'm only going to start it with you." He said.

She shook her head.

"No, Achilles, you can't do this. I'll feel guilty my whole life." She said. "There's nothing to feel guilty about. I love you," Achilles said. "I love you too, but this isn't right." She took off the ring he just gave her and put it in his hands. She turned around and walked away.

Achilles couldn't believe it. Did she just reject him after saying yes?

"Escort her back," he managed to say to the Palace guards behind them. "Yes, your grace!" They both said and followed Kristen back to the Palace.

He stood there silently, contemplating what just happened. He sighed in the end because he understood where she was coming from.

If it were to be the other way around, he would have reacted the same way. He wouldn't want her to give up something like that just for him, so it was somewhat comprehensive. This didn't stop it from hurting him nonetheless. He was heartbroken that the woman he was willing to give up everything for wasn't as willing as him.

He wasn't going to cry himself to sleep, though. He wasn't going to give up on her just like that. He was going to convince her to marry him.

He was turning around to continue his walk alone, but he heard footsteps behind, and the person seemed to be running. He recognized them. He waited till the footsteps got closer.

"Zale, what are you doing here?" He asked without even having to turn around. He held out his finger as he caught his breath.

"I think you know why," Zale responded. "I saw Kristen coming back with the guards, and I didn't see you. What happened?"

Achilles faced him.

"She rejected me. That's what happened." He was curt with his reply. "She what now?" Zale was in disbelief.

"She rejected me when I asked her to marry me," Achilles showed him the ring she gave back to him. "That's your mom's ring."

"Yeah. She said yes, but right after I told her, she changed her mind and said no." Achilles shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant, but Zale saw right through him.