37 I guess... I am in love with you...

Ch-36

"I am impatient to marry you and mark you mine," Cedric said. He meant no harm; he just stated his true feelings and thoughts to her.

But poor Eleanor was struck dumb at his answer.

Eleanor thought there must be some reason for him to marry her. But she didn't expect him to say this. Her eyes widened in shock as they revealed the color of a lake which was filled with dark green algae along with the floating black stones in it. She looked too innocent to this world, with her current expression. Eleanor was a fallen princess… She needs to get stronger to become a queen. To become a queen she needs the support of a knight.

Even when the whole kingdom fell into the hands of the only female ruler, Queen Victoria, she had support, whom she could lean on to learn everything and rule everything. Later that man… turned against her… that would be a different story… if she was the same clueless victoria. It just happened that… she was not the Clueless Victoria but the Queen Victoria of the British empire… who ruled the world with the tips of her fingers.

He wants Eleanor to be another Queen Victoria, even someone better than Queen Victoria.

"My father will be alone without me," Eleanor said after a while. It took her a lot of time by the time… she arranged her thoughts and calmed down.

"Your brother will wake up after you marry me," he said.

Her eyes widened again at his words. "What? What do you mean?" she asked.

"If you are my wife… then your concerns are mine too, wifey. I got the reports from your brother. I sent them to my friend, who is a famous doctor in this world. There is no patient he couldn't heal. I asked him… he said… he will come after fifteen days. In the meanwhile… you have to become my wife. After becoming my wife… I won't stop you from doing whatever you are doing. I will allow you to do anything but as the wife of Cedric Emerson, Eleanor Cedric Emerson." Cedric said in her ears.

Eleanor knew she liked him or she crushed him. But that was all in the past. She even forgot his existence till he reminded her. If he remembered her, then why did he act like he didn't know her.

Her shy eyes were filled with questions and confusion. "What is going on in your pretty brain?" he asked.

"Why did you act like you didn't know me at the start?" she asked.

"I left the country to become strong enough to lead the Emerson group as per my mother's wish. And I remember you wanted me to fulfill my mother's wishes… With that… I left to foreign to study abroad. I came that year for your birthday… only to wish you. But When I came to find you… You almost got raped. I rescued you and was about to take you to the hospital. But I got a call that my mother's situation was worse. By the time… I went to her… she held the last thread of her life just to save her last words for me. She died right after speaking to me. I was immersed in the rituals of her funerals and other things. I came to you just to check on you to see whether you are fine or not. But… my heart bled when I saw you suffered from PTSD. I always wanted to come to you and hold you in my arms and give you the protection you deserved. But I couldn't.

"I thought… you will recover sooner and will be back to normal. But… Only to be gobbled up by the demon. When I returned… I got to know… you were in love with Jacob.

"That day… I realized you should feel gratitude not love. I was angry… sad… and helpless. I drowned myself in the ocean of being useless and lost the chance of loving you.

"I always prayed to God asking him to break your relationship with Jacob. Finally, God heard my pleas. When I got to know… about his marriage months ago… I gathered enough courage to face you and win my love for you. I don't believe in reincarnation, Ele. But I believe in my love… my love towards you," he said.

"And I acted Like I didn't know you because... I was afraid of your reaction that night. But after spending time with you... I realized you are misunderstanding the whole situation. I am afraid that you would be angry for not telling you about anything and playing with your trust and emotions. I am a coward, Ele." Cedric added as he looked into her eyes.

Eleanor felt sad hearing him. He was all alone in all this time. She wanted to go back in time… and go with him and accompany him all the time. She wanted to say to him "I am there for you and can lean on my shoulder," as she hugged him.

She hugged him tighter unknowingly as she poured all her unknown and unnamed feelings she had for him. Cedric widened his eyes at the sudden initiation of her hug. No matter what and what kind of situation she was in… she never took the initiative to hug him or kiss him. But this was the first. A smile formed on his face as he hugged her tighter.

"I guess… I am in love with you…" her words stilled him making his hold on her tighter.

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Author's Notes:

A small chapter in between my exams. And guess what my exams would end on the 6th. I will give updates after that daily.

Btw... how was the chapter? Unlike many cliche novels... I don't want them to delay expressing their feelings for each other. Let me know your thoughts and comments.