9 Chapter 9 – End of Prologue

"Are you out of your mind? Or perhaps you're already drunk..." The lady replied instinctively from his notorious request.

Damen didn't know what to say back, maybe because for a moment he thought Talia would have made a wonderful partner for him or that it might have been the alcohol that's gotten into him.

"I-" he began, Damen tried to gather his thoughts, he felt the urge to give Talia a fair and sound answer. He didn't want to give her a bad impression especially that the girl had grew up in the South, she might label him as one of the players.

"I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable, I hope it's not too late to forget my words earlier...I was only thinking about the safest way for me to get to the South, I guess it wouldn't work that way right?" –I must be out of my mind. Fiancé, really Damen? Hmm, but why not –The young lord couldn't help but ask himself.

Damen spared a quick glance at the young lady beside him. She seemed to be silent and have given things some thought. They both wandered their eyes at the same scenery -the garden lights and floating lanterns were a sight to watch, accompanied with the bustly crowd from below were the perfect distraction for this unsettling atmosphere between them.

"I'll think about it now. But first answer my question, why do you even want to move in the South?" Talia responded carefully; is he being rebellious? Puberty perhaps? She couldn't help but wonder.

Damen shifted his gaze back to Talia, his rubies met with her sapphire ones. There was a moment of silence before he carefully answered Talia. He must not be too carefree after all.

"My homeland might lose its dignity...haha...I meant the Temple. Being raised there, I have two fates awaiting -the first would be succeeding the Ducal, then comes fulfilling the Temple's oath.

-"Oath?? You mean you've been chosen? But you're-" Talia's eyes grew wide at the young lord's words.

"Yes, Sista Mia thinks so too. That's why I must leave that place...for the sake of many, and even men who are helplessly broken."

Damen gave out a long sigh prior to his statement. Talia was rather taken aback by the sudden news. Taking the Temple's oath meant for Damen that he had been chosen by the priest as a public instrument, holy and faithful must he be before the god and must serve the land all his life. Such oath taken would most likely be imprisonment and all properties of the Ducal after his succession must comply with the temple's wishes. It was yet another political game striving for power.

"They must really be insane huh…" Talia couldn't grasp the thought of Damen serving the temple –THIS Damen? Using him as a Holy subject would literally drive the mass in vain.

"To be honest, I really don't mind offering my life to the Temple...But my name itself is far too tainted to be called a 'holy subject'. Declaring my pureness would definitely drive the people mad." The young lord gazed upon the dark sky, as the fireworks splattered unto the empty canvas from time to time, he would revert his gaze back to this view as if he was in awe in order to avoid Talia's eyes.

"Wait, by p-pure….you mean you haven't- … that you're a vir-but-" –Holy f*ks, it wasn't true after all? The Damen Knightly who played with the ladies heart, a master in bed, is a virgin –Talia commented in her mind.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" –Damen wondered, perhaps there was something on his face?

Composing herself, Talia could only look away from her companion. Despite being with the young lord for three years, she couldn't deny the fact that she had indeed doubted his innocence from time to time. This was the first time that Damen had openly spoke about the issue himself. And so, their conversation went on:

-"Ahem, so… about you fleeing the West, I don't think taking me as your f-fiancé would be necessary."

"You mean, there is another way?"

-"Yes, there is one way."

"Please speak, my lady, I feel highly intrigued."

-"How about asking your dear brother to extend your stay in the East?"

"Hmm… the East huh. It's not actually what I have in mind, but I guess that will do for a year."

-"If you think about it, you could actually extend it to three years, my lord. Now that you have fully served your bro-his Highness for six years, he might promote you as his Second hand Military advisor. Being in the Military may give you an excuse to extend your return in the West and in claiming your rights. And lastly, it might be the best place to hide yourself from the public, and perhaps the rumors might die down a little."

"Brilliant! I've been too caught up in running away, why couldn't I think of that earlier. Talia, I owe you for this. "

-"It is my pleasure." The young lady replied wittingly. But deep inside, she had been calculating of the young lord's future, about how it must be tough for a 17 year old. In her mind, this was the best bet, to stay silent for 3 years and to grow up in the military before claiming his rights. Rumors would backfire after hearing that Damen had grew up in a military discipline -but not only this, working as the second in command would definitely leave an impression of alliance with the East. If that happens, then the temple might revoke anointing Damen in order to avoid the eastern influence that could ruin the Temple's image.

Talia spared a worried glance towards his direction. It was the least she could do. Inhaling the unpleasant air that had gathered between them, deep down she could feel a tight knot in her stomach. Perhaps because she felt sorry for his destiny, but what really bothered her more was that this could be their last meeting. Trying to push away the bothersome emotions, but she couldn't stop herself from looking at his ruby eyes. They were tantalizing her, as expected from the rumors, she couldn't look away. It was impossible to look away, since those eyes looked as if it would swallow her any time soon. The two have been holding each other's gaze for quite a while. As they lingered in this awkward situation, none of them were willing to back away. It led them to wondering why the other wouldn't look away.

Talia by now had a mixed of emotions, she didn't want to admit it, though she was captive by his eyes she couldn't help but ask –Why isn't he looking away? Damen was bound to be confused with Talia's passive reaction. Knowing her, she should have looked away by now. But she never did, Damen could feel himself tormented in delight, does this mean she was okay with him, or is he mistaken things? If she wasn't okay, then why isn't she looking away?

It was confusing and ambiguous at the same time. For Talia, it was her heart that had irritably raced in each second that passed. And the more she saw her reflection in his eyes, the more she understood the knots that had been bothering her. My, she was finally starting to realize her feelings for the young lord but denying it was a means of survival, for it could be a massive threat, or so she thought.

On the other hand, Damen could barely keep himself up from reaching out to her. His hands were incredibly gripping the railings hard. He could only think about surpassing the temptation. There was no means of taking action now, nothing should happen, their destinies were sealed with their future responsibilities. He couldn't bear to ruin it for them, and the thought of Talia going through such consequences would be the end for him, he could ruin their chances if there was even any. So without further ado, the two could only cover their fantasy with a misinterpretation.

-"It must be the alcohol." She began.

-"Is there something on my face?" He began.

"huh?" Damen responded.

-"Nothing, the alcohol must be getting on me, I thought I saw those fireworks in your eyes. Pardon my rudeness, my lord"

"Ah, I see, it's okay. I think it might be the same for me."

-"Hm?" Talia was feeling sick all of a sudden, the thought of her leaving soon had been triggered as time passed by. And she could only care less what she had been saying out loud.

"The fireworks, in your eyes, I mean." Damen replied but his mind wondered what he was even saying.

-"Fireworks?" She absent mindedly repeated, in her mind, this was their last goodbye.

"Yeah, so um…This might not be the time, but could you offer me a dance, my lady?" Damen asked the lady who had seemed to give up in saying anything, this was a nice move for Damen.

-"Is that it? Sure."

"Then- "Damen held out his hand, thinking that it would probably be their last time. And He could see it on Talia's eyes, that there was a hint of sadness as he smiled at her.

Taking his hand, Damen smoothly took the lady into his arms. Talia's hands were warm and soft in his touch. Her waist small and delicate as they always were, he carefully led her with his tempo. At this, Damen's eyes never left hers. His eyes burned with passion, irresistibly stunned at the beauty before him. It was all he could wish for, but it was not enough.

Surprised at their sudden closeness as Damen pulled her closer, Talia gasped for air. Their chest were against each other; their faces were inches apart. This was the closest that they've ever been. Talia's breath was rather hot, but she couldn't make out if it was the alcohol that's gotten her out of breath or that she was drunk from the beastly beauty that swept her off her feet.

At this moment, something was bound to happen. With the two entangled with each other's arms, a longing gaze as they looked into their unwavering reflections. Their bodies cling for warmth against the cold festive breeze, and the fireworks giving off that romantic spark. At this point, a line had to be crossed, and Damen knew of it in his glorious bones that it would be his first. A symbol of goodbye for his unbeknownst affection for her, maybe with a kiss-

For once, Talia was not denying anything about his existence, that Damen is the man of her dreams. Not just his looks, but she cared for his well-being as well. Over the years of putting up a strong front, there was no man other than he that could melt her toughened heart and at the same time make her feel so strong. This fact annoyed her as well, but nothing mattered more to her when she knew deep inside, they were bound for goodbye. So, maybe with a kiss- with a goodbye kiss, they would move on and part their ways.

However, it was at this moment that had intertwined their fates to each other.

***

-"A secret rendezvous in the terrace, how classic. Did you get that?"

"Yes, sire."

-"Don't call me that, at least, not yet."

"As you wish, master..."

(End of Prologue)