Episode 24

Esmeralda arrived at the garden to find Ezra seated in quiet contemplation, his gaze fixed on the swans gracefully gliding across the pond.

"Hi," Esmeralda said as she approached him, drawing him out of his thoughts.

"Hey," he replied, his eyes meeting hers. He stood up as she got closer.

She sat down, and he joined her on the bench. There was a brief silence as both of them felt nervous, unable to meet each other's gaze.

Finally, Ezra broke the silence with a comment, "The weather is nice today."

"It is," Esmeralda replied with a smile.

"So, today is the day. How do you feel?" Ezra asked.

"Nervous, very, very nervous," Esmeralda admitted, swallowing anxiously as she looked into his eyes. Her tension was evident.

"I'm here for you. You're not alone in this," Ezra reassured her, reaching out to touch her hand.

She looked at his hand on hers and gazed into his eyes. A smile formed on her face as she replied, "Thank you, Ezra. Your support means a lot to me."

"I know I haven't been there for you lately, consumed by my own emotions. I'm sorry about that. You need me, and I don't want us to be at odds anymore. I love you, Esmeralda," Ezra confessed.

Her heart filled with joy at his declaration, and she instantly wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. He held her close, burying his face in her neck, savoring her delicate floral scent.

After a while, their lips met in a tender kiss. "I love you too, Ezra," she whispered, looking into his eyes. His fingers gently grazed her cheeks as he stared back at her lovingly.

Their moment was interrupted by approaching footsteps, and Ezra swiftly got up from the bench as he spotted Damian approaching. Both Esmeralda and Ezra felt their faces flush with embarrassment at the thought of Damian witnessing their intimate exchange.

"Oh, there you are," Damian said as he reached them. Their faces still red, Esmeralda stood up from the bench and cleared her throat.

"A servant told me to find you in the garden. Are you alright, Princess?" Damian inquired, his gaze shifting from Esmeralda to Ezra, who seemed tense.

"Yes, I am. Ezra was just being a good friend, comforting me. I'm a little nervous about tonight," Esmeralda replied, her voice slightly hesitant.

"I see," Damian said, glancing at Ezra once more. "Well, good thing I'm here. Would you care for a little walk around the gardens to calm your nerves before you go back in and get dressed?"

"Yes, of course," Esmeralda responded tentatively. Damian took her hand, and they began walking deeper into the gardens, leaving Ezra behind.

"You're as lovely as the weather today, Esmeralda," Damian complimented her, wearing a charming smile.

She looked up at him and politely returned the smile. "Thank you, Damian. You look very handsome in your suit as well."

"This old thing?" Damian said playfully, popping the collar of his suit jacket. He wore a midnight blue suit with a white shirt, and a gold chain dangled from his neck. His long blonde hair was tied behind his neck with a scrunchy.

"You and Ezra seem quite close," Damian remarked.

Esmeralda smiled and replied, "We've always been. He is my oldest childhood friend."

Damian cleared his throat and corrected her, "You mean one of your oldest childhood friends. I mean, hello."

Esmeralda couldn't help but laugh at Damian's reaction. "Yes, you too are an old friend, although we never quite got along as children, did we?" she teased.

"That's your fault," Damian retorted playfully.

"Excuse you, you were always so mean and such a bully," Esmeralda replied with a smirk.

"Well, that's because I had the biggest crush on you, and you wouldn't give me the time of day. Not in the way you did with Ezra. You always seemed more drawn to him," Damian confessed.

Esmeralda began to speak, but Damian interrupted her, saying, "Shhh, no need to explain. I can see that's still the case."

"It's not what you think, Damian. Ezra and I are..." Esmeralda tried to explain.

"I get it. He was your first love. I am a very jealous man, but I am also very competitive and relentless," Damian interjected. He stopped walking and took Esmeralda's hands, gently pressing his lips to them and locking eyes with her.

"I intend to be your last love, Esmeralda. I'm not giving up on us. I know you need time, and there's a lot unfolding in your life, but with our engagement, I promise to be a good husband to you, to support you, and to always be there for you in whatever way you need me to be," Damian declared earnestly.

Esmeralda listened in silence, unable to find the words to respond.

"I have been in love with you ever since I was a young boy. You were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. And with the passage of time, you've grown into a breathtakingly enchanting woman. I look forward to winning your heart, regardless of the competition," Damian continued, his determination and charm emanating from his glowing eyes.

Esmeralda swallowed, feeling overwhelmed by Damian's words. "Wow, I don't know what to say, Damian."

"You don't have to say anything. I just needed to let you know," Damian reassured her.

"I appreciate it very much," Esmeralda said, leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Come on, let's get back inside. You need to finish getting ready. Your guests will soon be arriving," Damian suggested, and they made their way back into the palace. Esmeralda headed to her room to prepare for the evening.

It was an hour before sunset when guests started arriving and made their way to the banquet hall.

"I don't know why King Aaron never remarried. Can you imagine? A woman as our leader, such a thing has never been," Lord Vladimir whispered with contempt as he and his wife were shown into the banquet room.

"I think it's amazing, darling. We are fortunate enough to live through this particular moment in history. From what I have heard, I believe she will make a lovely queen." His wife the lady Alessandra replied.

"Hmmp, that remains to be seen," said Lord Vladimir with disdain. It was no secret that some of the lords were against a woman being next in line to the throne. They had pressured King Aaron in the many years after his wife's death to take another queen and produce a male heir. However, King Aaron had rejected all their advice and remained steadfast in his choice of Esmeralda as his heir. This left a rather sour taste in the mouths of some of his lords who still clung to old ideas.

There were approximately 24 dignitaries present, including lords with their wives and others with their heirs. This grand event was destined to become a historic occasion, and nobody wanted to miss out on the opportunity to secure an invitation. The attendees were filled with curiosity and anticipation, eager to meet their future queen. Some harbored reservations and sought to pass judgment on whether she was fit to rule the wolves.

As the servants commenced serving wine, the atmosphere became lively, with the libations fueling the energy of the gathering. The band played enchanting classical melodies, setting the perfect tone for the evening.