Part: 7 ~ The Truth About Love - Artemis’ Take

Ace breaks the silence by slamming his fist on the table, then standing. "Welcome to the palace." Ace then leaves the room through the red door letting it slam shut behind him. Ace walks forward and finds Artemis leaning against the wall. 'Well, what did you think?" Artemis looks towards Ace and asks. Ace responds "He's smart, but quiet. He did not speak, just looked around and read the room." Ace pauses and motions for Artemis to walk alongside him. "I have not said your secret and I promise you I will never speak, but tell me why do you know he is the one?" Ace asks hesitantly but driven by his urge to protect Artemis. Artemis sighs deeply and responds, "Alright I will tell you the whole story but first we must find a more private location to speak." Artemis looks around seeing a vast number of maids cleaning the hall. "Fair point, how about the bench out in the woods? The palace workers never venture out that far and the guards only make rounds around the forest." Ace responds as he reaches a set of glass French doors that open out to the main garden. Main garden is grand with a large water fountain, behind the fountain the forest seems to begin as line after line of trees dot the landscape. Artemis opens the doors and begins to walk down a path that leads to vast lines of trees. "Perfect" Artemis responds.

After a short awkwardly silent walk the two, Ace and Artemis, arrive at a bench set. The bench set is surrounded by a wolfsbane and orange cosmos flower patch. Artemis sits down first, followed by Ace who sits right beside Artemis. Ace giggles slightly "I didn't know you were a gardener Artemis." Artemis responds slightly agitated "Do you want to hear my story or not?" Ace stops the giggling, "Alright Alright I'll stop." "Ever since I was little, I could charm anyone I wanted. Woman fell at my feet, and all the men bowed down to me. I hated this. I say a few words with a smile on my face and any woman would fall for me. I used my charms to get my way no doubt about it, but I never managed to find someone who treated me as Meígma rather than a handsome prince who is great with words. That is why I asked you for a favor, to create a fake person. Leon Wolfworth. I wanted a way to be myself, express myself, and not be seen as the charming prince." Artemis pauses and looks at his hands, clenching them as they rest on his lap. "I did not want to court some high and mighty princess. I only learned this by being able to express myself and share my music freely. I learned that no matter the cost I will not succumb to the demands of my role as prince. I would never marry a princess or someone I could care less about. Slowly as I published more music, I became more popular as Leon. I used Leon to figure out who I was. Which led to the revelation that while I was great at charming women, I never found them attractive. I never saw them the way they see me. Slowly I discovered that I was attracted to men." Artemis ends his last sentence feeling and sounding ashamed. Ace jumps in "Yes, I know you like men. You have told me this before. There is nothing to be ashamed of, or any reason to believe you are a lesser Meígma. I have always seen you as a son to me, and I will protect and care for you as such because you deserve it. Your true father may have failed you, but I will not." Ace finishes in a strong declaration. Artemis slowly begins to speak again after feeling reassured by Ace's words. "I had heard there was this great punk rock club in town. So, when I found a weak point in the castle guarding system, I choose to take advantage of it and head into town to see the club." Artemis picks an orange cosmos growing at his feet and begins to fidget with the flower in his hand as he continues his recount of Artemis and Canis first encounter. "I managed to find my way into Smithlington, but I had gotten lost trying to find the club. I did not have my phone on me because I did not want to be tracked. So, I decided to find a public building to ask for directions from someone. Every time I entered a building everyone would run from me or avoid me, I guess they feared my appearance into town unannounced. Eventually I saw signs that pointed towards Smithlington's public library. Since I had never been to a library outside of the one in the palace, I assumed it would have a map collection that I might be able to use to find my way. I walked into the library no problem and I began to come through each aisle to find the maps. Canis was sitting at the back of the library in between the history and kids' section with his head stuck in a book. He had caught me aimlessly walking out of the corner of his eye. When I made it down an aisle close to where he was sitting, he closed his book and looked me in my eyes and asked with the softest and most gentle voice I have ever heard, Excuse me sir, what are you looking for? I turned to see him now standing from the table. He was so short and utterly adorable, I had this strange feeling inside myself, a warm joyful feeling. This feeling overwhelmed me to the point that I lost my balance balanced as I am I tripped over my feet and landed face forward at his feet. Shorty instantly began to help me up from the ground as he asked if I was okay. At that very moment I knew I wanted to date this man. In the way he spoke to me and looked me in the eyes, he had no clue who I was, it was a blank slate." Ace chimes in, "You wanted to date him? But by the time you told me you said this was the man of your dreams? How did that happen?" Artemis answers Ace's questions, "Well there are more stories. I remember the first time I flirted with him, and he had no clue what was going on or how to respond." Ace responds shocked, "Really?! For you to say you were flirting, that is practically kissing the person for you! How did he not notice?" "Well Ace, that was how I knew he was the one. The fact that he would not fall for my charms or not even notice them, it made me feel safe and understood. It made me feel like I was not putting a spell on a person but actually having the person fall in love with me organically. Besides, it was adorable to see him warm up to me and begin to trust me. He made me feel like I was trapped in a spell for him." Artemis pauses as he looks down at the ground, then begins to speak again. "Well, we should be getting back to the palace. I would be happy to share more stories, but I do not want to get too personal without asking him. After all he trusted me so I cannot betray his trust even to you Ace!" Artemis says mockingly as he begins to get up from his seat, Ace takes the hint and leaves ahead of Artemis to give him some space. Artemis looks back behind him, "I miss you so much Shorty. I thought I would feel better with you here, but I feel even lonelier than before."