FIRST KISS

I started to find her trace, but she's not on the knight's camp neither on her office. Then it occurs to me where she typically studies. AT THE LIBRARY. As I was gripping the doorknob, my hands began to sweat. Should I just pretend that I came here for a piece of mind?

Not knowing what to do, the door unexpectedly opened by itself. When our gazes locked, it felt as if the words began to disappear in an instant. A deafening hush engulfed the entire corridor once more. "Please accept my apologies; I was simply swept away." I started as she was looking at me intently.

"Is it okay if I tell you something? Would you believe me if I told you that you had never chosen me before?" Maybe it's time to tell her even though it's an impossible story.

"I don't need you to believe my story. I just wanted you to hear me out." I've been holding onto this for a long time, and I can't keep it hidden forever. "The truth is that, I'm not Camilla." I smile bitterly.

"The one you're facing right now is the previous Grand Duke's daughter, I'm Devourah Le Fleur and I was your previous fiancé, Your Highness."

"At first, I despised to be your spouse back then because you were notorious for being a violent person. I would treat you coldly and even neglects my duty as your wife." My fist clenched on its own, while my face is facing her confidently.

"But then you proved to me that you are trustworthy. I realized that everything you did was for my own sake. To keep me safe and protected. I was the only one who keeps on neglecting you. I never expected to fall in love with you at that moment."

"However, I was only your first. We didn't end-up together because you ended up with Serina. You said that you were tired of loving me. So I decided to let you go. It was never easy to forget you. You have no idea how much I grieved and called your name every evening. I look like a kid attempting to entice you to fight for me."

"Do you remember when I say, I wanted to wield the sword alongside you? The reason why I said that is because you died, Hel. It was because you were trying to keep me safe. And I'm not going to let that happen again." My tears have started to fall again, despite the fact that I was well a little while ago.

"I'm not sure why fate decided to give me another opportunity at life. I was imprisoned in this body when woke up. Away from my aggressive father and away from useless servants working at Le Fleur."

"I thought I'd never see you again, yet you showed up at our manor, and you have no idea how thrilled I am. I want you to choose me all over again. I wanted you to trust me again. That's why I said those things when we met. It was a tiny risk, but I wanted to take it just in case you recognized me everywhere."

"It hurts me when you chose Serina in that time.."

"That is something I do not want to happen to me again. When I heard those words coming from her mouth, memories started to flashbacks that's why I said those words to you. I don't want you to believe in me, but I've been living in this nightmare for quite some time now so if you wanted to choose her again, inform me this early so I wouldn't have to cling to you."

Helvetica, who didn't speak a word caressed my cheeks as she tried to wipe my tears. "You look ugly when you cry." My eyes widened as she pressed her thumb to my lips. "I pledged to kiss you on our wedding day, but you're pushing me over my limits."

"Can I then have permission?" I give a small nod. It was humiliating, and my heart was racing rapidly, yet as soon as her gentle lips touched mine, electricity ran through my entire being.

At the same time, it was sweet and pleasant. I was supposed to experience butterflies, but all I got was a comfortable feeling. I can smell her flower aroma, which entices me to inquire further, her touch, which causes me to freeze in place, her sincere reassurance, I love all of it. Am I selfish if I wanted to keep her for myself?

As she pulls my waist closer, the kiss that was supposed to last a second stretched into a minute. I began looking for oxygen as soon as we stop. It was my first.. kiss..

"I don't find your story made-up. You wouldn't make fun of yourself after all."

"Regardless of whether you're Camilla or not, you're still you. Destiny has brought us together. You mentioned that I ended up with you at the time. It's no surprise that I've been with you up until now. I might be tired back then, but I'm just tired. I will never fall out of love with you." Her statement.. it was the same back then..

"I apologized if I left you a little while ago. I just can't digest what happened, but I'm here, aren't I? Dying isn't on my plan. I'll make sure to be careful in the future. Could you place your trust on me, until then?" It might be the right to let go all of my worries.

I should trust her more..

"It's funny how you believe my story."

"How can I not believe the Empress? You're worth more than a Gold or any jewels in a store, Camilla. I treasure you more than anything. So all you will say is valid. As well as your feelings." She extended her hand as she locked her eyes on me.

"If I ever fell out of love, I will recall on why did I fell in love with you. Now, shall we have our dinner?" She chuckles slightly as I took her hand. "I never thought that I can taste dessert before the main course. I should've kissed you after dinner." Instead of being enraged, heat began to rise on my face as we walked down the corridor.

"Can we pretend the kiss as a practice? I wanted to give you the real one on our marriage." She almost devour my whole existence and that's just a practice for her?

This woman.. is too much trouble!