The Jealous King

Arielle thought Ronan didn't hear her the first time. So, she repeated her question. "Is that a true story, Your Majesty?"

"I can't say it's true. It is a myth that has been going on for hundreds of years. The story has been told by word of mouth, so there must be a lot of exaggeration," answered Ronan expressionlessly.

Arielle nodded. "Oh..."

Once the show was over, the actors and actresses of the show handed out flowers to every visitor in the front row. Arielle got a red rose. The female lead, who acted as the white-haired witch, looked at Arielle with an amazed expression. She blinked her eyes many times to see the beauty of Arielle's white hair.

The woman looked up then caught Ronan's sharp gaze. Immediately the actress lowered her head and resigned.

"I got flowers," Arielle said happily.

Ronan softened his gaze. "It suits you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Everyone started to leave the square, and the air grew colder, which indicated that the Cathedral disciples had stopped working. Ronan helped Arielle to put her coat back on.

Arielle kept the flowers that the actress had given her. The little boy, who was standing in front of her, called out to Arielle.

"Miss! Wait a minute!"

Arielle and Ronan turned around. The boy held out his hand, which contained the same rose as the one Arielle had received. The boy's face turned red, and he glanced at Arielle shyly.

"What is this?"

"Take it. Boys like me don't need roses. So I decided I'd just give it to the lady because she helped provide me space to watch the show."

Arielle was touched. But when she wanted to receive the flower, Ronan stopped her.

"Don't you have a sister or a mother? Just give it to them," said Ronan curtly.

The boy glanced at Ronan with a disinterested expression. After he glanced at Ronan from top to bottom, the boy clicked his tongue.

It made the king's blood boil.

How dare a rancid brat cluck in front of him!

"Miss, please convey to your escort so as not to interfere in your affairs."

"What are you saying?" growled Ronan, annoyed. Arielle restrained Ronan's body so as not to reply to the boy's words.

"Thank you for the flowers. Nice to meet you," Arielle said in a friendly manner.

The boy's face was red as a tomato. He stretched out his hand once again, and the confused Arielle accepted the hand. Ronan almost pulled out his sword when the boy bravely kissed the back of Arielle's hand.

The child then ran and left Arielle who was rooted to the spot. But before he got too far, he turned again. "Miss! Wait for me for the next few years! I will come to propose to you!"

Arielle smiled broadly at the boy's words which she thought were funny.

"Awww… isn't he so cute?" Arielle asked Ronan.

She failed to notice that the king gritted his teeth in anger.

Arielle raised her hand, returning the wave of the child's hand, who then disappeared with the people leaving the square.

"Come on, we have to go back too," said Arielle.

Ronan, who was still annoyed, just chose silence. Even on a horse, the man still felt annoyed every time Arielle looked at the two roses in her hands. He felt like he wanted to trample on one of the roses.

As they passed through the palace gates, it started to snow again and Ronan escorted Arielle to the Whitethorn palace grounds. The man immediately turned around without saying goodnight, which left Arielle confused. But before Ronan stepped away, Arielle immediately grabbed the man's coat.

"Your Majesty? Are you okay?"

"No. I'm not feeling well."

Arielle walked around the man to come face to face. "What is wrong?" she asked softly.

"I didn't like the boy earlier."

"Huh? What did the boy do? I think he's pretty sweet."

"Sweet? Arielle, I don't like it because that kid kisses your hand. Also said he would marry you."

Huh? Arielle almost laughed out loud at the king's words. However, when she saw the piercing gaze that Ronan gave her, she couldn't help but pursed her lips.

"Your Majesty… What is it that upsets you? I'm not really going to marry him, really. I'm going back to Nieverdell before that kid grows up to be a teenager."

Ronan was restless. His annoyance was completely unfounded. But when he remembered the boy's face, it really bothered him, especially because the boy had bravely proposed to Arielle in front of his face.

If only the boy knew that he was a king. Ronan longed to see the frightened face of the boy. What was more, Arielle added that she would be returning to Niverdell…

Ronan stepped forward and embraced Arielle's body tightly. "Hey, can you stay up north a little longer? Even though your family has sent a surrogate baby wolf, I hope you can stay here longer."

Arielle wrapped her arms around the king in return. "You can invite me as many times as you want. We're friends, right?"

"Hm-hm."

Arielle pulled away, and now Ronan felt better. He touched Arielle's face, which were now red from the cold night temperature. "Lastly, how do you feel about tonight's festival?"

"Very pleasant! I will always remember this night with all my heart. And all of this… was thanks to you, Your Majesty."

"I like it when you feel happy."

"But let me repay your kindness," asked Arielle.

"With?"

"Could you close your eyes, Your Majesty?"

"Now?" Arielle nodded. Ronan looked around to find out what Arielle would repay him with.

"Could you close your eyes sooner? The night is getting colder," Arielle said with a big smile. The white vapor that came out of her mouth was getting thicker which made Ronan feel guilty for holding Arielle long enough.

The man closed his eyes. Arielle grabbed Ronan's collar to pull him closer. The man was too high out of reach.

As a thank you, Arielle gave a short kiss on the man's right cheek.

It took Ronan a few seconds to process what was happening. He straightened his body back to stare at Arielle intently.

"What did you just do?"

"Giving you a kiss?" Arielle replied, who also hesitated.

"Why didn't you tell me first?"

"Why?"

Ronan removed the cloth covering his face and left Arielle confused.

"Can you repeat it?"

"Huh?

"Do it one more time without this cloth covering my face."

"Your Majesty?"

Ronan took one step forward which caused Arielle to back away subconsciously. The man leaned his body closer and presented his cheek towards Arielle. Ronan closed his eyes and waited for her lips to land on his cheeks.

But not a kiss to get. Arielle was running away making Ronan smile bitterly.

"Maybe it's not time yet," he muttered, then left the Whitethorn palace to return to the Blackthorn palace.

That night it suddenly became very warm for Ronan even though the snow continued to fall into the morning.