CHAPTER -5( they say patriotism never be a hindrance against love but always glorify it)
(Ancient Romance)
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Evelina has reached the central ocean on the 3rd day of her journey. There's a lot of mighty ships in the central basecamp linked with one another and surrounded by small ships. Even the large waves from the ocean can't influence this area with their movements.
Evelina's ship went towards the main ship crossing by the other ships and boats. There's hanging a flag on the top of her ship that is the symbol of carrying Royal decrees.
Everyone understood that someone has brought the permission decrease. But they didn't expect that the northern Commander brought it herself.
Evelina's heart started beating faster as her ship getting closer to the main ship.
She is happy indeed.The oceanic air toched her long straight hair adding extra glow in her appearance.
The ship stop in front of the main ship.
One of her men announced it.
"At your service, Commander."a 2nd ranked General bowed to her standing on the main ship.
Some soldiers placed a ladder between the two ships to attach them.
Evelina and her men entered into the base-ship.
"Where's General Samuel?"she asked after getting down from the ladder.
"As we didn't have the information about your arival, he's attending a meeting inside the cabin."the General said in a polite manner.
"Then I'll go inside first."Evelina walked towards the large compartment of the ship while crossing some small cabin.
Samuel and some other Generals are discussing about the attacking plan with the ship captains and representatives from every platoon. suddenly He felt like someone has wrapped his waist from the back and hold him tightly. A pair of warm hands created a thin chain around his lower abdomen.
Samuel got shocked at first but soon he smelled a familiar enraptured scent. It's evelina's scent. His backbone frozed immediately and his flawless face sculped a slight blush.
"Missed you."Evelina whisper in his ears attaching her body with Samuel's backside so that he can sense the curves of her figure.
Then Evelina passionately kissed on Samuel's back shoulder as if there's no one else except the two of them.
"We'll take our leave now. Enjoy your privacy"all the Generals hurriedly left the compartment with a shocked and awkward face. Some of them even started running while trying to suppress their smile.
Evelina laughed loudly seeing all the official's embarrassing face while they went outside.
Samuel turned back and held her more closer in his embrace.
"Finally you've come.....I thought we'll never be able to meet."he touched her neck and began to kiss all over her face.
" How could I let you leave like this without meeting me..." Evelina said frowning her eyebrows while a drop of tears welled down from a corner of her eyes.
Samuel kissed away her tears and slided his lips towards Evelina's lips and attached with it.
"Sam, we're in the wrong place..." Evelina separated the surfaces of theirs lips and looked around.
"hahahaha.... you'll be staying tonight, right!!" Samuel laughed lightly while caressing her heir with his hands.
"Hmm....."Evelina nodded with a seductive feature.
Then she clasped one of his arms and heaved him outside to the forecastle of the ship.
All the members of the meeting are waiting there and talking with each other about the up coming mission.
Noticing Evelina and Samuel coming towards them, they gave a bright smile mixed with teasing...
"Why did you come out. You two can carry on. We'll manage the meeting on our own...." One of them said mockingly.
"Shut up..." Evelina gave a smile and didn't take the fragile sneering seriously.
Then everyone bowed to them.
"All of You may raise."Samuel said while sitting on a couch. Evelina sat on a distance with her subordinates.
"No seriously,Commander .....you two can continue your personal congregation.. It's okay for us. We're waiting here." A captain tried to make a serious face but ended up laughing.
" Shut up...you fool.....hahaha. Or I'll send you to your wife instead of going to the war." Samuel laughed with a blushed .
" I'll accept it with pleasure...." The captain kneel down as if he's taking an important order.... and deepen the fun .
Everyone laughed out loud.
"Gentle men, I'm here to give you the permission letter from the Emperor for this journey. Have a safe journey and bring Victory for us."Evelina handover the letter to a general.
" We don't know if we'll return or not... maybe we have to keep staying there....So we can't say that we'll bring victory.... But by Lord's mercy we'll send the news of victory indeed." one of the Generals nattered who's sitting on the farthest corner of the forecastle.
"You must be tired.... if you want you can take rest... I'll meet you after finishing the conference with the officials...."Samuel looked at Evelina.
"No....Cheif, please let's not work today.... It's our great fortune that the Northern Commander has come here. Let's just celebrate the occasion." One of them shouted with joy.
Samuel looked at Evelina with a questioning face.
"I'm not tired yet....." Evelina gave a smile.
" Commander, in your honour, we've already arranged a fest. please join with us, we'll be delighted with your participation."
Evelina said nothing and her smile turned artificial. Samuel understood Evelina's situation but he gave them permission to celebrate.
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In the inner compartment of a large vassal:
Everyone is sitting on a long dinner table inside the big lower deck. Servants are serving them food and drinks time to time. In a corner, some arteists are playing soothing and splendid music. A few dancers are dancing with the melody.
Some are making barbecue in another corner.
Everyone is shouting and clapping and talking in themselves.
"I forget to congratulate you.... You've done a great job, my dear."Samuel begun to eat facing Evelina next to him.
"..."Evelina stared at her plate keeping her gaze down.
Samuel noticed her gloomy mood .
"What happened?"he asked.
"Are we going to congratulate each other like this all over our life...."Evelina open her mouth.
"What do you mean!!"
"If it's continued like this we won't be able to live together anyway. Let's just leave everything here and go somewhere else. We can have a family and leave like a normal couple... I've given my 23 years to the nation. Now I want to spend my life with you as your wife....I want to have our own children... You'll work outside...and I'll raise our children. Even I'll cook for you every day." Evelina said nonstoply without letting Samuel a chance to talk.
"So that's why you're upset. Now you want to be a housewife!!" Samuel sneered.
"I'm not jocking....!!" Evelina gave him a serious look.
"But my lady, do you know how to cook?"Samuel laughed.
"I'll learn it... Stop teasing. Think about it seriously."Evelina got annoyed with his behaviour.
Samuel looked at her seriously...
"It's too late....We should have think about it before talking our vows as soldiers.Have you forgotten what we've promised to the nation during our training."Samuel asked.
"No....but"Evelina tried to say ..
"No matter what, we will fight for our people even till the death. We must be loyal to the throne in every situation.We're soldiers.We have born to serve the nation. So stop dreaming about impossible things. You'll do your duty wherher it's returning to the north or staying in the palace as the shield of the Royal Prince. And I'll be heading for the South within 5 days."Samuel softly explained in a fear of hurting Evelina.
"I understood....Then I'll go with you. You can't stop me from this at least.."she said with a confident.
"BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PRINCE!!" Samuel reflected a omnious image.
"Andreas will take care of it. He has done it until now without any flaws." Evelina tried her best to convince Samuel.
"But his condition isn't good nowadays..."
"I'm not a physician anyway. My presence won't change anything...." Evelina chuckled.
"But still..... if you're not going to stay in the palace, then you should head back to the north.... Apart from the Prince, your priority is North Oceanic territory, not me..... Don't you think you've a lot of reposibilites as a northern Commander.....!!"
"I know how to maintain the control over my territory....for this I don't need to stay there. I've a lot of people to preserve my rule there."
"Okey then you can come with me. Thus we can serve our cavalry without separating from each other.... ."Samuel nodded.
"REALLY...!!" Evelina's cloudy face replaced with a sunny one.
"Oh crape!!! You're starting the journey within five days...I have only a short period I guess. I have to return to the palace for seeking permission to go with you."Evelina stood up with excitement.
Everyone stood leaving the celebration up as soon as they noticed Evelina's movement.
"I can't postpone the date...No matter what, I have to leave on the fix date.....So you've to bring permission quickly....."Samuel stood up too .
"Then I need to hurry back to the palace.... The Emperor will permit me easily....but if I can't manage everything within time..... I'll catch you on your way with a speedy ship... ."she started running but then stopped her step for a while and came back again towards Samuel.
Samuel understand and stepped forward.Then he dragged her closed and moderately kissed her lower lips. Evelina also responded back...She couldn't move her face from Samuel as she wanted to remain in his touch like this forever....
But Samuel took the initiative released her lips on his own. But Evelina again kissed him.
" It's okay....from now on we're going to live together anyways....our struggle has ended finally....." Samuel smiled.
"Wait for me I'll be back soon. If you go without me, I'll cut off you head and buried you in the Royal Cemetery..."Evelina left with a smile .
" AMONG THE MARTYRS !! It'll be my honour, Your Highness....." Samuel finally turned his smile genuine and cheerful.
"shut up...." Evelina walked away leaving the fest in the middle.
Everyone presenting there couldn't understand the situation as they only stared at them with curiosity. Evelina's men stood up and followed her after sensing her withdrawal.
Samuel also accompanied her until she reached at her ship .
They started their journey...
Samuel kept staring at her ship until it's fade away within the night fog...
Even after crossing a vast distance Evelina kept monitoring Samuel's base- warship through her binocular in hope of having a vision of Samuel.
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3 days later.....
Evelina again returned back to the capital as soon as possible. Anyhow she have to manage a permission for her departure with Samuel. The Emperor will never questioned any of her decisions . So it's not a big deal for her.
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In The Royal Palace
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The Palace is holding a grand ceremony. Everyone is busy in arrangements.The whole capital has been furnished with gorgeous decorations along with the Imperial Palace. Servents and gaurds are working busily.
Evelina entered the palace with an unexpected surprise.
"What the hell is going on here!! They're still celebrating the victory... Wasn't it about to last only for 7 days..."she asked in the air observing her surroundings.
"Oh ... you're back so soon."Andreas held her hand and took her to the garden without letting any chance to talk back.
"Hey..!!!Where are you taking me. And why suddenly the victory celebrating turned so grand!!...!!"Evelina went with Andreas while talking.
"Seat here." Andreas said while sitting.
"What's going on....is there any other festival today.... I just left the palace for 8 days.....and you guys are celebrating without me..... "Evelina pretended to be upset....
She's in a good mood....So she doesn't let go off any chance of making jokes.
"Oh... Evelina. I need to talk with you...Stop your nonsense...."
"Okay, tell me quickly whatever you want to tell .I don't have much time. I'll go to the Imperial Court for seeking permission. I'm heading to the south with Samuel. Did you shock after hearing this!!"Evelina gave a bright smile to express her excitement.
But Andreas didn't pay a little heed to her words.
"Tell me one thing....What you've done to the Prince!!" Andreas make a cold face while asking.
"You mean Jordan....What happened to him!!" Evelina frowned her eyebrows.
"Prince Jordan seems to fond of you a lot."Andreas let out a sigh....
"Even I also like him. Isn't he so cute. In the future, I wish to have a son like him....He so innocent and intelligent at the same time. He has a special position in my heart.But why you're asking this unnecessary things.... DIDN'T YOU HEARD!! I'VE DECIDED TO GO WITH SAMUEL..... We'll be living together in southern territory..... TOGETHER !! "Evelina stood up for going to the court to meet with the Emperor.
But Andreas blocked her way.
"I think you didn't get it yet. Look... This is the arrangements of your wedding with the 3rd Prince. He wants to marry you and the Emperor granted the permission."Andreas said with a pain while showing her the surroundings.
"Are you kidding me!!"Evelina laughed.
"I'm swaring on my sword I'm telling the truth."he forwarded his sword and place two fingers on it to make the oath.
"You mean all these decorations....They didn't even asked me....How could the Prince do this to me.... I don't believe you... I'll go ask him myself "Evelina's smile turned colourless while she rushed towards the Prince Manor.
Andreas followed her.
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Evelina stepped inside the Prince's chembar breathing fast.
"Jordan!!where are you my prince?"she entered and looked around.
Suddenly a strong hand clutched Evelina's arm and yanked her towards the wall.
Evelina found herself in Jordan's embrace pressing her body with the wall. Suddenly discovering herself too close to Jordan, Evelina got dumbfounded and kept staring at him.
Jordan placed his arms around Evelina's waist and held her more closer.
"Are you looking for me ,Eve."Jordan muttered with a low gentle voice.
A tender but lenient blush spreaded in his unblemished face.
"Jordan....I...."she gathered her strength to talk but ran out of words.
Andreas entered into the chembar following Evelina.
"Shhh...You don't have to say anything. Are you happy now.... We're getting married. Empress mother said, you'll be my wife soon..."Jordan slided some hair from Evelina's neck while placing his hands on the cervical spine of her neck.
"WIFE!!" Evelina's voice shaked along with her whole body. A fear captured her into a cage.
Jordan gave a shy smile and took his face closer towards Evelina's lips. Evelina understood that Jordan is going to kiss her. She tried to stop his action but couldn't take any preventing movement as her body got paralyzed.
Jordan leaned his face with Evelina's face...and kissed on her cheek. He rubbed his lips all over her cheek and about to attached it with Evelina's lips but suddenly Andreas put the palm of his hand between them.
Andreas splitted the two of them apart in a speed by holding Jordan from back.
Evelina took a relaxed breath seeing Andreas.
" My Prince, You must wait untill the marriage...." Andreas kept grasping Jordan's both arms folding from back.
"What is this behaviour !! Leave me.... I'll kiss her..." Jordan shouted while struggling to make him free from Andreas grip.
"No, my Prince..... You must follow the custom... And she have to visit the Emperor now...Eve let's go..." Andreas looked at Evelina and gave her a signal to run.
Evelina's hands are still shaking. She lost all her strength. She looked at Andreas and Jordan leaning her body with the wall.
Understanding the signal from Andreas, she swiftly walked away from the chembar.
Andreas released Prince Jordan and went outside benting down his head as apology....
Jordan didn't understand their behaviour at all.
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Evelina came back to the garden with Andreas. Both of them are breathing faster.
"Everything is true!!"Evelina made an extremely irritated face.
Suddenly her eyes filled with tears. She looked at Andreas...
"What will I do now...I want to go with Samuel." She kneel down on the ground out of frustration.
Her deep dark eyes turned red . It's like deep ponds overflowing.
"Eve.... get back to your senses. Use your brain... Don't flow with your emotions.... That brat Samuel ate up your brain I guess."
Evelina raised her head hearing from Andreas.
"Come on, Eve.... You can just go to the Emperor and ask him to cancel the marriage... Your a Commander in Chief. It's easy for you...." Andreas explained.
Evelina stopped crying....
"You're right. If I disagree to marry the Prince, the Emperor won't be able to go against me. I'm just overreacting.... It's not a problem for me." She stood up swiping her tears.
"Okay, then let's go to the main court and cancel this stupid marriage."Andreas smiled.
Both of them started walking....
But suddenly a maid stopped them.
"Sir, the 2nd Empress has summoned the commander."she lower her head to show respect.
"Andreas you wait here... I'll go first to visit the Empress. Then we'll go to the Emperor....."Evelina left with the maid.
Andreas sighed with a fear but didn't stop Evelina.
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Northern Pavilion:
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"My Empress , you've called me?"Evelina entered the chember.
"Hope you've already got the information. I have already ask Emperor. He agreed with the marriage. I always wanted you as my daughter-in-law."Empress smiled while taking sip from a cup of tea.
"But my Grace, I can't marry the Prince.I was about to go to the Emperor for the cancellation of this absurd marriage"Evelina seated on the couch.
"Why? What's the problem!! Do you think he won't be able to take care of you properly because he's just 17!!"Empress's smile faded away.
"....."Evelina blanked out of words.
"Rest assured. He's capable of carrying out all his duties as a husband. OR YOU THINK HE'S NOT HANDSOME ENOUGH!!" the Empress widen her eyes.
"No... it's not like than. Undoubtedly my Prince is the most good looking man in the whole Empire. He's charming indeed... But there aren't the reasons." Evelina said uncomfortably.
"Then what's your problem."Empress asked.
"I'm not worthy of him.....He deserves someone better. Besides, I'm in love someone else."Evelina said with a hesitation.
"Who's the guy?"
"I don't want to share that information with you....I apologise "
"Okay. I won't force you . But I think you're the most suitable lady for my son...And don't worry about your age gap... It's just a couple of years.....My Jordan will take care of you with his best effort. So forget the guy...."Empress gave her an order.
"That's not important.... The main fact is ,I'm not a virgin girl...how could I dare to serve the pure Royal blood?"Evelina tried her best to build up excuses without offending her.
"ARE YOU PREGNANT BY ANY CHANCE!!?"the Empress's face turned pale and furious.
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To be continued.....