one in a million

"She was once saved by a man who took her in and nursed her back to health," Zyran said. He seems to have the habit of playing with his pocket watch.

seemingly lost in the memory. In an attempt to lighten the mood, Amira turned to him with a reassuring smile.

The town exuded a sense of serenity, and its inhabitants greeted Zyran like an old friend. Amira couldn't help but wonder about Zyran's familiarity with the locals.

"Do they know you?" she inquired, curious about the warm greetings.

"If I were a stranger, I would have been intercepted as soon as I arrived," Zyran responded with a hint of amusement, emphasizing his ties to the community.

Understanding her oversight, Amira replied with a self-conscious smile.

"Of course, I should have realized that."

Zyran guided Amira to a tree house hidden among the lush branches. The interior was a cozy yet elegant retreat from the outside world.

Together, they climbed up the tree and entered the inviting space, where Zyran opened the windows to let in the gentle afternoon breeze.

"Wow, you have a whole house up here," Amira remarked, admiring the simple yet comfortable furnishings, including a bed, a fireplace, and various homey touches.

After a long day of walking, Amira sank wearily onto the bed, her eyes wandering over the room until they settled on a striking painting hanging on the wall. The image portrayed a distinguished man with silver hair, accompanied by a woman by his side.

Intrigued, Amira rose from the bed to examine the painting more closely. She couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance between the man in the painting and Zyran, as well as the woman's likeness to him.

"Do you have siblings?" Amira inquired, her confusion evident as she studied the aged painting, which bore the marks of time with a layer of dust and slight fading.

Zyran stood before an old painting, his gaze fixed intently upon it.

"That Lady Aubrey and Sir Dominick," Zyran said, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. As Amira stood beside him, she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within her.

"Dominick? Why does he look like you?" Amira inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"They are my parents," Zyran responded, his eyes still locked on the ancient portrait.

A look of astonishment spread across Amira's face as she processed the revelation.

"I... I don't understand, isn't King Hans your father?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Zyran let out a dark chuckle, his expression turning solemn.

"King Hans is nothing close to my father," he explained, his eyes clouded with emotion.

"My mother was just an ordinary girl who lived in a secluded town. She enjoyed a life of peace and harmony; nothing of fancy ever caught her attention."

As he carefully played with his pocket watch, a distant look came over his eyes, hinting at the weight of his untold story.

"One day, Han went to Chesterfield for an occasion in which he met my mother by chance, captivated by her alluring beauty. He didn't want to let go even after her refusal. He decided to take advantage of her innocence, staking his claim on her forcefully," his jaw ticked, annoyance flashing on his face.

"After he got what he wanted she had no choice but to follow him to Oaken Vale. She didn't know what she was getting herself into, he became unsatisfied after his mother became pregnant and decided to marry another wife. She was mistreated by his wife and Consort like she was nothing compared to them.

That didn't stop there. They decided to dispose of her," Zyran said, clutching the clock in his palm.

"She went through the brute suffering of losing her unborn child all alone discarded in the wood like she was nothing until my father Dominick found her and brought her here in Meadow Lane "

" She loved him and bore a child for him. It was a happy life. She was living the life she always wished for.

"Everyone thought she was dead. She visited the Parkers along with my father and a newborn me, but it turns out Hans had ears everywhere he was informed of our visit and hunted us down.In order not to implicate the people of Meadow Lane they didn't go back there but dwelled outside until they were caught and killed brutally".

"If that was so, then why did you take up the position of prince and live under the care of your parent's murder?" Amira asked, feeling sorry for what Zyran had to go through.

Zyran flips closes the watch, and looks out the window.

"Why do you think I went with Hans when he came back to pick me fifteen years later? he knew I wasn't his son but he still took me along with him" Zyran asked.

"Maybe he felt guilty " Amira said.

"Guilt" Zyran said walking away from the window to join her in sitting on the bed.

"There's nothing to be guilty about " he told her.

Amira sat up straight and move closer to Zyran, she cupped his face and said.

"I know what it like to lose someone you love"

Amira enveloped him in a warm embrace, her arms pulling him close. Zyran's hand gently came to rest on the back of her head as he inhaled her captivating scent of Lavender, finding comfort in her presence.

Unlike his mother, who had met an unjust fate, Zyran was determined to ensure that Amira wouldn't suffer the same tragic circumstances. As she pulled away, a soft smile graced Amira's lips.

"I wish I could alleviate all your pain. You shouldn't be burdened by your parents' past. I have faith in your aspirations," she spoke with sincerity.

"Aren't you angry?" Zyran asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"Why should I be?" She responded, her eyes filled with quiet strength and determination.

"That you married into a messed up family, and your husband might not be the prince," Zyran continued his words hanging in the air.

"I would rather be with you than anywhere else in the world," she replied without a beat, her gaze unwavering.

Zyran's heart skipped a beat at her declaration; she was one in a million. Damn! he loves this woman.

As he drew her close, his hand enveloped her neck, gently guiding her toward him. Amira, taken aback by the unexpected intimacy, stumbled, leaning into him. Their lips met in a tender embrace, and Zyran relished the sensation of her slowly, allowing her the chance to acclimate to the closeness.

Her grip on his shirt tightened as he bit tenderly on her lower lips before soothing the pain with his tongue. Amira moaned at the stinging pain. Her body leaned up to him as she felt alive and weird all over.

As an overwhelming sensation engulfed her, Zyran withdrew, savoring the longing in her expression, and as she leaned forward with closed eyes, yearning for more. To indulge her, he gently kissed her on the lips once more before drawing back.

"We need to return to the palace before we're reported missing," Zyran urged. As Amira opened her eyes, she saw him rise to his feet. Her flushed cheek and the overwhelming sensation of heat caused her discomfort; she walked over to the window to let the fresh air cool her skin.

"Are you feeling alright?" Zyran inquired, noticing her fanning herself.

"Just feeling a bit sweaty, that's all," she replied.

Zyran nodded and stretched his hands to her; Amira received them.