Please Stay

"Is Liam okay?" Louise's voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

I could sense Louise's hesitation to delve into my personal life, even though we were already married. 

Recalling that it had been a week since we defeated Amelia, frustration surged within me. This was meant to be an intimate moment, yet despite the absence of Amelia's threat, numerous issues still demanded attention. Instead of finding rest, I found myself unable to sleep. It struck me that I hadn't even shared a bed with my wife, not even once, despite being married for three days.

I gazed at Louise across the table where we were having our meal, and she returned my gaze, waiting for my response. She looked radiant, her hair cascading down, and her lips a tempting shade of cherry red. A subtle bite of her lip made me groan inwardly. How effortlessly she could tempt me.

Unable to resist, I reached for her, standing up and lifting her to sit on my lap. Her eyes widened momentarily, but she made no attempt to move away, which pleased me immensely.

"Don't worry about Liam," I reassured my wife, "He's just upset due to the decision of the Ministers, but he had no choice but to accept it."

Louise pondered for a moment before asking, "But why doesn't he want to be the King of the Water Kingdom?"

I struggled to keep my hands in check, but with Louise seated in my lap, it was a losing battle. In a matter of moments, my hands found their way to her waist and back, tracing small circles against her skin.

Continuing my explanation, I added, "Liam detests anything associated with Royal Bloods, except for us, of course. His mother was killed by one of them, and he couldn't apprehend the culprit as they escaped through a portal to the human world."

As I spoke, I felt Louise tense atop me, followed by a soft curse escaping her lips. Uncomfortably shifting in my seat, I sensed that my lonely friend had been stirred awake by her cursing.

Driven by an overwhelming impulse, I leaned in and kissed her. The kiss began slowly, but when she arched her back, I lost all restraint. Before I knew it, we were both teleported to our lavish room.

My heart raced with excitement as I pinned her on the bed, trailing kisses down her neck.

"When are we going to Forgotten Fjords?" Louise asked between our kisses.

Louise's question interrupted our kisses, prompting me to halt my actions. "You won't go. It's too dangerous," I stated firmly.

Her expression saddened at my response. "The reason I've been studying so hard to control my power is to help, and now..."

I let out a deep sigh and sat back on the bed, my concerns surfacing. After our coronation, Louise was immediately honored as Queen, and representatives from the Elven kingdom, including High Chancellors, attended the ceremony.

Learning about Louise's experiences during her captivity under Amelia's control had instilled a fear within me. Her newfound superpower, Abyssal Wayfarer, added another layer of concern. Uncertain about the extent and nature of this power, I sought information from the Azureleaf. Louise was determined to train and master her abilities quickly so she could assist Commander Rivalz, whom she believed was teleported to another location in her attempt to save him. 

"I understand your desire to bring Alexa back," I acknowledged, observing Louise's flushed face, which only added to her beauty.

However, I couldn't ignore the dangers the place posed. I bit my lip as I realized she had purposely brought up the topic to divert our intimacy.

With a sigh, I admitted to myself that I had once again made a mistake. Despite knowing she was my Fate and that we were married, I understood her lingering discomfort. She had agreed to marry me out of necessity, as the kingdom required an immediate Queen with the Ones to prevent Fortunalia's destruction.

"I'm sorry," I murmured softly, recognizing my misstep.

Realization flashed in Louise's eyes, and she blushed. My instinct was to reach out and caress her cheeks, but I restrained myself, not wanting to add to her burden.

"It's okay," I reassured her, sensing her discomfort. "I understand. We can take things slower."

Louise couldn't meet my gaze. "I'm sorry. It's just... it feels too fast for us. I need more time," she admitted softly, her embarrassment evident.

My heart twinged with regret. "I'm sorry, Louise. I didn't consider how you were feeling. The Fate String..."

"I know," she interrupted, embracing me and placing gentle kisses on my cheeks. "I feel it too."

A sudden knock on the door interrupted our moment, causing Louise to quickly move away. I turned to open the door, shielding my expression from her. The last thing I wanted was to startle her further. I would wait for her, giving her the time she needed to be ready.

"Lady Haven is already here," announced one of the servants, averting her gaze.

Louise tensed as she stood beside me, then began pacing once the servant had left.

"Shall we go?" she asked, her voice steadier now as she composed herself. 

I admired my wife's bravery. Her anxiety was palpable, but her curiosity was driving her actions.

After our discussion with the High Chancellors regarding our marriage, I felt a sense of unease. We knew little about Louise's powers, her capabilities, and limitations. I didn't want her to inadvertently harm herself, which is why I agreed when they offered to send a tutor to assist her with practice.

Lady Haven had lived with the Geass her entire life, making her well-equipped to aid Louise. Initially excited, Louise became nervous upon learning Lady Haven was her grandmother.

"What if she hates me?" Louise muttered as we walked down the hallway together.

"That won't happen," I assured her. "You're beyond adorable," I teased, trying to lighten her mood. However, Louise was not fond of being called adorable at all.

Louise's words pierced my heart, her guilt and fear evident as she shivered and nearly teared up. "She will hate me once she learns that I just let her daughter die," she lamented, her voice quivering. "And she will be angry once she learns that I didn't even feel a bit of sadness when Amelia died. Goodness, I am such a horrible daughter."

I halted our walk and turned to face her, seeing the weight of guilt on her features. Unsure of how to alleviate her pain, I simply embraced her tightly, hoping to provide some comfort.

"You are not horrible, Louise," I whispered into her ear, my voice filled with sincerity. "Amelia was. She tried to kill you. If she truly was your mother, how could she be capable of doing that to you?"

As Louise's eyes filled with tears and she quickly wiped them away, I could see her trying to appear strong despite her sadness. I regretted my words instantly. I shouldn't have said that to her.

We walked in silence, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment in myself. I had not only made Louise nervous but also sad.

In moments like these, I found myself thinking of Commander Rivalz. He had a way with women, knowing just what to do. If only he were here.

My frustration grew, feeling like I had made a series of mistakes. First, I had essentially trapped Louise into marrying me without giving her a choice. Then, I had nearly crossed a line and lost control. She had clearly stated that she wasn't ready to share a bed with me yet, but I had forgotten. And now, I had upset her further. I cursed myself for not being able to keep my mouth shut and for causing her distress.

Louise's gentle voice brought me back from my swirling thoughts. I realized she had stopped walking and was looking at me with concern, her hand holding mine. "Ludwig?" she spoke softly, her eyes reflecting her worry. "Is there something wrong?"

I couldn't bear to meet her gaze, feeling a wave of self-doubt and regret washing over me. I had been consumed by my fears and mistakes, neglecting to cherish and court her as she deserved. I hadn't even proposed properly or given her the chance to refuse, forcing our marriage due to external pressures. I felt like a failure, afraid of rejection if I had asked her outright.

Louise's concern was palpable as she searched my gaze. "Ludwig, you're making me worry," she voiced, sensing my distress through our bond. "What's wrong? Please tell me."

I attempted to muster a smile to reassure her, but it felt forced and unconvincing. "It's okay, Louise," I replied, trying to downplay my inner turmoil. "It's nothing I can't handle."

However, Louise didn't seem convinced. Our strengthened bond as Fated meant she could feel my worries more acutely now.

"Let's go," I suggested, eager to change the subject and distract her. "She must be waiting for us."

I started walking, but Louise remained rooted in place, her reluctance evident. She wasn't ready to move forward until she knew what was truly troubling me. 

"Why are you sad?" she asked, her eyes reflecting worry, surprise, and guilt. She wasn't accustomed to sensing my emotions yet, so she remained unfamiliar with them. "You seem worried and afraid, and your emotions suggest it's somehow related to me. But why, Ludwig? Is there a problem I'm unaware of? Did...did I do something wrong?"

I couldn't bring myself to meet her pleading gaze. As she realized I had no intention of discussing it, she sighed loudly and then began walking briskly on her own. I thought she might leave me in the hallway, but she only stopped a few meters ahead, turned around, and faced me. With a determined expression, she marched back toward me.

She began in a gentle tone, "I understand that our marriage was arranged because Fortunalia urgently needs a queen."

Her words hit me hard, and pain surged in my chest. She spoke the truth. Our union was forced upon her out of fear that the kingdom would crumble if she refused to embrace her destiny.

"But your sadness stems from my perceived weakness, and you worry that I may not become the perfect queen our kingdom needs," she continued. "Don't worry, for I am striving to become powerful. While I may not excel in combat yet, I am learning to stand on my own."

I struggled to grasp Louise's words. I attempted to interject and reassure her, but the palpable anger on her angelic face prevented me from speaking.

Louise, now panting, struggled to compose her words as patiently as possible. "If you're worried that my presence endangers the kingdom, then I'm sorry to say that we are already married. You should have considered this carefully before agreeing to..."

"Please stay," I whispered so softly that I doubted she could hear me. But she halted her speech, her expression clouded with confusion.

"What..."

I couldn't meet her gaze. If Louise managed to master her special ability with Lady Haven's help, she could travel anywhere she desired. She could return to her family in the human world, leaving me behind at any moment, for eternity.

I was keenly aware that Louise had every reason to leave and that she deeply missed her family. I couldn't fathom what I would do if she chose to depart, especially since I couldn't follow her even if I desperately wanted or needed to.

"What are you talking about?" Louise seemed incredulous at my words. "I'm not going anywhere, Ludwig. I'm right here." Her voice held certainty, yet I knew that could change once she realized she could create portals back to her home.

"I understand that you want to be with your family," I murmured softly, almost to myself. I wasn't sure why I felt compelled to voice that. Surely, she wouldn't alter her decision based solely on my desires.

"Of course, I want to go back and be with them again. That's why I've been training so diligently to control my powers," she stated with clarity.

Each of her words felt like a dagger piercing my heart. I had been correct. She had already made up her mind to leave me, the very reason she had been training so diligently.

I stood frozen, unable to leave, despite the pain, sadness, and annoyance clearly reflected in my eyes. I couldn't bring myself to move away from Louise. It was simply impossible. I couldn't do it, not under any circumstances.