The talks of marriage

The four made their way to the foyer, a room rarely used to accommodate guests since the King didn't make it a habit of having people over. 

The room was large enough to allow for at least ten people. The King and the Princess sat on the plush sofas. At the same time, the two guards stood a few feet away, providing them with enough space for privacy and enough time to reach them in case something happened. Ceremus let out a sigh as he ordered one of the servants to bring some refreshments for the guests he didn't even want around. 

It was only after Princess Nastasya had sipped her tea—a nice herbal blend with a floral scent wafting through the air even from where Hael stood—that she began to speak. 

"You're already aware that my father wishes to join our two prosperous nations and form an alliance. Though I wasn't too keen on using marriage to unite us, I was still surprised to hear you shared the same sentiment." She started to say, but before she could finish her thought, Ceremus cut her to the chase, his tone sharp and cutting. 

"What would make you think that?" 

The brusque response took Nastasya aback, but she quickly steeled herself. "Honestly, I've heard much talk about Your Majesty, and it wasn't all good—your many dalliances with the women in your kingdom and your frequent visits to the night district. I would have never pegged you as someone who was against marriage," she carefully said. 

Ceremus was silent for a moment as he contemplated her words. They were valid to a certain extent. He had been involved with many women in the past, even recently. Only when Hael started living in the palace, did he quel his earthly desires. Though she spoke the truth, it didn't mean he liked hearing it. Something about the Princess laying out his dirty laundry didn't sit well with him. It may have had something to do with a certain gentleman in the room. Otherwise, he wouldn't care about who heard about his business. It wasn't like it was something he needed to hide, considering how well-known his dalliances were throughout the kingdom. But the weight of his past actions was heavy on his mind. 

However, he couldn't understand why Nastasya would think that he, of all people, would be interested in marriage given his stained past. His surprise was evident in his voice. 

"And? Would the kind of man who cares not for whom he sleeps with be the kind who values something as banal as marriage?" 

"I-I wouldn't want to assume…I just figured marriage would be something you'd want to do in the future." 

Ceremus raised his brows at this. "And if it was? What does that have to do with you, Princess?" 

Nastasya felt herself flustered by his direct response. She couldn't bring herself to say anything for a while. 

"Even if I was to marry," he continued, "I don't see why it would be to you. Cleves and Trojas are already allied nations. What use would there be to unite us further?" 

The Princess felt frustration bubbling within her, her hands clenching into fists. She couldn't comprehend how a simple conversation was flustering her so much, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. 

"M-Military. Cleves has one of the best military powers in the continent. Bringing our two forces together would ensure that no other nation could ever dare to wage war against us." 

Ceremus sighed. The conversation made him grow irritated, yet his eyes were also amused.

 "Princess, we haven't been plagued with war for centuries; in fact, the continent has grown so friendly that I've started to resent the moments of peace we've been experiencing. Besides," he said as he crossed his legs, showcasing his powerful calves. "I fail to see how that benefits me. Our country is just fine in terms of military power. They have me, after all." 

It was true that Cleves was a strong nation blessed with military intelligence. This was primarily due to Atalanta—their country's commander-in-chief and strongest warrior. But that wasn't enough for the King to jump at the opportunity to unite. 

The words that came out of his mouth might've sounded presumptuous and arrogant, but they were accurate. It was a known fact that Ceremus Rohelus Marcrinos was unrivaled. He was a cardinal force to the Kingdom of Trojas, a pillar no man could touch or topple. He alone possessed the strength of a hundred men. Even the people outside the country knew this, but the Princess had momentarily forgotten it due to her frustration. 

She couldn't refute his words no matter how much she wanted to. But that didn't mean she was going to give up. Nastasya was determined to understand why he refused; her pride was on the line. 

"Then what about this marriage upsets you?" She inquired. 

Ceremus shrugged as he leaned back into the sofa. "Nothing. I don't have any opinions on Cleves or its Princess. I do not have any interest in getting married." He said, his tone and posture reflecting his complete indifference. 

He was now tired of the vapidness of the conversation, wishing for it to be over already. 

The corner of Nastasya's mouth twitched, but she kept her composure intact until the very end, her inner turmoil carefully hidden. Despite disapproving of his cavalier attitude towards such a sacred act as marriage and his complete disregard for decorum, she pressed on. 

"May I know the reason for your disinterest?" 

Ceremus glanced at the woman sitting next to him, her eyes filled with repugnance, but a flicker of curiosity and urgency left the man stunned for a moment. Meanwhile, Hael, who had been listening on the side, also had his ears perked up. He had an incredible hearing and could follow the conversation between the Princess and King Ceremus.

Despite knowing how wrong it was to eavesdrop on people's conversations, he couldn't help his curiosity. He, too, wanted to know why Ceremus was against getting married. 

The King could feel his guard's fervent eyes on him, staring intently, anxiously awaiting his response. 

Ceremus didn't have any opinions when it came to marriage. To him, it was a mutual union between a man and a woman. It usually came with certain conditions that both parties had to adhere to. Everything was practical and rather business-like. Love rarely had anything to do with the unification. In fact, it was rare to see two people getting married because they truly loved each other—at least in Ceremus' world. 

He was born of noble and divine blood. He had witnessed plenty of marriages for political purposes and had grown up believing this would always be the case. His father and mother were the rare exceptions. Their love story was a stark contrast to the practical unions he was accustomed to. He recalled asking his father why he married a goddess when he was only a mortal. His father smiled as he held his son close, running his fingers through Ceremus' thick hair. 

"I fell in love with your mother the moment I laid eyes on her. She was unlike anyone—or anything for that matter, that I'd ever seen. When I first approached her, I didn't think she would want to have anything to do with me; why would she? Your mother was a beautiful goddess, free to be with and love whomever she pleased. And yet, she ended up loving a weak man like me." He said. 

His grey eyes softened as he thought of her. Ceremus, still in his arms, felt his father pause his movements as if he were remembering the time they had first met before going back to stroking his son's hair. In that moment, Ceremus felt the warmth of his father's love enveloping him. 

"...She told me that it wasn't what I looked like on the outside that interested her in me, but what was on the inside," he continued as he pointed to Ceremus' chest. 

"Your mother said I had the most beautiful soul she'd ever seen and that there wasn't a single mortal out there who could compare to me. Believe it or not, those words made me want to spend the rest of my life with her, however short it may be. I know it's hard to tell since your mother isn't always present, but I can assure you that she loves the both of us so much. I don't regret marrying her because it led to us having you." 

Ceremus was still a child when he heard this and could not fully understand the weight of his father's words. But seeing the smile on his face made him happy. He nodded his head and innocently smiled up to his father. 

"I hope you find someone who makes you feel the same way someday. Once you do, don't hesitate to make them yours because meeting your soulmate, someone who makes you feel whole and complete, is rare, my boy. Make sure that you hold onto them." He said. 

Ceremus held on to those words even after his father's passing. He had met countless women, all beautiful beyond words, but none of them could elicit those precious feelings his father spoke to him about. 

He started to believe that perhaps that person didn't exist, that he wasn't worthy of meeting someone that great given how rotten he had lived until now. Ceremus' loveless life was his comeuppance; all hope was lost for him, so the young king's thoughts of marriage seemed pointless. It's how he always felt until he met someone who made him feel whole and complete and want to change. 

His gaze unconsciously fell on Hael, who was also staring at him. A spark erupted between the two, making their hearts beat faster. 

Ceremus felt warm all over his body, and he felt tightness in his chest. He quickly looked away, his eyes landing on the princess waiting for his reply. 

"I guess I'm just waiting for the person who'll make me think otherwise." That was all he said, his words hanging in the air, unexpected and profound. 

Nastasya was astonished. She never expected to hear those words from the tyrant king. It was clear to her now that there was more to this man than meets the eye. A nuanced person who a singular word couldn't define.

She felt her interest in the man before her grow, intrigued by the layers of complexity she was beginning to uncover.