Beneath the surface: Forbidden love

Marisela

The aroma of different foods wafted the air before entering the room. As Cory opened the doors allowing myself and Maria to enter first, I could feel my anxiety grow.

The food is made and already set atop a large dinner table in the middle of the eating hall. The room is decorated with exotic flowers, leaves and all sorts of delicious dishes. We were all assigned seats of our own around the table, Maria escorted me to the head of the table next to Rosa and Ronaldo. While she walked back to her seat at the far end of the table next to Cory.

"Welcome, Princess Marisela," Ronaldo beams, "please take a seat." He gestures to the empty seat next to his wife. Rosa signals for a servant to assist me.

Once I am finally seated, my eyes drift over the people around the table nervously. Some glanced up at me smiling, only to go back to talking to the people beside them. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Everyone seemed very kind. I also noticed how now and again people would look at me with excited faces, which I will admit, made me a little uncomfortable, but nonetheless I brushed it aside, maybe they were just curious to know who I was?

See, this is why I never left the castle grounds back in Greemalia.

Did they think I was strange due to my physical appearance. Did they think I was not one of them. Because right now, I felt a little out of place.

"They are all excited to meet you," Ronaldo smiles as he watches the people on the table.

"You have been the talk of the kingdom." He adds, while sipping on his wine.

"Ronaldo, leave the poor girl alone, you're making her nervous!" Rosa looks to her husband disapprovingly. She then turns to me with a warm smile.

"Kael has been waiting for your arrival for a..." She quickly glances at her husband with a knowing smile then looks back to me, ''very long time, sweetheart."

I was just about to ask who Kael was, but was cut off immediately. There was a ruckus coming from outside. Just then, the doors opened and two men walked in. The entire table grew silent.

Something deep inside of me started to tingle. I could feel goosebumps all over my body.

What the hell is happening to me?

That's when I caught a smell that made my heart beat increase. The scent was hard to place, but I could smell a feint scent of sandalwood, and fresh rain, with a hint of cologne. It smelt so delicious, I could feel my mouth water.

"Its about time son, where have you been?" Rosa stood from her seat followed by everyone else around the table. A gesture in respect for their King.

"My apologies everyone, I didn't keep track of time." His voice made me shiver, It was the most attractive voice I've ever heard. I watched as he took a step forward, being in my full view, I inwardly gasped as he's eyes searched the room for something. Suddenly they land on me. I felt a shiver run down my spine.

So this is the King.

Our eyes meet, and for a moment there, all I could do was stare at his icy blue eyes. His hair looked as if he had run he's fingers through it one too many times. His face was strong and defined, his features molded from granite. He is handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expression of his voice.

This is the King? I thought to myself again.

I see his lips move to say something, but my mind isn't focused on what he is saying, I'm too intoxicated by his scent, his eyes still locked on mine. I saw something flash in them.

Did they just go darker? Maybe I just imagined that.

For some reason, I couldn't move my gaze from him. It felt like I was in a trance.

''Well then," Ronaldo spoke with a playful smirk, ''Son, why don't you come join us at the table?" Kael's eyes never leave my own, as he takes a seat beside me.

My entire body ignited with fireworks at his proximity. It all felt so strange, I had no idea what was going on.

He gave a slight nod and I gave a small smile in return, feeling flustered by his presence I looked away embarrassed.

Finally he's eyes leave mine, without a word. The tension in the room subsides as everyone carries on talking with one another.

He whispers something to his mother who briefly glances over at me, snapping me out of my trance. I could feel my cheeks warm as I take note of almost everyone on the table were looking at me with knowing smiles. I take a sip of the wine set before me, my throat suddenly feeling dry.

The other man, who came in with him, took a seat beside Ronaldo. He gave me a short nod of his head with a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. He was no doubt, good looking, but some how just not as beautiful as the man sitting beside me. He had darker hair with green eyes. He was just as tall and slightly bigger than the King.

Ronaldo had a knowing smile on his face too, before clearing his throat as he stood up.

The way everyone acted, I kind of felt like they knew something I didn't.

"Thank you all for being here." Ronaldo begins, "Today, is a special day. As you all know, my son, Kael is the new King of Calarrad as my reign as Alph-'' he clears his throat before quickly glancing over at me, ''as King has ended."

"Behind every strong man is an even stronger woman," he continues on as he looks to his wife and smirks, then turns his gaze to me. ''Thank you Princess Marisela, for joining us this evening. As per our tradition, You and Kael will be spending a lot more time together, learning about our people and our kingdom.'' He stresses out that last word and I hear the people around the table laugh quietly to themselves. did I miss the joke?

"In the mean time, please feel at home, everyone here are all very excited to meet you." I look to everyone around the table, all wearing big smiles.

I felt a pair of eyes burning on the side of my face, curiously I tilted my head to the side and was once again met with the bluest of eyes. My breath hitched in my throat, and that tingling feeling was back again. I looked away first, all of a sudden taking an interest to my hands.

what the hell is going on with me?

After Ronaldo sits down, we all began to eat. Needless to say, the food was delicious. During the course of the meal I conversed with Rosa, but not once did I speak with the King himself. He seemed to be in a very serious conversation with his father who every now and again would glance in my direction. After dinner, we were all summoned to the court yard for some dancing and wine.

Why had he not said a word to me the whole night?

Was I not at all what he had expected?

Feeling slightly annoyed and angry, and quite frankly a little embarrassed, I decided to take a walk into the gardens to clear my head and get a breath of fresh air. I came across a beautiful fountain and sat by the edge, as my fingers played with the water.

Lost in my own thoughts, I didn't hear anyone come up to me until I felt a presence beside me. My body began to tingle again with that familiar sensation, I could feel the hairs on my skin rise.

''May I join you?'' A deep voice speaks up from behind me. I look up and I am greeted by the deepest shade of blue staring at me, waiting expectantly for my answer, something flashes in his eyes.

What the actual hell?

''It would be rude of me to decline, seeing as this is your kingdom.'' I reply without thought and look away. I didn't mean to sound rude, but if he noticed he chose to ignore it. I hear him laugh under his breath making my cheeks warm.

''Why are you out here alone?'' He asks as he takes a seat beside me, keeping a much needed distance between us- but close enough for me to smell his scent.

oh god what is happening to me?

"I just needed some air." I say looking back to the water, suddenly feeling shy under his gaze.

Why does he get me so flustered!

"Are you not enjoying the festivity?" He asks. I look up at him to find his eyes already on me. He was watching me with such intensity, as if trying to read me. I felt like something weird happening to me by just being under his scrutinizing gaze. I clear my throat and look away feeling a little uncomfortable.

"You never said a word to me throughout the meal." I say to him instead. This time, he was the one caught off guard.

"You never spoke to me." He says with a smirk. My eye twitches.

"You are the one who invited me to your kingdom." I snap.

Well that sounded childish. I wanted to inwardly slap myself.

"Seeing as I am your guest, don't you think it would only be right to indulge me in a conversation here and there."

"Touché." Was he's only response.

''Do I make you uncomfortable?'' He asks. I almost choke on air at his forward question.

'' Yes" I say without thought. "I meant, no." I slap myself mentally.

His eyes narrow slightly, '' I do apologies for making you feel that way.''

I give him a small smile instead, and look back at the fountain, trying my best to avoid eye contact. We sat in an awkward silence, for what felt like hours but it was only a few moments. None of us said a word. Personally, I don't do well in awkward situations, I tend to talk without thinking.

''You have a beautiful Kingdom,'' I tell him looking back at the castle, ''Its a lot different from where I am from.''

"Thank you." Was he's only response before we fell back into another awkward silence.

What is going on with me, why can't I form a damn conversation with him!

''I'm really glad you came, Marisela.'' he said a moment later sounding distant. I finally find the courage to look at him, only to find that he is still looking at me. Not knowing what to say, I nod and look away, focusing my attention on a fallen flower floating in the water.

''Do you know why you are here?'' he asks after a few moments and I snort. Is he serious? I look at him a moment longer only to find that he is being serious.

''For our courtship.'' I respond in a matter-of-fact. When he doesn't respond, I look at him, but I am surprised to see that he looks ...annoyed? He looks away and sighs lost in thought again.

We sat in silence once again and I was left curious. I could tell that something was wrong, but at the same time I just met the guy, I had no right to ask him such personal questions.

''You know what," I start to get up, "I actually don't feel too good I think I will go in early tonight. " I turn to leave when I felt his hand on my arm, gently pulling me to face him.

My body was caught off guard by his grasp. Electricity ran through me from his touch. I was certain he felt it too.

What just happened?

His eyes stared deep into mine. For a second I forgot to breathe. We were way too close and I was pretty sure he could hear my heart racing inside my chest.

''Marisela,'' he began, the way he said my name caused goosebumps to rise on my skin, ''There's just...'' he sighs looking away closing his eyes and clenching his jaw. When he opens them again, theres something different about them, they are darker, my eyes slightly widen. This only increased my heart rate, and not to forget the electric sensation I'm feeling where his hand is touching on my arm. Instinctively, my eyes wandered to his hand on my arm, which he quickly let go of. I cleared my throat and took a small step back, looking anywhere else but him.

Get ahold of yourself Marisela! You shouldn't have drank so much wine.

''I feel a little jet-lag, I should probably go and get some sleep.'' I began to nervously fiddle with my fingers.

''I am really glad that you are here .'' I look up at him only to find him looking at me with a soft look on his face. ''Goodnight, Marisela.'' Its the way my name so smoothly rolled off his tongue, that made the hair on my skin rise.

''Goodnight Kael.'' Maybe I imagined it, but when I said his name, his eyes looked even more intense than before. I watched as his eyes flicker down to my lips and then back to my eyes.

I cleared my throat again for the hundredth time tonight, poor guy must think I have a cold.

I turn around and leave . As soon as I was out of his view, I let out a huge breath I didn't know I was holding.

what just happened?

I enter the court yard and noticed how almost everyone was drunk and dancing and all looked to be having a good time. I spotted Cory and Maria, talking to the guy that walked in with Kael. I walked over to them. As if sensing my presence, all three heads turned to me.

''Princess Marisela, lovely to meet you. I'm Dimitri.'' the man took hold of my hand and placed a small kiss on the back of it. How charming.

''Nice to meet you too, Dimitri.'' I smile. "Please call me Sela." Maria gasps beside me, I look at her confused, then turn my head to the direction she is looking at.

There by the entrance stood Kael, looking directly at us. He had a murderous look present on his face, again, I was certain I wasn't imagining anything earlier, his eyes went a shade darker almost completely black.

Only then did I remember my hand was still in Dimitris, who had a playful smirk on his face as he looked at Kael. I quickly retracted my hand and turned to Maria.

I must've had one too many drinks because I am clearly seeing things.

''I am going to go up to my room now.'' I tell her, and she seems surprised.

''We could walk you to your room.'' Cory offers. I shake my head with a smile,

''Thank you, but that's alright.''

With one last look at all three of them, I bid farewell and walk off, but not before noticing an angry looking Kael making his way towards Dimitri.

As soon as I got to my room, I threw myself on my bed, releasing another deep breath.

What the hell just happened?

I needed to clear my head. I waited a few hours for everyone to go to bed. A few hours after midnight, I assumed everyone had left and gone to bed, I gathered my things and left my room.

I walked down the stairs and made my way outside making sure no one could see me. Once outside I took a deep breath tasting the salty air. I felt a pull towards the water and followed my instinct down to the ocean.