✨✨✨
“The moon is shinning so brightly” Tatiana said to Cheng as they were still one their way to the woods.
“Yes it is”.
“Do you know this isn’t the first time you will be giving me a piggyback?”
“Really?”
“Yes. You gave me a piggyback ten years ago after the lantern festival, and you complained so bitterly, that I was so weighted”.
“That because I was just a boy then, but now I’m a man who can give his bride a piggyback all day” Cheng said and Tatiana smiled.
“Remember me soon okay, it kind of hurt that I am the only one who remembers our past”
“I will Tiana, just be patient with me” He said, and Tatiana smiles resting her head on Cheng’s back.
They both arrived in the woods, and at the particular spot where Cheng first saved her life.
Cheng carefully dropped her on the ground. Tatiana was finding it difficult to stand because of her injured knee, Cheng noticed it and healed her wound, which made Tatiana smile.
“Close your eyes” He said
“Why?”
“Just close your eyes Tiana”
Tatiana took in a deep breath and let it out, before closing her eyes. Cheng looked at her beautiful face and smile.
“You can open your eyes now” He said.
Tatiana slowly opened her eyes, and she saw different colors of fireflies flying around the woods. It was so mesmerizing.
“Whoa, it’s so beautiful Cheng” She said, and that when she noticed Cheng holding a bouquet of red tulips flowers which symbolizes everlasting love.
“Cheng” She muttered his name.
“Sorry it took so long for me to do this. I thought it didn’t matter until Waylon told me the importance of saying those three magic words to the woman you love. I love you so much Tiana, the heavens can bear me witness that I love you more than life itself. You came into my dark world, and filled it with so much light, and I will forever be grateful for that. Be my forever Tiana, because without you, life is meaningless” Cheng said with lots of emotions, sparkling in his eyes.
Tatiana quickly clean the tears that was about falling from her eyes, and laughed lightly.
“Should I throw a festival for Waylon to thank him, because I have been patiently waiting for you to say that you love me. I already know you love me, but I just wanted you to say it”
“I am sorry Tiana. I promise that from today henceforth, it will be the first thing you hear when you wake up, and the last you hear, before you go to bed. I love you so much Tiana”
Tatiana smiles and takes the bouquet of red tulips flowers from Cheng.
“I love you too Cheng. You are the only man I love and would continue to love, even in my next life. You’re world Cheng, and without you in it, it will be a vacuum space” Tatiana said.
I won’t hurt, I promised” He said.
“I know you won’t. You saved my life thrice. I love you very much Cheng”.
“I love you triple much too, my beautiful damsel” Cheng said and Tatiana smiles
Like slom mo, Cheng began leaning towards Tatiana’s lips. Tatiana closed her eyes the moment she felt Cheng’s lips.
Their lips collided in one accord, as they both tested and tasted the sweet sugaring flavors of their lips.
The fireflies circulated around them, forming a heart shape. The cicadas made it melodious and romantic by chirping for them.
✨✨✨✨✨✨
⟨ THE FOLLOWING DAY ⟩
“Thanks for taking me out of the palace scholar Marcellus” Jai said smiling so broadly, as he looked around. It was his first time coming out of the palace.
“Don’t thank me Prince Jai, we are just going to get books from the bibliotheca” Marcellus said.
“It doesn’t matter, thanks to you I can see what outside the palace looks like”
Marcellus smiled at him, and they both entered the bibliotheca.
“You are free to check out other books you like” Marcellus said to Jai.
“Thanks scholar Marcellus” Jai said and excitedly went to the other end of the bibliotheca, that has books containing everything you needed to know about the stars.
Jai was still checking out which one to take when he caught Anisha stealing a book, and she hid it inside her kimono.
Before Jai could say a word, Anisha left the bibliotheca through the back exist. He looked at Marcellus and he was busy checking out some books, so Jai decided to follow Anisha.
“Where did she go?” Jai muttered when he could no longer see Anisha.
“Why are you following me?”
Jai looks around in search for the voice and sees Anisha sitting on a tree. She jumped down from the trees and walked closer to Jai.
“I’m sure we haven’t met before, cuz I know I don’t make friends with rich breeds like you. So why are you following me?”
“Because I saw what you did” Jai answers.
“Which is?”
“You stole a book from the bibliotheca”
Anisha laughs and said. “And what prove do you have that I stole a book from the bibliotheca”
“Because I saw you. You stole the book and hid it inside your kimono. Return it back” Jai said.
“And what if I don’t return it?” Anisha asked with her hands on her waist, like a troublemaker, which indeed she is.
“I am going to report you, and you will be smacked for it”.
“Fine, I will return it” Anisha said, she made an attempt to give the book back to Jai, but took to her heels.
“Hey come back here!” Jai shouted going after her.
Anisha increased the fastness of her feet when she noticed Jai was about catching up with her. Both were still on the Chase when a huge stone from no where hit Jai at the back of his head.
Jai’s eyes went sideways, and his tongue went to the left, before falling flat on the ground. Anisha was wondering what just happened when she saw Kenji holding a catapult, he was actually the one who targeted Jai.
“Why did you use your catapult on him Kenji?” Anisha asked.
“I saw him chasing after you, so I figured I should do something to help you” Kenji said.
“Yeah I know. But using your catapult on him wasn’t needed, can’t you tell from his dressing, that he might be from a rich Noble family” Anisha said.
Kenji squat beside Jai who was still unconscious, checking his heartbeat.
“Is he still breathing? If he’s not breathing, then let’s throw his body inside the river” Came Anisha’s suggestion.
✨✨✨✨✨✨
⟨ UNKNOWN LOCATION IN MAELSTROM ≈ CAVE ⟩
The footsteps of the person in the veil could be heard, as its walked inside the dungeon where the woman was been tied up.
“You didn’t try to escape again. Are you tired of trying to escape?” The veiled person asked.
Tears falls down from the woman’s eyes, as she looked at the veiled person.
“Why are you so cruel? Haven’t you done enough? You kept me locked up in here for twenty three years, and you made everyone believed I am dead, until when will you stop!!!” The woman yells in tears.
“I won’t stop until I make Waylon king. Until then, you will be locked up in here because you and Isha are the only ones who knows my true Identity under the mask” The veiled person said.
“Then what about your daughter who you threw away in the woods 23 years ago, so that you can achieve your selfish aims? What about her!!” The woman shouted at the veiled person.
……
TBC