I nearly jumped at the sudden whisper in my ear. I spun around and clutched the railing behind me tightly.
He frowned. "What are you doing, jumping like a scared rabbit?"
My lips twitched. "I wasn't jumping. You startled me! Can't you make some kind of noise when you enter?"
He smiled in amusement. "Is it my fault that you were so lost in gazing at my city that you didn't even hear my loud footsteps?" He asked, head slightly tilted.
I was speechless.
I blinked at him innocently.
Did I really not hear his footsteps? But I don't remember any sound coming from behind me…
I shook my head.
Maybe he's right?
His lips curved into a knowing smile.
"What are you wrecking your brain for? Is it really that hard to answer?"
I didn't know what to say, so I blurted, "Maybe I didn't hear." I quickly turned around to hide my embarrassment.
"Hmm, that is true," he hummed in agreement and walked to stand beside me. He leaned on the railing slightly, gazing at the city below.
For a long moment, we just stood there, watching. Then I broke the silence.
"I…" I hesitated at first, but when he turned to look at me, I continued. "I heard about your childhood today."
He blinked, not knowing what I was talking about. "Heard what?" he asked.
"I heard why you don't look like His and Her Majesty," I whispered, almost inaudibly.
But he heard it anyway.
His lips curved up. "I wonder what took you so long to realize. Tell me, what did you hear?"
I blinked. "It's not that I didn't notice. It's just that I was so nervous about our wedding that I never asked. And I heard you were adopted by Her Majesty."
"That is true. What else did you hear?" he probed further.
"I… I heard you were an orphan. Do you know who your parents were?" I asked, watching his expression.
He smiled, but there was something unreadable in his gaze.
"I do. I clearly remember who they were, how they looked… and their faces before they took…" He paused, gazing into the distance. Then, in a quiet voice, he continued, "Before they took their last breath in front of my eyes."
There was a kind of sadness in his voice and eyes that made my heart ache.
Oh no, what did I do? He's surely sad. I must have opened his deep wounds…
I closed my eyes and bit my lower lip at that thought.
Maybe he sensed my inner turmoil because he spoke again.
"Don't worry, dear wife. It doesn't hurt that much anymore. It's been so long that it's all become a distant memory to me. Maybe when I was still a child, but as time passed, I became lost in my new home. My Queen Mother showered me with love, and I learned to let things go. We can't change what happened in the past. We should just focus on what we have and what lies ahead. So stop biting your lip. I don't blame you for asking," he finished in almost a single breath.
I gazed at him, surprised.
"I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought this up. It must have been so hard for you to watch your parents… to… to—"
"To watch them die," I heard him complete my sentence.
I lowered my head. "Don't be. As I said, it's a distant memory now. I hardly feel anything anymore. It was all in the past. Let it be," he sighed, running his fingers through his black hair.
"Then… then do you mind if I ask about your parents?" I asked hesitantly, awaiting his answer.
"No, I believe you have every right to know me better, as you are my wife now. Tell me what you want to know, and I shall satisfy your curiosity." He turned around to face me, leaning back against the railing with his hands in his pants pockets.
For a moment, I just stared at him, then opened my lips to ask.
"What happened to your real parents?" I asked out of curiosity.
He smiled, gazing into my curious eyes as he spoke. "Well, I had a very loving family. My parents adored me. We lived in a small village in the mountains, but fate had a different plan, I suppose. One day, my village was attacked by some unknown men. Who they were and why they came, I still have no idea. They killed everyone. But my mother somehow saved me and sent me away before she died protecting me. I watched as she slowly faded from this very earth." His voice dropped lower. "I'm not lying—I truly felt heartbroken. I cried for a long time beside her. But I remembered her last words… to keep myself safe and find happiness. So, just like that, I left her behind, watching from the distance as my village burned while I ran for my life.
"I don't know how many days and nights I spent running, walking… until I finally reached another village in the mountains. And that is where I met my mother, Queen Seraphina.
"I helped her when some men were harassing her, and she took me to her mother's house. She gave me shelter, food, and clothes to wear. When she asked me where I came from, I told her about my parents. As I stayed with her for many days, she took a liking to me. Then, one day, she asked if I wanted to be her son, as she had no children of her own. And that, my dear wife, is how I became a prince.
"Now, I believe that's enough to answer your question, isn't it?" He crossed his arms over his chest and smiled in amusement.
For a moment, I stood there, stunned, eyes wide as I took in the story he told me.
"I…" I parted my lips, but no words came from my mouth.
He sighed.
"Now, if you're done asking questions, I believe we have other important matters to tend to," he stated, his eyes scanning me up and down. A slow smile formed on his lips.
I followed his gaze—
And then I froze.
My nightgown was so thin that the wind pressed it against my body, outlining every curve.
My eyes widened when I realized my bosom was clearly visible through the fabric.
My cheeks burned as I quickly crossed my arms over my chest.
"Yo-you! What are you looking at?!" I stammered, trying to slow my racing heart.
His lips curled at the corner. "Well, what's wrong with me staring at my own wife when she is so openly standing before me… wearing this?" He mused, pointing at my nightgown.
I was speechless.
"You—!" I started in disbelief but couldn't find the right words.
"Stop glaring and go change your clothes. We are going out." He cut me off smoothly.
"Now?" I blinked in surprise.
He slightly tilted his head, looking at me with an expression I couldn't name. "Yes, now. Why do you look so surprised? Or…" He paused, stepping closer until only a breath separated us. His gaze held mine as he continued, "Or do you have some other plans in mind?" He smirked, stretching out the last words.
My heart skipped a beat, and heat rushed to my cheeks. I quickly snapped my head sideways to avoid his intense stare.
"I-I wasn't thinking anything!" I blurted, desperately trying to calm my racing heart.
He smiled in amusement. "Oh, really? But your tomato-red cheeks and pounding heart don't quite match your words."
I was once again speechless.
"Stop teasing me and tell me where we're going!" I quickly changed the subject.
"Hmm… that, you'll see once we get there," he said, then added, "Also, wear something simple. I believe I won't be able to stop myself from gouging out a few eyes if any other men dare to ogle at you." He spoke with a straight face before turning away. "Now go and change. I'm going to take a bath first."
And just like that, he walked away, leaving me standing there, utterly speechless.