he let out a quiet sigh, looking away from her. “yes. I know. . . I am very aware. I have been going over it in my head.” wincing slightly, “it’s treason. and a personal betrayal, maybe even more so emotionally on my part than yours…”

“he would have me killed.” he mumured, “but I’ve escaped execution once already . . . I doubt it would do us any good either way. you would probably be married off to Cyrus faster, if anything.”

“. . . I don’t think he doesn’t like you… he just doesn’t— I don’t know what’s wrong with him.” sighing. “would it matter? it’s not as if you and I could marry, anyway. you are to be a queen. I am a lord with no land or wealth to my name, exiled from his country.”

he looked back at her then, almost faltering. “I— I have never thought about marriage before. but I do not feel so resistant to the idea as I have when I consider it with you…” how romantic. but he was feeling a little on edge with how vulnerable this conversation was.

he looked at her for a moment, hardly believing this was true. maybe he was dreaming. something about the feeling it left in his chest was otherworldly… “you can’t say things like that…”

“I don’t mean in case anyone can hear. you can’t say that to me… you cant make me think this can happen.” shaking his head. “you have no idea of your effect…”

“your effect on me.” he moved closer to her, half-stumbling. he reached out and cupped her face with one hand. “I don’t know… I don’t want you getting hurt…”

“Not in any official capacity. Your father won’t allow this marriage to be called off. Cyrus would rather a loveless marriage than failure to meet his family’s expectations. And I could be executed.” Sighing. “I would suggest speaking to Cyrus but he is… traditional.”

running his thumb against her cheek. “. . . still could get me killed. still could start a war.” but maybe it was worth it. well. he thought it was, in every way expect the risk it posed to her. “the ideal would be if Cyrus had a similar situation. . . but he does not.”

⠀ * 𝚒. 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝙹𝚄𝚂𝚃 𝖺𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖽𝗎𝖼𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝚃𝙾𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝙷𝚄𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗒 . ⠀

“hardly that. he’s… too self-introspective.” toying with the strands of her hair, running them against his thumb. “. . . could you handle the questioning of your loyalty? of your reputation? that may have lasting effects…”

𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐄𝐋𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐃.

“and it wouldn’t be me.” Thane sighed, letting his hand fall from her hair. It landed softly against her shoulder and his fingers brushed against her neck. “your father would never deem me appropriate. you are to be a queen.”

“perhaps when you are queen then…” he mutters softly, pulling her in to kiss the vein on her forehead and staying there for a moment. he pulls away and reluctantly separates himself from her. “it isn’t?”

he chuckled softly, looking down at the floor as small stem sprouted from the soil at his feet. he leaned down and coaxed it out until it bloomed into a beautiful red tulip, plucking it and standing up again to offer it to her. “I have no doubt. good day, your— Elvira.”