My first time writing a fanfic. Do enjoy and support my release! XD
Standing at the balcony, facing the hall, he sighted her. Wearing a low cut dark purple dress, she simply looks beautiful. It is only on such occasions, then he can see her in such attire. It was an annual banquet for the ruling of Holy Britannian Empire.
It is a must for all the nobles, dukes et cetra, well as long as you are someone of higher social status, to attend this banquet. But there seems to be something that is blocking his mental image of her beauty, he is thinking hard but just cannot think of what it is really.
Finally, it took him some time to figure it out.
That 'blockage' of what he meant; it is that she is being surrounded with a bunch of guys. Sure, though they are having a conversation, but it somehow seems like it is a conversation with motive; either they are trying to make a good impression so that they can get good benefits from the royal family or, perhaps a marriage with her will do them good. These are the only two reasons he can think up of.
He hated it, not only because of the motives those son have but he hated it most, especially at the part where he saw unknown males are surrounding her.
'Is this jealousy he is feeling?' he thought. Just as he is trying to sort out his thoughts, he saw Darlton approaching to him in his direction.
"Guilford, what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you go in and try to mingle with others?" Darlton asked and stand next to him, facing towards the hall.
"If your meaning of 'mingle' is ask me to know better the ladies of the nobles better, meaning to find a mate in my life in the process, I rather not", Guilford simply replied.
"In addition, I have to protect Princess Cornelia"
"You look through my intentions", Darlton laughed. "Even though you are the princess' knight… But, the place is heavily guarded with soldiers in and out. Stop finding excuses."
A moment of silence went between the two males, before Darlton speaks up again.
Taking a sip off his wine, Darlton turned and faced him. "Come on, you wouldn't want to be like me right? I missed the prime of my youth and thus I have adopted a dozens of children at an old."
Guilford gave a small chuckle at his comment.
"Just don't bother about me. I'm old enough to think and take care of myself. Besides, there's someone in my heart and so I couldn't mingle around even if I had to. Stop worrying about me. Worry about your sons instead."
Taken aback in surprise, Darlton nearly have his wine cup dropped out of his hand, for he couldn't believe what he has just heard.
"Do I know that person? No, you are also at the base, working nearly 24/7, so where do you have time in looking for someone you loved?"
"Unless, well unless…" Darlton's voice trailing off.
"Unless?" Guilford saw him thinking hard for a moment.
Darlton put his arm around Guilford, "Unless it's someone from the military?"
"Well it's up to you to find out. Besides I never say anything if she is from the military or whatsoever", giving a straight face to Darlton.
"Alright, enough of my affairs. Tonight is a celebration day. Enjoy yourselves in the banquet. If you are going to ask anymore, I will not answer anything."
"Very well then. I will let you off the hook today. I suppose my partner should be looking for me. I had better get going. See you later." Giving a slight pat on Guilford's shoulder before leaving for the hall.
Guilford let out a sign of relief. Probably the fact that Darlton is not going to press anymore questions about his mysterious lover. But there's no point in having the feeling of relief as he is sure bound to ask him more at work.
He mentally scolded himself. If he has not said anything in response to his (Darlton) question, then maybe he will still live in peace.
Guilford continued to stand in the same location for a while, still watching over the princess from afar.
He leaves the balcony, and proceeds to enter into the hall. He took a cup of wine from the waiter and walked towards his princess and the crowd of males around her.
Instead of approaching towards her, he blends into the crowd as if he is queuing up for a turn to talk to her. Sipping his wine slowly, he stood there while waiting for a chance to bring her out of the crowd.
His wine is nearly emptied, and he has also seen how tired his princess is, along with a sense of annoyance in her talk. Pushing among the people, he reached her and started to form a one-man barricade around her, like a bodyguard. He then passed his empty wine cup into one of the noble's hand
"Please excuse the princess as she is needed to be prepared for the last event of the banquet." Without saying anymore words, he wraps his left arm around her body leading her out of the crowd and carry on walking towards her dresser room.
When they have reached the door to her room, both of them are standing outside.
"Princess, go and have a change of clothing. I will stand-by out here and escort you out when you are ready."
She nodded, opened the door but instead of going in, she told the servant inside, whom is responsible for dressing her, to go out of the room.
"I do not want anyone to attend to me. Should I need you again, I will ask for you", said Cornelia. The servant nodded and went off.
"Guilford, come into the room." Guilford nodded, and followed her into the room. Closing the door behind him, Cornelia rests on a chair while he walks over to a small table stand and starts to pour a cup of water for her.
Breaking the silence in the room, Guilford walks up to Cornelia handing her the cup of water. She drank the water in one gulp.
"Gosh, it is tiring to attend such events. That is why I hate it." It is a rare scene for him to see her complaining, no; rather it is rare to see her slouching slightly in her seat trying to get some rest from her tiring night.
"Princess, please mind your manners. Should anyone hear you saying this; it will be rather disrespectful."
"Guilford, we are alone in here. Call me by my name." He nodded in response.
"By the way, Guilford… Just now, why did you stand among the crowd sipping your drink and not getting me out of it?" There's a bit of annoyance in Cornelia's voice, looking in Guilford's direction at the same time. Her expression is demanding for an answer.
Guilford knows he cannot lie, rather to say he is not a man capable of lying. He pulled a nearby chair and sat down slightly away from her. Sighing, he meets her in the eyes.
"I, I was standing there trying to see how long you will able to last. That's all. I tried to get you out but…" his eyes darted away from her.
"Alright, I can't lie the slightest bit even I want to. It was...fun seeing you in that state."
"Very well then, you are forgiven. By the way, erm… Do I happen to sense some hints of jealousy when I saw you in the crowd?"
"…." silence took over him. He couldn't give her an answer because he is not really sure of what is that feeling he has during that time.
Seeing his unreadable expression, she chuckle softly. It was her first time that she saw that he is unable to give her a straight answer.
"When you have an answer for that, tell me. I thought you have a straight answer for it."
"Sorry, I just… Just need to sort out some matter on feelings. That is why I need to confirm it before I can answer your questions."
"There is no need to apologize, Guilford."
"Now then… ", Standing up from her chair, she moved towards him and kissed him in the cheeks. Slowly, she moved her face to his ear's area there and whisper,
"Later after the banquet, will you take me back to my quarters?"
Surprised by her actions, he quickly pulls away from her, stands slightly apart from her.
"We should be careful, Princess. Its 'forbidden'," emphasizing the 'forbidden' word softly and turning his head slightly to his left, unable to meet her sight.
The word 'forbidden' is a bitter and harsh remark for them. Though there are no laws that states soldiers cannot date or marry their companion within the same line, but except for one kind, relationship of a princess and the knight.
The actual purpose for the knight is mainly serves to protect the princess, like a bodyguard; Of course, the relationship can only be of work relations, not love.
Caught by surprise of his actions, Cornelia walks up to him. Feelings of remorse can be seen in her eyes for what she did.
"I'm sorry, I should have thought of the situation of where we are."
It is hard for them to keep their love in dark. Though they have realized their feelings some time ago, they simply cannot do what normal couples can do. No holding hands, no going-out together, no whatsoever. It is even harder when their status in society is of a different level..
"I'm should be the one to apologize that I reacted so strongly. Because I am not accustomed to this feeling and relationship, I made you suffer as well."
The atmosphere in the room has become gloomier and quiet than before.
Trying to strike out a conversation to break the gloomy atmosphere, Guilford started to speak. "As your knight, I promised you to bring you back after the banquet, your Highness."
Cornelia simply nodded, but the atmosphere did not seem to change much. Somewhere in his mind, Guilford hated himself. Have he not over-reacted in his earlier actions, he would not have made her feel so sad and remorse. In addition, it also makes him feel like a fool of not able to accomplish his small role as a lover in giving her some sense of security if he is so worked-up in these small details. He wanted to bang himself in a wall.
"But I must say, you do look exceptionally beautiful tonight, Cornelia…"
"Thank you for your compliment, Guilford", a small smile formed across her lips and her cheeks tinted slightly red.
With that said, Guilford heaved a small sign of relief that she is back to normal.
"All right then, I must have you go out. I need to change my clothing."
"Noted. I will wait for you outside your room. Please take your time to prepare." Straightening himself up before approaching the door.
"Guilford" she called out just when he is about to close the door. "Thank you for staying by my side"
"Its my pleasure. As your knight and ..."
"as your lover." For the last 3 words, instead of saying it out loud, he mimicked them in his lips and left the room.
Alright people, since this is my first fanfic and firstly, pardon my language in terms of grammar, vocabulary etc etc etc, if I have indeed screwed it up. Just bear with it, ok?
I planned to write this story in either 3 or 5 chapter, well or more perhaps; this will have to depend how the storyline I have conjured in my mind tallys with what I am writing.
Quite a hard task for me.
Hahaha, finally I know how hard it is to write a story.
With all that being said, hope you can enjoy.