"Is your sister really the type for wedding planning?"
"Natalya does have a keen eye, even if she doesn't show the enthusiasm for it that other ladies would have. With the way Erzsébet degraded her for years, I wouldn't be surprised if she's almost overwhelmed with choices. It's a good thing Katerina went with her to help organize everything."
Madeline nodded at Ivan's comments as they strolled through the gardens after dinner. The Ixaidellians all returned to Inasdiff a few days ago, in order to plan out Gilbert's abdication and Ludwig's coronation. There was also the royal wedding to accompany the coronation, for which Natalya and Katerina also went ahead to prepare. The Prathageans were staying in Tark the extra two weeks to visit with King Ivan, before they travelled to Inasdiff in turn for the coronation and wedding.
"Katerina would certainly have the enthusiasm for that," Madeline commented, "She is likely more than happy to help plan her sister's wedding."
"She may come up with her own ideas as well," Ivan noted, "It would certainly help her decide how her Prathagean wedding with Antonio will be set up. Granted, there's still a major variable in play for that wedding."
"I know exactly what you're implying," Madeline caught on, "I still have not made a decision."
"Surely you can tell her brother in what direction you're leaning," Ivan appealed, "Being the Duchess of Baisicia is nice, but you're controlling whether Katerina can eventually become the Queen of Prathage. Not to slight your own character, but Prathage would adore having my sister as Antonio's queen."
"Each of my options has its advantages and disadvantages," Madeline divulged, choosing her words carefully, "There is a key variable delaying my decision, which I cannot yet openly discuss, that will have a profound impact on whether I will be content with my chosen fate. And until I've determined how to account for that variable, I will say nothing more on the matter."
"There's no negotiating with you on that, is there?" Ivan resigned, "Very well, I will stop asking about it. If I may say one more thing on the matter, however, I might know what that variable is, and I think you should be more forward about addressing it."
Madeline's steps paused as the implication of his words kicked in, while he nonchalantly kept strolling ahead. Once she noticed she had stopped, Madeline willed her feet to move again, rushing through the next ivy-wrapped archway to catch up.
"How could you possibly know what the variable is?" Madeline pressed as she joined Ivan in the small seating area surrounded by rose bushes, "That's the first I've said to anyone about any such variable existing."
"Actions can speak louder than words," Ivan hinted with a smirk on his face, "Although in this case, I suppose his words were certainly louder than your actions."
"His words?" Madeline repeated, "Whose words?"
Before Ivan could answer her, they were interrupted by the sounds of approaching voices and steps, before Feliks and Tolys both entered the seating area from the other entrance.
"Ah, your Majesty," Feliks greeted, "I brought him, as you requested."
"Why was I brought here?" Tolys asked, "What's going on?"
"Your timing could not have been more perfect, Feliks," Ivan answered, "Come, let's leave the two of them be, they need to have a little chat."
Ivan immediately walked across and left with Feliks through the other entrance, leaving Madeline alone in the seating area with Tolys. The look on Tolys's face showed that he was just as confused as she was.
"What the fuck was that all about?" Tolys muttered.
"I think we've been set up," Madeline judged, "They seem to want us to talk to each other about something."
"Ivan said that we couldn't have had more perfect timing," Tolys flagged as he gestured at the bench the two of them could sit on, "Were you talking to him about something that would give any context?"
"He claimed to know why I've been stalling on my decision," Madeline recalled as the two of them sat on the bench, "He said my actions gave it away, and that I should be forward about addressing it. Apparently someone's words were louder than my actions, I was just asking whose words those were when you and Feliks joined us."
"He must have been referring to me then," Tolys realized, "There was that one discussion we had, maybe he's referring to that. Then again, Lilli could've easily translated what Naktakė was saying, in which case he'd know everything."
"What exactly would Ivan possibly know everything about?" Madeline teased, "Is there something you need to tell me?"
Madeline gave him a glance, and paused as she noticed his expression. His cheeks were blushing, his lips were twitching as he tried to find his words, and the way he was unable to directly look at her made him seem nervous.
"Tolys, is everything okay?" Madeline inquired.
She reached her arm around and placed her hand on his shoulder in reassurance. The moment he did so, he immediately looked at her hand, before then finally making proper eye contact. In his forest green eyes, Madeline could swear she saw something akin to fear, or even vulnerability.
It was just like the way she looked at him back on Lake Westsoll, all those weeks ago.
Tolys was the one who broke eye contact this time, shifting his gaze forward so as to not look directly into her eyes, before taking a deep breath.
"I have no right to speak on the matter," Tolys disclaimed, his eyes looking down to the ground, "You are a princess, after all, and you are already facing a difficult choice regarding your future. I'm just a commoner, I'm in no place of status or power to advise you in any capacity. The last thing you need is my interference, what I wish to say will only cause a distraction."
"I want to hear it," Madeline insisted, "Your support has been priceless through my return from exile, and you have shown complete understanding and sympathy for the difficulties I have faced. If you know of something that might affect my decision, then please tell me what it is."
Tolys took another deep breath, before he turned and finally looked her in the eyes again. The vulnerability and fear were still in those forest green eyes, but this time they almost looked like they were searching for something in her eyes. She tried to keep her own gaze calm and trusting for his sake, even as the anticipation made her heart start fluttering as it did back on the lake.
"It's about how your decision will affect me," Tolys revealed, "I know we've only known each other for a few weeks, but I already know in my heart that I do not want to leave your side. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met, and I was enchanted the moment we first met. I love you, Madeline, and I want to be with you no matter what path you choose."
Her heart pounded stronger and faster the more he spoke, and the overwhelming sensation was invigorated the moment he dared to mention love. She allowed herself to cave in to the feeling as she realized that what she felt for him, in addition to that vulnerability she knew all too well, was indeed love and trust.
A flicker in his eyes reminded her that he had stopped talking, and was waiting for a response. Unable to find her words, and remembering Ivan's earlier words about actions speaking louder than words, Madeline moved her hand up from his shoulder to caress his face instead. As he leaned into her gentle touch, she guided him closer and kissed him.
It was chaste and only lasted a moment, but it was enough to immediately release the anticipation and replace it with bliss. As the kiss ended and their lips parted, Madeline lingered in that spot as she caught her breath and allowed herself to enjoy it. It took a few seconds for Tolys to realize what had happened before he leaned forward to reciprocate the gesture, and Madeline yielded to his kiss.
The rest of the world seemed to melt away entirely as they continued to exchange kisses, lost in the pleasure of their embrace. By the time they were finally able to pull away from each other, Madeline realized she somehow ended up partially seated in his lap, with his arms wrapped around her to hold her so close, and that everything around them seemed to have darkened a bit as the sunset grew closer.
"That was quite the response," Tolys broke the silence as his lips hovered near hers, "I was worried you might throw me to the dogs for saying something so bold."
"There's no way I'd have been able to do that," Madeline encouraged as Tolys's lips slowly moved along her jaw towards her neck, "The way you've supported me and been at my side the last couple months has made it so that, when I look deep in your eyes, my heart flutters in a way which nothing else has ever made it do so."
"Your heart flutters, does it?" Tolys chuckled, "Does that mean you love me back?"
"Of course it does," Madeline softened, "I love you, Tolys."
Before she could say anything else, his lips came back to hers for another gentle kiss. If this is what love was meant to feel like, she could certainly get accustomed to it.
"So what now?" Tolys digressed as their lips parted again, "Now that we've declared our love for one another, where will we go and what will we do?"
"That's just the question I haven't been able to answer until now," Madeline uncovered, "It just so happens you're the reason I couldn't decide what to do with my future. All my options depended on whether you'd be at my side, as I wouldn't be happy without you."
"Ah, so you do want me there at your side," Tolys confirmed, "And now that you know you have me, where will you take me?"
Madeline smiled as she gave him a brief kiss, before letting her lips linger in front of his.
"Noraevellia," she whispered.
"Noraevellia?" Tolys checked, "I've never heard of it."
"You're the first to ever hear of it," Madeline explained, "That's the name of a new kingdom, north of the Raevellian mountains."
"The Northern duchies," Tolys caught on, "You want to take their offer of establishing a new kingdom?"
"To hell with Primgate, I believe that's what you said before," Madeline elaborated, "The South doesn't deserve me, and they wouldn't let me love a commoner like yourself. Even without a crown, you and I would end up in the North anyways, probably with one of the duchy titles too. If the people want me to be a queen instead of a duchess, it's not that far of a stretch to make it happen."
"The stretch is establishing a new kingdom," Tolys reminded, "That's going to be a lot of work, and a lot of pressure. Are you certain that's what you want to do with your life?"
"Yes, that's what I want to do," Madeline decided, "And I know I'll be able to do it if you're by my side to support me. That is, if you still want to follow me down that path."
"Of course I do," Tolys vowed, "I will be there at your side, no matter what."