Last chapter 7: Confessions

After drying himself up and wearing her father's breaches and white shirt he walked down from the stairs. He saw her arranging the tea cups on the table, walking towards her, he took a seat on one of the chairs. Eyes glued on her all this time.

Ella poured the tea in his cup from the teapot whilst his eyes were admiring her delicate figure right next to him. Then, she took a seat next to the king and after filling her own cup, she glanced at him, who hadn't even looked at his cup yet. At being noticed staring at her longingly, he took his eyes off from her embarrassingly and started sipping his tea, his cheeks flushed in deep embarrassment. They both sipped their tea in an awkward companionable silence, occasionally stealing glances of one another when the other wasn't looking.

Thank you for the tea. The king said to Ella, praying for a longer response this time.

My pleasure, your majesty. A warm cup of tea is very comforting in this cold weather. She said smiling slightly, looking at the rainfall from the window, which was now pouring down gently.

You know what else is comforting in this stormy weather Ella? You being here next to me. He thought in his mind only as he couldn't say this loudly to her.

You live here all alone? He finally asked this question as he wanted to know more about her ever since they first met.

Well, only recently actually. First my step sisters married and left the house. Then my stepmother got really Ill and she passed away only a month ago. Ella explained to the king.

And, what about your parents? The king wanted to know more about her.

I my mother died when I was a little girl . And a few years later my father passed away as well. Sorrow filling her soft voice.

I am sorry, I didn't want to make you go through that again. The king said quickly, guilty of bringing this topic up.

No , don't be. It is just that it gets very lonely in this enormous house sometimes. The loneliness makes me wonder ... If my parents were alive my life would have been completely different. Ella said to the king looking at her cup and moving her fingertips on the handle of it, almost in a trance like manner.

The king could see misery written all over her face, but he also saw similarities between their lives.

I also lost my mother too when I was a young boy. I still remember her sweet voice when she used to sing me to sleep, her warm embrace when I fell down the stairs for the first time. After she died, my father became my strength. Then some years later, he left me alone in this world. If only he had lived, my life would have been utterly different. You are alone in this huge house of yours, but I feel alone in my crowded palace. The king told Ella, almost chuckling sadly at the last part of his response.

Poor Kit. Ella's tongue slipped and called the king by his name, widening the male's orbs in delight at hearing his name being pronounced through her cheery red lips. He could feel that Ella was warming up towards him and she realised that too but she didn't like to slip in the past with him. He had moved on in life and was standing way ahead of you. She too wanted to move on with her life as well. Following an awkward silence, she got up from her chair and proceeded to take the dishes back to the kitchen.

The king was seated on his chair staring at the beauty's attractive figure while she cleaned the table until she was done, basically when he thought it was a good time he got up before being told to do so. She took shy steps approaching him not knowing whether what she was thinking was a good idea or not, but she wanted to give the king the choice as the weather outside was not suitable enough to continue with his journey. She stopped when she was about to two feet away from kit, who was looking at her puzzled countenance from the distance.

Your majesty, if you want you can take some rest in my father's room tonight, I think with this weather it's better to wait for tomorrow to continue with your journey. Ella decided to voice her thoughts to the king, whose eyes sparkled in joy at her suggestion.

You are right... thanks. He answered with a shy grin after taking a look at the window where he saw the crazy raindrops crashing on the glass violently. The rain had once again gained force.

Even if it weren't raining he wouldn't have refused such an offer to be in the same house as Ella, that too alone. This was a one in a million opportunity and he wanted to make the most out of it, he wanted to let her know about his feelings.

If you need anything your majesty, please let me know. Ella said after preparing her father's bed for him.

Sure, that's very kind of you. The king said lost in her Bambi eyes before she broke the eye lock to take a look at him, from head to toe and wore a positively surprised look on her face.

They fit you perfectly. You said but he didn't understand you at first as his mind was too busy planning how will he present his proposal to you.

My father's clothes fit you perfectly. Ella explained smiling sweetly at him.

Yes, thank you so much. Kit managed to say, although he wanted to say much more than those few counted words.

She walked towards his own, wet clothes and laid them flat on the sofa so they can dry entirely until morning. While she was busy, his eyes were following her delicate figure and his mind was working faster than usual trying to come up with a believable excuse so she won't leave.

Hope you have a pleasant stay, your majesty. Ella said before kit could even think of a good one, unsettling him entirely.

Yes, thank you. He said to her loudly, but began cursing under his breath for speaking before thinking.

Although, she had not left yet,so he still had a few seconds left when his own blue eyes fell on the empty glass of his side table.

I need some water. He said, proud of himself for being able to stop her on time, walking towards the little table and grabbing the glass in his hand.

Ella walked in his direction and extended her hand to hold said glass, but realised that he couldn't take his gaze off the glass. And how could he? His mind was made an absolute mess, he was thinking so much that he was becoming increasingly tired of himself. Defeated, he put the glass away and looked at Ella's big brown eyes.

I can do this no more. I can't lie to you anymore. I came here to see you, and you only. I wanted to meet you, to talk to you... And to see if I can still have a life with you. Kit started phrasing his thoughts and Ella's lips parted in surprise at his words.

The walls of my bed chamber had become a prison and I couldn't stay in there for long, I wanted to know... I wanted to know if you had moved on, specially after the parade when I saw you with that man in your stall... I realised soon that the time of my visit was rather inappropriate so I decided to wait on your porch where I fell on the stairs. He confessed innocently while lifting his wounded hand up to take a look at it, wearing an enchanting grin on his handsome features after glancing at it.

In that moment, what Ella saw in front of her wasn't a king, but a vulnerable honest man who was in the difficult process of pouring his heart out in front of you. She was standing in front of her kit. He took a step forward towards Ella and grabbed her hands in his, moving his fingers over her soft skin remembering the first time he had felt these gentle hands when they had their first dance in the palace's ball.

Ella, it would be an honour for me if you accept my hand in marriage and my daughter would love to have you as her mother. My life has given me a second chance, you are standing here in front of me... unmarried and I can't let you go. Believe me... I had never moved on from you.Not a single day had passed by without your thoughts crossing my mind. I can't explain what I have suffered in your absence. Ella... I love you. And only you.

Ella eyes became misty at hearing his unadulterated confession. She took a step forward and fixed her tender gaze on him, as he was waiting for her to say something. To say anything.

I love you too Kit. Ever since we met in the forest for the first time. Ella confessed sweetly, voice becoming overwhelmed by her own emotions.

At hearing these words, his aquamarine eyes moistened. Soon, his lips mingled with yours in a slow and passionate manner, pouring the years worth of pain , love and separation into it. And there both of them stood, lost in each other's taste inside the house, surrounded by the downpour because life had given them a second chance.

PS. Thank you very much for your love and support guys. I hope you enjoyed it, please don't forget to hit kudos and write a comment. It makes my day, thank you so much.