This story is almost complete... in my notebook. I am just kind of slow and lazy to put it up through word processing. However, I can almost guarantee that this will be completed by the end of this year.

I am aware that my updates are slow, but I rather write during a time that I can produce satisfactory work rather than slap together some dry words and sentences to create a filler that does not relate to the plot whatsoever and call it the next chapter.

Thank you for your kind words and support. I am eternally grateful and here is the next chapter!

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Only For Her

Chapter 4

By Broken Pencil

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The palace was eerily quiet as she strolled down the empty hall early in the morning. The marble floors made the empty halls echo loudly every time her heels made contact with it, and every time it echoed, she would realize that even though the atmosphere seemed so quiet and serene, it was actually quite lonesome to be there.

"Strange" was the first word that she could sum up in her mind, it was usually lively around the palace. Then it hit her. Aram and Airi were not around. Due to their missing presence, King Jeile had no purpose to bother anyone as means of entertainment, Lei had no one to watch over, and she did not have to be summoned to break up any riots.

Yet the uprisings whenever those two are around created a sense of unity, like one of a family, within the palace. It felt sort of like a home. Without them, the place felt so foreign and distant. Whenever Airi was around, the entire palace would be in complete restlessness, constantly wondering what she would do next. That Airi had really made a dramatic change in everyone's lives, including hers.

However, that commoner also took away her legitimate position as Aram's fiancée. But then again, she did carry royal blood and significantly resembled her great grandmother. She was devastated as a child, but as she grew up watching the couple, it became apparent that Airi fitted Aram best, and none other could match up to her disturbingly simplistic qualities. If it had been her, would Aram soften his outer exterior and let her into his world? Would he set aside time to learn to possibly love her? No, he wouldn't. Thus, if they were to get married like expected, she would have lived a lonely, if not, an isolated life.

She finally came across Aram's old room and frowned when she discovered something peculiar.

"The door's open," Mariabel noted cautiously, preparing to confront the intruder. "Is it a thief?"

She stormed inside, prepared to see the trespasser. "Who's in here?" she demanded loudly.

Mariabel didn't have enough time to shriek when she felt a hand clamp over her mouth and forced her back against the wall. She closed her eyes, trying to rest her panicking heart. She opened her eyes and was instantly taken aback at the attacker. Speak of the devil!

He removed his hand, not bothering to look at her or to greet her.

"Aram-sama, you're already back from your honeymoon?" she uttered out, looking around the room for his wife. "Where's Airi-san?"

She immediately saw the worry in his eyes. Her voice softened into a gentle hush, "What happened?"

He placed a index finger on his lips to silence her interrogation.

"I don't want anyone to find out I'm here," he said cautiously, taking out his mirror. "Let's go somewhere else."

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Who knew that a crepe could taste so good? She would have squealed like a child if it weren't for the fact that she was worried over Aram's serious problem.

She nibbled carefully to avoid spilling onto her dress while listening attentively to Aram's explanation of what had happened in the past weeks.

He frustratingly ran a hand through his brown hair after asking, "What should I do?"

Mariabel wiped her mouth with a tissue after finishing the last piece of her dessert. "Let me see her necklace," she said immediately, lifting her hand up in expection that Aram would hand over the jewelry.

He lifted his head up and gaped at her. "Why?"

She crossed her arms over her chest and answered, "I have to identify what kind of spell it is."

Aram sighed, irritated by another obstacle that he had forgotten to include. Here he was getting his plan moving only to realize that he had skipped a step.

"Where is she?" Mariabel questioned when she noticed his upset expression.

"I don't know," he whispered.

She was confused by his reply. "When will she be back?"

"I don't know."

His response was making her even more infuriated. How could she help if he was being vague with his answers?

She was a little hesitant to ask the next question, but figured that it would get her somewhere, "Who is she with?"

Aram's eyes narrowed. "Nakaoji."

That man? She certainly did not expect his return. No wonder Aram was at such unease. She briefly touched his tense arm on the table.

"Remember what you told me a few years ago?" she asked softly when he finally looked at her.

"Hm?"

She pulled her hand back and clasped them together and recited clearly, "Using magic to influence people's feelings is futile and will only lead to unhappiness."

Mariabel smiled when she saw an understanding smirk on his lips, "It will be fine, your highness."

He nodded. "Thanks."

A mischievous grin graced her face as she cocked her head to one side, "And I think there's someone watching us."

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She was beautiful! Airi continued to stare in awe despite the bustling of noise, people, and cars all around her.

Across the street was Aram sitting on one of the chairs outside the crepe shop, but sitting across from him was a girl. And it was not just some girl anyone could easily brush off, but rather a woman with an enchanting aura that no one can avoid after looking just once.

She had long thick, wavy pigtails held up by a ribbon on each side. She was slender and wore the aristocratic expression of grace and elegance. The way she looked at Aram, the way she smiled at Aram, the way she sat and her actions told Airi she was a girl of class.

"Mariabel Kaldia," she heard Nakaoji stated in surprise.

She faced him. "Do you know her?"

He knitted his brows together, unsure if Airi's memory of the girl had faltered. After all, they had quite an interesting relationship in high school.

"At one point we all attended to school together," he answered.

The large bus drove by and blocked their view. When it was gone, so were the pair in front of the crepe shop.

Nakaoji noticed the hurt in her eyes. He had also saw how she clutched onto her purse so tightly that it made her knuckles pale.

"Come, Airi," he motioned by grabbing her arm, "it's time to cross the street."

She swallowed nervously, still looking at the empty seats in front of the crepe shop. What was Aram doing with her? When she saw those two together, she could have sworn the sight made her heart stir uneasily.

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Today she would be alone-- as in without Nakaoji-- for the first time since she could remember.

Unsure of how to get by her day, Airi decided to prepare breakfast in hopes to gain some quick sugar running through her system.

Nakaoji will be away for a week to watch over his sister at camp. Airi giggled at his overprotective brotherly personality, but there was also a tense, nervous tone underneath her laugh.

She peeked out the kitchen and gazed with fascination at the man in front of her eyes. Was that really Aram? She quickly absorbed the main features of the little Aram she remembered and compared it to the man she saw. He still had those beautiful brown eyes, the untamed, wavy hair, and the very same colored complexion. It just simply could not be a natural replica, it just isn't possible! So it must indeed be Aram. Nonetheless there was still enough for skepticism to exist.

Of course she already established that fact a while ago, but it still bothered her as to why she cannot recall it. He had grown so big and strong the moment she woke up that one morning. A record growth spurt, really, if that had been the true explanation. Unfortunately this isn't so, and thus something must have happened during the course of the past five years. All she had to do was ask him, she figured with a definite intuition. That was if she could bypass a certain problem of course…

Airi hung her head down and sighed, returning back to the kitchen counter to finish cracking the eggs. There was only one problem that hindered her from asking him, and she realized that it was because she could not find the ability or strength to approach him more or less engage in a conversation with him.

"I'm still shocked, I guess…" she analyzed with a slight bit of irritation. "But I have to get to him somehow without becoming mute!"

She had already made the fried rice with ketchup and all she needed to do was to fry the egg to make her omelet rice.

"Airi…?" she heard Aram's voice ringing into the kitchen.

She turned around, noticing that he was standing near the opening but she was not able to get a view of anything else besides the shoulder of his shirt. Unbeknownst to her, Aram was doing it on purpose.

"Can you make me some of that as well?" he asked.

She opened her mouth but nothing came out, so she only nodded instead.

"Thanks!" he replied, heading back into the living room to watch TV.

Airi smacked her head immediately after he disappeared from her sight. "I couldn't even say a 'yes' to him!" she growled. "If I can't answer such a simple question to him, then how can I possibly get the solutions I want?"

Her eyes opened as a newfound idea dawned upon her. Maybe the more exposure she gets from him, perhaps she would eventually become desensitized by his overwhelming presence and not bother to be nervous anymore! It's almost like going into a room with a distinct odor, but the longer one are exposed the it, the sooner one will get used to the once unfamiliar scent. It is such a simple concept, but it is quite effective.

She hurriedly fried the egg in the pan and skillfully folded it over the fried rice. From today until the end of the week, she would utilize her time to get used to the new Aram. Finally, she would be able to get her unsolved questions answered! Moreover, she could use the time today to figure out the girl Aram was with the other day.

'Baby steps!' Airi thought excitedly with growing anticipation. 'One step at a time!'

"Aram, I am done!" she announced cheerily, placing both of their food on the table.

Yes, this can work, she decided happily waiting for Aram to arrive into the kitchen. The footsteps were getting louder, and she knew he would enter in there soon. She finally heard the shuffling of his feet on the marble floor and knew she was in the same space as him. Turning around with the intention to greet him, she was stopped abruptly when she saw Aram taking a whiff of her cooking and graced her with a handsome smile.

"It smells great!" he complimented.

But she was still speechless, all thoughts and intentions blasted into oblivion. She had been prepared to be in the same room as him, but she was certainly not prepared to see the most nostalgic features of his face that brought her back into the memories of the years when he was still young and was addicted to her omuraisu. He was so sweet and so refreshing as a child, and that incident just proved her skepticism of him being a completely different guy seemed so laughable now.

It was not the face that shocked her, but rather the expression he held in his eyes. It was too familiar, like as if she had seen it before, not him as a child but a the man he was now. But once again as the pieces begun to come together, it fell apart once more as she tried to recall it. However this time she wasn't scared.

She inhaled, taking in his scent as well, and exhaled. Baby steps, Airi, baby steps…

"Thank you," she answered. Her voice came out politely and smoothly scaring Aram and her as well.

Indiscreetly recovering from his initial shock, Aram nodded and motioned for her to begin eating.

And so their day began with breakfast together.

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To Be Continued