Celestia tapped her finger rhythmically against the table, her gaze fixed on Lucian, who sat silently across from her. The tension in the air was palpable, and her patience, though vast, was beginning to wear thin.
“So,” she began, her voice deceptively calm, though the undertone of menace was unmistakable. “Are you going to give me a date for our marriage, or should I take matters into my own hands?”
Lucian stiffened in his seat. He avoided her eyes, glancing anywhere but directly at her piercing gaze. “Hey, I really can’t do this right now. Please, try to understand,” he said, his tone weary and filled with a quiet sadness.
He exhaled deeply before continuing, choosing his words carefully. “We should take things slow… get to know each other first. If it works out, that’s great. If it doesn’t, we won’t waste each other’s time or feelings. It’s better to save ourselves the pain that comes with taking a risk like this loving someone without truly knowing them.”
His voice faltered at the end, the weight of his own fears evident. He deliberately avoided using her name this time better to say nothing than risk calling her something like wifey or sweetheart.
Celestia remained silent, her expression unreadable. But inside, a storm of emotions raged.
*Why? Why is he doing this to me?* she thought, her mind racing. Can’t he see how much effort I’m putting into this? Again and again, I try… and he keeps pushing me away.
Her fingers stopped tapping, and she let out a deep sigh, forcing herself to calm down. She knew better than to let her frustration show. Crying or pleading wouldn’t solve anything it wasn’t her style.
Truthfully, she had anticipated this resistance. Getting married on the first meeting? Of course, it’s a hard sell, she reasoned. But that didn’t mean she was giving up. No, Lucian was too special, too important to her. He was worth every ounce of effort she could muster.
Fine. I’ll give him more time, she decided, though the thought of waiting another day without him made her heart ache. Still, she consoled herself with the belief that he was destined to be hers.
But even as she resolved to take things slower, her mind was already calculating her next steps. This doesn’t mean I’m letting him go. Never. He will marry me if not tomorrow, then another day but it will happen. That much is certain.
Celestia’s lips curled into a faint smile, though her eyes burned with determination. Run from me? Impossible. She would make sure of that. No one neither Avey nor even her own mother, the Queen could stand in her way no one can. Lucian was hers, and she would claim him, no matter what.
In her mind, the endgame was clear. He just needs a little more time. That’s all. After all, he’s special, she thought, her resolve strengthening. Anything for my darling.
Lucian, oblivious to the inner workings of her mind, felt a shiver run down his spine. He shifted uncomfortably, unsure of why the room suddenly felt heavier. “Sigh… one more awkward day,” he thought, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced at Celestia, her serene smile unsettling in its intensity.
Why do I feel like I’m walking into a trap I can’t escape? he wondered, his instincts screaming at him. For now, though, he decided to stay quiet, not realizing that Celestia’s patience wasn’t so much a concession as it was a calculated move in her game of love.
“Alright,” Celestia finally said, her voice calm but laced with a sweetness that felt almost too perfect to be genuine. “I’ll postpone our marriage for now… but only for a few days. Yes, *postpone*, not cancel. Let’s be very clear on that.”
Lucian sighed in relief, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. At least for now, he had some breathing room. However, there was something about the way she emphasized “postpone” that made him uneasy.
“Thank you for understanding,” he said cautiously, flashing a hesitant smile. But his curiosity got the better of him. “So… what’s the condition?”
Celestia tilted her head slightly, her smile never wavering. She leaned forward just a bit, her eyes glinting with a strange light. “Tell me, Lucian… have you ever kissed anyone before?”
Lucian froze. Wait, what? He wasn’t prepared for such a question. His face grew warm, and he felt a nervous flutter in his chest. It was the first time in either of his lives that anyone had asked him something so directly. Find exclusive stories on empire
“Why is she even asking that?” he thought, his mind racing. “What does this have to do with anything? And… what should I even say? If I say no, will she judge me? But if I lie and say yes ugh, this is so awkward!”
“I uh” Lucian stammered, looking everywhere except directly at her. Finally, in a low, barely audible voice, he muttered, “Nah.”
Celestia’s smile widened ever so slightly, but her expression remained unreadable. “I didn’t catch that. Could you say it again?” she asked, her tone sugary sweet.
Lucian’s embarrassment only deepened. He could feel his face burning as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. He hesitated, but there was no turning back now. “No, I haven’t,” he repeated, louder this time, his voice tinged with a mix of shame and exasperation.
For a moment, Celestia just stared at him, her smile frozen in place. Inside, however, she felt an explosion of euphoria. He’s never kissed anyone. Not even that Avey witch!
A wave of uncontainable excitement surged through her, sending shivers down her spine. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and her heart pounded like a drum. So that means… I’ll be his first woman. His first, no matter what!
Her inner thoughts spiraled into a frenzy of possessiveness and triumph. This is it. I win. He’s mine. Mine, mine, mine! And if anyone ANYONE tries to change that, I’ll handle them. Personally.
Meanwhile, Lucian shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Something about her demeanor was starting to feel off. Her expression was perfectly pleasant, even kind, but… there was something in her eyes. A spark of excitement that seemed almost too intense.