Chapter 27 : So I met The Most Unexpected Guest

"You didn't?" I ask with surprise.

- "No, King Agni. I hate political marriage. I myself married a woman from a commoner family, just because I fell in love with her. I told Lelia that she can marry anyone, even a commoner. If she is happy, I am happy. Today, when we were leaving from the royal court, she said that she fell in love with you and she can't take her eyes off of you. I was very happy, because she never liked anyone before. Lelia requested me to talk to you about her. Then I told her if she needs something, she has to ask on her own. She told me that she would do that. But I don't understand, why did she tell you that there is a political marriage for her?" 

I hesitantly say, "Well, she didn't actually mention political marriage." Lesious says with a serious voice, "Then who told you that, King Agni? Mention that person's name." I say, "Well actually...excuse me for a moment." I walk outside of the dining hall.

I look at my left. She isn't there. I look to my right. There she is, talking with Emelin. I walk towards her. Emelin notices me and leaves. 

When I get near Lelia, I notice tears in her eyes. Lelia wipes her tears and looks at me. I say, "I am sorry for misunderstanding. I thought you were forced to do a political marriage with me. Now that I know the truth, I am ashamed of my misunderstanding. Please forgive me, Princess Lelia." I bow before her. 

Lelia says, "Why did you bow before me? You are a king, and I am just a princess of another kingdom." I say, "I am apologizing for my mistake, and to express how guilty I feel, I bow to you. My status doesn't matter when I am apologizing for my mistake." 

- "Now that all the misunderstanding has cleared, what is your response to my proposal?"

- "Princess Lelia, I am honored that you liked me and wanted to marry me. But I can't fulfill this desire of yours. Please forgive me."

- "And why can't you marry me?"

- "Because someone is already in my heart. And I've decided to give all of me to her."

- "So, Agni, the king of Alnovir doesn't have a little bit of room in his heart for me?"

I laugh a little and say, "Princess Lelia, my heart is one. It can't be divided. It has room for only one woman. And one woman has already entered there. She is irreplaceable." Lelia says, "You don't have to let me stay in your heart. Just let me stand beside you. Can I ask this much from you?" 

- "I can't accept that, Princess Lelia. It will be a sin to accept your love and care while giving you nothing in return."

- "I don't have any problems with that. I will gladly...."

- "No, Princess Lelia, I can't accept that, and I won't accept that. You have your whole life ahead of you. And my mind won't change. So, live your life with someone who can return love to you."

Leila lowers her head and says, "If the woman of your heart pushes you away, like you are pushing me away, how will you feel then?" I sigh. I smile and say, "I don't want to think about that, Princess Lelia. I know that I am lower than her standards. She deserves much more. And it twists my heart to think that. But I will do my best to be equal to her. So that she can happily accept me. And I know she may have anyone in her mind too. For that, she may push me away. But I don't want to think about that. If I surround myself with nightmares created by my thoughts, then I won't ever be the better version of me. So I will keep thinking that I will be the one whom she chooses. This thought will be the fuel for me to improve myself." 

Lelia wipes her tears and says, "The irony is, I am called the most beautiful woman, and here I am rejected by the man I fall in love with." I bow and say, "I am sorry, Princess Lelia. There's nothing I can do about this." Lelia smiles and says, "Earlier Princess Emelin told me about how she became your sister. From then, I knew that I couldn't convince you. But I still wanted to try. And I tried....I...." Lelia starts crying. She turns and walks towards the guest house. 

I just stand there and do nothing. Again, I can't comfort anyone who lost something even before achieving that. 

In the morning our guests decide to leave. Lesious says, "It's a pleasure meeting you, King Agni." I say, "The feeling is mutual, King Lesious. Why are you leaving so soon? Let us show you our best hospitality." Lesious says, "We are satisfied with your hospitality, King of Alnovir. My sister insisted on returning home. And a king shouldn't leave his kingdom for too long. We'll meet soon, King Agni. You should visit our home whenever you have time." I say, "Of course, King Lesious." Our guests leave.

Five months passed. 

I received many royal guests from various kingdoms. For unknown reasons, most of their daughters or sisters gave me marriage proposals. I received some letters from various kingdoms. Shocking, almost 90 percent of those contained marriage proposals. I declined every one of them with respect. Everyone saw how I broke their hearts, but they didn't see how I felt when I did that. 

Now I am just lying on the bed and thinking, why can't people understand me? Vaelya comes to me and says, "Agni, can I say something?" I smile and say, "Why are you asking for permission, Vaelya? Say what you want to say." Vaelya says, "If the woman you love lives here in this world, then she will have no problem with you having multiple wives and mistresses. So can you stop breaking the hearts of all those women who fall in love with you?" I smile and say, "Vaelya, I am not a doll or toy. I am a person. I am not something to be shared. She may not have any problems with sharing me with others. But I have. And I really hope she understands that." Vaelya tries to say something but doesn't. 

"May I come in, your majesty?" Lukemir says from the door. 

I reply, "Of course, Lukemir. Anything happen?" Lukemir enters the room and says, "Your majesty, I am happy to say that slave trading is now reduced to 8 percent of what it was a year ago. In every part of the world, robbers are now terrified of kidnapping people and trading them. Royals and nobles are now scared to buy slaves. All this is possible for the Night Angels." I say, "This isn't over yet until the percentage comes down to zero." Lukemir smiles and says, "It will be soon. After what two of you did two days ago."

I say with a smile, "Well, I was out of control after seeing the condition of those innocent people." Vaelya says, "Lukemir, I tried to calm him. But he was filled with rage." Lukemir says, "Yes, I understood that after hearing that one of the Night Angels destroyed two fortresses of a slave trading company and brutally murdered the slave trader and 47 robbers in one night. And what his majesty did with those 48 dead bodies, the people who watched that scenario can't forget in their lifetime." I say, "They deserve that. And I set a fine example for anyone who wants to walk on their path." Lukemir says, "And it worked, your majesty."

"Your Majesty!" Nordial shouts and comes running to the door. He is heavily panting. We walk to him. I ask, "What happened, Nordial?" Nordial says while painting, "He is coming here, your majesty." Lukemir asks, "Who is Nordial?"

Nordial catches his breath and says the name of the unexpected guest.

We became speechless for a while. Then Vaelya asks, "Why is he of all people coming here?" Nordial says, "We don't know that yet." I say, "Show him Alnovir's hospitality." Nordial says, "As you wish your majesty." Lukemir says, "Your majesty, be careful with this one." I say, "Of course, Lukemir."

A carriage arrives at the gate of Caelgrand at noon. A man wearing all white gets down from the carriage and walks to us. He is around 50-55 years old. He is constantly smiling. But the smile itself is creepy. He stops before me. 

I say, "Welcome to Alnovir. I am Agni Roy, the humble king of this beautiful land." He says with that creepy smile, "Yes. From the moment my eyes found you, I knew that you were the king of Alnovir, even though you're not wearing any royal dress or the crown. And I am Rodior Nevious, one of the high commanders of the Sanctus Dominion. I've been very eager to meet you, your majesty."

"The eagerness is mutual." I say with a smile.