Chapter 21: Fractured Bonds and Promise.

The Duke and Duchess (A Gentle Morning)The morning sun filtered softly through the heavy velvet curtains, casting a warm glow across the master bedroom. In the bed, Betty gently shook the Duke’s shoulder."Wake up," she whispered, her voice laced with amusement. "It is so late."The Duke groaned softly, cracked his eyes open, and sat up. "Ah... yes. I’m awake." He rubbed his eyes and turned to his Duchess beside him. As his gaze drifted over her face, his expression hardened. He noticed a dark, distinct bruise blooming against the porcelain skin of her neck.Leaning in closer, his brow furrowed with immediate worry. "Betty... what is wrong with your neck?"She flinched slightly, her hand instinctively flying up to cover the mark. "Noth—nothing. It’s just an old injury from when I was kidnapped. It's nothing."The Duke reached out, his fingertips gently tracing the edge of the bruise. "This wasn't here before. It wasn't here last night; I remember clearly."Flushing with a sudden wave of embarrassment, Betty hid her face in her hands. "I told you, it’s old!""Seriously, Betty," the Duke pressed, his voice dropping into a serious, protective tone. "Don't lie to me."Realizing she couldn't win, she let out a long sigh, dropping her hands. "Fine. Listen... last night, you were thrashing around in your sleep, and I fell completely out of the bed."The Duke blinked, looking down at his hands in horror. "No... I didn't.""Oh, yes you did," she huffed, pointing an accusing finger at him. "I distinctly remember your elbow flying right into my neck. It pains a lot! It seems like during those days I was kidnapped, you learned how to sleep alone."Scratching the back of his head sheepishly, the Duke offered a small, apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry... I was deep in a dream. I didn't forget you, Betty."Betty puffed her cheeks out into a pout and made a move to swing her legs out of bed. Before she could step away, the Duke’s hand shot out, wrapping gently around her wrist."Wait. Don't go yet," he murmured.She looked back over her shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips. "And why exactly should I stay?"The Duke leaned forward, a playful, boyish glint in his eyes as he whispered, "Because it’s been a pretty long while since I've gotten to just sit and talk with my wifey."Blushing furiously, Betty gave in and sat back down on the mattress. "Okay, fine. Let's talk."She expected a casual conversation, but she was entirely caught off guard when the Duke suddenly leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. "I love you, Betty," he whispered.Her heart skipped a beat, racing wildly against her chest. "W—why so sudden?" she stammered, trying to hide her racing thoughts."Can't a man love his own wifey?" he asked, chuckling."We aren't a newly married couple anymore," she murmured, looking away.He caught her chin gently, his eyes softening. "But in my eyes, even after fifty years, we still will be."Unable to handle the sheer romance of the moment, Betty got entirely too shy, broke away from his grip, and practically ran out of the room. The Duke watched the door close behind her, a fond smile gracing his lips. She is still exactly the same, he thought. The Captive Princess (Prince Advard's Mask)Deep within the damp, suffocating shadows of a dark room, Cecelia hung limply. Ropes cut into her skin, binding her tightly to a cold wooden chair. She was completely unconscious until the heavy thud of footsteps echoed against the stone floor.Prince Advard stepped into the dim light. A cruel, villainous smirk played on his lips as he looked down at her. "Sleeping beauty, wake up," he mocked, his voice echoing in the empty room. "Why are you sleeping so lamely?"Cecelia groaned, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked against the darkness, looking frantically around the unfamiliar room before her eyes locked onto him. She struggled against the ropes, trying to stand. "Ah...! Why am I here? What are you doing, Advard?!"Advard rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "The thing that I should have done from the start.""Leave me, you freak!" she screamed, her heart pounding with terror."Are you blind?" he sneered, leaning in close. "Can't you see you are completely under my control now?""What nonsense is this?!" Cecelia cried, tears pricking her eyes. "Just a short time ago, you told me you liked me! We went out for tea! How could you do this?"Advard pulled up a chair and sat down across from her, his expression cold as ice. "Little princess... it was all a lie.""But... but you said—""What, did you actually think I would ever like someone like you?" he interrupted, laughing harshly. "Ah, you aren't even worth the dirt on the type of my shoe. Have you ever actually looked at your face?""Shut the hell up!" she shrieked, shaking with rage and betrayal."Angry now?" Advard mocked. "Let me break it down for you. I am going to use you. Your father will do absolutely anything to get you back safely."Nervousness crept into her voice, but she tried to stand her ground. "He... he is the King! He will never listen to your absolute crap!""Oh, just you wait and watch," Advard purred, his eyes flashing with ambition. "That old guy will be begging me for mercy. And the throne? The throne will belong to my dad, and my mom the Queen.""You will never lay a single finger on that throne!""Let's see about that."Cecelia stared at him, the horrifying reality finally sinking in. "This... kidnapping me... it was your plan from the very beginning, wasn't it?""Yes," Advard replied coldly. "My father gave me one job, and I intend to fulfill it perfectly."Voice trembling with sheer dread, she whispered, "Will you... Will you torture me?""Yes," he said without a shred of hesitation. "I'll starve you until you're on the brink of death. I'll do whatever I want with you."With his piece said, Advard turned on his heel, preparing to leave her alone in the dark. But before he could take a step, Cecelia screamed out from behind him, her voice cracking with desperate emotion."You are not like this, Advard! Can you really hurt me?!"Advard froze. He stared down at the floor, his hands clenching into tight fists. For a fraction of a second, a deeply sad, tortured expression crossed his face. I am so sorry, he thought bitterly to himself, but I cannot love her. I have no choice.Forcing his expression back into a mask of pure malice, he turned around, hiding the pain in his eyes. "I am like this."He strode out of the room, leaving Cecelia alone. She lowered her head, staring at the floor as she muttered to herself, "No... You look like you're in deep trouble."--- Ethan and Iris (Promises at the Cliff)Inside the hidden cavern, the monstrous creature reached out, its clawed hand gently touching Ethan’s arm. "My King... you remembered?"Ethan stared ahead, his mind a chaotic storm. "I heard a voice... the voice of a woman. Who was she? I don't know what is happening to me."The monster bowed its head. "It would be the Queen, your mother.""I don't understand," Ethan muttered, clutching his head as a sharp pain pierced his temples. "My mother died when I was born. Mister Sam took care of me my whole life... so who is this woman?" He violently beat his hand against his head three times, desperate to break the mental lock. "Ah! I can't remember!""Ethan, stop! Why are you doing this to yourself?!" Iris cried out, stepping forward with deep worry in her eyes.Ethan stopped, his breathing heavy. He reached out and grabbed Iris’s hand firmly. "Let's go outside. I can't breathe in this tight place anymore.""Okay," she nodded softly.As they walked past the creature, it reached out desperately. "My King, please do not leave us."Ethan didn't look back. "I'll be back. Just wait.""As you wish," the creature whispered, stepping into the shadows.Ethan and Iris walked out of the dark cavern, stepping into the roaring open air. The view was breathtaking—a massive, powerful waterfall cascaded down a mountain cliff, emptying into a vast, deep sea far below.Ethan walked to the edge of the cliff and sat down, his hand still tightly wrapped around hers. "Sit down with me."Iris quietly sat by his side."I don't know what's happening to me, Iris," Ethan confessed, his voice breaking. He leaned over and gently placed his heavy head onto Iris’s lap, closing his eyes. "You know what? I am just so puzzled. Everything looks so weird. Sometimes I sit and think... why were all these worries written into my fate?"Iris smiled softly, her heart aching for him. She began to gently pat his head, stroking his hair. "Ethan... you know what? Sometimes it feels like I've known you for years, even though I still can't remember everything either. We are in the exact same race."Ethan opened his eyes, staring out at the sea. "I am so sorry for dragging you into my mess. If I wasn't in your life, you would be having a peaceful life right now."Suddenly, Iris brought her hand down, hitting his forehead with a sharp smack."Ow!" Ethan winced, sitting up slightly. "That hurts!""Yes, it hurts," Iris said, her eyes fierce but loving. "But it doesn't hurt as much as your words do.""What does that mean?""I wouldn't have a peaceful life without you, Ethan," she said firmly. "Back there, I would be living under the suffocating pressure of that creep. It is so much better for me to be free from anyone trying to control me. And when I am with you... I actually feel peace."A small, genuine smile finally broke through Ethan’s exhaustion. "Oh? So my impression on you is already that good, huh?"Iris let out a bright laugh. "Ha! Stop being nonsense!"Ethan lay back down, resting his head comfortably on her lap once more. He reached up, capturing her smaller hand in his. His expression grew deeply serious. "Iris... can you promise me one thing?""Yes?" she asked softly."Please... don't ever leave me. Even if, in the eyes of the entire world, I turn out to be a criminal monster... promise me that in your eyes, I will always just be Ethi. You know me."Iris looked down at him, her eyes softening completely. "Is that really something you even need to ask?""Still," Ethan pressed, his eyes searching hers desperately. "Promise me."

Iris smiled, lifting her hand and extending her small pinky finger. She hooked it tightly around his. "I promise."

[chapter ended]