Chapter 149: I Can’t

-Elias’ POV-

Outside the mansion military units arrived, some we sent to the border and some were sent here.

Leon and Noah had a chat about the circumstances, I helped them devise a strategy when attacking the Kingdom of Latis.

Leon spoke about fighting the kingdom before but the forces seemed to have grown in power there.

We all knew that we needed to take out the king and anyone else working with him, doing so would drive out any more problems with them.

Leon’s mind grew to accept the time that passed without him being fully cognizant.

He hated the fact that he couldn’t remember his own family and through such hatred determination grew stronger within him.

He made sure his body and mind were up to the task. I as well, prepared, training to become as strong as possible.

——-

In the days that followed Leon’s awakening, such preparation for war was the norm.

I, I didn’t interact much with Rose.

I honestly didn’t know how to handle the situation.

Leon was watchful and I was hesitant to talk to her.

I liked seeing her every day and hearing her voice but that wasn’t often anymore.

I wasn’t comfortable sleeping next to her and was trying my best to be respectful, but after a few days of doing so, I enjoyed the contact.

I now sat alone in bed, my heart pounded thinking about how we’ll be leaving for war in the morning.

Though a soft knock at the door caught my attention and I proceeded to handle it.

I opened the door and Rose was there, she was blushing.

Her hair seemed freshly combed and her arm held the other almost as if she wanted to say something.

Elias: “Rose... It’s pretty late for you to be visiting, what can I do for you.?”

Rose: “I’m sorry I came by so late, but I wanted to...”

Elias: “Your father said that we can’t meet like this, he’s probably monitoring us right now, so why..?”

She fell to me her arms grasping my shirt her forehead against the middle of my chest.

Elias: “Rose, you know we can’t do this...”

Rose: “Please, just look at me not as my father's daughter or as a damsel that needs caregiving. Look at me as someone who..”

She looked at him with tearing eyes that wanted something.

Rose: “I. I like you, Elias, I’ve missed seeing you, you can’t expect me to not want to when you’ve been there every day for so long. But besides that, I want to know how you feel about me.

The door naturally closed behind us.

My arms grasped her, holding her tightly.

Elias: “My heart is yours, Rose. I didn’t know what it was but when our eyes met that first day my heart was drawn to you, even though we were enemies, after that first encounter I didn’t want you to get hurt, I didn’t want you to be sad.”

My hand moved to where she was stabbed.

Elias: “When I saw that blade piece your skin my heart dropped my mind went blank and all I could do was destroy the being that caused you pain.”

As I continued to speak she gradually tried getting closer, but my body moved on its own away from her.

Eventually, my body sat on the bed.

Elias: “Haha, You have the prettiest smile and your eyes light up in the most magnificent way when you are happy. You pout and make the cutest expressions when you're angry. I enjoy your company and your laugh, I find so many things about you amazing..”

I looked up at her with the most earnest expression.

She moved closer, she moved her leg up on the bed then the other, she was kneeling, her legs on both sides of me.

She then put her arms on his shoulders and looked at me.

Rose: “If you care so much about me then why do you always pull away, all I want is to be with you, but...”

I looked down away from her, my tone shifted away from what it was before.

Elias: “I’m sorry, but it’s just I still have the morals of my original world weighing on me. You’re a teenager, it feels wrong of me to go any further than this..”

Rose: “So it’s my age that’s the problem.. but my uncle Jesse married his wife when she was close to my age...”

Elias: “In my world that would have been fine in the past as well but the era I’ve grown up in, it’s severely frowned upon. And your father told us that we can’t, I, I want to respect his decision.”

She pushed her lips towards me but I pulled away.

I felt bad rejecting any affection she showed me.

Rose: “But I want this, I want you. But you don’t want to reciprocate any affection because of my age and my father.”

Elias “Sigh, if it means your happiness then I’ll set aside my morals, but your father's decision still remains.. “

She seemed quite disappointed, but I quickly got on top of her, her back against the bed.

My arms held me above her.

My hands held her cheek, my thumb lightly touching her bottom lip. I couldn’t help staring at it.

Elias: “But I’ll indulge you just this once since I’m going to not see you for a while..”

Our lips quickly met, though when I pulled away all I could see was her.

Her eyes were still closed and her mouth slightly open, I could see in her expression she had become quite lost and was probably enjoying the feeling as much as possible.

Her eyes slowly opened, to me my face still slightly close.

Her cheeks blushed and such a reaction caused me to have the same expression.

My arms grasped her tight and I fell to the side.

“I’m going to miss you while I’m gone.”

———

I had Rose in my arms, she was asleep and I was carrying her down the hall to her room.

Leon stood at the forefront of her door and his expression didn’t seem inviting.

Leon: “What did I say about.?”

Elias: “You don’t need to worry your highness, I have explained that without your permission I won’t allow the relationship to go any further than this.”

I walked in the room and put her in bed, tucked her in and I couldn’t help kissing her forehead and smiling down at her before leaving her side.

He watched and his displeased face seemed to continue to linger on him.

I walked out and stopped before him.

Elias: “I know you don’t like it but your daughter confessed her feelings for me, I have confessed mine as well. I apologize for any disturbances I have caused you, and hope one day you’ll give us your blessing... I hope you have a good night your highness.”

I started walking and he stood there.

—————

To be continued