(Sixteen years ago, The Palace)
In the hour of setting sun, a beautiful lady was sitting by the window in the room on the first floor, watching the sunset as if it were the first one she had ever seen. A slight tapping on the window and a loud whisper took her attention, they were coming from the outside. The lady looked down and saw a boy throwing seeds at her window in order to get her attention. She walked outside on the balcony. ''Hello!'' He shouted as soon as he saw her. The lady leaned over the balcony and told him. ''It is not nice to throw things at someone.''
''I do apologize, but I had to get your attention somehow.'' It was a boy with dark blonde hair wearing a knight's uniform and holding a bag of seeds.
''Are you one of the knight boys?'' The lady asked while carefully observing him.
''Yes! Yes, I am, and I am leaving tonight, so I must ask you something before I leave.''
''Where are you going?''
''To the South, for training. I must ask you, my lady, please!''
''Go on.''
''You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I would hunt a thousand beasts for just a moment of your time. Will you marry me when I come back?'' The boy asked with cheerfulness in his eyes and reached out his hand toward her.
The lady hesitated for a moment.
''I am already engaged.'' She said, looking away from him.
The boy dropped the bag of seeds he was holding and rushed towards the wall. ''Wait a moment!'' He climbed over the windows and vines all the way to her balcony, holding himself over the fence. He looked into her eyes.
''Will you run away with me then? Somewhere far away, where nobody will know us?''
''There is no land that I can go to.'' She answered.
''There is always a place to go. I can take you to my home or even somewhere further away. No one would ever dare to hunt you there!''
A soft smile appeared on her beautiful face. ''The ruler of this kingdom would.''
''But why would he come?''
''I am his fiancé. I am meant to be wedded to the king tomorrow.''
''Even the king, I would fight, the whole kingdom, all the armies, and all the knights. I can promise you freedom, freedom unlike any other.''
She came closer to him and placed her hand on his, which was scratched from climbing. ''You are the nicest person I have met so far. You were also the first to call me beautiful despite only seeing my face. But I cannot accept your proposal, no matter how beautiful your words may be.''
''Then have them remain beautiful, hold them in your heart, in a place where I will keep you forever. My proposal will last forever, and if you ever change your mind, my lady, just call for me, and I will run towards you.''
''Thank you.'' The lady placed her hand on her heart. ''Travel safe, my knight.''
The door opened, the lady rushed inside, and the knight came down from the balcony. He took a look at the hand the lady was holding, all his wounds were gone.
(Somewhere on the Imperial grounds)
Leonard was strolling around the gardens hiding from the wandering eyes of the crowd, he got ready quite early for the banquet just to make some time to walk in the imperial gardens while others were getting ready and already gathering in the great dining hall. He walked through the labyrinth, of which he still knew every nick and corner, slipped out right before the well trimmed walls mixed with the forest, walked for a bit then stopped and looked around, when he was sure nobody was there, then he stepped into the gardens again. This time not the imperial ones, but the empress's, not so long ago this was not a closed of area for the public.
Sixteen years ago it was just a regular part of the whole imperial garden and Leonard knew that very well. This path he took often while he was just a knight in training, they would often sneak around this part at night to look at the maids working in the queen's palace. Since all the youngest maids worked there.
Leonard got close to the building, surely tonight the security will be better, more guards will be on duty. But he still chose this reckless path he remembers so well. In the row of dark windows only one was covered in light, the same one on the very second floor that still has the vines climbing up the balcony. Leonard's biggest fear in the world is that they will cut them, and that that will happen because of him. So even if it is tempting, this lonely knight has spent years looking from a distance and yearning for the day he will climb them again. Even if it comes in an age when he can no longer move on his own, he would still find a way to fulfil that lifelong wish.
She is standing in the middle, dressed in a wide blue gown that will catch every breath tonight. And she is so out of reach it is painful, it has always been painful. No amount of time will ever heal the wound made by the time he spends without her by his side. But who can he blame but himself, he failed her a long time ago. Now his feelings would have an effect on the whole empire.
Leonard took a deep breath and looked at his hand, he clenched his fist and relisted it slowly. His skin is tight, dry and rough from years of training. There are even new blisters forming from the classes he holds for Iyan.
A lot he missed out on.
A true perfection on display that belongs to someone who desperately keeps it away.
The only jealousy Leonard ever felt was towards that man. The one that took everything from him, Emperor of Arthein.