Reiner – Complicated Love

“Thank you for having me here for dinner,” she replied smoothly.

“You’re welcomed here any time, you know that. Please send my regards to your mother. I hope that she will get well soon,” Queen said.

“Of course. Thank you, Queen,” Rachael thanked the older woman politely.

“Thank you, Rachael. Knight, please take care of her,” Queen said before smiling at them both and taking her leave.

Reiner watched as his mother walked gracefully out of the dining room, leaving him alone with Rachael once again. He felt tired after spending his entire day entertaining her or more like letting her try to entertain him. He glanced at his watched and wondered when Rachael would go home. Just as Reiner was about to suggest that Rachael should head home, the younger woman spoke up.

“The weather is so nice. What about an evening stroll in the garden with me?” Rachael suggested in a pleading voice.

Reiner remembered how she would beg for him to play with her when she was younger too. Whenever her father came to visit his father here, she would tag along to play with him. He would spoil her by catering to her demands like lifting her up on his shoulder so that she could see a bird nest on a tree.

Rachael had always been a very energetic girl and he found that very adorable about her.

“Sure. Let’s go,” Reiner replied as he reached out a hand to pat her head adoringly.

Rachael got out of her seat and urged Reiner up to his feet so that they could head out to the gardens.

It was dark and Reiner wondered how much longer Rachael would hang around for. They both made their way out to the garden on the side of the mansion.

“It’s dark. Watch where you’re going,” Reiner warned.

“Don’t worry, I won’t fall on my face,” Rachael replied confidently.

“You did that a lot when you were a kid,” Reiner said with a small laugh.

“Stop saying that…” Rachael muttered in embarrassment.

They arrived at a sitting area that was well lit in the middle of the garden. Reiner hadn’t been here in forever and was surprised that it was still there. He remembered that Queen liked this spot a lot and liked to put her roses on display here. During sunny days, she would have afternoon tea here with her friends when they came over.

“Can we sit here?” Rachael asked as she approached a seat.

“Sure...” Reiner replied casually.

He took the seat opposite her and found Rachael staring at him like she had something that she wanted to say.

“Knight…umm…about our wedding…” Rachael began saying hesitantly as her eyes darted around in her nervousness.

“Oh, that. You don’t have to worry about it,” Reiner replied casually like it was nothing.

“What…do you mean?” Rachael asked as her eyebrows drew together in a frown.

“You don’t have to worry about it. This engagement is temporary, we’ll be calling it off soon,” Reiner stated decisively.

“Calling it off? Why?” Rachael asked in disbelief.

“Why? You’re like a little sister to me. How can we possibly get married?” Reiner said like it was supposed to be obvious.

“No…that’s not…When will you stop seeing me as a little girl? I’m a woman now…I’m not that little girl anymore!” Rachael cried out desperately.

“To me, you’ll always be a little girl,” Reiner replied with a kind smile.

“No, I’m not a little girl! We’re engaged! We’re going to get married!” Rachael yelled hysterically as her emotions started taking over.

“To me, you’ll always be a little sister that I love very dearly,” Reiner replied calmly.

“Is that why you broke off our engagement?” she asked softly.

“Partly…” Reiner replied honestly.

“Then why…why did you come back? Why are you bringing back this engagement?” she asked in frustration.

“I know this engagement is what our parents want but you don’t have to be pressured into marrying me.

We’ll tell them soon enough that we’re calling this off for our sakes,” Reiner said calmly.

“What are you saying?” Rachael asked in pure shock.

“It’s going to be fine. Besides, you don’t love me either, do you?” Reiner reasoned.

“Knight, you don’t understand anything,” Rachael said sadly as she shook her head slowly from side to side.

Rachael got up from her seat and walked over to where Reiner was seated. She bent down and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

“Rachael?” Reiner said her name questioningly.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you!” she screamed loudly.

Reiner’s eyes widened at her sudden confession of love. He’s faced many unexpected situations in his life, but this turn of event still surprised him and caught him off guard. Rachael leaned in closer to kiss Reiner; however, the warmth that met her lips wasn’t from his lips.

“Don’t do this. You know very well that I don’t feel the same way,” Reiner warned seriously as his blue eyes stared back coldly at her.

His hand covered her mouth and kept her from coming any closer to him.

“Why not?” she asked after pulling his hand away from her lips.

The tears that had welled up in her eyes quickly spilled over and trialed down her cheeks as she openly cried.

“You’re like a younger sister to me, Rachael” Reiner repeated again.

“Is it because of her?” Rachael asked accusingly.

Reiner eyes widened as he gazed back at her in a mix of confusion and shock. How much does Rachael know?

“Who are you referring to?” Reiner asked calmly.

“Natalia Rosenhall,” Rachael said as her eyes narrowed dangerously.

“How do you know that name?” Reiner asked sternly.

“Why does it matter? She’s the reason why you left and broke off our engagement, isn’t she?” she asked accusingly.

“So, what if it is?” Reiner said passively.

“But you came back. You came back to me, so why are you going to break off our engagement again?

Is it because of her again?” Rachael asked as a pained expression transformed her face.

Reiner was silent as he refused to answer any of her questions. No matter what, he refused to get Natalia involved in this mess.

“It is, isn’t it? It’s because she’s here. Natalia Rosenhall is here on this island, isn’t she?” Rachael asked but it wasn’t truly a question.

--To be continued…