chapter 22: Promises

Archie's POV

"Archie." When I hear my name being called, I turn to the door and see mother-in-law standing there.

I immediately get up from my sitting position and stand as I wait for her to walk in.

"C-can we talk?" She asks and I nod, I can't say no to her.

"Not here, please follow me." She requests and take a look at Kian and Gia who are sleeping before following her.

She guides me to her room. I stand awkwardly after getting into the room and waiting for her to talk. What does she want to talk now? Is she angry that I came back after promising her that I will leave Kian and never get back into his life. Or will she ask me to leave again? I can't do that now, I can't leave Gia.

"I'm sorry for everything I did to you, Archie." She suddenly apologises, completely confusing me, "I never thought Kian loves you so much that he couldn't possibly live without you. I thought after he marries Jane and have their own children, he would forget about you. So, I arranged the marriage and asked you to leave him. But on the day of marriage, after you left, he called off the wedding. He said he can't marry someone else when he already have you. When he couldn't find you in the wedding hall, he ran back to the palace thinking you would be here. But when he realised you left him, he was devastated. He sent people and made searches for you all around the kingdom. However, we couldn't even find a single trace of you. It took him more than an year to get back to normal. He wouldn't look after the kingdom. He locked himself in his room. He wouldn't talk to me because he thought I'm the reason you left. That is not wrong though."

"But after an year, don't know what happened but he became normal. He started looking after the kingdom and doing all his duties. His sudden change scared us because we felt though he is normal, he isn't actually normal. He is so different now. He's like a changed person. But now that you're back, I know he's going to be fine. Because I'm the reason for everything, I wanted to apologise to you. If I knew he loves you more than his life, I wouldn't ask you leave him. I'm sorry, Archie. I'm so sorry." She explains and apologises for everything she had done.

"It's okay, king mother. You don't have to apologise to me." I reply as I already understood her intention long back. All she wanted was for Kian to live happily.

"No, Archie. Everything that had happened was because of me. Infact I don't even deserve forgiveness from you after arranging Kian's marriage with others and taking the promise from you to leave him." She continues while holding her hands together, her tears threatening to fall.

"It's really okay, king mother. I understand everything you did. I never wronged you. Please stop apologizing." I request and grab her hands in mine, bringing them down.

"I'm really sorry, Archie. I ruined everything." She cries out making me pity her.

She obviously done the bad thing but now that she realised her mistake and that she's so regretful about it, I can't help but forgive her.

As she continues to cry, I stand by her and support her. It takes ten minutes for her to calm down and when she does, I bring her to the bed and make her sit down. I look at the tea table and find a water kettle. Going to the table, I fill a glass full of water and bring it to her. I handle her the glass and she gulps down the water after taking it from me.

"Archie, there's another thing I want to ask you, can I?" She appeals.

"Yes, you can ask me king mother." I agree to answer her.

"About Gia, she's really your daughter? I'm not doubting you but it's just unbelievable to know you're the one who gave birth to her. Don't think of this otherwise and if you don't want to, don't even answer this question. That's totally fine." She says with a smile while keeping her hand on my shoulder.

"I know it's hard to believe and that it seems even more impossible, but it's true, I'm the one who gave birth to Gia. This kind of things usually doesn't happen and that we never encountered them before, but please believe me." I urge so that she won't distrust me.

"I believe you, Archie, we all do. How can I not when she's exactly like Kian and knowing you're the only one he has ever been with." She says with a smile.

"Thank you, king mother." I thank her but she frowns at me.

"Why do you keep calling me king mother?" She queries and I bite my lips before answering.

"Because I'm not the queen now, I address you like how others do." I reply.

"Who said you're not the queen? I told you already that Kian didn't marry." She states.

"Kian didn't marry again but he didn't forgive me for leaving him either. When he didn't agree to marry Jane, I threatened him saying I would leave him if he doesn't marry her. Because of that, he agreed to marry her on the condition that I stay with him. But I broke my promise and left him. So, he's angry at me. He didn't even ask me to come with him, all he want is Gia. I came here on my own will because I can't live without her. He doesn't even talk to me properly now." I tell her and tears starts to pool in my eyes as I remember how he was behaving with me.

"Sorry, Archie." She says and I shake my head at her, "but don't worry, knowing Kian, I can assure you that he'll be back to you. He loves you too much to be away from you."

I nod at her words, hopefully that's how things turns out. When I was away from him, it was different. I was able to live but now being too close to him yet too far is hard, I can't live like this for long.

"Now, go and get ready for the party. You should also help Gia, right?" She reminds me about the celebrations.

"Yes, I'll go now." I say and leave the room.

I head back to the room and see Kian sitting at the tea table. Gia is still sleeping. Kian seems to be in deep thoughts, I take quite steps so that I won't disturb him and walk to the bed.

"Gia." I whisper into her ear only for her to hear.

But she doesn't respond, so I gently pull her up and that earns a loud cry from her. I panic and instantly snap my head to Kian and see him watching us. I disturbed him. What should I do now? I gulp before letting Gia down on the bed again.

"Um..I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you." I mumble before he could say something.

He doesn't say anything in return instead he stands up and starts walking to me. His steps wide and strong as his face holds unrecognisable emotions. I take a step back feeling scared of his demeanor. He stops right infront of me before observing my face intently.

"I didn't ask you this before but can you tell me why you left me after promising me?" He asks suddenly, his voice firm and absolute, "without any lies, I want the truth."

"I-I..." I trail unable to answer him.

For the first time in life, I'm feeling scared by him.

"Is it because of my mother? Did she ever ask you to leave me?" He questions moving more closer to me.

My whole body shakes and I loose strength in my legs, I feel like I'm almost collapsing onto the floor. I stare at our feet as sweat forms on my face. At that same time, I feel hands around my waist and I look up to see Kian holding me. I place my hands on his firm chest as he pulls me closer to him. His hot breath fans over my face and neck making shivers run down my spine. He brings up his other hand and gently places it on my cheek, holding my face. The previous emotion left his eyes and now all I see is how he used to look at me, with so much of love.

"Did you not think of me before leaving, like not even once?" He says while staring at me.

My eyes glisten with tears at his emotions more than the questions he's asking me. How do I tell I felt like dying when I left him? I was just a shell living without any reason in life until Gia arrived.

"I-I'm sorry, K-Kian." I state with trembling voice.

"I don't want sorry from you, Archie." He says and I nod at him before I decide to tell him about why I left him.

"After the conversation where mother-in-law announced about your marriage with Jane, we came back to our room and you left to the mining farm. Later that day, mother-in-law visited me."

"Archie, we need to talk." She says while taking a seat and I nod, ready to listen to her.

"I don't know what you'll do but make Kian agree to this marriage. He's not listening me, but I believe he would listen to your words." She orders as she stares at me.

"Mother-in-law, can't we think of other ways? Kian is already married to me, right?" I state my concern.

"This is the only way. Don't you want Kian to be happy and have his own children?" She inquires with angry eyes.

I take a minute and think of what she said. I already know she's doing what's good for Kian. If this marriage is what makes him have his own children, then I'm ready to agree.

"Okay, mother-in-law. I'll talk to him and try to make him agree." I accept her words without having other choice.

"I need one more promise." She utters and I nod for her to continue, "you should leave Kian and go far away from him."

Her words stops my world and I stare at her shocked. How can I leave him?

"B-but mother-in-law I already agreed to this marriage and I'll make Kian to agree as well. I don't understand why should I leave him?" I state, my voice low as words doesn't come out.

"With you still being with him, do you think Kian will be with Jane? He wouldn't even look at her. If this marriage has to succeed and for them to have children, you shouldn't be in his life. That's why I want you to promise me. On the day of the wedding, you should leave this kingdom. Promise me you'll do that." she declares.

"Mother-in-law, I'll be away from him. I won't even show myself to him. But please don't ask me to leave him." I plead because I can't leave him. He's all I have.

"You have no choice, Archie. Either you promise me or I'll kill myself because I can't live and watch my son's life ruining in front of my eyes." She spits out.

Her words sound absolute and I have no choice but to agree.

"I-I promise you, mother-in-law. I'll leave him." I finally agree to her because I can't be the reason for her death.

I cry out as I recall and tell Kian what happened that day between mother-in-law and me.