chapter 06: Arrival

Archie's POV

Is something wrong with kian? I think as I slowly chew on my grapes. It has been two days since the general had visited our palace and it came as a shock to us when Kian told he's transferring the general to defence department. I, being a person from a royal family as well, know how hard working in that particular department is. And Rema told me it's even more strict here and that once a person is send or goes there on one's own wish the chances of seeing them are less because they'll completely involve themselves in the tasks and the safety of the kingdom.

But that's not exactly why I'm confused regarding Kian's behaviour. From that day onwards, he seems to be behaving really well with me. If he isn't at work he tries to be around me. He smiles whenever our eyes meet and sometimes even have this stupid grin on his face. His eyes glow and he has this happy aura around him. He just seems too happy. I'm not complaining, it's just I'm kinda confused.

Maybe he started liking me? That was one of the thought I got but I pushed it away as early as it came. That can't be possible, can it? He loved my sister, thought of spending their lives together and dreamt about their future. So, how can he forget about her so easily and so quickly? Ofcourse, he can't. And as great as it sounds, I don't want to get any hopes only to get them crashed. I'm just going to be with him as long as he wants and separate our ways once he decided the right time.

I sigh as I push the bowl away as I lost my appetite after thinking about the possible chances of us being together which are very less to none. Just then the doors get open and Kian walks in. He must be done with work for the day. I stare at him as he walks to the bed and sits by my side with a smile.

"Is something wrong?" He asks after observing my face for a minute, his smile slowly vanishing.

"No." I reply, how could he know I'm not really fine, "why do you think so?"

"You just seem dull and thinking alot, like something is bothering you." He reasons out and I shake my head no, signalling nothing is wrong. "If you say so." He says, he looks like he still doesn't believe me but doesn't force me anymore.

"Can I ask you something?" He starts after few minutes of silence between us.

"Yes, what is it?" I respond, ready to answer anything he wants to know.

"What do you used to do in your parents kingdom? Don't think I'm asking this because I think you just sit here all day long without doing anything, no. I'm asking you because if there's anything you want to do, even if it's to pass the time I'll arrange that for you." He explains so that I don't misunderstand him.

"Um.. my father never really asked me to work anything related to the kingdom. I, myself, eventually developed an interest in painting and gradually it turned into my habit. All I used to do was paint, nothing more and nothing less." I reply and see him nodding at me after me telling him I'm not well known with work.

Just when I was about to ask him why he wanted to know about this, we hear a knock on the door. A minute later it gets open and a guard comes into view.

"King, king father is here to meet you." He informs and Kian tells him to let him in.

Seconds later, my father-in-law enters our room and we greet eachother before he takes a seat at the tea table. Kian and I, as well sit along with him while we wait for him to talk.

"Your uncle has sent a message, your cousin is going to come here and stay for few days. He's going to take over the throne next year, once he gets married and your uncle wants him to know things before he starts ruling. He thought you could help him and asked me regarding the same. I thought for awhile and agreed to him knowing the hate-love relationship they have between them. And also, as your cousin is close to you, you'll help him better and he would listen to you and follow your instructions. He already started, probably will be here in 4 days. I know I didn't contact you before giving him a word but I hope you have no problem with this." My father-in-law explains.

I look at Kian to see him thinking for few seconds before nodding at his father, "I have no problem."

"That's good." He smiles satisfied with Kian's reaction, "are you done with work?"

"Yes, I arrived just now." Kian replies to him.

"Then I'll get going, I came here to talk to you about it." He says and stands up to leave.

We escort him till the door, he nods at Kian and smiles at me before leaving our room.

"I'll take a bathe. I feel tired from dealing with work." Kian tells me once the doors get closed.

I nod as I head back to the bed, already bathed and ready to sleep. Rema prepares a bathe for him and after sometimes, he comes out looking fresh and relaxed. He gets on the bed and lies on his side before turning off the lights. I turn on the bed lamp as we sleep for the night.

A loud knock jolts me from my sleep and I open my eyes at the sudden invasion. Eyeing the clock stand, I see it's 1 am. Who is it at this time of the night? I think and hear the sound for the second time. I turn to Kian and see him stirring in his sleep as he slowly opens his eyes, squinting. Realising he's still yet to wake up properly, I jump down the bed and walk to the door as the commotion increases. I could hear some noises while nearing the door and once I open the door, my eyes widen seeing the person I never expected to be here.

"Winny!?" I utter and he turns to me immediately, stopping his word fight with the guards.

"Archie!" He screams throwing himself onto me and knowing him, I get prepared and catch him before he could imbalance himself.

"What are you doing here? Most importantly at this hour of night?" I inquire as he squeezes me in his hug.

"I miss you, Archie. It's been so long and I wanted to see you." He whines making me shake my head.

"It's been just a week, Winny." I remind him while chuckling.

"What's happening here?" I hear Kian's voice and turn my head to see him standing beside us, no trace of sleep anymore.

"I'm sorry, my king. We tried to stop him from approaching you at this time and without prior permission but he wouldn't listen to us." The guard, not our chamber guard but the main guard says making me glance at him.

Oh my!! There are almost twenty guards here apart from the chamber guards. How did Winny even manage to get here with these many of them behind him?

"Who are you?" Kian questions Winny after listening to the guards while he harshly pulls us apart and pushes Winny away.

"He's my friend." I answer hurriedly and help Winny as he stumbles.

"Your friend?" Kian queries doubtfully.

"Yeah, he's my friend." I confirm.

"But what is he doing here at this point of hour?" He asks irritated while eyeing Winny from head to toe.

"I missed my friend and I'm here to see him, got any problem with that, king?" Winny demands sarcastically, taking everyone by surprise.

"Winny!" I warn as I gently hit on his shoulder.

"But he's the one who pushed me away and talking to me rudely." He grumbles.

"What's happening here?" My eyes widen and heart skips a beat when I hear my father-in-law's voice and see him and mother-in-law approaching us.

I was just about to open my mouth and say something before Winny could make a bigger mess, but before that Kian replies to his father by saying, "nothing father, Archie's friend is here to meet him. Guards just misunderstood him. You can get back to sleep. I'll ask Rema to arrange a room for him."

"We were just shocked by the commotion as it's past midnight. If you say everything is fine, then it's okay." My mother-in-law says and nods at her husband. They leave before taking a last glance at us.

"Rema." Kian calls her and she steps out from the small crowd of people.

"Yes, king." She bows at him.

"Arrange a room for him, make sure he has all the facilities." He orders her and she nods in returns, "and you all can get back to your work." He says to the guards and they leave following his order while the chamber guards return back to their places.

"Winny, go with her. We'll talk over things tomorrow." I whisper to him once the guards leave.

"I don't want to go, I want to sleep together with you. I'll sleep in your chamber." He says while holding my palm in his hands and making a puppy face.

If it was under any other situation, I would just agree with him after seeing his face and pleading voice. But now, I can't, not when Kian looks ready to kill him.

"No, you can't!" Kian denies him as I expected.

"Then, let's sleep in the room she's going to allot to me." He suggests.

"Winny, I can't do that. Please understand. Just go and sleep for the night, we'll talk everything tomorrow, okay?" I request.

It's not that I don't want to fullfill his want but I like sleeping beside Kian, being with him. With Winny, I had spent alot of time but with Kian I didn't and the time I have, I don't know how long we're going to be together. I just don't want to waste a single second by spending it in other ways.

"Okay. I'll go." He agrees unwillingly, "goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow morning." He bids me goodnight and I nod at me.

He then shocks Kian and I by kissing me on my cheek before leaving. I groan internally and get ready to get a word or two from Kian. But when I glance at him, his eyes immediately change from being furious to soft. He sighs before grabbing my wrist and pulling me in. And that does things for me, my heart beats rapidly and I feel heat creep all over my body. Closing the doors back, he brings us to the bed and signals me to get on it. With my hand still in his hold, I climb onto the bed followed by him. He lies down on the bed while I sit, gazing at the brown silk blanket. I peek at him once and he asks, "what?"

I direct my eyes to our intervened hands and he follows my gaze. Once he understands what I'm trying to show him, he let's go of my hand instantly and turns around. I could see the redness spotting on his cheeks before he looked away. Both the sides of my mouth expands making a smile appear on my face. I lay down on the bed with my heart feeling happy and content and get into sleep.