꧁꧂

As Arthur and his companions' carriages entered the central of Cressida's main portal, the unbound excitement among the mass poured down.

The news of the young despot's arrival spread every corner of the burg. People in the large crowd gathered to have a look at the fiancé of their to-be queen.

The royal carriages passed through the crowds and halted in front of the grand entrance of the castle where two gigantic elephants' monuments stood on both sides carrying the flag of Cressida. Entering the gateway there stood a water fountain followed by a magnificent grove on each side of the path that led to the royal court.

One by one all the courtiers and kinsmen of the Antares despot got down from their carriages and stood in a line. The footman opened the door of the royal carriage and Arthur got down with his usual proud aura.

All the courtiers bowed and let him take his place in front of them.

"Taehyung! What are you gawking at! Behave yourself, people will think you have never seen a castle before," one of the senior courtiers hissed near Taehyung's ear.

The addressee startled and looked straight awkwardly.

Taehyung was wearing a white shirt with a black button-down waistcoat. He put on the black coat that he had been carrying in his arm in the carriage. His blonde fringes spread over his forehead in an unruly manner because of the long journey.

It was indeed not his first time visiting a castle but the first time seeing a castle adorned so elegantly was something he did not get to see much. He only had seen the Antares castle that too on any occasions or festivals.

He straightened up his back when he saw the royalty of Cressida along with the queen coming out of the castle.

"Welcome, King Arthur! Welcome to Cressida. I believe you and your companions did not have to face any trouble during your long journey?" Francis rejoiced with a gleeful smile on his face.

"Not at all! We all had a very pleasant journey. Thank you so much for accepting my proposal, your majesty. I am glad that you assumed me to be worthy enough to be your son-in-law." Arthur returned him a toothy grin.

"Ah! How could I not think of a mighty and worthy young man like you to be my daughter's spouse?" he replied delightedly and looked over Arthur's shoulder.

"Welcome to Cressida gentlemen. Please come inside. Make yourselves comfortable." Francis greeted them with a grin and ordered the footmen to carry their belongings to the guest palace.

Taehyung who was not paying heed to their conversation but was looking for a specific individual...

"Will the princess not come?" He impatiently tapped his foot on the ground.

They all entered the hall room where a few maternal and paternal relatives of Arya were already attending.

Once all of them had greeted each other, they took their respective seats to have a little gossip.

Taehyung's eyes wandered from here and there in the hall room pretending to be keen on seeing the decorations. His heartbeat ceased when he heard,

"Adelia, fetch Arya to the hall room. I s'pose she is ready by this time?" Francis asked his better half.

"Certainly, dear." She gleamed and went away towards Arya's palace bring her.

And his gazes were stuck at the path of the queen's departure.

༺༻

The faint tapping sound of her heels echoed across the foyer as she walked down the stairs escorted by a group of maids.

Her green silk gown ornamented with embroidered pearls and gems fitted perfectly on her physique. Her shoulder and clavicle were visible due to the off-shoulder wing-cuffed sleeves.

The collar necklace and earrings of green diamonds and pearls complimented her green eyes and snowflake skin.

"Here is my daughter!" Francis gladly said as Arhay reached the hall room.

Taehyung's gaze stuck on her walking figure. His mouth slightly parted and the smile of his bright blue eyes sparkled like the sea when first lighted up by the rays of the sun.

"Mesmerizing~" His eyes beamed at her admiring the person he wanted for so long. Funny how he madly cherished someone he barely knew, but little did he care. All he knew was the particular he wished to have a glance at was present in front of his very eyes.

Arthur left his seat and walked to Arya and took her hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, Milady." He gave her a conceited smile and kissed the back of her hand.

Even though his lips, thankfully did not make direct contact on her skin, she felt a pricking affliction on her skin that penetrated her flesh. But there was not the slightest change in her face. A girl who had borne pains and wounds enough to leave deep scars in her soul, in front of those ghastly experiences, this little filthy kiss was too feeble.

"Pleasure to meet you too, Sir William," she flatly replied and took a seat overlooking Arthur's gaze on her.

According to her, she was now sitting in the middle of a group of power-hungry, and insolent men and women, who blindly believed that it was their fate to be ruled and treated like slaves.

But little did she know, a pair of blazing blue eyes never left her figure, a pair of eyes that had nothing but reverence and admiration when they were gazing at her.

"Arya, meet the courtiers of Antares." Francis gestured his hand towards the men who were seated in the hall room.

Arya glanced at them and forged a smile but her eyes stuck on one man, the man whose stare did not make her dismal but gave her the warmth of the golden sunny rays of summer, the kind that alights upon the skin as heaven's kiss, his rectangular smile twinkled like the only source of light in the hall room.

Taehyung was watching a woman, calm as the subtle mountains draped with the twiners of the misty eclipse. A woman to who he would love to devote his life, just like Icarus did for Apollo.

Both of their eyes lined with each other like the strings of a harp, yielding the harmony of their synchronized heartbeats.

Until a murmuring sound broke the melody...

5maids entered the room pushing trolleys carrying teacups, teapots and other light meals.

They placed the trays on the centre table and started pouring tea into the cups.

"Have some tea, gentlemen," Francis offered.

Taehyung kept stealing small glances at Arya avoiding others eyes in between their small talks.

"Your majesty, if you allow me, can I and the princess have a little talk in private?" Arthur asked the Cressida despot smirking at Arya.

"Certainly, son. But I suppose you and our guests are exhausted. Hence, I suggest you take some rest. Our Chancellor Jung Hoseok will lead you to your chambers, won't you, Hoseok?" Francis turned to the 27-year-old young cheerful minister.

"Certainly, your majesty." Hoseok bowed and shifted his gaze where the guests were sitting, "If you follow me, gentlemen," He gestured his hand politely and asked them.

They smiled and got up to follow Hoseok's lead to their staying place.

The informal gathering broke but the girl was still sitting surrounded by her cognition about the blonde man.

"Who was he?"

༺༻

"Over here, gentleman." Hoseok brought Taehyung in front of a chamber where his belongings were already kept. "I expect you will have a pleasant stay here."

Hoseok beamed at him and turned to go away but got halted by Taehyung.

"Say, Sir Jung, What is Cressida like? I would love to pay a visit around, he spoke abruptly but swallowed his saliva thinking if he had done it right or not. His face was relieved a little when he saw Hoseok smiling at him.

"I am glad to hear that you are keen to know about our motherland. Cressida has a good abundance of places which might fascinate you. I, myself will be giving you a tour, so you need not worry about it. For now, you need to join us for lunch. The guards will guide you to the dining room. I shall be taking my leave now," he delightedly replied and went away.

Taehyung happily went inside his chamber only to find himself gaping at the elegant chamber. Well furnished sleek furniture made of ebony and bronze were glazing in the sunlight. Two 5 feet tall bronze sculptures of Phenix  stood on both sides of the dressing table mirror. A vast crystal chandelier was dangling from the ceiling with unlighted candles.

He stood in front of the window to have a better look at the outside. The scenic beauty of the blue lake was adorned with lotus flowers gave him a heavenly peace. The blooming meadow around the lake was flush with orange, pink, and purple wildflowers. He took a deep breath feeling the brisk forest air caressing his face.

He shook his head and closed the door to replace his casual attire.

He came out of his chamber to join others for lunch. He wore an embroidered celeste blue muslin shirt tucked in with white pants.

A guard willingly came forward and accompanied him to the dining room.

Taehyung flashed a smile of gratefulness to the guard and joined others for lunch. The intimate dining area was spacious for 100 people to have supper together. He eyed the vast dining room with his mouth slightly parted.

"I wonder if they can hear each other from the opposite side of the table."

He shrugged his shoulder and took his seat beside one of his associates. His eyes fell on Arya who was sitting a few chairs away on his opposite side. Her seemingly empty eyes were staring at the goblet aimlessly.

"Why must you be so obscure to fathom?"

꧁꧂

(Charismatic, isn't he?) 🥺

Thanks for reading. I hope you will appreciate my work~

-pride