Kian's POV

I sigh climbing down the carriage as it stops in front of the palace. After having to spend the whole day at the mining farm, I finally returned back to palace. I tired to get back early as I assured Archie but it wasn't possible. A lot of time has been employed for travelling back and forth. I was at the farm for hardly two hours. As the work started for few days now, I just wanted to visit and see how everything is going on. It all seems fine and the work is going at smooth pace. The incharge is taking care of everything well.

Walking in the hallways, I reach my room and see Archie when I enter inside. As usual, he's sitting at the canvas which now seems to be open to eyes as he always closes the curtains when he hears a small noise so that nobody should watch the painting. But today, he let the painting on display but I can't see it clearly as his form is partly hiding it. I march to him and he turns to face me. My tiredness and exhaustion evaporates when my eyes lay on him. He's like my energy booster.

"You're home!" He says smiling at me.

"Yes." I mumble while sitting beside him and pulling him into my lap.

He sits on my lap with his hands around my neck as I snuggle my face in his neck and breath in his natural scent. For whatever reasons, he doesn't have any fragrance on him and all I smell is his natural scent which is so damn good, it's heavenly. He gently strokes my hair and I sigh feeling content while pulling him more closer to me.

"Kian." He calls me out and I hum on his flesh making him shudder.

"I-I have something to give you." He shutters and I pull my face back before leaving a kiss on his neck.

"What it is?" I ask looking at him.

He tries to get up but I hold him tighter, "where are you going?"

"I will show you if you let me go." He says with a shake of his head.

"Can't you show me like this?" I pout, not wanting to let him go.

"Atleast turn to the other side." He sigh out with a laugh.

I do as he said and turns to the canvas with him still in my lap. He yelps and tightens his hold on me at the sudden turn but I hold him firmly. How can I let anything happen to him?

When I face the canvas, my heart stops and my eyes widen at the sight in front of me. I didn't have the chance to see this before and now finally seeing the piece of art he has been working for so long made me shook knowing it's me. My own face sits in front of me. It's so detailed and well made that I literally feel like staring at my own reflection. His hands has done wonders, it's really a piece of art.

"How is it? Do you like it?" His voice brings me out of my trace. I've been staring at it for long but I can't just look away from it.

"It's wonderful, I can't put in words how great you drew it." I praise him heartfully.

"You're exaggerating it." He says with his red cheeks and a shy smile, "I'm happy you liked it."

"I'm not exaggerating it, Archie. You really made it so well. I totally love it." I respond, returning the smile.

"Can I ask you something?" I start while slowly rubbing his knees.

"Ofcourse, you can. What is it?" He agrees eagerly.

"Draw a portrait of us together, both of us." I request, really hoping he would draw.

He doesn't respond immediately and I wait for him with a racing heart, "why with me? I can draw more of yours or even with you parents."

"Why can't with you?" I question, what's wrong with having both of our portrait, "I want one with you."

"I'll think about it." He states while turning away from me.

"No! Promise me you're going to paint one." I insist, I don't understand why he's, like, hesitating to draw us together.

"Okay, okay. I promise." He finally agrees and I smile at him.

"Thanks." I thank him before moving my head forward and capturing his lips in mine.

Surprised by sudden kiss, he remains still for few seconds before kissing me back. His eyes flutter close and his hands grab my nape as he responds to my kiss eagerly than he ever did before. I slide my hands up his thighs and rest them on his hips. Sucking on his lips, I gently bite on his lower lip and he moans before parting his lips. I slip my tongue into his mouth as I squeeze the flesh on his hip. His grip on my nape tightens as he pulls me to him all the while our tongues clash against eachother. I kiss him until we run out of breath and separate when we are in need of oxygen.

Blinking our eyes open, I see his flushed face, half lidded eyes and swollen lips. That makes me want to kiss him and do more things to him but before I could do anything, his stomach grumbles.

"You didn't eat dinner?" I ask while placing my hand on his tummy and rubbing his soft flesh.

"No, I was waiting to eat with you." He whispers feeling embarrassed.

"Wait for ten minutes, I'll get freshen. We can then go and eat." I say and set him down.

After him nodding at me, I hurriedly go to the bathe area and take a quick bath. I walk out and put on my night clothes. I see Archie sitting on the bed, looking at nothing as he seems to be in deep thoughts. Is he thinking about what my mother said, I wonder. Walking to him, I grab his hand and he looks up at me before smiling at me. The little doubt in my heart vanishes at his smile and I scold myself for overthinking.

"Let's go." I say and he nods at me.

We leave our chamber and head to the dining table. Seeing us, the maids serve us food and we eat while having some chats in between. I tell him about how work is going on at the mining farm and he listens to me all the long. After finishing our food, we get back to our chamber and head to bed. As we sleep, Archie moves closer to me and hug me tightly to him. It's always me who initiates things but seeing him doing it kinda surprises me but makes me happy as well.

"Archie," I call out his name and when he nods on my chest I continue, "is something wrong?"

"No." He mumbles.

"If there's anything wrong, you'll tell me, right?" I note hoping nothing is wrong.

"Yes." He replies and I sigh in content now knowing he would let me know if he's facing anything. With that we drift off to peaceful sleep.

The next morning, I get up and see the bed empty. Sitting up, I look around the room for Archie and see him walking into the room with a robe after bathing. Smiling at him, I climb down the bed and move to him. As he tries to put on his dress, I hug him from behind and wrap my hands around his slim waist.

"Good morning, Archie." I greet him and he turns around in my hands.

"Morning." He greets me in return while hugging me back, "Go and take a bath, let's eat breakfast."

Nodding at him, I remove myself from him and head to the bathe area. I fresh up and get ready for the day. Archie and I then leave the room and go to dining. I see my father sitting in his chair with a thoughtful expression on his face. We both greet him to which he nods at us. I don't see my mother. Thinking that she's upset about yesterday's meeting, I decide to meet her after eating. I sit in my seat and frown when I see Archie moving to the other side of the table. He usually sits beside me, the queen's seat where he has been sitting from the time he came here. So, what's wrong today?

I wanted to ask him why he isn't sitting next to me but before I could, we hear heavy footsteps walking to us. Turning to the other side, my eyes widen when I see my mother and Jane. Jane is my cousin, the one my mother talked about yesterday asking me to marry her. What is she doing here? Didn't my mother just talk about her yesterday, how come she's here already? Was my mother planning this from long before?

My mother and Jane walks to the table and my mom signals her to sit beside me, the seat which belongs to Archie.

"Archie, come and sit here, now." I order, my voice stern and no room for argument.

"It's not his place anymore, Kian. She's going to sit here from now on." My mother says but I don't look at her, my eyes soley fixed on Archie.

"Archie!" I call him again.

"Archie, aren't you going to say anything?" Mother says to Archie who's standing there while looking down.

"Y-yes, it's not my place anymore. S-she's going to be sitting there from today." He repeats my mother's words making me angry, not at him but at my mother.

She's really testing my patience. Now, seeing Archie, I strongly believe his behaviour has something to do with my mother. And I'm going to confront her soon but before that the person I have to talk to is Archie. Did he loose his mind or what? Why is he behaving like this? As Jane goes to sit, I stand up instantly and take long strides towards Archie. Grabbing his hand, I drag him to our room and he follows me without arguing. When we reach the room, I lock the door behind us and make us stand in the middle of the room.

"Archie, tell me what's going on? Without leaving a word." I demand after a while of controlling my anger.

"Nothing." He utters.

"Then why that lady is here and why the hell are you siding with my mother?" I whisper yell, totally getting frustrated at what's happening and not knowing what is it is making me go insane.

"She's here because you're going to marry her." He states rather calmly.

"And I already said that's not going to happen." I reply.

What's with him? I thought it's just my mother who's trying to get me married again but now he's saying the same thing.

"You'll marry if you don't want me to leave you." He says and I pale.

"What are you saying?" I ask, my voice low.

"Kian, if you don't agree to this marriage I'm going to leave this palace and you. If you want me to stay with you, you'll have to marry her." He elobrates and I stare at him without blinking.

"Why are you doing this? You know I love you, right? And you said you loved me as well!" I scream, tears pooling in my eyes.

"I'm doing this because I love you." He shouts back at me, "I understand mother-in-law's concern. Because I can't give you a child, I don't want others laughing at you. That's why you should marry her. If you don't want me to leave you forever, you'll do it. So, you'll agree to marry or you'll let me go?" He questions, staring right in my eyes.

What should I answer him?