Love Agreement With The King

King William sat on the frontal table exactly at the center surrounded by Roselyn on the left side and John on the right side. They both splurge sophisticated dresses probably to drive the attention away from their guilt for some instant.

The audience in few minutes reached them and filled the benches, as soon as people sat they began to whisper animatedly.

King William cleared his voice and in a matter of few seconds silence filled the room and everyone's gaze was fixed on the Royal Couple and William.

"Good morning everyone." William's suave voice echoed in the room.

"I am glad I am back. When I had been kidnapped I thought I would never see my son anymore. I can't believe I am back." He said hinting at a smile that was contagious since few people smiled at him back.

"I didn't know anything about the agreement and I was as shocked as you when I found out about the news. But then when I saw how my son looked at Roselyn I joyfully discovered their bond was the most realistic link I have ever seen." William said emotional, his eyes filled with tears were sparkling when he smiled proudly at the crowd.

Few people began to whisper again but two beats against the table were enough to remind them of their manners.

John smiled at his father, he took a long breath before gazing at the crowd with his usual confident gaze.

"You probably came here to point your finger and judge us or to have something to boast of with your distant relatives but my father still wanted us to owe you an explanation so here we are," John said quite annoyed and Roselyn suffocated the giggle. He was so brusque with people and he seemed so uncaring that somehow his harsh behavior proved to her how much he loved her.

John scoffed and pulled his hair, he seemed both nervous and irritated. "When I came here I toasted at my freedom and proclamation in front of everyone my unwilling to get married. I was determined and sure about my decision, the last thing I wanted was a woman by my side when the only person who I ever loved was taken away by me."

John's gaze dropped to the table and he stared blankly for few instants before starting again. "When I met Roselyn I learned that her mentality would coordinate perfectly with mine and that's when I had the idea to create a fake attachment."

Hearing John's statements few old women frowned their forehead and shook their heads to show their displeasure but John ignored them.

"She accepted because she was promised to another man who didn't deserve her and in a desperate attempt to chase a glimpse of freedom."

John's tilted his head to smile at Roselyn before returning his gaze to the frown and change his facial expression into a serious one.

"I am not here for your approval, I am the prince and I don't need your or anyone's approval at all. But I just wanted to say that if there was someone to blame then blame me not my wife."

William cleared his voice, that was not the speech they planned together. When John came to his sense he continued, "I don't know how the truthfulness of a relationship is estimated as I never had a relationship before meeting Roselyn. But I do know she made me discover a new side of myself. A side I kept secret and hidden even to myself because it's a side that deeply scares me as it makes me vulnerable." 

Roselyn felt her stomach knotting as she was filled with joy to hear her man declaring his feelings in front of many villagers. She wanted to run to him and wrap her arms around him and tell him she loved him so much.

Her eyes filled with tears and she felt so silly to be acting like a 13 years old girl, she looked up to the ceiling and held back tears.

"I don't know what love is. But there are a few things that I know. I know where my first thought when waking up goes to in the morning, as soon as I open my eyes I go to check if she is standing there near me. I know I would put her before anyone else including myself. I know even a grimace would drive me crazy as I would overthink all day wondering if something I say may have hurt her feelings. I know I would die if I lose her. I learned what she likes and what she dislikes, learning by heart the number of wrinkles she has on her forehead when she frowns and how her voice modulates depending on her mood. I know how she stroke her hair behind her ear when she is nervous and I know her left pupil is of a lighter shade than her right one. But no, I don't know if this is love, but yes I do know that I would die for her and I don't care what you think because for me, this is a real bond and I will fight everyone who dares to oppose or criticize my wife."

Roselyn was smiling hugely as if her mouth had been paralyzed into a big toothy smile staring at her lover.

After such a long and heart-melting declaration what else could she add? She gazed at the people, some of them softened their severe gaze into a more relaxed one while others still had their usual rough expression probably untrusting John's words.

"Are there questions?" Roselyn asked and as soon as she finished few hands raised. Roselyn swallowed down before pointing at one girl at the bottom of the room.

The girl seemed young, and her facial expression wasn't as sharp as the others in the room so Roselyn had faith she wouldn't ask something endangering. 

"You!" Roselyn's voice peeked nervously, "please stand up and ask your question.." She said trying to sound more confident.