Chapter 24
Sera was feeling excited after successfully talking to her father, and though she didn't receive a definite answer, she was glad that she had taken that step.
'I will protect you, Garran.'
Sera walked through the hallways after finishing her lunch. These were the last few days she was going to have freedom before Minos dumped her with work, thus she wanted to make the most of it. Smiling happily, she sauntered through the halls.
"Sera!"
A familiar voice called behind her. Sera turned and saw Garran walking towards her, and a smile appeared on her face.
"What are you doing out here? You have to be resting inside," Sera remarked and moved to help him, but Garran simply held her hands and smiled.
As he stared at his sister, he could feel the venomous words of Minos replaying in his mind. Did Sera really think he was weak? Did she think he would not be able to protect her?
"I was going for a walk and I met you here. What about you?" Garran asked, holding Sera's hand tighter.
"Same here. I was going to the garden. By the way, have you read Lady Seyram's new book? It's captivating!" Sera exclaimed, holding up a blue leathered book. Garran curiously looked over and smiled, seeing the excited look on her face.
At that moment, he realized that his sister could not say that — and even if she did, he was going to protect her nevertheless… from the background.
"…then the dragon shielded his wife from the water, even though it was an arranged marriage… I've not really read the rest," Sera stated, as though sad by the fact that she couldn't tell her brother the full story.
Garran smiled and ruffled her head. "I'm okay. I'm just happy that you are excited."
Sera pouted. "Don't ruffle my head! I'm betrothed and an adult."
Garran's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Are you? When did my sister grow up? Don't forget me," Garran stated.
They had already reached the garden by then and were walking towards a seat. The air felt chilly as usual for the last month of fall. Sera nodded and snuggled close to her brother. He took off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"I have to get inside now. Read the book and tell me the rest later," Garran smiled as he turned.
Sera looked at his retreating back and smiled. She reclined into the bench and opened her book. The atmosphere brought a memory that angered her to no end — the day the damn Iskarian Prince sacked her because he wanted to read alone.
"Such an obnoxious being!" she muttered aloud, not realizing that she had a guest.
"Is the character that annoying?" an unfamiliar voice asked behind her.
Sera swiftly turned and saw a young man with a dignified aura. His hair was full and brown, and he wore a pair of glasses. He smiled gently as he looked at her.
"Duke Erin!" Sera called out. She rose and curtsied. This was the man she was going to marry — and had she not taken a closer look, she would not have recognized him.
"No need to be so formal, Princess Sera." The man quickly held her up to prevent her from bowing, and upon realizing that they were in close contact, he pulled back immediately, his face turning red.
Sera blinked twice and stared at him. She couldn't believe that the young master of the Devrane family was actually a shy individual. Pushing those thoughts away, she smiled.
"You don't do what you preach, Lord Erin," Sera teased.
Erin took his seat on the bench and Sera followed suit. He smiled and bowed his head slightly.
"I'm sorry, Princess— I mean Sera!" he muttered. He adjusted his glasses and stared at her. Now sitting together, he felt enthralled by her beauty. She looked hauntingly innocent while having a unique charm that attracted people. Perhaps it was her brilliant sapphire eyes.
"Don't mind me, I was just teasing you, Erin," Sera stated.
Erin smiled and turned himself, bringing out a bouquet of roses.
"I brought this for you," Erin said. He facepalmed internally after realizing how lame his line was.
How am I supposed to woo her with this behaviour? Man up, Erin! he chided himself.
"I meant—"
"These are beautiful!" Sera exclaimed, taking the flowers out of his hands and sniffing them. She threw her head back as though enjoying the scent. "Roses are my favourite. Thank you, Erin."
Sera smiled, happy to know that she wasn't the only person who wanted the marriage to work. Even though she could tell that Erin was not good with his words, he made an effort to come here and sit with her.
"I thought to come and— so that we can get to know ourselves. I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable around me when we got married," Erin remarked, fumbling about.
Truthfully, this was not his expertise, and though his friends mocked him for being a bachelor at the age of twenty-eight, he really didn't see it as a problem — after all, he was always accompanied by the relentless work of running a duchy.
Sera smiled. She couldn't sense any malicious intent from him, and from how honest his words were, she was hopeful for the marriage ahead of them.
"I'm glad you came. Honestly, I thought the same — just that I didn't know how to approach the matter," Sera beamed.
Erin felt his heart skip a beat when he saw the brightness on her face. Sitting this close to her wasn't helping either; he could feel himself falling, and fast. He turned away after a while, realizing that he might have watched too much. They both stared ahead, sitting in an awkward silence.
"What genre of books do you like? I noticed that you were engrossed in the book," Erin asked, trying to break the awkward atmosphere.
"Books on romance and adventure. Although I wouldn't give up a mystery book if you give it to me," she chuckled.
Erin smiled along.
"What about you? What do you like?" Sera inquired.
Erin calmly shook his head, as though refusing to answer.
"I might not be the best man out there, Seraphine, but I would like to woo you. I know they say you cannot force love — and I agree with them. I want us to take gradual steps towards our relationship. I want you to grow up to love me, so that this doesn't seem like a political partnership but something borne of love," Erin said in one breath.
Sera blinked and smiled. She was not ready for this lecture, but it felt nice. Her heart was thumping wildly in her chest, and her face had turned red.
Erin grinned when he saw how his words had affected her. He slowly reached out and held her hand.
"So, will you take that journey with me, my beautiful princess?"
Erin was shocked when he realized how quickly he had shed his shy appearance.
Sera bobbed her head up and down in approval. She looked away with a small smile.
Meanwhile, while his sister was being wooed, Garran was walking back to his room with Carrissa beside him.
"…I didn't know it would be that impactful. Can you believe that more secrets are being revealed? I feel like we were mainly catalysts for his destruction," Carrissa chuckled.
She turned her head and noticed Garran was quiet with a sombre expression on his countenance. She sighed, remembering the events of the previous day.
After hyperventilating and barging into his room, she saw Garran writhing in pain on the floor. Apparently, he had used too much, and now the Ember Ash was coursing through him.
"Let— let me go and call the physician…"
Garran held her hand and shook his head. He gritted his teeth and sat on the couch, pulling her along and resting his head on her thighs.
"Why didn't you ask her, if it bothered you that much?" Carrissa asked, opening her eyes from the memory.
Garran shook his head slightly. "I am afraid of what I would have heard. Also, I believe in her — I know that Sera would never do something to hurt me," Garran admitted.
He let out a bitter smile. "Thank you for yesterday. I don't know what I would have done without you."
Carrissa blushed and nodded hastily. She looked away and sighed. Her heart thumped loudly when Garran fixed his hands in hers. She was falling fast — and she knew she was falling into a messy situation. She couldn't even leave or stop; her heart had a will of its own.
"It was a pleasure of mine," she said.
She tried not to fall. She tried to block him off, but his charms appeared too strong for her. She couldn't even resist — and so she did it.
Garran felt a wet kiss on his cheek, and then Carrissa ran. It all happened so quickly that he was finding it hard to process it.