As they walked back into town, Hael told Ceremus there was somewhere he wanted to go and reassured him he would be back.
Ceremus watched the young man run off, catching the gaze of passerby as he did so.
Hael had been thinking of getting Ceremus a gift for a while now, and once they passed through the market, his eyes happened to land on something he believed would make a great gift for the king.
He knew that someone of Ceremus' status didn't want for anything. If there was something he desired, he could get it at the drop of a hand. So his best bet was getting him a small but significant token—a beautiful charm.
Hael's gaze lingered on the delicate charm displayed in the vendor's stall. It was a small pendant, shaped like a crescent moon with swirling engravings resembling rolling waves, its surface inlaid with a shimmering blue gemstone that seemed to capture the very essence of the sea.
It reminded him of Ceremus. The quiet depth in his gaze, the restrained power he carried, and the way his presence commanded attention without force. This charm, simple yet captivating, felt like the right choice.
After making the purchase, Hael tucked it securely within his sleeve and made his way back to where Ceremus waited. He found him standing beneath the shade of an ancient tree, its sprawling branches casting dappled shadows over the ground. The sounds of the town were distant here, leaving only the rustling of leaves and the occasional birdcall to fill the silence.
Hael hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. "Here," he said, pulling the charm from his sleeve and offering it to Ceremus. "I saw this in the market and thought you might like it."
Ceremus glanced down at the trinket, his expression unreadable at first. Then, with deliberate care, he took it from Hael's hand, his fingers brushing against his own. He turned it over in his palm, inspecting the intricate details. The way the light caught on the gemstone made it appear almost alive, as if the waves within it churned and moved.
Ceremus' mouth opened before closing. For the first time, he was at a loss for words. This was the first time he'd ever received a gift from someone before that he didn't know how to respond.
He thought back to the moments his father would gift his mother flowers as well as intricate ornaments he believed would suit her well. Despite being a goddess who could take the world itself if she wanted to, she would always gratefully accept the gift with a smile on her face.
For some reason, the king couldn't help thinking of those moments from the past. The weight of sentimentality was an unfamiliar burden to the young man as it had been years since anyone had given him something so personal.
His heart warmed as he felt the coolness of the charm in his own hands. He lifted his gaze as he stared into Hael's eyes and a genuine smile painted his lips nearly catching Hael's breath away.
"...Thank you."
Hael didn't say anything at first as silence stretched between them before nodding. "You are welcome."
Neither spoke. The outside world seemed so far away at that moment as the sounds of the town bustling in the background seemed to fade, giving the illusion that they were the only ones left in the world.
"... We should start heading back," Hael said, not once breaking eye contact with Ceremus.
Ceremus nodded. "I suppose we should."
He then carefully reached up and fastened it around his neck, letting it rest against his chest.
Hael smiled at the sight and the two walked back into Trojas, having spent a nice day off. Together.
At that same moment, another chariot was riding into the city, and a young woman gazed out into the distance, taken in a breath.
Trojas always had a distinct smell that was synonymous to the bustling town. She always knew when she was nearing the place thanks to the combined smells of fried dough, scented oils, and flowers from the markets.
As they entered the gates, the older man next to her face her with a stern look on his face. "Just because we are back home, doesn't mean you can go and start acting like you wish. I am still upset with your behavior in Argenos." He scolded.
The young woman let out a sigh before nodding. "Yes father, you don't need to worry. I will be on my best behavior."
"Good." His gaze then moved to the gates and the banners that were still up since the king's arrival. "I hear a lot of things have changed in the kingdom, more notably with His Majesty." He said.
Another man who was riding with them and bore a striking resemblance to the young woman spoke up. "Apparently King Ceremus has taken over a new leaf. Unfortunately no one knows the reason for said change." He said.
"Hm. Perhaps this change will work in our favour then. There's been talk that any signs of marriage between him and Princess Nastasya have been squandered, so there might still be some hope for you Amelia." Her father said.
Amelia said nothing as her eyes clouded. It had been quite some time since she'd seen Ceremus since her departure to the Western Kingdom. Thanks to her father, the entire Alammos family was moved away for business and were only just now returning.
So much had happened since being separated from Ceremus, and though she was glad to be back home and excited to see the sourpuss king, she felt complicated emotions as there was something she had left behind in Argenos.
"Amelia?" Her older brother called, taking her out of her reverie.
"Hm? Uh, yes…Would it be alright if I stop by the palace before heading home? I haven't seen Ceremus in such a long time, I'm sure he'd be happy to see me." She said almost absentmindedly.
A smile took over her father's lips believing his daughter was taking some initiative he told the chariot driver to stop at the palace gates so she could get off. Once they had arrived, her father reminded her to be on her best behavior once more before riding off.
She gave her goodbyes and was met with the guard who immediately let her in upon recognizing her. Lady Amelia was a remarkable woman with features that were unmistakable.
Compared to most Trojasian women, Amelia had a shorter stature and styled her hair differently. She had a short bob with blunt bangs, big cat-like eyes, petite and curvy with a strong presence. She was always the centre of attention, any time she entered a room, all eyes were on her—as evidence of the guards who couldn't take their eyes off her.
Amelia was a strong and well spoken woman and incredibly kind. Literally Ceremus' exact opposite. She was the only one who could tolerate his moods, and the only one he could be himself around, even when he thought he was being on guard. They had grown together as childhood friends and always had a close relationship up until Ceremus' eighteenth birthday where it was announced they would get engaged after he took over the throne.
However, those plans soon changed after the death of Peleus. Ceremus was in no mood to get married, especially with having to process his grief while simultaneously dealing with his duties to the country.
Amelia's father—Donellus put the matter on hold thinking that once things calmed over, they could pick up the conversation of marriage, but even after a year had gone by, there was still silence. A year became two, then three and finally five. After that point, it was nearly impossible to get a hold of the king and when you did, he was always in a foul mood.
The kind and amicable young man Donellus had come to know was no longer there, and he started to have mixed feelings of going through with the marriage. It also didn't help that during these times, Ceremus was rumoured to be going to brothels and engaging in intimate relations with other women.
Amelia wasn't happy to hear this, and on the night she went over to confront him about it, things had escalated and the two ended up sharing a bed after. That's when Amelia realized that she had feelings for Ceremus and decided she would do everything in her power to make sure he wouldn't go off somewhere with another woman.
This relationship continued for the next three years, and despite Amelia's hopes, nothing seemed to change in their relationship. Although Ceremus did treat her kindly, it was clear he didn't hold any feelings of affection towards her. Heartbroken, she decided to follow her father to Anderos where she ended up meeting a certain gentleman who caught her attention. Now that she was back, the young lady was torn. On one hand she still loved Ceremus, but on the other, she had her heart set on another.
With her mind filled with mixed feelings, she entered the palace and was met with Anemone who looked stunned to see her yet upon realizing she was back, there was an unreadable look in his eyes.
"Lady Amelia! It's so good to see you," he greeted her with a smile. "How were your travels?"
Amelia returned his smile. She had always been fond of Anemone. "It went well, thank you for asking, though I must say, it's good to be back."
She then glanced around the room, her cat-like eyes gleaming with excitement. "So? Where is the little sourpuss? I came all this way just to see him."
As she uttered those words, Ceremus walked into the grand hall, followed by Hael. His golden eyes twinkled with amusement as a half smile appeared on his lips after hearing what Hael had to say about a snack he enjoyed during their stroll.
His smile however, quickly faltered when his eyes landed on the woman before him. She turned around, and her face lit up upon seeing the man in question.
"Ceremus!" She loudly exclaimed, causing Hael who stood next to him to furrowed his brows.
"Ceremus?" He echoed. The young woman didn't use any honorific when she called his name, and seeing the happy smile upon seeing him made him wonder who this woman was.
He glanced to his side and was met with a shocked look on Ceremus' face, one he hadn't expected to see. A long moment of silence stretched inside the hall, until Ceremus said in a low voice.
"Amelia."