Page 71 of Cursed By Gold

I meet her eyes then, willing her to see the earnestness of my words. "You are unlike any I have ever known, Scarlet. Bold, principled, compassionate...you challenge me in ways no one else dares."

Scarlet's eyes shimmer in the candlelight. "Your Majesty, I'm flattered, but..."

Gently, I reach across the table to clasp her hand with my glove. "Please, let me finish. There is more I must say."

She watches me warily and I notice her flinch slightly, but she remains silent. I forge on through the reckless thrumming of my pulse.

"I know you still see little more than a king. But you have awakened something good in me, Scarlet. I wish to become a man deserving of your affections, a man freed of his past."

I slide from my chair to kneel before her, hesitant hope rising within me. "What I ask is simply a chance. Continue competing in the trials, remain here at the palace where I may court you properly." My voice drops to a fervent whisper. "Let me prove myself worthy of your love, for you have long ago won mine."

For a moment Scarlet simply stares, eyes shimmering with emotion. When she finds her voice, it wavers with uncertainty. “Your majesty...you honor me deeply. Truly. But this…I can’t."

Agony spears through me at her words. I cling tighter to her soft hand, desperate not to lose this lifeline. "Why? If you feel anything for me at all, please do not turn away without giving us a chance."

Scarlet's breath shudders out as she gently pulls her hand from mine. “Too many things are stacked against us. I need to focuson the trials. The cost of losing… you don’t understand. I need to focus.." Her eyes radiate sadness and something more complex I cannot name. "I am promised to another. And you...your duties must come first, as a king."

I rock back on my heels, shaken to my core. How can she speak so dispassionately of destiny and duty at a moment like this?

"Duty be damned," I retort hoarsely. "I have been king for a decade. With you by my side, we can help bring the people peace. We can create a better world for them. I know that you care for the people as well." I search her face beseechingly. "Scarlet, if you feel anything at all for me still, do not let your fear of shadows rob us of light."

Scarlet stands abruptly, chin trembling with emotion. "My king...you move me more than you know. But some risks are too profound. I am sorry."

With that, she sweeps from the garden, leaving the fragrant air cold and lifeless in her wake. I lean back heavily in the chair, breathless with grief. It feels as though she took a piece of my soul when she walked away.

Could I have misjudged her feelings so terribly? My mind races through the times we’ve been together and what I’ve seen from her so far. The unreasonable anger and protectiveness that I already felt for her after seeing her apply for the trials. Our moment under the stars baring our souls to each other. Her teasing and the tension between us as I tested her in the carraige. The queen of cups she playfully dealt me in her 'reading', hinting at introspection and unexpected new love. Seeing her broken and almost lost after the last trial had decided it for me.

So how, after all that, could doubt now crush the budding flower of hope between us? What could hold her back, if her heart yearned for me as mine does for her?

The lingering image of sorrow in her eyes haunts me. She hides something beneath the surface, some unspoken fear or burden. I wish she had opened herself to me, so we might face it together. But the fates haven’t decided it’s time, it seems.

Perhaps the differences in our stations still weigh too heavily. I see only the fierce, radiant woman, but she remains conscious of the weight of being king. Or maybe her family obligations truly do bind her too tightly. What right do I have to ask her to turn away from duty, however much it pains us both? I would help her though. There is nothing that I wouldn’t fix for her if she only asked.

But surely our connection deserves a chance to blossom before being severed so abruptly! There must be some way to bridge this vast divide separating us. I refuse to surrender so easily.

Heart aching but resolve hardened, I rise slowly and make my way back through the now oppressive gloom of the castle. The coming days may be bleak, but while breath remains in me, I will keep fighting for the woman who stirs my dormant soul. The fates have sown bitter trials before me, but with Scarlet's light still beckoning in the distance, I will endure.

Sophia's knowing eyes find mine as I pass her in the hall on my way back to my rooms. My frantic heart still yearns to chase after the golden-haired woman haunting my steps. But tonight, rest will not come easily under the stars now grown cold and remote.

Heartbreak

Scarlet

Ipaste a smile on my face as I step into the bustling town square, bracing myself for the performance ahead. The scents of roasted meat and fresh bread mingle with laughter and music in the air. The charity feast we competitors organized overflows with townsfolk eager to support our efforts.

I move through the crowd, exchanging greetings and well wishes. Despite my inner turmoil, I take time with each person, offering sincere thanks or listening patiently to their stories. Their beaming smiles lift my weary spirit.

Near the central fountain, a gaggle of children dance in circles singing a playful rhyme. My eyes crinkle as I watch their joyful abandon. It reminds me of carefree days in my own childhood - before fate began hemming me in on all sides.

A brave lad darts up and tugs my hand. "Play with us!" he pleads. I hesitate, knowing I should mingle with the noble patrons. But the child's delight melts my restraint. Laughing, I allow him to pull me into the circle.

I spin and twirl with the children until all are breathless and giddy. For these stolen moments, my ever-present worries fade away. Too soon, the children are called away to eat, waving reluctant goodbyes. My cheeks ache from grinning but my spirit feels lifted.

Continuing through the square, I pause often to speak with workers and craftsmen who assisted in preparing the feast. Though exhausted from their labors, they beam with pride in what they accomplished for the less fortunate. I thank each one by name, humbled by their tireless generosity.

At the banquet tables, I laugh as heaped plates are pushed eagerly into my hands by local families. I sample a bite of each dish, complimenting grandmothers on secret recipes and fathers on luscious roasts. Their gifts of food may appear simple, but I understand the care infused in each one. I accept them with heartfelt gratitude.

Between conversations, my gaze drifts inevitably toward the royal box where King Remme holds court. My chest tightens remembering his agonized confession in the moonlit garden. How badly I wish I could forget everything and have said yes. I look quickly away. Even from a distance, the weight of his presence still affects me like the sun's inescapable gravity.

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