Charlotte headed towards Luther's chamber. Her pace was noticably swift and she tried her hardest to slow down but she couldn't.
She was in a hurry to meet with her love and even the heavens couldn't blame her for being in such a rush.
She approached his hall and with a hard stare, the guards at the entrance knew better than to stop her for questioning.
She was let in but her maids were restricted from entering. Reason being, maids King Luther didn't summon couldn't be near his chamber.
Charlotte cared less about the rule, all she cared of was meeting the one man she couldn't stop thinking about since she was forcibly distanced from him two years ago.
She got handy to his door and with a jerk, pulled the door open, revealing the human she had longed to see.
He was in, seated on his bed, a mean look on his face as he sharpened his sword.
She wanted to startle him but the noise she created had already instantaneously alerted him of a presence.
He stared at her, at first harshly but in few seconds the harshness dispersed and replaced with surprise.
"Charlotte?" He called and just the sound of his voice melted her being.
Worst still, seeing the way her name rolled out of his lips fluttered her and made her blush uncontrollably.
She checked out his features.
He had grown a lot and looked more manly and masculine than before. His beautiful lustrous jet black hair had now a long length, making her feel the urge to run her fingers through it.
She had played with his hair sometimes as kids — It has such a lovely tickling feel but now he was an adult.
He obviously would never allow that action again.
Charlotte was sure nobody dares play his hair, besides it was forbidden for maidens to do so to man, who isn't her husband or fiance, it was condemned by society.
Her gaze dropped to his face and she was wowed.
Though she had seen his face when she came in but not in a clearer view.
This man was fine!
His eyebrows were perfectly curved, his eyes was in a glistening perfect black, reflecting no light whatsoever.
His nose was... Wait, talk about the lips.
They looked so alluring, enticing, she could imagine herself trailing a finger on them.
Charlotte couldn't stop staring. She was traumatized seeing this beauty.
Though he had always been this gorgeous but these past two years seemed to had done a great job in adding much to his beauty.
She couldn't believe this was the male she was once betrothed to. It all seemed like a dream, a dream she'd like to be stuck in.
"Stop the stares." Luther frowned, bringing her back to reality.
She blushed embarrassed, trying to comport herself.
She couldn't allow herself to be shamed, especially Infront of a man she was meeting with for the first time in a while.
"Your majesty." She made to bow but a hard glare stopped her.
"Stop the pleasantries. You are not permitted to bow to me Charlotte, you are a friend."
Luther's words warmed her heart. Somehow, she felt that rapid heat again in her stomach and she swallowed her saliva, as if to quench it off.
"Well, I apologize. It's been two years after all, I felt it'd be disrespectful to dismiss your title as a supreme leader and solely see you as a friend."
"When did you start caring about my leadership title? Earlier, as far as I can remember, you cared less about that."
Charlotte stared at him.
Although they were speaking well, they sounded formal with each other.
This wasn't how it was before she left.
She hated the change and the awkwardness creeping into her space. All the excitement she felt before coming was slowly dispersing and replacing urself with utmost nervousness.
"Why don't we have a tea together, possibly later at noon? You just arrived and haven't taken a bath yet." She suggested.
He just came back from a long trip and must be weary.
Perhaps, she was much in a rush to meet with him.
That must be why their conversation seemed formal, conceivably when he is relaxed, they both can have a nice talk.
He nodded and she smiled a little before turning her back to exit the room.
She hadn't taken more than six steps when she heard her name being called.
"Charlotte?"
She immediately turned back, only to see Luther glooming at her.
"Thank you for coming." He added.
Charlotte couldn't explain the bolt of joy that circulated her brain when she heard that from him.
She stood frozen for a while until she blinked, clearing her throat to unfreeze her mind.
Luther expresses gratitude solely for pleasant reasons.
She was thrilled, so plainly that it radiated on her face.
"Well, I came as soon as I could. I would had come sooner if Father hadn't been so stubborn." She spoke quickly, flashing her brightest smile.
"I hope the palace isn't all boring. You've been here since the last five days, I'm guessing you are yet to see anything interesting?"
'Well, you are the most interesting thing I've ever seen since my arrival here' — She thought and again beamed.
Of course she wasn't going to say it out loud but that was the truth.
Nothing interests her like he does. Seeing him right here, conversing with her was her greatest joy.
"I took a tour around your capital city. I must say, your central market is quite large and alluring. I saw lots of attractive wears, I would have bought some if they weren't so cheap."
The word 'cheap' was so emphasized in utter distaste that it caught Luther's attention.
Charlotte was ever same. She didn't change. She couldn't change.
She was the type that despised the poor and anything they could own. She found them irritable and treated them like animals.
She had this mindset and attitude since childhood and even now that they both are grown, she didn't yet change.
"They were made so, so the poor could afford." Luther explained, earning a scoff from her.
"Whatever you say. I must leave now to prepare for the tea event. Have a good day, Luther."
She didn't want any argument between the both of them. They were meeting again after years, so things had to go well.
Besides she wanted that tea meeting to happen. She wanted to converse with him a lot and that too, informally.
She only hoped he wouldn't sulk into his dark hole and ignore her talks.
Luther wasn't the talking type. Well he used to be a loud talkative as a child but after he returned back from captivity, he became so withdrawn.
She understood the change of attitude.
He had suffered much so it was quite understandable for him to be so into himself now.
But currently she was here to be by his side forever. She would be his wife, his queen and help him out with his hidden agony.
She felt a soothing feel with the thought.
She of course was right. She was here to stay!
She exited the room and heaved a heavy sigh when she was out.
She placed a hand on her heaving chest, a smile proudly lingering on her lips.
This feeling she felt was love. Yes, it was.
A love that had durably resided in her since she was a child.
A love so rich, but sadly one-sided.
She knew Luther didn't love her, the feelings he had for her was purely platonic.
The realization of that hurt but of course he was a man after all and would sooner or later, fall deep with her.
It wouldn't be so easy but she does have a mission — To make it successful.
She arrived out of his hall, meeting with the maids who were restricted at the entrance.
"You!" She turned to one of the maids who promptly bowed down her head in obvious submission.
"Your highness?"
"Quickly go inform the kitchen maids to prepare a table full of tea for I and the king. This should be ready soonest by noon."
"Yes, your highness."
The maid left while Charlotte smiled, arriving at her chamber.
She had a good feeling about this rendezvous. To her, it wasn't just a meeting but a date, the first one in a while between her and Luther.
She thrived to have a blissful conversation with him and make him see how worthy she was to be his queen.