( The Croft’s Palace, Los Angeles.)
“And this is my son, Esmond.” Emperor Miller introduced and Natalia turned to the next person.
Esmond had been respectfully standing by his parents the entire time. Natalia had a good look at him all thanks to the persistent strange bright light that kept following her around!
If she was a fan of gorgeous looking males, she’ld have tripped and easily fallen. But that chapter of her life was closed.
“Empress.” He bowed a little and placed a light kiss on her knuckle. His voice was soft and enticing and Elva and Naomi almost swooned!
“Shall we?” He asked, looking at everyone.
The Emperor nodded and he led them back to a special part of the event where a couple of white couches were uniquely placed.
Two other Emperors were present and they nodded to each other in acknowledgement. Astheria and La Croft wasn’t the only Empires in the world.
There were several others scattered around the globe but Astheria was one of the few greatest. So others tried to build good relations with them.
Emperor Miller and his Queen sat on one, the other Emperors sat with their delegates while Natalia sat with Esmond on the last couch. Jake stood close by with Naomi and Elva.
The play resumed and thankfully, the lighting managers found some distraction.
As it went on, Natalia casually took a look around and saw that couches were placed at various angles of the event too. The party was beautiful and had a traditional setting, like from centuries ago.
She focused back on the play which was about the history of La Croft. But in an unguarded moment, her eyes drifted away and landed on another’s.
His were impossible to miss because they were opposite each other even though faraway. Their beautiful eyes met and held… unblinking.
The actors became invisible and the earth seemed to stop spinning. The spark of attraction was still very much there despite the months wasted.
But all of a sudden, flashes of their past struck like lightening when Selena’s possessive figure came into the picture.
She too had noticed the connection and entangled her arm with Arian’s, breaking the spell. Natalia forced her facial emotions to remain neutral and refocused her gaze on the little kids.
They looked so cute.
“Yeah, I noticed too.” Esmond chuckled lightly. Natalia turned to face him. Did she say it out loud?
“I kind of freaked out when mother said they’ll be handling the play. She’s passionate about kids making something beautiful out of the lives they were forced into.” He briefly stared at her.
“Forced into?” She frowned a little in confusion.
“The kids…” He nodded towards their direction. “They’re from the orphanage mother’s in charge of.”
Natalia automatically turned back to face them.
“Your mother and mine planned the orphanage together after my sister passed away. To heal and find closure, mother needed the heart warming ‘noise and trouble’ as she called it.” He chuckled at the memory, but the pain hidden beneath his voice was hard not to notice.
“You know, I was never the extrovert.” He confessed.
“I could’ve bet my Empire on it.” Natalia noted which made him laugh. She smiled because it was genuine and something she wanted.
“They’d just started the beginning stage when…” He looked at her softly. “… when the accident happened.”
His dreamy eyes had a consoling touch to them which fuelled Natalia’s desire to seek justice for them!
“So in honor of your mother, she dedicated the orphanage to her. She says her drive and ambition came from yours… I’ld have really loved to meet her.” He finished.
Natalia looked at the Queen who was engrossed with the play wearing an encouraging smile on her face. Her husband was silently holding her hand soothingly and Natalia felt sentimental.
Suddenly, she had an idea of the perfect anniversary gift!
The drama came to an end and she clapped the loudest. Another classical music played and the party continued. Elva and Naomi excused themselves while Natalia stayed still. She did not want to socialise.
Esmond looked a bit too formal in appearance but as the night progressed, she concluded he was a complete jolly chatterbox!
Anyone could easily warm up to him in minutes and her ice side did.
“Before the night completely comes to an end. May I have this dance, Empress?” He stood up and elegantly stretched out a hand.
Natalia looked at the dance floor before politely taking his with a bit of hesitation. They got to the centre of the floor and he gently pulled her into his arms.
Her mood began to fluctuate. She was comfortable with him a while ago but his casual hands on her was gradually ruining it. Their cheeks were almost touching and she could feel his breath on the skin of her neck.
Esmond entwined their fingers while the other rested on her bare back. There was barely enough space to breathe between them. Though it was an innocent dance, it was too uncomfortable for her.
“May I ask why you literally migrated to Europe?” She needed a distraction.
Natalia felt his lovely smile.
“Education, mostly. But that’s just an excuse because as you know, we, Royals, finish schooling really early.”
It was true because at eighteen, Natalia was literally done with college. Royals didn’t attend normal schools. Outstanding professors are hired from all over the world to tutor them.
It wasn’t an easy task but necessary. Anything could happen to the reigning rulers so they had to be ready. Especially the crown princes and princess’s.
“So why?” She stylishly pulled away and gazed up at him. Esmond thoughtfully looked ahead and moistened his lips. Something she noticed he was used to.
“I… Father wanted to hand over the Empire to me. It’s an absolute honor! But… but I felt restless. I know it sounds crazy and no Royal should even think or dream of saying something like this. But even for a while, I felt like breaking free and…”
“… and doing all the fun and insane stuff out there in the world without society dictating how a person of your status should behave? Don’t worry, I’ve been there myself.” It was her turn to confess.
His lips tilted in a sexy way. “And what was your experience breaking free?”
Natalia breathed out silently and looked at the shawl he wore around his shirt. He didn’t wear a regular bowtie like most of the guests. Instead, he let loose two buttons of his formal shirt and wore a black blazer on top the neck scarf.
In an obscure way, he was expressing himself through fashion.
“It was beautiful, unforgettable and fun. But like the rule of life, bad must always balance the good. The hurt, disappointments, betrayals, boken trusts. You know what?… The list is endless.” She rushed out and gazed up at him.
Esmond intensely stared at her again and muttered an apology, like he could read her experience in her eyes.
She flashed him a bright smile and willingly returned to the cheek to cheek contact so any unguarded emotion wouldn’t slip out. His aura changed and became more soothing. And Natalia unconsciously relaxed in his hold.
The evening was cool and the gentle breeze was mixed with the scents of a hundred different flowers. Her eyes caught Arian’s broken profile some metres away in an empty, isolated space, quietly watching them.
But Natalia took her eyes away, refusing to be manipulated again.
The music finally ended and everyone applauded cheerfully. They didn’t even notice they were the only ones still dancing and courteously bowed.
Esmond turned to Natalia.
“Now that I’ve stolen a dance, shall we take a walk around the garden or listen to an extremely detailed speech about the Empire that must’ve already been familiar with?” He whispered cheekily.
“As long as I don’t have to listen to the history of one of the Empires I’ve spent my whole life learning?…” She whispered back.
“… You can take me to the stars.”
Prince Esmond smiled and graciously led her out…
***
“…. I’ve always been afraid of horses! Dad used to ride a lot because it was a compulsory aristocratic skill and because he loved Polo. But horses kicking people around ain’t cute!” Natalia openly shuddered at the imagination.
Esmond laughed out, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants.
“They don’t usually kick unless they’re uncomfortable. I can teach you how to tame a skittish one, if you want.”
She suspiciously looked at him. “Do you want to cripple me?”
“And are you always this funny?!” He chuckled freely and she shrugged.
“But don’t worry. May might be skittish sometimes but she’s absolutely adorable. You’ll like her.”
“Who’s May?”
“My favourite horse.” Then he graciously went on to talk about the ranch his family owned.
While little Natalia spent her free time with Arla in her little forest home, Esmond grew up in a stable with horses! She found it amusing.
They stopped at a water fountain in a quiet place but Esmond briefly had to leave because his father called for him.
He excused himself and stalked out with the royal guard while Natalia decided to wait behind because her dress was a too heavy to walk around with.
Two delicate gold fishes swam expertly in the water like she wasn’t even there. They looked lovely and peaceful and somewhere in her heart, she envied them.
Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around Natalia, caging her in an intimate back hug which made her flinch!
He sensuously inhaled her intoxicating lavender scent up to the crook of her neck, and that familiar seductive cologne hit her instantly!
“I’ve missed you.” Arian De’ Argent muttered softly…