Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 425: Footsteps to destiny (2)

Then Arial take another sip and his eyes darted off to Rhyssa. And he thought to himself

'How could God have created something so beautiful?' That is what he thought. He did not reject the marriage because he found the Empress ugly. 

He rejected it in the name of love for he did not love her and she deserves better. And his heart is not ready. For a man who close his heart this deeply, it would take a divine strength to open it back up.

There is no desire in Arial heart to spoil such a beauty

Rhyssa on the other hand was far from suspecting she herself is becoming an object of some interest in Arial eyes.

The first time they meet in the ball, he concealed his shock of her beauty, the second time they met in the garden courtyard a few weeks ago, he stops his heart from beating too loudly.

But no sooner than later, he could not ignore those beautiful blue eyes, and that flowing blue hair, flowing perfectly every time she moves. 

Combine that with Rhyssa unearthly beauty how could Arial heart not waver?

It was uncommonly intelligent, the beautiful expression of her blue eyes. 

Her eyes were like a window to Heaven; her face was like an angel peering from the Veil of the Pearly Gates, gracing mortals with beauty.

It was mortifying for Arial to know he feel like this.to realize his hearts beats for her, to know that he is not in control of his own feeling.

He still tries to deny it of course.

Then after a while he had to admit that Rhyssa has a perfect symmetry in her form, her figure is light and pleasing to the eyes, and slowly Arial is caught by Rhyssa playfulness.

Of all these turbulent emotions that Arial feel in his heart, Rhyssa is unaware, to her, he was the only man who would dare scold her and who dares reject her marriage engagement.

And while there is love in Rhyssa heart regarding Arial, surely Rhyssa too has her own pride. 

If Arial have great pride why would Rhyssa not have great pride too? 

She is an Empress of a large Empire; she too is a master in martial arts, a great tactician in war and loved by her people.

Pride is never helpful in a budding relationship especially a romantic entanglement but one must admit, it made a great love story.

Arial even with the matters of the dream could not get the Empress out of his mind and he begins to wish to know more of her as he unconsciously is moving towards her while Rhyssa is talking to Lord Charles of Machin and some other minor lords of Renasia. 

Of course his movement to walk towards the empress drew attention from the people in the ball but no one said anything and all feign ignorance. 

On the other hand, Rhyssa smiles as she said when Arial arrived at her

'Ah, my lord. What does Lord Arial mean by trying to listen to my conversation with all these gallant lords?' 

She said and Arial nearly stopped his feet but he was already only a few centimeters away and he feigned ignorance.

Rhyssa just smiles

'You are known to be a cunning ruler. I only wish to relieve Charles from your trickery'

'HAHAHA' Rhyssa laughs. 

'I'm cunning? Trickery? A pot calling the kettle black don't you think? Compared to you I am a worm while you are the big snake. With you and Silas together which plots would escape your watchful gaze, which words of treason your ears would not hear?'

Arial does not have any intention to speak and argue with Rhyssa for that is not his intention in approaching her, but right now he is provoked by Rhyssa.and one must know one does not simply provoke the Dragon.

Rarely after his rise to power that anyone dares to speak so rudely to him but Rhyssa did and she is probably the only person in the Human Continent that could do so. 

And it is also rarely that Arial felt so refreshed being talked back but he swallowed his anger and his slight feeling of a certain bit of happiness

'I am flattered that you would praise me so.' Arial said to Rhyssa smiling bitterly.

'In the beginning I was not curios but now seeing how you try to keep me from the conversation I am curios. What did you talk about with Charles?' 

Charles on the other hand realizes he is stuck between the two people arguing. It was not like arguing to him, it was more like a lover spat. 

From the distance Kyle seeing his friend acting so awkwardly with a woman, he almost chuckles while the Empress Dowager spies will surely report today scene to Arial mother.

Rhyssa simply smiles and said

'You are too severe towards me my lord. I was only teasing Charles with a prospect of a bride. He is a young man, with virile health and charming manners. Handsome features too, if I might add. So, I try to match the young lord with one of the ladies of the Asturias. One knows that the noble house of Asturias has too many daughters'

'Is it your hobby to match people? First with Kyle and now even my vassals? Why play matchmaker with other people love life?' 

Arial said, snorting a bit. Rhyssa snorted back and retorted

'It is better than being matched with a bumbling idiot not to mention prideful and beyond reason' And Rhyssa look at Arial like her looks means something. 

After all she is the number one beauty in the Continent. 

And he dares reject her? 

And she too felt refreshed when she talks with Arial though she too, like Arial, would never admit it if she is being asked about it. 

As she is the only one that could talk rudely like that Arial, Arial is also the only person in the Human Continent that could speak like this to hers.

To them their words are like sparring. But to others, it is like the dance between the Sun Emperor and the Water Maiden.

'Are you telling me, I am a bumbling idiot?' 

Arial raised a bit of his voice, only remembering the first part and suddenly forgetting the reason why he approached Rhyssa which is to make a good impression on her.

'Why the anger, my lord? I never said it was you. Why get pricked by my words?' and Arial cheek turns red because of embarrassment.

Then Isabelle seeing the situation becoming tense quickly went to her empress side and quickly tries to diffuse the situation.

She then said 'Would Your Imperial Majesty like to hear Majesty Rhyssa playing the zither. She has prodigious talent.'

Then another noble clapped. 

'I have long heard of Empress Rhyssa talents in playing instruments.' 

'It will be my honour to hear the beautiful melody of the Empress' some noble lords said and Arial just nodded seeing so many wanted to hear Rhyssa playing.

Isabelle opens the instrument and at first Rhyssa refuse but after great persuasion on Isabelle part Rhyssa agrees.

'Very well, if it must be so. It has been a long time' she said before she plucks the string of the zither, her eyes are still glaring at Arial.

Then she sings and Arial heart beats again. 

Her voice is like a heavenly voice, captivating everyone in the hall, as they all begin enjoying the melodious tone and the deep meaning of the lyrics.

You ask me how much I love you'

My love is fire'

The Sun is my heart'

You ask me how much I love you'

My feeling does not waver'

My love will not change'

The Sun is my heart'

A gentle kiss like the breeze of the wind'

Is already enough to move my frozen heart'

A deep feeling felt in the day we meet'

Has caused you to sear in my mind'

You ask me how much I love you'

You think about it'

Take a look outside the house'

The Sun represents my heart'

Our passion burns like the Sun'

Even if we were burned'

If am with you'

I am willing'

Her performance leaves the audience with an otherworldly feeling, the tune echoes in the ears of the crowds even though the song ended, and for a moment everyone was stunned, and it was like time stopped and then a roaring applause.

'Truly the great beauty of the world' some exclaimed.

The delegations of Renasia on the other hand are the proudest. They would say 

'That is our empress.' And they clapped most enthusiastically, smiles of pride in their faces, boasting of their rulers.

Talented in battle, prodigious in the musical arts.

She had the genius of master musician, and a taste of simplicity, the song was a song of devotion, telling of passion and great love. 

It was not ostentatious, not vain or prideful, the song was humble but powerful, the tune complement the lyrics, some maidens can be seen crying, some men can be seen looking at a distance, their mind wandering to old memories, when love was simple and easy.

It waseasy and unaffected.