Part 25. Heras Condition

At her silence, Lukas nudged along, snapping the moon princess out of her thoughts. She blinked at him. Talia was still trying to process all the information thrown at her, especially Ajaxson sending a message to Lukas.




"What was the m-message?" She arched her brow, still not making any move on the bed, knuckles digging in to the soft white sheet.




"He told me that your parents, especially God Zeus, is adamant on this engagement taking place. There's nothing he could have done to stop that. Besides, his parents also chimed in, so he's truly defenceless."




Talia held in the scoff, nails painfully piercing her skin, but she barely flinched. Ajaxson had a point, but he promised to stop from letting the matter go far. But he did nothing. Their engagement's fixed.




"Hmm" She bobbed her head.




Lukas pressed his mouth in a thin line. "I was upset when I heard the message because it meant you would be half his. I would have to challenge him to get you."




The moon princess thought about the dual happening between both of them. She didn't want Lukas to be involved in a fight against him even though her lover could defend himself easily. Or so Talia guessed judging by all those weapons he had in his place.




A shudder racked through her.




"S-So, what changed your mind?"




She was curious to know. The engagement news upset him, but he acted so calm and loving with her last night. They also made love, and he was patient and caring with her all through it.





"That message did the trick. Ajaxson explained how if he broke the engagement Zeus would simply get petty. If he backed out from the agreement, your father would find someone else for you just to show him. No offence, my love, but...we all know your father."




That was a valid agreement. She could give him that. Her father could go to any extent so that he could rank above them. Talia had witnessed many such incidents from her childhood to know that.




"Mmh. That calmed you down?"




Lukas laughed, shaking his head. "His promise did. He said that by being engaged with you, he's helping both of us. After the engagement, both the families will be happy and leave you alone."




Pinching at his nose, he continued. "They will allow you some space for marriage. In that time, I will manage to impress your father, after which Ajaxson said he would break up with you. Then I will ask for your hand. Sounds good, right?"




Too good to be true. She internally thought. If her betrothed had so much planned in advanced, why didn't he tell her? What was the point of sending such a message to Lukas? All Talia got was a long letter dedicated to her beauty. What was Ajaxson playing at?



The Prince nudged her, "Talia?"



She was bought back to the conversation, wincing slightly. "Sorry. Yes. That does sound wonderful, dear. I hope the plan goes accordingly."



Talia dreaded every second of that plan because it appeared impossible to her. What if Ajaxson changed his mind at the very last second? Everything could backfire. Then it dawned on her that her betrothed sent Lukas a message. They could show that as proof.




"Lukas..." She trailed, meeting his eyes with a twitch in her lips. The moon princess couldn't exactly tell him about the letter or that thoughtful gift. He would flip out. Nor the kind of questions she had swimming in her head.




"The letter Ajaxson sent you do you have it on you?"



A peal of laughter broke out his lips. "What letter?"




"The one he sent with a guard." Lines marred her face. "I wanted to read it once; just glance through it."



"Oh." Lukas lips parted. "It was a message, my love. The guard told me all these words himself not through the letter."




Dread settled in the pit of her stomach. That's the exact things she was worried about—lack of proof. Ajaxson was smart enough to leave no trace so that they could have nothing against him. Talia had to hand it to him.




Before she could open her mouth, Talia heard voices from outside. They got louder. Her eyes widened, and she immediately turned to Lukas in her bed. The Prince mirrored the same expression, instantly getting on his feet and slipping into his clothes as fast as he could.




"Hide!" She furiously whispered, tightening her grip around the cloth.



"Who could that be?"



The moon princess twisted her mouth, trying not to yell at his dumb question. How could she possibly know that? Wrapping her fingers around his bicep, she dragged him. "Do not get out until I call you."




Her throat locked up tight, staring at the door as Lukas made himself scare behind the curtain. No one would spot him there, all thanks to the wall separating her sleeping bed and the window.




Talia's pulse only started to accelerate when she hears long, heavy footsteps, sounding familiar, approach the door. A sharp knock reverberated against the walls, making her cringe. Gulping air, she strolled to the door, peeking through the square glasses only to find her stepmother.




Hera smirked when she opened the door, the creaking sound grating against her ears. She gripped the frame until her knuckles turned white. "M-Mother?"




Her stepmother's eyes raked over her body, brows raised. "Have you lost all your clothes, my dear?"



The mocking tone made her exhale loudly. She was not in the mood to listen to any of it. Talia pushed the towel tighter against her chest, walking into her room. "Did you come all the way to my room to say this?"




"No, I came here to check on your guest."




Her heart sank at that, feet froze in the middle, and she felt like a solid punch to her gut. For few seconds Talia forgot how to breathe, merely turning around. "W-What?"




Heras smile broadened just slightly. The moon princess felt sick. Walking inside her room, the Queen of Olympus sat in the armchair. The leather squeaked under the weight as she leaned for the glass. Pouring a generous amount of strong-smelling liquor into her glass, Hera sat back.




Watching Talia with probing eyes, Hera took her time to take two, three sips of her drink. "So did your lover leave already?"




Talia's eyes flickered to the side. Her blood was running hot and then cold, head starting to hurt from the tension seeping in. How did her step mother find out? Did any of the guards spill her secrets?




"Good hiding spot." She chuckled. "Okay I'll get straight to the point"




The moon princess wanted to scream out in rage, but what use would that be. Currently, her step mother had the upper hand. She bit down on the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood.




"Since you are not engaged, I'll let it slide and won't tell your father about it. You know what will happen once he gets the hang of news" Hera sent her a sweet smile that Talia knew was rotten to its very core.



"Only on one condition."



"W-What?"



"You'll say yes when your father asks you to marry Ajaxson. No matter what. I don't care if he refuses to marry you. You'll still say yes."



Talia felt her heart drop down to her ankles, nausea settling in her belly. Her sister had told her that it would turn sour eventually. It's gone so wrong she couldn't even begin to describe it.  The moon princess chewed on her lips. She couldn't allow anything to happen to Lukas—who's been nothing but loving, caring and selfless.



Hera gawked at her, eyes narrowed, assessing the moon princess quietly. Then she extended an arm across the table. "What do you say, Talia? Do we have an agreement?"



There's another way out of this. There had to be, but maybe her mind was playing tricks on her again. Deep down, she realised that Hera got her ultimately with no escape. Talia closed her eyes shut, savouring every second she still got to spend with Lukas.



Clearing her throat, her tears vision met Heras eyes as she shook her hand. "Yes, we do."
***
She took a deep breath, chest expanding as her lungs filled with air, clenching and unclenching her hands. Talia finally walked across the soft carpet until she came to a stand right in front of his taller and broader frame. Her tongue felt like sandpaper, making it difficult to swallow.



"Did she leave?"



With a sigh, she leaned closer, resting her temple against his shoulder, attempting to slow down her pulse, to push everything aside for a while. "Yes"




Sitting there with her stepmother felt like an eternity. She turned her face into his shirt, cotton soft and warmed by his skin, smelling familiar, soaking up a last dose of comfort. Desperately trying not to give anything away, the moon princess tightened her arm around his middle.




"What happened, my love? Did she say anything to you?"



A lot. Only if he knew half of it.



"N-No"



Talia sent a silent prayer that Lukas didn't register the sudden hitch in her breath, the way she had to clench her teeth to utter a single syllable.



He stiffened, arms tightening around her but didn't press her further for the answer, let her be. Part of her mind was screaming to tell him the truth, to turn around somehow, but Talia simply closed her eyes. The moon princess relaxed, a single tear trickling down her cheek, drying and disappearing before any more can follow.
***