(Ellion's POV)
"So, meeting them was rather interesting." I said as I leaned on the railing of the balcony, "You seem rather acquainted with them, Malora."
"Of course." She said as she stood by my side, "Whenever House Hightower and House Martell meet, I do interact with them quite a lot. I am also fond of Lady Ashara."
"Hm...." I said as I looked over to the courtyard, seeing as some Lords and Knights were interacting with each other, "Ashara, huh?"
"Have you decided to bed her?" Malora asked, "I can aid you in that."
I looked at her, "Why would i need your help with that?" I asked her, "If I wanted to, I would've done so already."
"So you say." She smirked, "But Lady Ashara does not seem like the woman to fall so easily."
"Yea, if you say so." I said, "She's a beautiful woman with a good heart. Why would I even attempt to corrupt that?"
"You have already corrupted many." She said, "Lady Casanna, Lady Genna, and of course...Lady Joanna...."
I looked at her with a serious expression, "Careful." I said, "Do not say such things so casually with ears around."
She stepped closer to me, "Well, as your wife, I would keep my lips sealed at all times." She said, "So accept my offer, Ellion. You are already my lover, let's take the next step. Let us go and get married, we shall be happy together. I will allow you to bed whomever you want, my love."
"If we do that, it would cause a scandal." I said seriously, "That is not what I intend to do, not now."
"Fuck scandals." She said with a scowl, "And fuck whatever the Realm would think. They don't see what I see! I see a man with the blood to build a powerful bloodline of strong warriors and beauties beyond the realm of men! You-"
"You're insane." I said, "Deluding yourself to such things. Malora, get a grip of yourself. I don't mind fucking you, but what you're saying is more than you can hope to handle."
She clutched my chin and pulled me down, "Do not insult me." She said, "I am the only one in this wretched Realm that sees you as what you are; a good and strong man. I don't care if you're a bastard, if you're a mere Knight. I don't care about any of that, I know exactly what I see. I see the man worthy to be my husband."
"If we are not allowed to marry? What then?" I asked, "What will you do?"
"Tch, I know we will be allowed." She said, "Because that is what Fate dictates, Ellion."
I pulled away, "If you say so." I said, "But I know what Fate has truly dictated for me, Malora. I am going stand at the top."
"And if you truly want someone to stand by you, accepting you for whatever you are, Ellion...." She said with a soft expression, "You will accept me. You will marry me. You will plant your seed in my womb and allow me to carry your child."
She's persistent.
A seemingly harmless madness, that is what Malora Hightower possesses.
I don't know if this will be good for me.
But we'll see.
She then looked to the side, "Hm....." She said, her eyes shifting slightly, as if she saw something she didn't like, "Hm.....interesting."
"What is it?" I asked, looking at what she was staring at
"The Queen...." She said, "She is staring at you."
I saw that amidst the crowd that was unsuspecting of Malora and I, Rhaella was staring at me with a soft yet serious gaze. Her beautiful eyes had a solemn light to them, yet I knew there was envy within them. I could see it in her eyes, the way they did not leave me.
"Yes." I said seriously,
"Yes, she is."
******************
Later that night, I entered Rhaella's chambers through the secret passage, seeing that she was already sitting down at the edge of he bed. She was wearing her nightgown, her beautiful white hair draped over her shoulders.
I walked over to her, seeing the candlelight reflecting off her fair skin, causing her to glow majestically.
I stood in front of her, "My Queen." I said, confirming that there was nobody in the vicinity with my Observation Haki, "You look beautiful."
"You lied." Her words were simple but they carried weight, "You lied, Ellion."
"What do you mean?" I asked
"You were not with a brothel woman." She said, "You were with Malora Hightower."
I blinked, "Oh."
She looked at me with a serious expression, "You need to be honest with me." She said, "I already told you this, Ellion."
"My Queen, I....." I said, "It is not what you think. I was not with Malora the night you desired me, I swear it."
"But you have lain with her." She said, "Tell me the truth."
I couldn't lie and keep it to myself. I could not do it, not to her. There was something within me that could not allow me to do such a thing. I don't know what it was; it was bothering me a lot.
I was so stupid, was I?
"I have." I said, "Malora Hightower has been persistent in her advances towards me. She wishes for me to marry her and father her children. That has come straight out of her mouth, it is not an assumption."
She blinked slowly, "I see." She said, "Does she understand how difficult that would be? You are not legitimate and even if you were, Lord Leyton would not consider you for her eldest daughter. As a matter of fact, Ellion, you would not be within the first 20 choices as a suitor for any Lady of the Realm, even older ones."
That was rather harsh, coming from her.
But it was not a lie.
"I know." I said, "I am aware of that. I have told her that myself, My Queen. But you have to understand, she is stubborn and-"
"You will not marry Malora Hightower." She said, "This is not an order or any command, it is the truth. I am telling you right now, Ellion. It will not happen, I do not think it would be possible."
"I agree with you." I said
"But....." She said, clutching her nightgown, "If somehow, Fate decides it to be so....that you indeed marry her, then.....I will support it."
"My Queen?" I asked
I saw her eyes were a bit glossy, as if tears were forming on tem.
"I don't care...I am The Queen, after all." She said softly, her voice was shaky, "It should not matter to me, Ellion. I am already a married woman, why would I care if you marry someone else?"
"I...." i said
"It shouldn't...." She sniffed, "So tell me...."
"Why does the thought wound my heart so much?"