Marshmello & Kane Brown - One Thing Right (Official Music Video)

"But yesterday, you proved me completely wrong." The crease that had been forming between my eyebrows all this time loosens suddenly as I look at him in disbelief. For a moment, I am not even sure if he is speaking another language because suddenly, the words refuse to make sense to me.

I cock one of my eyebrows at him as silence interrupts us. His lips curve up into a light smile making me question the sight before me. I want to scream intruder at him because I have never seen him smile before. He is always stern and is always involved in business. I wonder how many times he had smiled. It feels like I can count them on my fingers.

"I realized that to be reckless one needs courage too but it's a different kind of courage. We, warriors, don't possess that kind of courage. We are trained to fight and protect but that courage... it comes with a sense of realization of one's true and ultimate potential. It comes with a realization that you'll lose even when you win. It comes with the realization that you'll fall down but you'll stand up again. It comes with the realization that you or anyone alone doesn't matter but we all matter as a whole. Those who have it are very rare and I along with the whole ministry consider us very honored and blessed to have a reckless queen like you,"

I am left dumbstruck as he finishes speaking and bows his head down in respect again. It's surprising how my mind never ran that far to fetch such deep thoughts. But then again, I am not considering how ancient he is and he probably has a lot more experience than I have. Also, he is a man of war. He ponders over details more than I ever could.

"I..." I trail off, feeling at a loss of words. I don't know if I'd be able to describe what his words mean to me even if I put all the words known to man together. I closed my gaping mouth before I sigh deeply and collect myself.

"I could have never imagined that my actions would mean so much to someone. I am grateful to have ministers like you," I know I sound dumb speaking this and I was expecting him to give me a funny look but instead he raises his head and lightly nods at me before he walks away with the same air of seriousness that he came with.

Arles may or may not have noticed this, but he has the best ministers.

At dinner, everyone looks cheerful as soon as I enter the huge dinner accompanied by Arles, who is holding my hand as he leads to the head of the table. Everyone bows their heads as Arles and I take our seats.

As soon as everyone has settled down, light music starts flowing from the small orchestra sitting at the corner of the room. I remember the first time I stepped into this room with Arles. So many things have changed since then.

The faces that looked at me disapprovingly at me once are now warm and welcoming. They are regarding me with a different kind of respect in their eyes that never existed there before. Even Armelius, who always seems graveled and cranky, is in a good mood today. He is not sitting silently but is actually participating in small conversations with the ministers.

Lyco, Sosicles, and Euclio who had always seemed cold to me give me a small smile and nod when their eyes are met with mine.

"Where's Haestus?" Arles wonder aloud beside and it is when I notice the empty chair beside Archander. Archander simply shrugs his shoulders before he continues to talk with Firminus beside him.

"I think he is out witch hunting," Armelius comments and suddenly it has my interest. I do realize now how Haestus had seemed to be missing for a couple of days.

"Witch-hunting?" Arles cocks an eyebrow as he takes an interest in the matter as well. "Seems so. He had been obsessing and had grown quite inquisitive to any matter that revolves around those groups of malicious women. Alas! Can't that boy just take interest in ordinary women? Of all, he had to choose witches? " Armelius adds mindlessly as he takes a sip from his glass of wine.

"You sound as if he is out there hunting a mate rather than a witch," Archander chimes in our conversation mindlessly and suddenly, something struck me. Suddenly, I am made known about how heavy his words sound. They have a different and darker meaning to them.

"It could be both for all we know," Armelius adds with a shrug before he looks at Arles from the corner of his eyes. The air around us suddenly starts to buzz with tension as Arles freezes halfway from drinking wine from his glass. Everyone over the table seems to freeze as well as everyone's eyes are trained on Arles.

Arles rolls his eyes before he places his glass on the table and commands Armelius, "Tell Haestus to meet me as soon as he is back." The sudden change in his behavior gives me an uneasy vibe. It doesn't go unnoticed by me how people react to the mention of witches. It seems like no one likes them around here.

"What's wrong with witches?" I find myself asking as soon as we are in our bedroom. Arles stops halfway from undoing his buttons and sighs before he sits on the bed.

"Come here, Nef," He says patting his thigh but I stand there and give him a stern look.

"First tell me," I lift my chin stubbornly.

"Come here, love before I sweep you in my arms and do all the things I have been wanting to do all day," His voice deepens as he speaks but I just shake my head at him.

"Don't change the to-" Before I could finish speaking, I am lying flat on the bed while he hovers over me. His pupils have swallowed all the color in his irises as he looks down at me with a possessive and fervent look in his eyes.

"I like this," He says with a smug.

"Witches, we were talking about witches." I poke my finger on his chest as I state sternly. He sighs before he rolls his eyes and starts speaking.

"Witches... those women are very evil. Never in their duration of existence did they ever do well for anymore. They have created many problems in the past and it's not only me but almost all kingdoms have this thing for witches which keeps them out. They create nothing but trouble. I don't know why Haestus is out for witches. Whatever it is, he better not bring any trouble to this palace or I'll deal with him," My lips form an O as his words sink in my mind.

"So where were we?" He asks heatedly before undoing my dress.

"In your head," I comment before our lips unite and melt into each other and we are once again one.

"My beautiful queen," He comments as he wraps his arms around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder while our eyes meet in the mirror. I am wearing the jewelry, giving a final touch to my look. Tonight the ceremony is finally happening.

Arles made big arrangements and many gods and devils have been invited tonight. The preparation for tonight has been going on for about more than a week. I give him a light smile and instantly his face lights up.

We are matching tonight. I am wearing a midnight blue gown. It's simple. Its flowy velvety fabric flows down to my toes. It has beautiful designs threaded on it by golden embroidery. The back is quite revealing and something in me tells me that he'll be running his hand all over my exposed skin several times during the night.

He is wearing a shirt made of the same color and material as my gown, matched with a pair of black trousers. Above it, his thick, black velvety cloak rests. The left breast of his black cloak has the emblem of our kingdom embroidered on it with gold.

I have my hair up in a bun with several small stars stuck in my hair. They shine bright against my midnight black hair. I have my crown up, which completes my whole look. He is wearing his crown too. A couple of strands of his curly hair are stuck in some of the jewels in his crown.

As I turn around to fix his hair, he claims my lips and we kiss passionately.

"Let me fix your hair," I speak gently after we pull back. He watches me with his compassionate eyes as I stand on my toes and arrange some of his curls before giving him a light smile.

"I love you." He whispers, making me look down at him. His silver eyes are soft on me. He's looking at me like I am the most precious thing for him, which I know I am. I am sensing so many emotions raging inside him through the bond. I am overwhelmed by their intensity. I had to blink my tears away as I wrap my arms around him and pull him closer.

"I love you more," I speak as he wraps his arms around me.

"I love you most," His deep voice sounds so silky and musical above me. Vesta purrs inside me, syncing with his wolf.

He holds my hand the whole time as he leads me to the ceremony hall. As soon as the gates open, everyone's eyes fall on us. Everyone stands up as he leads me to the thrones on the stage. I take my seat before him.

Everything looks so familiar. It looks just like my coronation ceremony. I spot the same gods in the room. Some of them give me a friendly smile when my eyes meet theirs. The head priest is in the front of the stage, chanting some auspicious spells for the guests and giving them a welcoming speech.

Suddenly, the doors of the grand ceremony hall open. Everyone's attention is drawn to the back of the room instantly.

My blood runs cold when I see her walk in the room with her chin tipped high. I look at Arles in panic but he is sitting beside me, looking relaxed. I can't believe my eyes as she walks towards the stage with a smile playing on her lips.

Her red hair flows to her waist and the white satin cloth wrapped around her body flutters lightly at her feet as she walks. Her red eyes are trained on me and the golden runes on her face are glimmering under the low light of the ceiling.

What's happening? Why is she here? Did he invite her?

"Ishtar?"