Marilyn looked at the sea in front of her. If she could just get back on the boat and travel south she could make it back home to the one that she loves the most in the world.

She's miserable here, it's cold and lonely. Not the lonely she's used to anyways. Even the maids are quiet here, in the middle of no where.

She had written the king multiple letters beginning for forgiveness begging to come home but was too ashamed to send out any of them.

Ophelia had found her way to her again, despite her protest.

She didn't want to see Ophelia again, she had demolished the only real thing in her life

"Some people kill boundless people to have a moment of my attention." Ophelia said and Marilyn sighed turning away from her. She didn't want to be associated with her anymore.

The hurt on the king's face. The pain he must be going through with her so far away. He was alone now.

She'd promised he'd never be alone and she'd failed him.

"When you left the king's protection in the palace. I felt something. There are parts of the king scattered in the kingdom. I can smell them." Ophelia said catching the queen's attention. The red haired woman refused to turn around and give her the dignity to continue to harass her.

The king warned her before that the moon lies, she'd let her rage and fear of worthlessness drive her to exactly that in the eyes of the only person who'd ever bothered to bestow her with value.

"Do not turn your back on me child. I'm being very pleasant with you now, but who knows how long this will last... you can't forget that you're carrying my child now." Ophelia said after walking towards the queen and grabbing her forearm.

"You don't have to be here. I do not need you here with me." The queen said, struggling to pull her arm out of the goddess's hand.

"I need to be here for my son to continue growing or he'll become a tumor inside you and rot every cell in your body just to turn you into dust." Ophelia said before turning to look at hazel who was mindlessly sweeping fallen leaves and branches from the floor of their new home.

It was a huge house, similar to the mansion that her parents used to own. Similar to that place she was only ever allowed to look at from the outside

She wished the king was there with her, they could play house in this place rather than struggling to even catch sight of each other in the overwhelmingly large palace.

The house was made from mulberry wood, it was covered by vines with Bougainvillea and leather flowers.

There was a porch with a woodenly perfected sitting area with dark plush chairs staring out at the great empty sea.

Marilyn thinks the king would love it, he always preferred empty surrounds where only he and the quiet earth could be.

He'd love the smell of the sea water and he'd like that the house was almost alive with how many plants embraced it. Plants Marilyn had immediately upon arrive asked be cut down.

"I assumed you knew it was going to turn out this way. That was my mistake." Ophelia said her voice sour. A sting in the ginger queen's ears.

"I thought he'd choose me. He's always chosen me."

"It's his humanity, humans are pesky creatures. They are indecisive and weak, they want power but they are too afraid to grasp on to it and rip it from others. The ones that do become miserable sour themselves with regrets. They start to lose that power trying to make themselves forget having taken it in the first place. Disgustingly weak things, always so afraid of harm and harming. "

Marilyn snapped around to look at her. Her long dress flowing in the up and coming wind. She speaks as heavy waves begin crashing on the sandy floor. Ophelia eyes are black and frightening empty but she refuses to stand down.

"He's not weak."

"He is, He is weak but you are baring my son so I shall give you a gift."

"I want nothing from you." Marilyn snares.

"No?, I suppose I'll just keep the location of your other children to myself then." ophelia said before turning around and walking towards the crashing waves.

"What?!" Marilyn asked.

"Your children, the so-called abominations your precious sun and earth seemed unworthy of life. The ones your weak king couldn't execute. I'm sure you know those children don't you?" Ophelia said a smirk behind her every word.

Marilyn is lost for words, she stands there resilient to the attacks of the wind, breathing heavily.

"W-where are they?"

"I can take you to every single one of them, if you agree to my terms." ophelia said and Marilyn pales. Her face starts to resemble an empty white sheet before she finds her words.

"Terms, What terms?"

"The sun's child, the vermin never be allowed kingship."

"I-I have no control over decision like those. I have no power."

"You don't, no of course not. But by law of the land, the first son of the king becomes the king in his retirement or execution.

"But the people won't permit such a thing. They have waited for the sun to give birth for years." Marilyn interjected.

"The people serve their king. If they don't they die. It's a very simple law."

"The king would never allow it." Marilyn said, she's biting her lip now. A surge of energy is vibrating deep within her.

"No the king would not. But the Queen mother has the ability to overturn the king if she deems him unwell." ophelia said before walking into the water.

"You're telling me, that I could have a family of my own. My child as king. The kingdom as my own?"

"I suppose I am. Only if we have a deal of course?" Ophelia said and Marilyn dropped to her knees.

"Deal."

Her heart burst with joy.

-

Akia woke up to an empty bed where her father laid. She walks out of the room and asks a servant to prepare her a bath while she brushes her teeth, combs and fails to braid her hair. After about an hour she leaves the long and large tightly curled hair opting to just tie it up neatly.

She can at least say now that she missed the royal bathroom assistants, having to deal with her own hair was a hassle. Her mother used to do it before, never once bothering to teach her.

Her mother never wanted to teach her anything, not really anyway.

By the time she was bathe and dressed she made her way to the guest room where she'd found Everett, shirtless on the floor with clothed legs spread open snoring louder than a bear or her father after an active night with wine.

She walks to him tentatively and kneels before him. She's flustered by his lack of clothing at first, shaking it off and reminding herself that the man was just Everett. Someone who'd never failed to be a source of comfort.

He wears a necklace with a small rose pendant. She's always wondered what it was for her. He'd had it for so long that it was almost not noticeable anymore. Just part of him.

She placed her hand on his chest, sliding up to the necklace.

She'd never looked at it so closely before but seeing it now. It seemed to glow.

"It's pretty right?" Everett asked and Akia fails on her ass startled.

She agrees reluctantly.

"The fairies gave it to me. The first fairies I'd ever rescued from hungry trolls."

"I thought trolls only eat fruits and vegetables."Akia said curiously.

"They do, but fairy meat is a delicacy." Everett said.

"It glows." Akia said, staring at his chest.

"What?, What do you mean it glowed?" Everett asked.

"Why are you surprised it never glowed before?" Akia asked.

"No, never."

"What does it mean?" Akia asked.

"It means I've found home." Everett said and Akia frowns.

"Well obviously. This has always been your home. Pity, I thought it would've been something more exciting. Anyhow, the maids have prepared breakfast. " Akia said before standing up and walking away.

Everett's heart lurches in his chest before it begins beating rapidly.

The rose around his neck glows. He looks down at it.

"She's the one." He says, a sweet, yet surprised smile falls on his lips. An overwhelmed sigh follows after as he grasps his left peck.

"My heart has found its home." Everett said before standing up.

"Why are you staring at me?" Akia asked as she takes another 3 large sausages off the plate and into her plate where she's already eaten about 7 so far.

"You're much more of an eater than I last remember."

"you're much more ill-manner than I remember. You know better than to comment on a lady's plate."

"I knew better but after you started eating the 3rd pig I decided it best to comment and deter the chewing of the innocent beings." Everett said and Akia drops the sausage.

"I was only joking Kia." Everett said.

"You know, I'd never marry a husband who watches my plate." Akia said and she hadn't even realized how domesticated this was. Eating together alone, like this.

"You're considering me?"

"I was but now. Who knows now, why marry someone who will starve me? mother always says I look terrible thin."

Akia said faking smugness and lifting her shoulders and huffing.

"Has my confession turned you into a monster?" Everett asked.

"Oh you mean the confession I rej-"

Akia chuckles as Everett dumps all the all sausages into her plate.

He looks at the heavy plate and then begins forking most of them out again.

"Too much" He says nervously as she forks them right back.

A bird comes to them after breakfast dropping a prettily wrapped scroll into Everett's hand.

And then another bird followed by plenty others.

He takes all the letters offered to him and watches in amusement as they fly away. About 16 letters came while Akia was writing in the garden.

He opens and reads one since they were addressed to Akia. He figures she'd just relay the message. He becomes flustered once he looks at the contents.

" This is the first time I've written a letter to someone without declaring war on them. I usually start with a threat of a declaration of my title and what it means for them that I have said title.

Now I'm really lost on how to word this letter. This essentially pointless letter.

You were in the garden today and your mother told me you're a quite the gardener.

The whole meeting I thought about telling you that I had a special garden.

Somewhere where only special people could go.

I wanted to be the siren who lures you into that dark den. To engulf you in my arms and allow you only a couple glances at things that aren't me before taking away all the other sights in the world. Every other sight but me.

I want you to look at me, and me only.

I'll bloom for you, spread around you and become your garden.

Only yours"

Everett read out to Akia whose heart started beating rapidly.

Her breath had been wiped away.

"W-who sent it?" Akia asked struggling to breath and Everett shook his head.

"No idea." Everett said, heart twisting at her reaction.

The way her eyes, her whole body seemed to crave more.

"Didn't know you had a secret admirer. Especially not some kind of general." Everett said and Akia mouth dries.

"Are there more?" She asked and Everett wonders for a second.

"No, no more." Everett said.

"Can I see?" Akia asked and Everett hesitantly gave her the letter. She ran her fingers on the old crisp sheet. The letters are written beautifully with not one single mistake.

She brings the sheet up to her nose, takes a deep breath. There's an unfamiliar smell on the sheet. A strong masculine smell of sea salt and leather mixed with something so sweet it's overwhelming.

Everett is nervous once again.