>> A few hours passed since our chat started, countess Lilith decided to bid farewell. “I enjoyed your company together, Your Highness. Thank you so much for having your time today.”

“It’s my honor to host by your presence, Countess Lilith. I also enjoy our time together.” Astarte retorts back with a smile on her lips. Lilith then turns to me right then. “As for you, our King-to-be.”

“Uh, yes. It’s good to meet you.” I answered, though I’m little hesitant to respond. She left the patio together with her servant while Astarte and I watch her off.

“I never expected of her to come here just to meet you.” A sudden word parted from her lips. Tilting my head sideways, our eyes meet. “Huh.” I mumbled.

“And here I thought I can have you for myself today.” Her voice shows displeased. “I mean, it’s been a while now since you came here. I thought we can share some time together.”

Astarte sighs exasperatedly. “I know you’ve been busy with work. And you’re a royalty. Having a time for a plebian like me—”

“You’re not a plebian!” she interjects. I twitched out from what she said. “I never thought of you as a plebeian. From the time we meet, I’ve been thinking a lot about you.”

What’s she saying right now? I don’t comprehend by those words. We can never be together, for our race is different as well as our circumstances.

“Let’s take a walk, shall we?” Astarte asked, as she smiles at me. “Ah, sure...” I replied.

On the wide garden in the patio, we took a stroll. Though our gap is 1 meter apart, Astarte looked at the surroundings with her innocent expression.

She seems like a child wandering in the wide garden. “Can you tell me about your world?” a sudden thought comes out from her. “Huh?” I asked.

Her head tilts sideways and glance at me. “Please, tell me something about yourself. I want to know you...”

Shifting her body to face me, the afternoon radiant sun lures to her. She sparkles elegantly, mesmerizing my eyes and slightly stunned me.

My heart skipped a beat from that image of hers. My thoughts suddenly mushed out but I composed immediately to give a response for her.

“My world, huh...” I mumbled. Astarte remains smiling, but she didn’t blink, like a child anticipating on something delightful.

Clearing my throat, I look at the sunset. “My world is a complete opposite from yours.” I stated and glance at her. Her brows fuzzed out like she knows that exactly.

“Uh, I mean... it’s completely different from everything. My world has only humans living and animals.”

What a bland statement to tell it. Yeah, I think this is too bland. “Ah... I think—"

“Tell me more of it!” her sudden response jolts me out. What the...? “Uh... I don’t think it’s interesting, though. The way how I tell it is kind of bland. There’s nothing interesting about it.”

Astarte shakes her head sideways, both her hands raised up to her chest while clutching. “I never thought about it as bland. I really want to know you so please, tell me something about your world.” The way how she looks like right now is like an Anime character.

She seemed eager about it. “Is that, no?” her cheeks puffed and blushes out. I feel agitated from giving a response, but the way how she asked me makes my heart quiver.

“Fine, I got you already. But I can’t promise that this is interesting, all right?” I replied and sigh in defeat.

Astarte nods as she vehemently listens to my story about my world. She didn’t butt in, but quietly gazes at me. From time to time I meet her eyes, I feel bashful.

Her beauty is really alluring; it makes my heart thumps fast. It feels like the person I like is talking to me, without realizing my feelings for her.

Right now, I feel like our distance gets quite close. She doesn’t seem like a Queen, but a young girl who is anticipatingly listens to the man she cherish.

“It’s a wonderful world you have, Justine...” she speaks. Her smile remains right after, as I nod to her thoughts.

“How I wish to see it.”

“Huh?”

“Your world. I want to see your world, and learn about it. I want to see the world of my beloved King-to-be, and love the people you love.”

A gentle breeze caresses on my skin as those words left from her mouth. She then grabbed my hand and entwines her fingers to mine. “A world where my King was born and raised, someday... I wish to see it with you.”

Such sincere thoughts; she is truly innocent and kind at heart. Any men will fall on her charm. Like me.

Huh? What am I saying? No, I shouldn’t... I shouldn’t think of anything. My goal is to go back to my world once and for all.

“Say,” Astarte suddenly utters.

“What?” I asked. “If there’s a way to go back to your world, would you like to go back there?”

That question twitched me out. What...? Did she find out my motive? “If ever, there’s a way to send you back to your world, would you like to go back?”

I got petrified. What should I say to her now? “If you do, please take me with you. I’m not so sure when you want to go bac... but imagining without you here by my side is something unfathomable.”

“What are you saying?” I asked. Astarte faces me, her eyes sparkle like a gem. “Half of my heart is with you. Half of me is with you since the time we met. I don’t think I can endure living without you by my side.”

Hold on! You’re just infatuated with me. You’re not really in love. These are the words I wanted to say, but I hold back. I know, by saying it, she will be hurt.

“So, please... if ever you want to go back to your world, take me with you. I’d rather die today with you than to live an eternity without—”

In a brink, without knowing the reason myself, I pulled her forward to me. I feel her warmth as our bodies become one. For what reason I did this, I don’t know.

But hearing those words makes my heart pierced.

“Ju—Justine?”

“Your Highness...” I mumbled. My arms wrapped around her waist as I close my eyes. I took a deep breath and collected all of my thoughts.

There’s no way I can tell her about my motive right now. I don’t want see her sad when I’m gone for good in case, I find a way back home. Since her parents are now gone, the weight of grief holds her right now.

Also, the former Queen asked me to look after her. I just can’t let her be sad anymore. This is nothing to do with me, the circumstances of this world and her feelings.

Yet, what made me hold back to tell those words? I don’t know either. Slowly, I loose on the hug and looked her in the eyes.

As the sun sets down, so as the words left out of my mouth that made her show bewilderment.

“I will never go back to my world, because I think I’m falling in love with you.”

I told a white lie. A lie that makes my life turn to the worst in this world. For her sake not to be sad, I tell it. I tell it even my feelings aren’t telling the same as those words.