"Can I take you to your chamber, Miss Kira?" Gewen suddenly said after the guests were all getting ready to go home. Clara was holding Edgar's hand, and Athos wrapped his arms around Lily's waist dotingly.

Iris tilted her head when she heard Gewen's voice. She was wondering if Gewen really was talking to the other woman who looked mostly quiet during the dinner.

Did Lord Gewen want to spend more time with Kira? For what?

And most importantly, what was their relationship?

All these questions filled her heart with curiosity. Iris decided to ask her older sister for the answers after they reached home. In the meantime, she could only see Gewen standing firmly by the entrance, waiting for Kira to respond to his offer.

"Sure," Kira shrugged. She approached Gewen and looked at the man deeply. "Shall we go?"

Gewen nodded and then turned to Mars. "Thank you for the wonderful dinner. It was really nice. And again, congratulations on the new baby."

"Thank you, Gewen..." Mars said with a beaming face. He noticed Gewen wanted to talk to Kira in private, so he nodded at them and bid them goodnight. "Emmelyn and I will put Harlow to sleep. Good night everyone. Safe travels."

The guests left the palace and went to their respective homes, except for Kira who was staying in the royal palace during her visit to Draec. After Mars, Emmelyn, and Harlow went to their residence, Gewen and Kira went to the guest quarters.

Kira was surprised to see Gewen wanted to take her back to her chamber all of a sudden. She thought he was over her from the way he spent all night chatting with Iris and looked like they clicked so much.

Kira even felt slightly jealous at the sight. However, she realized that Gewen was within his rights to redirect his attention toward someone else because Kira had rejected him when he confessed that he liked her.

Perhaps he was not really serious with his feelings for Kira that her rejection only affected him a little bit. The proof was now he was already into a new girl. Typical womanizer, Kira thought to herself.

"Are you cold?" Gewen suddenly asked when they were walking together toward Kira's chamber and he noticed the woman shivered slightly. The dining room was warmed by a big fireplace, so she didn't really feel the cold before.

Now they were walking outside and the snow was falling from the sky and the temperature was so low. Even Gewen felt the cold. So, he was concerned when he saw Kira shiver. She was wearing her wolf fur coat, but apparently, it was not enough to keep her warm.

Before the woman could reply, Gewen had taken off his coat and draped it around her back. Kira's steps halted. She didn't expect Gewen would do something like this. Why was he still nice to her? Their last encounter didn't end really well.

"Why are you doing this?" She turned to Gewen and asked the man with furrowed brows. She wanted to take the coat off her back, but Gewen shook his head and motioned her not to do that.

"It's really cold. Just wear it. I am a man, I will be fine," he said casually.

Kira was in doubt for a moment, but finally, she stopped arguing. She cleared her throat and thanked the man. "Very well. Thank you for the coat. I will make sure to give it to John tomorrow before I leave so he could return it to you."

"Oh, there is no need for that," Gewen shrugged. "You gave it to me. So, you can just take it back with you."

The coat he draped on her back was the fur coat he received from Kira that she ordered from the coat maker in Castilse. It was made of the wolf fur pelt she hunted the day before.

Now that Gewen was back at home, he had so many expensive coats and cloaks that he could use.  He thought Kira needed it tonight, more than he did. So Gewen decided to just give it back to her.

Besides, after she was gone, he thought it would be bad for him to  keep stuff that would remind him of her all the time.  So, it was better to return it to  Kira.

The woman furrowed her brows. "You want me to take back something I have gifted to you?"

"Yes," Gewen replied calmly. 

"Why?" Kira asked.

"So, I could forget about you." The man sighed. "There, I've said it."

"Huh?"

Kira looked at Gewen probingly, trying to read his mind. She couldn't do it. She didn't know what was on Gewen's  mind.

So, he wanted to forget her?

"You once asked me what makes me like you," Gewen added. His face looked somber again. "I kept searching my heart and asked myself what makes me like you. Was it your beauty... your bravery, your adventurous side... or what?"

Kira stood still like  a statue, looking at Gewen attentively. She was interested in knowing what Gewen had to say.  She didn't interrupt him and let the man speak.

"I finally found the answer..." Gewen let out a sigh. He looked at Kira deeply. "I don't like you."

"..." Kira felt her cheeks heated.

So, this man would just lie and tell her he didn't like her? FINE.

"I don't like you, Kira... I love you," said Gewen with a hoarse voice. "And I came to realize I don't have specific reasons why I fell in love with you. Sure, you are brave, and you are formidable and quite unique. Those qualities make you you. However, they are not the reasons why I love you. I just know I do. And that's the truth."

"Gewen..." Kira suddenly didn't know what to say. She could only call his name. She was shocked when she heard Gewen openly confess that he was in love with her.

It was really unexpected. She actually thought he was already over her by now and had set his sight on another woman, in this case, iris.

Apparently, Kira was wrong. Gewen was still very much interested in her. He just didn't act on it.

Gewen continued his words. "Kira, I have thought about this for a long time and asked myself if I would be happy with you, if I should just keep chasing you, maybe even join your pirate gang so I could be with you... haha.. I know it sounds dumb and silly, but it is what it is. I have never been in this situation, only now."

"You won't survive being a pirate,"  Kira commented. "You are too nice."

Gewen smiled faintly and nodded. "Yeah. That's right. That's why I decided not to."

"Okay."

"I also thought about how different we are and our worlds. After seeing what you are capable of and how you made plans to sell another woman to sex slavery... I was mortified and it kept bothering me for days."

Gewen continued his words. "And finally, I realized, I can't accept it. I can't accept that side of you. You are such a cool woman but I cannot live with someone so ruthless. I am not saying you are a bad person. Not at all. You are just different. You will  find a man who could appreciate that side of yours someday. It will just not be me."

Kira pursed her lips. "So, you wanted to talk with me just to boast that you no longer want me? How nice."

"No... I don't mean it that way," Gewen quickly explained. "Weeks ago, you asked me why I like you. Back then, I didn't know the answer. Since you are leaving soon, I thought I should give you the asnwers you wanted to know. For closure."

"Hmm.. I understand," After she thought about it again, finally, Kira nodded. "Thank you for being honest with me. I appreciate it. I know I can be harsh and ruthless sometimes, but it's just who I am and how I was raised."

Kira added, "I am not trying to defend myself and my behaviors, but I do think we are not compatible because of the differences in our background and personality. So, I think it's good that we talk about this and so we can get over it."

Gewen nodded. "Yeah. You don't want a relationship, I do. And now I also want to build a family. You don't."

Kira winced at hearing Gewen mention building a family. She didn't want children. She nodded. "That's right."

Gewen looked at Kira sadly. He knew this was goodbye. Soon Kira would really go out of his life. He repeated her words. "That's right."

"So, will you marry Iris and build a family with her?" Kira asked Gewen after nobody said anything for a few moments. She was jealous of Iris, but tried hard to hide her feelings. She knew she had no right to feel jealous.

"Maybe. It could be Iris or any other woman. I need to get to know her better to make a decision." Gewen replied. He decided to speak honestly about his feelings. "I was not the type to settle down but after seeing how happy my friends are with their family, I realized that I want those too. I want a wife and children to fill my home with love and happiness. I am so jealous of Mars and Edgar."

Kira bit her lip. She had told him that she was not into a committed relationship, or worse... marriage.

"Well... I wish you well, then. The right woman will come to you and you will be happy," Finally, Kira said. "I am glad to have met you. You are funny and caring and our sex was great... Unfortunately, we want different things. I can't stay here and settle down. And you need a family. We are now on the polar opposite. I will  miss you, Gewen."

She smiled faintly and looked at the man with a sad expression. Gewen smiled too. He agreed with everything she said.

"I will miss you too, Kira," he said with a low voice.

That's how Gewen said goodbye to Kira.

***

SIX MONTHS LATER

.

"Your Majesty," John cleared his throat before he called Mars. The butler's face was beaming with happiness. He had walked here as soon as possible and was excited to tell the king this good news.

Mars looked up from his documents. Harlow who was sitting on his lap also looked up. They looked so alike and had very similar gestures that John felt like he was seeing a mirror image of each other.

"Yes, John?" Mars wanted to ask his butler what happened, but suddenly, he just knew. This old butler of his was a very serious man and wouldn't have this expression on his face, unless....

"Wait! Is it time?" The king got up instantly, not forgetting to lift Harlow and carried her in his arms.

His eyes glint in excitement. Well, there was a flash of panic in there too, and worry, but overall he was excited to hear the news that John was bringing.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty... it's time," John replied, smiling ear to ear.

"Thank you!" Mars dashed out of his study and went to Wintermere Palace, to see his wife. He ran so fast that people thought he was leaving a house on fire.

John only watched his master run toward his personal residence with a smiling face. Two drops of tears fell to his cheeks as he remembered how much the king and queen had suffered in the past to get where they were now.

Now, they were happy and thriving. Ah... John was glad to be part of their story and witness their love for each other prevail.

And now... they were about to welcome their new child.

How exciting!

The king had canceled all trips or royal affairs that involve him traveling ever since he found out his wife was expecting. No way he would leave her side this time. Not a chance!

He became one of those annoying husbands who would worry about every single little thing. Paranoid, if you asked John. 

He didn't know that the king's decision to never leave the capital for the past six months was because his wife threatened to divorce him if he was not by her side when she was giving birth to their child. So, Mars wouldn't risk it.

He was already grateful that she was finally willing to bear another child for him after her first labor experience which was very traumatic, to say the least. So, he wouldn't push his luck.

If she wanted him to stay by her side every step of the way, he would gladly do it. Even if she asked for the moon, he would try to make it happen.

She had done so, so much for him. It was only fair if he dedicated his life to making her happy.

"Father? Why are you so rushing?" Harlow asked Mars with a giggle. She loved being carried like this and the wind that blew past them felt so refreshing on her cute face.

"Mother will give birth to your sibling," said Mars, not slowing down even one bit. "I cannot miss it."

"Ohh..." Harlow nodded and exclaimed. "We cannot miss it!!!"

When Mars arrived at Wintermere Palace, Lily had waited for him by the door.

"It's going to be bloody and messy. Harlow cannot enter," she said firmly. Her hand was raised to give a sign that Mars should leave Harlow outside. "Your Majesty, it's already starting."

"Ah, all right."

Mars saw specks of blood on Lily's clothes and his heart skipped a beat. Gosh... was Emmelyn hurt? She must be in a lot of pain. His mind became a mess. He wanted to go in and left Harlow with Lily, but it looked like Lily was needed inside.

Should he give Harlow to one of the servants?

No, she was too smart. She would trick them again like the last time and...

No, no... He must find someone Harlow liked and smarter than his servants.

As he looked around to see his options, he saw  Gewen walking nonchalantly in their direction. The king quickly waved at him and said impatiently. "Gewen! Please take Harlow with you."

He looked so anxious that Gewen became anxious too. He quickened his pace and arrived in front of the king in no time.

"What happened?" he asked Mars.

"It is time," Mars replied. He quickly shoved his daughter to Gewen and went inside without another explanation. The handsome lord accepted Harlow with glee.

"Mommy is going to give birth," said Harlow, giggling. 

"She is?" Gewen suddenly felt so jealous of his friend, the king.

Look at him. Mars already had this really otherworldly beautiful and awesomely cute daughter like Harlow.. and now he would get another one??? 

And it might not be just one, but possibly two!

Bruinen had said Emmelyn's protruding tummy looked too big for just one baby. Unless she would give birth to a really fat baby, then it was likely that she was carrying twins.

Gewen hoped it was a fat baby.

His mind wandered to that woman. He, too, could have cute children if only she was willing to accept him and marry him. Alas! She was not interested in marriage or kids.

Gah! He should stop thinking about her. It had been six months, she must be somewhere in Atlantea now, like she said she would.

"Let's go to the garden," said Gewen to Harlow. He kissed her fragrant hair and put her down to the ground. "I will teach you archery."

.

.

________________

From Missrealitybites:

I am sure you are already familiar with the last scene in this chapter. ^^

PS: Since some part of this chapter is repeated from the spoiler chapter in 384, I reduced the coin price from 14 to 10 coins.

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