“No! I love you.”, words popped out of Titan’s mouth as his emotions went out of control. Immediately after he said the magic words, he covered his mouth with shame. He knew that he might have committed a grave mistake by giving into his feelings. He looked around to see if anyone overheard anything. As soon as he resolved his doubt, he pleaded with a stuttering voice, “I… I am… I am sorry. I am sorry, miss. I totally didn’t mean it. Please be kind and forgive your subject’s folly.” Fear and guilt overtook his face and mind. Titan couldn’t even muster the strength to look at the duchess’s daughter.

On the other hand, Shilpi’s heart was beating at an astonishing rate. She didn’t listen to a word Titan spoke after he confessed his love. She loved him, but in some part of her heart she had a fear. The thought of her love being rejected terrified her. She wanted to confess her love to him but due to her fear she asked him first just so that if he doesn’t love her she didn’t have to face the humiliation which followed. But after listening to his confession, Shilpi’s blood flooded her veins. Her whole body grew red.

She looked at Titan to see how he was coping with the situation. Titan was going through a panic attack. His mind and heart both went in different directions. Shilpi couldn’t think of something to calm him down. Then, in the midst of the confusion, Shilpi pulled Titan’s head towards her. She put her lips on his and kissed him. Titan lost control of his body. His body moved on his own as his hands went around Shilpi’s waist. He strongly pulled her towards himself, and then he took control of her lips. He started pressing upon her lips as he moved one of his hands through her hair wildly.

In the heat of the moment, both of them began undressing their clothes. All of a sudden, they heard a voice, “I think you should stop here for now.” They looked round and saw Emilia standing on the entrance. Fear struck in their eyes.

She entered the room and swiftly made herself comfortable beside the lovers. “You might want to get your clothes on before I say something.”, she said in a disgustful tone. Both of them put their clothes back on with an embarrassed look and fear in their heart. They sat beside each other, keeping an arm length of distance.

Emilia never went away from the room. She was watching everything play out until things got out of hands.

“Young man, I have known you for quite a while now, and I believe that you might as well be a good husband for my daughter. But things don’t work out like this when you are a royal. We need to follow traditions to keep the face in public.” Both of them listened quietly in fear with their heads down as she spoke with a serious look on her face.

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“I understand that both of you love each other. The problem here is that Shilpi’s twentieth birthday is just a couple of days away and all the invitations have been sent out. After the ceremony, I am sure that we would be flooded with wedding proposals. You know what happens, if we reject all of them and marry her to some guild master’s son. It would not only embarrass us, but will also anger all the other interested parties. So now, son, what do you propose.”

“I… I had always known of our predicament, that is why I didn’t want to express my feelings. But my heart, it never listened to my brain. It always does whatever it believes. Now that the boat has already sailed, I don’t fear the waves. I will do whatever it takes to be with her.” Titan wore a serious look with a proud smile over his face.

The lady displayed a pleased smile over her face. “And what about you, my little one?”, she looked at Shilpi. Shilpi had already resolved to spend the rest of her life by his side, so she spoke with eloquence, “Mother, I want to spend my life with Titan. I don’t care, if he is the reward, I won’t think twice playing death.”

The strong words of her daughter made Emilia’s eyes dazzle with a victor’s smile on her face. She was proud of her upbringing.

“Very well young lads, at least we are clear on that front. Now I am going to need you to leave for the time being. But don’t worry, I shall visit you at your house tomorrow, make sure your father is at home.”, The Duchess instructed him.

Titan did as she said and left promptly. “I would like to have a talk with you, so meet in my chamber in an hour.”

Shilpi followed her instruction to the word and went to her chamber after an hour. The lady was sitting on the beautiful bed inside. She told her to sit beside her. Shilpi looked at what her mother was looking at a picture as she sat. In the picture, the Duke was holding Shilpi as a newborn and tearing up.

“Do you know that Your father has only cried once in his life?!”, Emilia abruptly asked in a serious look and quavering voice.

“I… I… I am sorry, Mother. I should have told you about it.”, Shilpi wrapped her arms around her mother and started sobbing. “Oh! Don’t worry about that, I knew about it. What you did only confirmed my suspicion.”, she spoke about it and freed herself from Shilpi’s arms. She gently held on her face and wiped the tears and turned it to face her.

“Stop crying, Honey, I am not at all upset with you. What makes me said is the look on your father’s face when he gets to know that he won’t see you again.”, she spoke as she felt the warm tears rolling down her cheeks. Shilpi’s body went paralysed after listening to her mother. “W… why… Why, mom?”, she asked with a stutter. “You do love him, don’t you?”, Emilia asked with an unconvinced look. “I do, but I love you both too.”, Shilpi answered aggressively.

“Well, if that is the case, then you need to be worried about the problems your father can land into”, Emilia spoke stressing upon how immature her argument was, “The Michael I know won't stop at anything from fulfilling your wish, even if it means to tarnish his honour he worked so hard to build.”