Chapter 282: Hands That Welcome
[Music recommendation: Aaryan Shah - Vienna]
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With Cece and Eve locked into a heartwarming hug, there was still a difference in their strength that made Ivan speak up at once and gently remind her, "Easy on your grip, Cece."
"Oh my," Cece loosened her hold immediately and pulled back, only to look at Evelyn through tears that continued to slip freely from her eyes, her smile trembling but bright as she drew her into another fierce embrace and said, "I missed you."
"Me too, Cece," Eve whispered softly, her voice was thick with emotion as tears escaped her. They stayed like that for a couple of more seconds before they finally pulled away, even though neither of them felt quite ready to let go.
"Glad to have you back, safe and sound," another voice said, drawing her attention, and Evelyn turned to meet pale blue eyes with her deep blue ones.
With a gentle smile on his face, Edward stepped forward, and Eve moved to hug him next.
Memories resurfaced of him standing before her, shielding her from the magic hurled her way by the Dartmouth soldiers. She remembered how fiercely he had protected them, fighting through the barrage of soldiers that threw themselves at him while Damien moved her to safety.
Overwhelmed with gratitude for each of them in her life, all she could whisper was, "I am glad to see you safe."
Pulling away, she noticed the last person in the room, who met her gaze with the same gentle smile. Unlike the others, he did not step forward to embrace her.
Instead, he walked towards her and lowered himself onto one knee, a fist pressed to his chest as he bowed his head in absolute reverence, just as he had done when Evelyn had been locked alone in a room at the Palace of Demos, where he had pledged his unwavering loyalty to her.
"Your Highness, I am glad you are finally awake and well," Alex said quietly.
"Sir Alex-" Evelyn began.
"Just Alex, Your Highness," he interrupted gently.
Smiling, Evelyn wiped away her tears. "Alex, I am glad to see you well. You may rise."
Alex looked up at her and offered a warm smile before rising, surprising Ivan along with everyone else in the room.
They all knew how fiercely loyal Alex was to Ivan and that he listened to no one but him. For him to kneel and pledge his unwavering loyalty to anyone other than Ivan was unheard of. He had not even done so for Ivan’s father, King Iskara, making the moment all the more shocking.
Ivan’s chest filled with pride as he looked at Evelyn, knowing that if there was anyone capable of achieving the impossible, it was her.
To move a man as unyielding as Alex was no small feat. His lips curved slightly as he stepped forward in quiet steps and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I never thought I would see the day, Alex, when you would pledge your loyalty to anyone other than me."
Eve’s eyes widened at Ivan’s words, while Alex bowed his head to Ivan in greeting before replying calmly, "I am certain His Highness would not mind at all."
"Hm, as long as it is Eve," Ivan replied, drawing her closer to him, and colour bloomed across her cheeks at the public display of affection.
Still, confusion clouded her expression.
"Pledge loyalty? What are you talking about..." Her voice faded as she looked at Ivan, searching his face for answers.
Ivan held her gaze, and a quiet, knowing smile touched his lips, but it was Damien who stepped forward, his tone uncharacteristically calm, "Allow me to explain, dear Evelyn, since my brother has a habit of letting silence speak for him."
Once he had her full attention, he continued, "When a knight kneels with a fist pressed to his chest, it is not merely a gesture. It is a vow of absolute loyalty. It means they are willing to lay down their life for the person before them."
His eyes flicked briefly towards Alex. "Until today, Alex has done that for only one soul in this world, Ivan, and no one else. Not even King Iskara."
He paused briefly before finishing, "Making you the second person."
Eve’s eyes widened slowly as Damien’s words sank in, before her gaze snapped back to Alex, who stood smiling at her. Her voice came out in a whisper. "This....then the first time you did it....that was..."
Alex gave a solemn nod. "I hope you will accept my allegiance as well, Your Highness."
"Please do not die for me. I will not allow it," she blurted out, startling him and everyone else in the room.
"But, Your Highness, it would be a knight’s greatest honour-"
"No," she cut in firmly. "I will accept your pledge only if you promise to live instead. No one dies under my watch." Her eyes flashed gold as she met Alex’s gaze head-on, reminding him, and everyone present, just who she was and how serious she was.
Smiles spread across the faces of those watching, including Ivan. Alex looked momentarily perplexed before glancing towards him.
"Do not look at me, Alex. This is between you and her," Ivan replied promptly, offering no assistance whatsoever.
Alex released a quiet sigh and bowed his head once more before Evelyn. "I accept your condition, Your Highness. I vow to fight and live to protect you."
A soft smile bloomed on her face, and she gave him a gentle nod in return. "Then I accept your allegiance, Alex."
It was only then that Ivan asked, "So....when was the first time he knelt?" finally catching up to what she had mentioned earlier.
Eve looked up at him, her smile still lingering, "The first time was back in Dartmouth. He came to rescue me when I was locked in a room by Viva and her son, before everything that happened the next day."
She did not need to say anything more because Ivan understood at once and gave her a small nod.
Damien clapped his hands together, drawing everyone’s attention back to him as he said cheerfully, "Right then. How about we discuss the rest over some tea?"
Evelyn was just about to respond when Ivan’s attention, along with everyone else’s, was drawn towards the door, as though they had sensed something. Before anyone could speak, the lounge doors opened once more, and firm footsteps announced a new arrival.
"Are you planning to have tea without us, Damien?" a deep voice echoed through the doorway as two tall, authoritative figures emerged through the open doors, and Eve recognised the voice at once.
Turning, her eyes fell upon two more pairs of calm, wise, deep crimson eyes. Not expecting their arrival, she stood rooted to the spot for a moment before bowing her head respectfully, "Your Majesty."
The others followed suit, bowing to the king, but Iskara did not pause.
He walked straight towards Eve, closing the distance between them before lifting his hand and gently resting it atop her head. The simple, fatherly gesture struck her harder than any words could have, leaving Evelyn utterly stunned.
Slowly, she lifted her head to meet his gaze and found nothing there but warmth and quiet relief in them.
For several seconds, she could not speak.
Her vision blurred as her eyes drifted to Ivan beside her, who was looking at her with such love that her heart trembled. And his words echoed in her mind,
’Two people who cared for you far beyond obligation.’
Her eyes burned as tears welled once more, and she swallowed hard, forcing the tight knot in her throat to ease.
When she finally spoke, her voice came out fragile, yet sincere. "T-thank you, Your Majesty."
Iskara smiled warmly and gave her a slow nod.
There were words resting at the tip of his tongue, a question he longed to ask her about how she wished to address him, but he held himself back. He did not wish to burden her, nor did he know how she might respond, and so he chose silence instead.
Lowering his hand from her head, he asked gently, "I believe you are feeling better now?"
Regulus, standing just behind Iskara, inwardly shook his head at him for retreating from what he truly wished to ask Evelyn, though a small, knowing smile still played upon his lips as he watched their interaction unfold.
Eve blinked back the remnants of her tears before giving him a small nod. "I am, Your Majesty. It seems I only needed some rest."
"That is good to hear," Iskara replied, relief settling in his voice as he took comfort in the knowledge that she appeared healthy.
Taking that as his cue, Regulus stepped forward. "Princess Evelyn, I believe an introduction is in order, since this would count as us meeting officially for the first time," he said with a warm smile.
"I am Duke Regulus Silver." His gaze shifted briefly towards his children before he added, "Cece and Damien’s father."
Eve offered him a small bow with a gentle smile. "It is my pleasure to meet you, Duke Silver."
