I glared at him and said coldly, “Do you remember saying you wanted to marry me when you were thirteen?”
Eldwin tried to recall the memory. After a while, his eyes suddenly lit up. “I remember, Catalina. You went into the mountain to collect some herbs and accidentally stepped on a bear trap. I went to find you and carried you down the mountain.”
Later on, he had said to me jokingly, “Boys and girls are not supposed to be this close. Now that I have carried you on my back, you will have to marry me when we grow up!”
Since then, I had fallen deeply in love with him and sworn to marry no one but him. But he forgot all about his promise.
“Let us go to the queen, Catalina,” Eldwin said emotionally. “We will tell her that we had promised to marry each other years ago and ask her to take back her edict.”
As he spoke, he reached out to grab my hand and drag me out of the yard. I flung off his hand.
“But I no longer want to marry you.”
Eidwin paled. “I know that I’ve been bad to you. I did not realize my feelings right away and broke your heart.
“Now, I can promise that I will treat you well and be a faithful husband to you.”
“I’m not interested in your feelings or promises. I brought up our childhood to tell you that I have gotten over you.”
I used to owe him my life, but the moment he cut my wrist tendons and got me killed, we were even.
Eldwin had a frantic look on his face. “You have loved me for years, Catalina. Why can’t you love me a little longer? Trust me. I will treat you well after we get married.”
“Love and feelings are not things we can control,” I said flatly. “I can’t stay in love with you even for a second longer.
“All I feel for you now is distaste. Please do not show your face before me again.”
Eldwin stood outside my door for a long time before turning around and leaving dejectedly.
The next morning, I put on my wedding dress, took Javien’s hand, and got on a horse amid the cheers of family and neighbors.
We received everyone’s blessings and slowly completed the wedding rites.
With a white veil over my head, I sat on the bed and waited for Javien. I was nervous and excited.
Soon, Javien pushed open the door to our room and lifted my veil. There was a gentle look in his eyes.
blushed from his passionate gaze and said in a low voice, “Javien…”
He poured us two glasses of wine. After we drank, he embraced me gently and rested his chin on my shoulder.
He sounded delighted and joyous. “I finally got to marry you, Catie. From now on, you shall be my wife.”
I said softly, “And you shall be my husband.”
We consummated our marriage that night.
Three months later, a war broke out at our border. Unexpectedly, Eldwin, who had grown up comfortably in the Royal Capital, volunteered to lead the army.
After a year, the news of our army’s victory reached the city. Eldwin had defeated the enemy, but died from his injuries.
When I heard it, I could not help but sigh. Regardless of our bitter past, Eldwin had died for the country. He was a hero who deserved to be respected and remembered.
The End
