The Conquerors Path

Darkness descended to the Lionheart Duchy as night came, light orbs began to activate within the streets, beautiful lights filled the Duchy at night and within the mansion of the Duchy I am currently waiting for a certain maid

A knock was heard on my door, I gave out the reply to enter the room, the door opened as Clara walked in, her hair which was normally tied in a pony tail was let down and she was not dressed in her maid clothes, Instead she was wearing a more elegant blue servant dress and I have to admit that it looks pretty good on Clara

It highlighted her breast and waist, and had a low cut showing her beautiful legs, Clara blushed again when she noticed my gaze, but her mouth curved slightly upwards, It was pretty obvious that she was happy

"You look beautiful"

"Thank you"

Though still a bit shy, Clara responded with a smile, Laughing wryly in my mind, I turned towards Clara and extended my arm

"Lady, will you give me the honor to dance with you tonight?"

Clara put on a startled expression before smiling with a blushing expression

"It's my pleasure"

She then took my arm and then music began to play at the room, as I took her arm, I placed my other hand at her waist, drawing her closer towards me, we continued to dance as we fell into our own world

As a maid Clara didn't have much experience in dancing, she kept on making awkward mistakes in the middle, I laughed at it as I continued to guide her, timed flowed as our dace continued

We both had eyes on each other as we danced, it was during the dance that I spoke

"Thank you"

"For what?"

Clara was confused as the sudden thanks which came from nowhere

"For being part of my life"

"What do you mean?, shouldn't I be thanking you for making me part of your life"

Clara's eyes had confusion on her as she spoke, I looked deeply into her eyes as my hold on her waist tightened, our bodies became closer, as our dance too became faster

"I am happy that you accepted accepted the current me, I am happy that you weren't disgusted with me, I am happy that you are a part of my life"

Hearing my words Clara fell into a daze for a moment before she smirked, one of her hands that held my waist was placed in my face

"Before I met you my life was literal hell, even at a young age I had understood that people always were masks on themselves to hide their true selves, among this great world I should have been a stringless girl, a girl supposed to be devoured by society"

Clara took a deep breath as she continued

"And yet you saved that girl without any need, granted you might have had some motive but it doesn't change the fact that you had changed my fate and even after all this you showed me your true 'face' too"

"Austin as I had said before, my body, heart and soul belongs to you, I don't need anything else, as long as I could stand beside you I would be happy, because the day that you gave me another chance, that day you had already became my world"

I could feel my heart strings shutter with Clara's world, she's the first person whom I have ever showed my real self, she's the only one who knows how rotten I am inside and yet she accepted me

The sound of music faded away as we stood still looking at each other, I placed my hand above the one Clara had placed on my face, I looked at her solemly as I spoke

"Clara I give you my word, now or even if a thousand years pass I would never let you go, didn't you say that you would be satisfied just to just be my lover?, well I am not satisfied"

"I swear to you Clara one day I will proudly hold you as my wife in front of the world, so….please stay with me forever"

Clara's eyes was wide open in surprise before tears fell down her face, I quickly started to wipe the tears from her face

"Hey….why are you crying?"

"No, it-it's ju-just that I-I am so ha-happy"

More tears fell down her face as she tried to smile, it was quite the sight of her smiling as tears came down her face, I gently continued to wipe her tears away

"So will you?"

"Wha-?"

"will you be with me forever?"

Clara smiled as she spoke

"Yes I would be with you for now and forever"

As she spoke those words she gave me her most brilliant smile yet, I caught her face as I brought mine close to her for a kiss, our lips meet each other and at the same time the salty taste of her tears filled my mouth

The bitter and salty taste somehow seemed to fill my heart with happiness