NIGHTS OF HALLOW

As Perdita and Sthena sat in the balcony enveloped by the enchanting ambiance, the soft light from the candelabras added to the thrill of the evening as its soft glows flickered on the faces of the duo as they were lost in each other’s eyes.

Sthena gauged the look on Perdita’s face that matched the seriousness of the way she had spoken those three words.

Perdita on the other hand couldn’t believe she had uttered those words in the spur of the moment. In the soft glow of the wall lamps and the candelabras, her words had unfolded like a tender revelation, surprising them both. Somewhere at the back of her mind, she vaguely knew the type of action Sthena was referring to.

Unbeknownst to Perdita, the words she had uttered without realizing the weight they had on the man in front of her were like words that landed like a gentle whisper in his heart revealing a depth of feeling within him.

Surrounded by the gentle rustle of the balcony flowers, the soft dance of candlelight and the gentle breeze, wafting the sweet, intoxicating aroma of the flowers spurred them in a direction both of them had been delicately treading since Sthena confessed his feelings to Perdita.

Perdita seemed to leave all her insecurities to the wind as they carried it far away, and in turn, it whispered the possible blooming feeling in her heart to her ears. She wondered what Sthena’s answer was going to be.

Sthena’s gaze fixed intently on Perdita’s face as if enthralled by the gentle curve of her lips. Her words had caught him off guard, like a gentle whisper of promise piercing his heart. With the captivation came the wicked thought to taste her level of bravery.

He had expected a glare from her with her never-ending witty remarks or a playful rebuke, but instead, she had taken to the subtle challenge he had presented, saying the words that resonated with the tune of his heart. Her voice firm like always, carried the conviction that she would do whatever he said was the action he accepted as a form of appreciation.

Sthena leaned back in his seat, a small smile forming on his lips after the intense moment of both of them staring at each other. Breaking the tense silence, he said, ”Very well then, darling. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Perdita furrowed her brows, and a fleeting expression of confusion crossed her face as she asked, ”You are not going to say it now?”

”No,”

”Why?”

”Mmm,” Sthena hummed thoughtfully before replying, ”Let’s just say I am leaving it for a very wonderful day. I hope you will not back out then.”

Perdita pursed her lips in slight disappointment. She mumbled under her breath, ”Until then, I won’t back out.”

There was an obviously surprised look that flashed on Sthena’s face as he regarded Perdita once again. He wanted to talk about her sudden confidence but then decided against it. Instead, he quizzed, ”How are you doing, Perdita?”

”I am doing okay, how about you?” Perdita answered and returned the question. At the back of her mind, she wondered why Sthena was using her name this evening instead of the usual green eyes or darling he called her. But then, she couldn’t deny she didn’t like the sound of her name on his lips.

”Asking after me, are we?” The smile on Sthena’s face widened mischievously. He replied, ”Never been better, My Lady.”

”Please, feel free to eat any food of your choice,” Sthena added, gesturing to the explicitly arrayed delicacies on the table. He went on to say as Perdita took some of the dishes she wanted to taste. ”Your afternoon snack was unfortunately tampered with, so me being the most awesome man who can find, decided to treat you to an evening date.”

Perdita stared at mouth-watering dishes that called out to her to have a bite. For the first course, there was, pottage; a thick soup made with vegetables, grains, and meat. Then, there was the bread and cheese; a fine white bread, and a selection of soft and hard cheeses.

For the second course, there was a roasted swan, a stewed eel, accompanied by sauces made with expensive spices of pepper, cinnamon, and ginger.

For the third course, there were the fresh fruits neatly cut and arrayed, and small pastries filled with sweet fillings of honey and fruit preserves.

Lastly was the undoubtedly red thick liquid poured in each glass for Sthena and Perdita which she had eyed when she was about to sit down.

”A date?” Perdita skeptically probed with a raised brow, referring to Sthena’s last words.

”Mmhmm,” Sthena nodded his head as he cut the tender spiced meat on his plate and skewered it into his mouth, relishing the melting sweetness of the soft meat.

”Are you not getting something wrong, Your Majesty?” Perdita asked again as she enjoyed the rich taste of the food in her mouth. These were indeed food for a king.

”And what could that be, darling?” Sthena feigned ignorance of what she was asking.

”Isn’t it a social norm that the man asks the Lady out and then waits for her to consent to it?”

”Well, I don’t follow the social norms idealogy.” Sthena simply replied causing a small smile to appear on Perdita’s face. She shook her head and continued to eat without saying anything to this. Surely, this man’s head was definitely screwed upside down, though, she was no supporter of the so-called social norms too, so she wouldn’t judge him.

A comfortable silence ensued between Perdita and Sthena, where both of them ate in silence until the king broke it by saying, ”My apologies about earlier.”

Sthena suddenly apologized, causing Perdita to pause eating. Did he actually apologize to her or were her ears playing tricks on her? She heard him continue to say,

”Not about your ex-lover though, it’s about eavesdropping on your conversation with him on the night of the hallow ball. I couldn’t help the curiosity.” He flashed her a smile that looked mischievous in her eyes.

”Okay, it’s fine.” Perdita nodded, acknowledging the fact he owned up to his wrong. That was out of the world for him to do, especially as a king he had apologized to her not minding the social difference.

”About Mark...” Perdita began as she slowly decided to broach the topic but was cut off by Sthena.

”About Mark, Perdita, do not mention him.” His name on Perdita’s lips sounded like an affront in his ears. He didn’t want to entertain the thought of another man occupying the thoughts of the woman he had his eyes on.

”Any thoughts you still have of the man should be thrown out of the window. I want your thoughts to be only occupied by me.” Sthena declared causing a ripple in Perdita’s heart.

”Isn’t that demanding, Sthena?” Perdita skeptically questioned, her hands now by her side as both of them stared intently at each other. She added, ”And is that a way to court the woman you like?”

”What is demanding is when I ask you to like me back by force or probably when I kiss you on the lips without your consent.” Sthena’s replies told Perdita that she was in for a big surprise from Sthena.

She heard him continue to say, ”How I court the woman I like doesn’t have to follow what other men have done. I don’t follow what others do, darling. What do they call it? Chivalrous pursuit? I don’t do that.”

”You do have a unique way of doing things,” Perdita couldn’t help but comment and saw Sthena smile sweetly at her. The smile hypnotizing and infectious at the same time.

”By what you said earlier, does it mean I am not allowed to have another man as a friend?” Perdita probed with slightly narrowed eyes.

”No,” Sthena shook his head. ”I am not going to restrict you from doing what you want, but—” Sthena paused as the earlier frown returned to his face as he continued to speak, ”—I don’t have a very good feeling seeing who used to be your lover so close to you. I don’t know if you understand what I’m saying.”

”I know what you are saying and I perfectly understand.” Perdita nodded and took a sip from her glass of water to cool off the heat that brewed in her heart. ”But then, I have to ask you too, will you keep clear of other women given you have your eyes on me?”

Perdita’s question was direct, and at that moment, it felt like both of them were discovering themselves on a deeper level.

”Yes,” Sthena asserted without a second thought or twisting words. ”It is not like I have women running around in the castle. I’m a man of my word and I go for what I want. And it is you I want, Perdita.”

Perdita’s felt herself go speechless, her heart shuddering in response to Sthena’s words. It seemed as though he was successfully cracking open the walls surrounding her heart and this time, she couldn’t deny what she felt towards him.

”O—okay,” Was the only thing she could mumble, her gaze faltering as she couldn’t stand the intense stare of Sthena.

”Mm,” Sthena hummed, nodding his head in understanding. He then said, ”While we are on the topic, I want to ask and also know something.”

Perdita cast a curious look his way and inquired, ”What is that?”

Sthena tilted his head to the side as his eyes curiously and intelligently watched Perdita whose focus was on him too. He then let his question known to her.

”Do you still have any feelings towards, Mark? Answer me truthfully, Perdita.”