#4 Freak
she noticed the emptiness by the way their footsteps echoed off the walls, it took a while to get to the ‘art room’ but alas, they finally got in front of a wooden door with gold and silver designs, that is the door alone could cost a fortune.
“We are here”, the guards said to Lilly, the guards gave Lilly a picture of Bianca as a reference to use, you are free to stay in the art room till you have completed the drawings.
Within seconds, she began to draw and imagined Bianca laying on a plain field pointing at the stars, when she finished the image, it was presented to the king.
She took a bow and said “your majesty, this is the image of the late Bianca”, king Matteo dressed in the rarest of gems, he had so many golds and diamonds on him.
His skin tone was smooth and bold even though he was a werewolf, he had dark and neatly parted hair that was pushed up in the front.
It was a little curly at the top and the back of it was styled so that it looked tousled.
Lilly could barely make eye contact with him, she looked down most of the time, for she was shy and scared. He stared at the picture for a while, then drops of ties dropped from his eyes, but he couldn’t hide his emotions,
because this reminded him of when he and his late sister, sneaked out to a field filled with tall grasses, then lay on the grass and counted the stars all night.
Matteo flashback…
After training, he was so exhausted he wanted to give up on life. His father King Bernard had been watching him from a distance.
His father approached him, “my son your training now is for the greater good, keep training and I know you will be able to fight for the throne when the time comes.
Good things come to those who wait and persevere.”
Matteo was put under such intense pressure from a young age, every day and night he trained as a knight and the next ruler of Giovanni.
When it is time for Matteo to choose a bride, he has the choice to choose whoever he wants, human or werewolves, for the werewolves didn’t believe in forcing people into marriage.
He loved drawing and he was good at it, but he decided to hide it from his parents and mates since he didn’t want to be seen as someone weak.
His sister princess Bianca, was aware of his talents in drawing, since he sent portraits of pictures, he drew of her and his imagination of life outside the castle.
Bianca was a friendly young lady that was loved by the region and her elder brother. She was raised to be fair and kind towards her subjects.
When Matteo is allowed to return to his family, he and his dear sister Bianca sneak out of the castle to a farm filled with tall grass, they lay on the grass and count the stars.
Bianca replied; “Matt Matt, the stars are so pretty at night, Why do the stars hide at sunrise? Matt replied to her saying “well they are still there, but we can barely see them because the sun shines brighter than them’’.
Present-day…
He wiped the tears from his face and attempted to control himself. King Matteo asked Lilly, "What did you call your name again?"
Lilly, your majesty, the king said to Lilly, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’II give it to you. During your reign, I wish for peace to descend upon the kingdom and it shall be the king said to Lilly.
The monarch became interested in Lilly and dispatched spies to learn more about her, including where she lives and what she does daily.
They weren't able to acquire much information, but they did discover where she worked, and the king was overjoyed.
King Matteo would sneak out of the castle, in a black ragged overall to prevent anyone from recognizing him,
then he headed to the nearby town on the outskirts of Giovanni, just to visit the art shop where Lilly works.
He became a recurrent customer, he came in at least once a week to the art shop, because of his love for drawing and mostly, since he loved seeing Lilly daily.
Before he could approach Lilly, he was shy but tried to hide it, since he had never found the need to seek a relationship.
But he gathered courage, then he approached her saying “Hi, my name is Matt, he didn’t want to introduce himself as Matteo, because he didn’t want her to know he was the king of Giovanni.
He felt he might not get to be treated like an ordinary person if she finds out he is a king. Lilly replied him saying “Have we met before because your face is familiar, but I can’t just recall where we meet”
Matt replied; “I believe this is my first time meeting you,” okay I would teach you the basic knowledge of drawing.
All these things were still new to him, out of all the women, Lilly was the one that caught his heart, he thinks of her before he goes to bed, which made him happy.
His delight was evident in his activities in the castle, which startled his subordinates to see him so joyful.
since he has been sad due to the death of his family and mostly his sister during the war. He always draws pictures of her during his free time and makes sure to sneak out to the art shop to see her.
On a casual day, he sneaked out to the art shop but Lilly was nowhere to be found, then he asked the shop owner about her,
but sadly, she was fired from there because the owner wanted to sell the shop and she didn’t have enough money to acquire the shop.
So he needed to find out what she was up to from his spies. To his surprise she moved to the capital of Giovanni, to seek greener pastures.
So he decided to head to her home with his royal carriage, she was so surprised to see the actual king of the kingdom at her place.
I guess I have to bow to you now, King Matteo, she said with a smirk on her face, you don’t need to be so formal. The king replied, am still the same person you knew from the art shop.
I furrowed my eyebrows and asked Why didn’t you just decide to be yourself and pretend to be someone else.
Oh, I hope you didn’t get in so much trouble sneaking to come to the art shop. “Sneaking” what do you mean the king replied,
Don’t try to play dumb with me, why would a king dress in black ragged cloth out, with all the riches within your fingertips,
Well, you got me there, I did sneak out to see you, you are important to me, so I am willing to do anything to get to you,
what makes me so important to you Lilly said to the king, you just knew me from the art shop.
You have stolen my heart that is what makes you so important to me, and that rarely happens to me, you are silly, she said with a smile on her face,
Lilly started to fall for the king a little, but she was good at hiding her feelings. What brings a king to my humble home, Lilly said to Matteo, Well I noticed that you were not working at the art shop,
you might be going through a tough time, so I want to render help to you, by asking you to move to the castle until you can get back on your feet.
Well, thanks for the offer but am all good, I don’t want you to feel the need to pity me, I think I can sort myself out,
don’t get angry though but I don’t want to be feeling as if I owe you for rendering help to me, I don’t really like getting help from people although,
I was raised with everything provided for me, so now I want to work for what I need and not seek help.
Well, I understand where you are coming from, the king replied, but I just want you to live with me in the castle, so I can see you every time even when you wake up, or do you want me to come live with you.
What do you mean to live with me? You are a king, you can’t be seen living in this district, it could ruin your reputation, just give me some time to think about your request.
Okay, no problem I would give you time to think, but my patience will run thin if you take too long.