Heart of the Rogue

DIARA'S POV

The silence was deafening.

I could hear the surrounding noise because of the silence between us.

"What do you want to talk about, Lord Eiris?" I asked to break the silence.

"You need not call me so formally, Lady Diara. We are to be wed. There is no need for formalities, " he said as he smiled.

His sudden smile took me aback.

In the book, I wrote him as the cold war lord who never smiled.

But seeing him smile right now, I could tell the story of the book getting different.

"Lady Diara?", I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard him call me.

"Ah, apologies. I was lost in my thoughts.", I said.

He smiled so softly that it made me feel shivers down my spine.

"That's quite alright. It seems you need to process the events today. What say you, we talk and learn about each other whilst strolling the imperial garden?", he stated.

Still feeling hesitant, I did not utter a word.

I sighed a few minutes later and nodded in agreement.

He smiled widely.

We walked out of the palace hall and set out to the imperial garden.

As we strolled the garden, we talked and learned of each other.

Unexpectedly, he was very talkative.

I remembered he said he had to talk to me about something.

He seems to have forgotten.

"Ah Lord- I mean Xavier, I remember you saying you had something to talk to me about earlier, I wonder if you had forgotten?", I uttered.

"Hm? Ah yes. It concerns our marriage life. I suppose we should be faithful and trust one another," he said with a smile as he looked at me.

Faithful, my ass.

He was the one who got with another woman and cheated in the book.

"I agree, Xavier. However, if you ever feel like you have fallen out of understanding, please do let me know and I will see what I can do.", I said.

His smile dropped and his expression changed.

"Xavier?", I called.

"Lady Diara....", he started.

I waited for him to speak.

"I apologize for my past behaviors. You may be confused for the time being about my actions, but I vow to tell you everything once the time is right.", he stated as he embraced me.

His actions took me by surprise.

I could not move and was frozen in place.

Is he also...?

No.

He seems to take me as Diara...

in the book...

He must be a regressor then.

I sighed to myself by my thoughts.

This is some strange universe.

Isn't it supposed to be just one person who is either a regressor or reincarnated?

Why does this world have more than one person?

I realized that he was still hugging me.

"Ahem... It is quite alright, Xavier. I too have unbelievable secrets. I understand.", I said, tapping his shoulder.

He let go of me and looked away.

Ah, he must've realized what he did.

"Pardon my actions, My Lady.", he said whilst looking away.

Is it due to my lack of rest or am I bewitched?

How could he look adorable at this moment?

"..."

This is not right...

Why is my face red by looking at his current expression?

"Lady Diara?", he called.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard him call me.

I must've been out of my mind!

How could I ever call him adorable!?

The cold warlord himself!?

I might need to see a physician.

I sighed to myself with how my thoughts were running.

I looked at him and he too looked at me.

"Ahem... it is nothing, Xavier.", I stated.

"I see.", he responded.

There was silence for a moment.

"Is it alright with you if we hold our wedding next month?", he asked.

I nodded without thinking.

I realized what he had asked me and I turned to him.

"Pardon!?"