Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 16: Romance

Mhir just smiled and returned her gaze on Leui. “Do you know of a contract on your race?” she asked. Unsurprisingly, Tinum shook his head. “Then, do you know why elves were born without their name?” she asked again. Tinum shook his head again. “Elves belong to nature, thus they don’t have a name. Once they will be named, they will belong to the person who named them.” She said and saw the shocked look on Tinum’s face. “A mark will be branded on the elf’s body. They see it as nature punishing them for abandoning nature. However, since nature still loves the elves, and in return for them taking care of nature, the mark will be the real name of that person who named the elf.” She explained. “So that the elf will know who really is the person to whom they belonged, to not be deceived by them. If they were really deceived, then it is seen as nature's punishment since they’ll be regretting what they did.” She also explained about the forced contract on the elves.

Tinum fell silent for a long time. “So, I will have a mark on my body.” He said. He didn’t mention that he is now married to Leui. Since what happened was just an accident.

“Yes.” Mhir nodded.

“Can I trouble you to look at it for me?” Tinum asked.

Mhir nodded. She was also curious how would Leui’s name be look like. Thus, she walked behind Tinum. She felt her heart is beating fast as she reached for his hair.

However, just as she was about to touch Tinum’s hair when she heard Leui’s voice. “Mhir! What are you doing?!” Leui asked when he turned and saw Mhir was behind Tinum. Her hands are raised.

“Wah!” Mhir exclaimed and her hand reaching for Tinum’s hair pushed his back instead.

Tinum’s eyes widened in shock when he fell from the bridge. “Tinum!” Leui called. He let go of the crabs he was holding and immediately caught Tinum. However, because of the impact, both of them still fell on the water and was soaked. The fishes were startled and they swam away from them.

Leui exasperatedly sighed and came out of the water. However, when he looked down, he saw Tinum beneath him. A soaked Tinum was before him. A lovely beauty. Leui thought as he looked at Tinum’s shining face because of the water and his silvery-white hair looking like spilt milk in the water.

Leui felt his heart beat faster and his throat went dry. He also was having a reaction. “What are you doing, Mhir?!” he yelled to divert his attention. He went out of the water and walked away from Tinum to retrieve the crabs.

“L – Leui…” Mhir cried as she bit her lips. “I – I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push him. I was startled!” she explained as she looked at Leui walking towards her. She didn’t have time to admire Leui’s drenched body because she was scared. She only rarely seen Leui getting angry. “L – Leui… don’t – don’t hate me – “ she cried.

Leui saw her cry and he helplessly sighed. He put down the crabs on the bridge and comforted her. “Alright. Hush now.” He said and patted her head. “Don’t cry. I was just surprised – “ he said, then sighed when he saw her continue to cry. He must have scared her. He thought and hugged her. “Sorry. I overreacted you pranking Tinum.” He said.

“P – prank?” she said.

“Weren’t you?” Leui asked.

Was she? Mhir thought, then just nodded. Only now did she noticed Leui was drenched from head to feet. The tie of Leui’s hair was gone, making his drenched shoulder-length hair stuck on his honey-colored skin. His under soaked under shirt was kissing his body, exposing his chest muscles and abdominal muscles.

Mhir felt something warm and sticky liquid flowed out of her nose. She touched her nose and saw her green blood on her finger. Her face slowly became warm. “AAAAAH!” she screamed out of embarrassment and she ran away.

“Mhir…” Leui muttered and shook his head. He grabbed the crabs that escaped. Then, his eyes fell on the river and saw Tinum was floating on its water.

Black lines covered Leui’s face as he let go of the crabs – again, and jumped down the river to save Tinum who drowned in knee-high water.

…

They all had dinner inside one of the empty houses which Leui chose to sleep in. Their dinner was silent since no one spoke about the incident earlier in the bridge. After finishing their dinner, they all went to sleep – or not. Everyone was having a hard time sleeping.

Mhir’s face still felt warm as she remembered Leui’s drenched look earlier. Leui, for the first time since he lived in this magical world, m*********d. He jerked off while thinking of a man. A very beautiful man whom he almost kissed earlier in the bridge, and he pounced on in the river.

Meanwhile, Tinum’s trouble sleeping isn’t about romance… well, related to romance. It was what Mhir told him about the marriage contract between an elf and a being of another race. Is he really married to Leui? But… he thought as he felt his nape and felt the bumps on it which, according to Mhir, is the name of the one who named you.

He remembered that time when Leui asked for his name the first time they met. That time, his mind was blank. There was nothing inside it except that he was an elf and he had no name. Thinking to slowly fill his empty mind, he agreed to Leui’s suggestion for his name. He didn’t expect a careless agreement would lead to marriage.

But, he felt a searing pain on his nape. He ignored it and, in exchange for giving him a name, reluctantly agreed to help Leui find Mhir. He didn’t expect that searing pain was actually his body being branded. So… I’m really Leui’s now? He thought of what Mhir said that whoever named an elf becomes the elf’s owner. If they had an equal relationship, then they would be the elf’s marriage partner.

Tinum felt complicated. He had never thought of getting married – and without his awareness. He doesn’t even know who he is except for his race. Now, he has gained a marriage partner. He admits he likes Leui. However, to the point of being in a romantic relationship… there’s a possibility. But, not yet as a marriage partner. To human beings, marriage means being together for a lifetime. Can he be with Leui for a lifetime? Also –

Basing from Mhir’s tone earlier, Leui doesn’t seem to know about this matter, too. Tinum’s face was covered in black lines. Great. We got married to each other and without us knowing it. Now, he is aware of the matter but Leui – Tinum paused. Then, he gazed outside as he watched the entire area being illuminated by the fireflies and bioluminescent organisms. What will happen if Leui found out? Will he be happy? He always teases him. Or, will he…

For some reason, Tinum suddenly felt scared.