Beneath The Veil of Deception 14 (Finale)
Episode 14 (Finale): A Duke and His Duchess.
In the next few months, the political chaos that had been troubling the kingdom finally started to calm down. Zander's calm and steady leadership helped get rid of the corrupt officials who had been causing problems, bringing back a sense of peace and order. The royal court, which had once been full of division and arguments, began to come together.
Everyone started to focus on moving the kingdom ahead without any more hiccups. With his and Jacinth's guidance, the sense of unity grew stronger, and it felt like Eldour was finally on the right track again.
The tensions that had once seemed insurmountable now felt like a distant memory...
Jacinth Ashbourne
I never imagined we’d end up like this.
The gentle ripple of the lake mirrored the calmness between them as they walked side by side, their fingers intertwined. The air was cool, a soft breeze tugging at Jacinth's hair, but she didn't mind.
Jacinth Ashbourne
I thought this marriage would be something... different.
Zander smiled, looking at her, his thumb brushing against her hand.
Zander Von Edrington
I never imagined it either.
The water shimmered like glass, catching the last golden rays of the setting sun. A serene hush enveloped the scene, broken only by the gentle crunch of gravel underfoot as they strolled together.
Zander Von Edrington
I don’t think either of us had much say in it at first.
She looked up at him with a playful smile.
Jacinth Ashbourne
True. But I’m starting to like it.
Zander raised an eyebrow.
Zander Von Edrington
Starting to?
Jacinth laughed softly, squeezing his hand.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Okay, I’m liking it more than I expected. You know...
She began with a teasing lilt in her voice.
Jacinth Ashbourne
For someone who acts all serious and noble, you sure do have a soft spot for me.
Zander shot her a sideways glance, arching an eyebrow.
Zander Von Edrington
Oh, do I now?
Jacinth Ashbourne
I mean, you do all these sweet things for me—like walking by the lake, holding my hand everywhere, the bouquet of lilies, my favorite pastries, letting me drag you around everywhere I go. It’s a little too much, don’t you think?
Jacinth shrugged, trying to suppress the grin that was forming. He chuckled softly, squeezing her hand gently.
Zander Von Edrington
I’m starting to think you’re just looking for a reason to complain.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Perhaps I’m just trying to see how far I can push you before you get tired of me.
Zander’s grin widened, and before she knew it, he was leaning in, his hands lightly brushing against her waist.
Zander Von Edrington
Well, if that’s what you want…
He began, his voice turning playful.
Before Jacinth could respond, Zander suddenly lunged toward her, his hands finding her sides. She squealed, trying to back away, but he was quicker, and before she knew it, his fingers were gently digging into her ribs.
Jacinth burst into laughter, squirming as she tried to escape his grasp.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Zander! Stop!
She gasped between fits of laughter, unable to contain herself.
After what felt like forever of non-stop tickling chaos, Zander finally gave in, letting his hands fall as he watched her take a moment to catch her breath.
Jacinth Ashbourne
You’re lucky you’re charming.
Jacinth said, still trying to steady herself.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Otherwise, I’d have to call it quits.
He leaned in with a grin.
Zander Von Edrington
You’d never get rid of me that easily.
Jacinth Ashbourne
I presume you’re right about that.
They fell into silence, the laughter fading into the quiet sounds of the lake as they stared at each other. As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of gold and amber, Zander dipped his head, capturing her lips in a tender kiss.
Jacinth’s eyes fluttered closed as she melted into the moment, her hand resting lightly around his neck. When they finally pulled apart, Zander’s forehead rested against hers, a small, content smile tugging at his lips.
Zander Von Edrington
That’s the first thing we’ve both been right about.
She laughed softly, her cheeks flushed, and whispered.
Jacinth Ashbourne
You’re impossible.
Zander Von Edrington
And you love it.
With a loving gaze, she held his eyes for a moment, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Yes, I do love you.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵, 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵—𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵—𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘐'𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘸, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴.
Zander Von Edrington
I love you too, Duchess.
𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦.
As they strolled along, he took her hand again, with the sunset's warm light shining not just in the sky, but also in the way they felt inside.
: 𝘓𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?
: 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯? 𝘕𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
: 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯, 𝘡𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳! 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.
: 𝘈𝘮 𝘐? 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦...
: 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴...
: 𝘕𝘰, 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘦...
: ...
"And as the veil of deception unraveled, it left behind a love that needed no disguise."
Comments
Cara De Clare — Reverie! 🌈
A short, beautiful story. Beautiful beyond words. The storyline is simple and typical, yes, but you made it stand out with the magic of your skilled hands, the magical words. Each word was just right, depicting every scene perfectly. I never thought a story with such a simple plot could turn out so beautifully. It honestly touched my heart — kidney, liver, everything, Lmao but fr. You have it in you. The flame that should not be extinguished under any circumstances. Keep it alive and keep writing. Write for yourself, write for us, write because you deserve to be writing.
2025-03-20
2
ɖɛ۷ıι
This is the sweetest!! they are absolutely sweet!!! I'm happy for them
2025-01-25
1
Cara De Clare — Reverie! 🌈
Men will do all the silly things for their favourite women.
2025-03-20
1